Department of Art • YSU

LECTURE: Data Science for Mental Health Crises
Pim Welle, Data ScientistAllegheny County Department
of Human Services

ABOUT THIS TALK
This talk demonstrates how advanced data science techniques—machine learning, predictive analytics, survival modeling, and non-experimental causal inference—were applied by Allegheny County Department of Human Services to comprehensively analyze their mental health system, particularly involuntary commitments (302s).

Key findings:
- 302 commitments affect 350 per 100,000 individuals, comparable to prison sentencing rates
- 20% of committed individuals die within 5 years of commitment
- 2% of the population consumes 25% of Medicaid behavioral health funding

Machine learning can identify at-risk patients immediately upon admission, while causal inference techniques assess whether commitments improve or worsen outcomes. This case study illustrates the integration of statistical methods to evaluate public system effectiveness.

PIM WELLE
Pim Welle serves as Chief Data Scientist at Allegheny County Department of Human Services. He holds an engineering degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a PhD in engineering and public policy from Carnegie Mellon University. His career has focused on developing statistical and machine learning systems for government institutions. Currently, he creates innovative tools within human services to evaluate system effectiveness and direct resources to individuals with the greatest needs

LECTURE: Tuesday, March 25, 4pm, McDonough Museum of Art, lecture hall

Sponsored by the YSU Data Science Club, the Mahoning Valley Mental Health Speakers Fund, the Beecher Art and Technology lecture series, Department of Psychological Sciences and Counseling, Department of Mathematics and Statistics and the Department of Art.

“Portraits”, a powerful exhibition by Frank Oriti, is now on display inside Solomon Gallery!

Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Frank Oriti’s work explores the lives of blue-collar individuals who return to the hometowns they once sought to escape. Through hyperreal portraits set against stark suburban backdrops, he captures the tension between nostalgia, resignation, and identity. His paintings raise questions like, “What has my life become?” and “How will others see me now?”

Don’t miss this compelling look into the psychology of “settling.” Experience his powerful work from March 10 – April 4 at Solomon Gallery.

Over the past month, we’ve had the pleasure of welcoming several incredible artists to campus! 🐧 🎨

During their time on campus, these artists visited our art classrooms, spoke during the DALS lecture series and McDonough Lecture Series, and attended our closing reception for the McDonough Museum of Art’s Spring Exhibitions showcase. From discussions on creative processes to exploring art and culture, these artists inspired us.

Thank you to Anna Chapman, Julia Betts, Abby Cipar, Will Hutnick, and Sidney Mullis for visiting YSU’s Department of Art! ✨

Join us in rediscovering lost cinema! 🎬 ✨

The McDonough Museum of Art is thrilled to present a special screening of short films by Bruce Checefsky on Wednesday, March 12, at 5:30 PM in the McDonough Auditorium. This event is free and open to the public!

Checefsky is known for reviving lost, destroyed, and never-made avant-garde films. "I carefully unravel a filmmaker’s life story," he says, diving deep into their social, political, and economic worlds to bring forgotten cinema back to life. The screening includes reimagined works from the 1940s and 1960s, such as Maya Deren’s "Witch’s Cradle" and Andy Warhol’s "Andy Warhol Films Jack Smith Filming Normal Love," alongside five other experimental films.

Don’t miss this chance to see forgotten cinema in a whole new way! 🎞️

The 88th Annual Juried Student Art & Design Exhibition is coming soon, and we’re looking for talented YSU student artists to showcase their work! 🐧✨

This juried exhibition, organized by YSU’s Student Art Association, will be juried by Pittsburgh-based sculptor Sidney Mullis. Eligible students who submit their work have the opportunity to win a variety of amazing awards! This juried exhibition is open to YSU students who’s taken any art course during the 2024-2025 academic year.

Students interested in submitting their art can drop off their work at the McDonough Museum of Art on March 13-14 from 10 am - 4 pm. Entry forms are available outside the 4th floor art office in Bliss Hall, near the painting studios, or at the McDonough Museum of Art office. Entry is $5 per piece, $10 per series. The exhibition runs from March 21 - April 4.

Questions? Email Emma Strope-Downs at [email protected].

Meet Laura Garvin, a YSU Graphic + Interactive Design alum who recently illustrated her third book, “Bean Loves Blankies”! 🎨✨

Laura Garvin’s design career began at YSU, where she worked with Graphic Services, the YSU Theatre Department, and the Summer Festival of the Arts. After graduating, she started working as an in-house designer while also taking on various freelance projects, including book illustration. So far, Garvin has illustrated the books “Chocolate Spaghetti for Breakfast”, “The Chip on My Shoulder” and “Bean Loves Blankies”.

YSU’s Department of Art helped Garvin embrace her design career. Garvin says skills she learned have been essential for her illustration work, including typesetting, cover design, and understanding the printing process. She also values the connections made at YSU, which led to job opportunities and continued support after graduation.

