alumni - Western Michigan University
Transcription
alumni - Western Michigan University
In this issue Record Number Graduates Welcome New Members Thanks to Ambassadors ACCENT ALUMNI on A communication link between the Western Michigan University Alumni Association and its members Alumni Association Board Welcomes New Leadership and Directors, Honors Retiring Directors At its April 21 meeting, the WMU Alumni Association Board of Directors elected its 2006-07 officers and new directors. Assuming the officer positions, effective July 1, are: President—Kirk Hoffman, B.B.A. ’86, who is a resident of Jackson, MI, and is the vice president of planning services for the King Trust Co. in Spring Arbor, MI. First elected to the board in 2001, he previously served as treasurer and chairperson of the Finance Committee as well as a member of the Executive, Scholarship and Marketing committees. Vice president—Richard Annen, B.B.A. ’74, who is a partner at Sparber Rudolph Annen APLC in San Diego, CA. He was first elected to the board in 2001 and has served on the Distinguished Alumni and Executive committees. Treasurer—Richard D. Bailey, M.B.A. ’85, of Dewitt, MI, who will serve his second term as treasurer. Bailey is the president of commercial banking at Republic Bank in Lansing, MI. Since his election to the board in 2003, Bailey has served on the Executive and Scholarship committees and has chaired the Finance Committee. Past President—Dale Tanis, B.B.A. ’74, M.B.A. ’84, who is chief financial officer and senior vice president of finance at the Irwin Seating Co. in Grand Rapids, MI. First elected to the board in 2000, Tanis, who resides in Hamilton, MI, has served as vice president and treasurer and was chairperson of the Finance Committee as well as a member of the Executive and Scholarship committees. Four Association members were elected to three-year terms on the board. They are: Craig Courts of Caledonia, B.B.A. ’83, M.B.A. ’91, president of The WMU Alumni Association welcomes new board members (from l to r) Koessel, Rogers, Courts, Knowles and Parsons. the Michigan division of Inergy Propane; James Koessel of Grand Rapids, B.A. ’72, executive vice president at Byron Center State Bank; William Parsons of Plainwell, MI, B.A. ’67, M.A. ’71, director of administrative and human resources at Miller, Canfield, Paddock, and Stone, PLC; and Elizabeth Rogers of Grand Rapids, B.S. ’90, M.P.A. ’94, registered nurse clinical director at Hospice of Holland Home in Holland, MI. Elected to a one-year term was Jonathan Knowles of East Lansing, MI, B.A. ’03, law student and legal clinician at the MSU College of Law. On June 30, five directors will end their terms on the board. They are: Nolan Fischer, B.B.A. ’69; Marcia Koestner, B.S. ’74, M.A. ’85; James McKinley, B.S. ’66; Anitta Rutherford Dale Tanis recognizes 2004-05 board president Anitta Rutherford Orr for her Orr, B.S. ’66 (pictured below); and George Rabick, B.B.A. ’67, M.B.A. ’68. service and leadership. Comprehensive Review Leads to Sweeping Changes in Graduate-level Programs After nearly a year of reviewing graduate-level degree offerings, WMU has announced a comprehensive plan designed to reallocate resources so that every graduate program has the fiscal support necessary to excel. The plan includes development of new programs, allocation of new financial resources for 15 degree programs, mergers of several programs and elimination of programs that do not match the University’s strategic plan and resources. The sweeping changes will not result in layoffs of tenured or tenure-track faculty, but faculty and staff assignments will be adjusted to reflect shifting priorities. A final appeal process has been set up to give faculty additional time to provide input on recommendations that will result in program closures. “What will emerge from our Graduate Program Review is a graduate education environment with increased strength in the sciences, engineering, education and health care—exactly the strengths that will position WMU to meet Michigan’s needs in the coming years,” WMU President Judith I. Bailey says. “We’ll continue and enhance our current strengths in disciplines as diverse as engineering management and medieval studies. And we’ll build additional national recognition in some important new areas.” The Graduate Program Review was launched in July 2005. The effort involved review teams made up of faculty members and department chairs from every part of the University. The final appeal process is expected to be completed by June 29, so that Bailey can bring the final recommendations to the July meeting of the WMU Board of Trustees. If approved, the changes would become effective with the start of the fall 2007 semester. In a very real sense, Bailey says, the University is self-funding its strategic move forward by reallocating existing resources. She adds that the decisions being made as the result of the Graduate Program Review do not constitute a reduction in funds but rather a redeployment of funds that will ensure the University’s graduate programs become stronger, larger and more vibrant. Complete details of the proposed graduate program changes are available at <www.wmich. edu/provost/AcademicProgramReviews/index. html>. The full text of Bailey’s Faculty Senate presentation on the changes is available through <www.wmich.edu/president>. Summer 2006 Welcome, New Members! The WMU Alumni Association would like to extend a warm welcome to all of our new members! The response to our recent membership invitation was very successful; in five weeks, over 370 alumni joined the Association and are now enjoying the benefits of membership. An additional message of appreciation goes to the staff at Specialty Printing Company of Niles, IL, who did an exceptional job printing and mailing the new membership invitations. Brothers Adam LeFebvre, B.S. ’96, Dustin LeFebvre, B.S. ’03, and Ryan LeFebvre, B.S. ’04, are all employed at the family-owned printing company and are all life members of the WMU Alumni Association. Alumni Realize Dream of Mobile Library in India The children of Punjab, India, wait anxiously for the bus to arrive—not take them to school, but instead to bring them books. The bus, which has bookshelves instead of seats, travels from one village to another, stopping to let the children borrow books. It arrives again at the same time the following week so that children can return the books and borrow new ones. This is an area of the world with no formal infrastructure for library services, and where books are considered a luxury even for the most affluent families. For almost all of the village children, the bus is the only library they have ever seen. Dr. Jaswant Singh, M.S.L. ’71, Ed.D. ’82, and his wife Jasjit K. Singh, M.S.L. ’76, who are life members of the WMU Alumni Association, recognized the need for a grassroots movement of library services to the youth in Punjab. Using their years of experience as librarians in the United States, the Singhs launched the Punjab Mobile Library Services program in 2003. The bus now visits five villages in Punjab and carries over 2,300 books. Encouraged by the mobile library’s success, the Singhs are determined to expand the program with more buses carrying more books. According to Dr. Jaswant Singh, the goal of the Mobile Library Services Program is to “let the village child discover the joy of books.” Joy can certainly be seen on the smiling faces of the village children as they wait for a first glimpse of the bus ACCENT ALUMNI on Summer 2006 Volume 15, Number 3 Accent on Alumni is published by the Western Michigan University Alumni Association, 1903 West Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5404. It is published four times annually, and is printed in the United States. Alumna Gives WMU Students an Inside Look at the Capital A WMU alumna who serves as a high-ranking drug control official helped three WMU students and a faculty member get a behind-the-scenes look at our federal government. Mary Ann Solberg is the White House deputy director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy and a 1964 graduate of WMU’s political science program. The March visit was part of a three-day Washington, D.C., trip sponsored by the WMU College of Health and Human Services. It came about after Solberg visited campus last fall and invited a WMU contingent to come to the nation’s capital to see her. Timothy Gottwald of Kalamazoo, a senior majoring in social work; Amy Allen Solberg, B.A. ‘64 of Muskegon, Mich., a senior majoring in sociology; and Michael Holland of Kalamazoo, a member of a joint program offered through WMU and KVCC; traveled