Here’s Laura Garvin’s advice for those starting their post-graduate art career:

“My biggest piece of advice is to be proactive in your career and in your art... take the initiative to fill your portfolio with personal projects that reflect the career you want - you can absolutely achieve it!” - Laura Garvin 🐧

This past weekend, high school artists joined us for YSU Portfolio Day, where they met our art faculty and receive insightful feedback on their portfolios. It was a true pleasure welcoming these talented young artists to campus! 🐧

Check out this video from WKBN 27 Youngstown OH highlighting our Portfolio Day here at YSU's Department of Art! ⬇

YSU Art Department helps high schoolers prepare portfolios for college Youngstown State University Art Department in Ohio helps high schoolers prepare portfolios for college

This Black History Month, Crystal Miller’s exhibition “Adornment” is on display inside Solomon Gallery now through February 28! Miller’s work explores Afro-futurism, utilizing unconventional materials like beads, glitter, rhinestones, and foam to weave speculative fiction in her paintings to encapsulate the profound sense of black pride.

Yesterday, Miller gave an insightful artist talk, followed by an opening reception. Miller holds an associate degree in Graphic Design and a bachelor’s degree in Painting, Sculpture, and Expanded Media from the Cleveland Institute of Art. ✨

The deadline to apply for scholarships through the Department of Art is fast approaching! If you're an incoming freshman or current student majoring in Art or Art Education, this is your chance to secure financial support as you continue your artistic journey. ✨

Current students must apply by February 7, and incoming freshmen must apply by February 15 for priority consideration. To learn more about these scholarship opportunities, visit the links below!

Incoming Freshmen: ysu.edu/cliffe-college-creative-arts/incoming-freshmen-scholarships
Current Students: ysu.edu/art/art-scholarship-application

Here's a peek into the McDonough Museum of Art, where five exciting exhibitions opened today! You can view the works of Julia Betts, Anna Chapman, Abby Cipar, Will Hutnick, and Sidney Mullis now through February 28. ✨

If you’re a high school artist, transfer student, or aspiring artist, you’re invited to join us for YSU’s Portfolio Day on February 8, 2025! ✨

This event provides the opportunity to showcase your creative work and receive valuable feedback from our art faculty. Attendees are also invited to learn about our programs, facilities, scholarship opportunities.

Registration for this event is required. To learn more about YSU’s Portfolio Day and register for this opportunity, visit ysu.edu/find-your-passion-ysu-portfolio-day

This semester, five inspirational artists are visiting campus to present lectures as part of the McDonough Lecture Series and the Department of Art Lecture Series! ⬇

February 5: Julia Betts is an Adjunct Professor at Carnegie Mellon University. Her sculptures, installation, and performance work has been exhibited nationally and has appeared in several publications.

February 12: Emerging Artist Abby Cipar is a multidisciplinary artist, arts advocate, curator, and wage laborer with roots in Northeast Ohio. Their nationally exhibited work can be found in private collections across the US.

February 20: Sidney Mullis is a Pittsburgh-based sculptor whose work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally. She’s been featured in art periodicals and had artist residencies throughout the country.

February 27: Will Hutnick is the Director of Artistic Programming at the Wassaic Project, a nonprofit organization that uses art and art education to foster positive social change. His work vibrates at the intersection of the natural environment, digital spaces, and queerness.

RESCHEDULED DATE: February 28 at 6:15pm: Anna Chapman is an artist and educator investigating transformative approaches to art-making, community practice, and connection to land in light of destabilized socio-ecological contexts.

All lectures take place at 5:30pm inside the McDonough Museum of Art. These artists will have their work display inside the museum from January 22 through February 28.

We’re thrilled to once again host this year's NE Ohio Scholastic Art Award Exhibition and Ceremony! The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards is a national competition where middle and high school students submit their original visual or literary pieces. The competition was organized by NEO Scholastics Coordinator Josh MacMillan, a YSU alum and art teacher at Hubbard High School. ✨

This exhibition is on display inside Solomon Gallery now through January 25th. Students will receive recognition on January 25th during a ceremony inside YSU’s Ford Theater.

Congratulations to our Fall 2024 Graduates! 🎓 To celebrate their upcoming graduation, six Department of Art students shared their experiences at Cliffe College of Creative Arts and advice for future students in their program. ✨

Our Fall 2024 graduating seniors have a beautiful exhibition on display at the McDonough Museum of Art! This exhibition showcases the incredible portfolios our students created throughout their time at YSU. The Fall 2024 BFA Exhibition is open now through Saturday, December 14. 🐧✨

Ali Handte and Seth Kollar recently completed their Junior Portfolio Review!
The JPR gives art students the opportunity to apply the skills they’ve learned throughout the program so far. These JPR exhibitions are on display now through December 13th inside Solomon Gallery. 🐧

Our art students recently participated in the YSU Student Holiday Art Show & Market! This event gave students a real-world opportunity to develop their entrepreneurial skills as professional artists. Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate YSU’s Department of Art and support our students! ✨

Alum Zach Repphun is featured in the Collective Arts Network (CAN) Journal! Repphun used opportunities provided by YSU's Department of Art to land his full-time position at Akron Art Museum. Learn about his impressive career as an exhibition designer through the article linked below ⬇

Connecting to Futures: Zach Repphun, Building a Career by Design - Collective Arts Network - CAN Journal The second creator in CAN Journal's Connecting to Futures series, exhibition designer Zach Repphun never stops seeking opportunity.