to our nation’s capital with Dr. Kieran Fogarty, associate professor in WMU’s interdisciplinary health studies doctoral program. The group visited U.S. Representative Fred Upton’s office and spent time with Solberg, who took the group on a tour of the White House’s West Wing, including the Oval Office. Solberg also brought them to her National Drug Control Policy office, where they met with her key staff and advisors. Solberg, who was named to her current post in 2002, has vast experience as a leader in community-based anti-drug coalitions. Prior to her Fogarty, Allen and Holland in front of the White House. appointment, she served in Michigan as the executive director of both the Troy (MI) Community Coalition for the Prevention of Drug and Alcohol Abuse and the Coalition of Healthy Communities. She was also a member of numerous other advisory, civic and community organizations, and served as co-chairperson of the President’s Commission on Drug-Free Communities. The students came away from the visit with a deeper understanding of our national drug control policy. “She portrayed more knowledge and passion about drug control policy than I had ever imagined one person could know about any subject,” said Allen. Accomplished Communications Alumna Shares Wisdom Award-winning small business owner Cynthia Kay, M.A. ’77, was the keynote speaker at the Student Alumni Association’s 2006 Take a Bronco to Lunch event. This year’s sold out function brought students and alumni of the WMU School of Communication together. Kay, an industry leader in media production Kay and corporate communication, shared with the audience lessons that she learned while searching for her first job, starting her own business and planning for the next phase of life. • When you’re trying to find a job, the power is not always where you think it is. Kay landed her first job because of the help she received from “the sweet little old lady at the front desk.” • The plan you have for yourself rarely works out like you think it will. Remain open to new ideas and new opportunities. • Don’t let yourself get pigeon holed. • Take publicity wherever you can get it. • • • • • • • • • • There is value in every experience, even a bad experience. Never exaggerate or lie about what you can or can’t do Don’t be afraid to ask for help. When you know you are right, stand up for yourself. Surround yourself with people who care about you, not about what you do. There is a difference between being busy and being profitable. When looking for a job, there has to be a fit. A business and its culture has to suit your personality. Realize that the fit doesn’t necessarily last forever. Know when its time to move on. Plan how you are going to leave and do it before you begin to resent what it is you are doing. Finally, love what you do. No one can pay you enough to do something you don’t like to do. Bestselling Alumnus Releases First Golf-Inspired Novel WMU Graduates Record Number of Students To write The Caddie Who Knew Ben Hogan, author John Coyne, M.A. ’65, drew on his passion for and knowledge of golf and his lifelong fascination with Hall of Famer Ben Hogan. The result is a suspenseful and nostalgic tale of how the game of golf can affect one’s life. Born in Chicago, Coyne became a caddie at age 12, and at 16, was promoted to caddie master. He received his master’s degree in English from WMU, and then joined the Peace Corps. Coyne has written and edited over 20 books, fiction and nonfiction, including seven bestsellers. For additional information, visit <www.thecaddiewhoknewbenhogan.com>. More than 3,200 degrees were granted during the April 29 commencement ceremonies at WMU. President Judi Bailey presented 2,613 degrees at the bachelor’s level, 575 master’s degrees and 18 doctorates. This total surpasses the previous record of 2,824 degrees granted last spring. The 2006 graduates received their degrees in a transformed University Arena. This commencement ceremony marked the first time since 1992 that the event was held in University Arena, in Read Fieldhouse. In the early 1990s, when the Fieldhouse was renovated, commencement was moved to Miller Auditorium, where ceremonies have been held since. Miller was unavailable for the April ceremony because of the national tour of “The Phantom of the Opera.” It’s a small WMU world! (l to r) Clare Richardson, B.S.E. ‘73, Anthony Boldi, B.A. ‘92, and Joel Steven Warner, B.A. ‘90, met at the May 4 alumni event in Los Angeles. Boldi and Warner were not only students at the same time but lived together in Stinson Hall. Until attending the event, neither had any idea the other was living and working in L.A. When Richardson heard Stinson Hall mentioned, he joined their conversation, only to find out that he and Warner both lived in the same room—two decades apart! Alumni Admissions Ambassadors Program Volunteers Make a Difference Thanks to 453 alumni volunteers, the WMU Alumni Association’s Admissions Ambassadors program was a tremendous success. Ambassadors sent congratulatory notes and shared their WMU pride with 8,952 high school seniors who have been admitted to WMU. Alumni also served as representatives at college fairs across the country. Jay Jessen, a high school senior from Quinnesec, MI, responded to alumnus Richard Mudd, B.S.E. ’82, and said, “It’s a very stressful time right now for me and every other high school senior. Receiving your postcard helped to make the stress more manageable.” Regina AbrasiaWerenka Christina Adamski Marianne Agnew Scott Albrecht Elena Alderman LaNorris Alexander Timothy Allbritten Jason Allen Ryan Ambs Kyle Anderson Megan Anderson Barbara Andres Charles Andrews Richard Annen Brenda Arendsen Dave Arendsen, Jr. John Arundel Ken Austin Richard Bailey, II Jeffrey Baker Jodi Baker Anita Banach Dave Barlow Patricia Barn Elizabeth Bauman Erin Beaton Tom Beck Roger Beilfus Ian Belanger Katie Bell Renee Bell Mari Benkert Beth Berry Jim Bertler Julie Betzler Bonnie Bochniak Martha Bol-Johnson Joanne Bolda Jennifer Bond Kaye Bonnell Marshall Booker Teresa Border Jeffry Bothwell Torrie Bott Mackenzi Bower Melissa Bowman Jennifer Boyd Michael Brausch Kelly Brennan Heather Brey Tony Brey Elizabeth Bright Andre Bryan Sara Budnick Stacey Buesing Nancy Bufkin Suzann Bugosh Michelle Buhovecky Andrew Buikema Jerome Burkett III Daniel Bursch Laura Bursch Evan Burt Mary Burtka Shayne Burton Trischa Buseth Lindsay Cairns Lucy Caldwell Cally Campbell Cheri Canfield Shenandoah CardwellConstantino Rebecca Carosella Pamela Carr Derrick Carter Marsha Carter Angela Caswell LaPierre Laura Chang Mark Charboneau Sylvia Charles Jennifer Charron Amelia Chlebus Lisa Chludzinski Philip Chludzinski Catherine Christian Betty Clark Mark Clark Ernest Clemence June Clemence Yolanda Cobley Jamie Cohen Albert Collins III Deborah Compagner Craig Courts Thomas Cox Shannon Cunningham Joanne Current Sheila Curry Heather Curtis Erin Czelada Craig Daitch Lisa Dams Deborah Davis Jennifer Davis Angela DeDomenico Dan Dekker Joyce Della Pia Peter Demgen Donald DeNault, Jr. Jeff Denzel Rick DePew Michelle DeWitt Carlos Diaz Elaine DiLisio Tiffany Dillard Amy DiPiazza Donn Ditzhazy Renee Dodge Patrick Dolan Kathleen Dorsey Sonja Dotson Robert Doud Andrew Downey Charlene Drain Brian Dufur Tricia Edwards Kelly Eggert John Ehardt Richard Eugene Jr. Renae Everdeen Terry Faison Michael Falahee Bryan Farwell Owen Fayer Michael Fiebig Julie Fields Jonathan Fillmore Nolan Fischer Brian Fish Brad Fisher Mike Fisher Justin Flood David Ford Karen Ford Patricia Fosdick Janice Fritz Molly Funk Nikki Gates Sue Gignac Tammy Gilbert Diana Gilly Jeffrey Ginter Margean Gladysz Jennifer Gleissner Anne Glista Bryon Glock Dr. Layne Godzina Shane Goldsmith Debbie Goll Bettie Goodman Chad Goodrow Thomas Goodwin Nancy Gothberg Gina Gourley Jason Gourley Terry Graham Jessica Green Amanda Gruden Joel Gruizenga Heather Hallmark Ronald Hamilton Angela Hamman Lagina Stefan Haney Kristin Hanson Amanda Harsh Bilal Hassan Barbara Heffner Brent Helton Maurice Henderson Shannon Henry Angela Herek Amanda Herp Sandy Herp Brian Hicks William Hicks Julie Higgs Angela Hiller Phillip Hilliard JoAnne Hodder Chris Hodshire Lydia Hodshire Scott Hoefler Kirk Hoffman Carla Holley Emily Holtrop Richard Homan Jonathan Horton John Hoyt Sandra Hubbard Kristen Hummel Marco Hunt Rachael Ibrahim Tiffany Jackson Tonya Jackson Angela Jacobs Chris Jacobson Kristin Jensen Cheryl Jipping Katie Berry from South Lyon, MI, was thrilled to receive a postcard from Kathy Rivera, B.F.A. ’97. “As an incoming freshman at WMU, I felt that this was a great way to feel personally welcomed.” Much appreciation is extended to the alumni volunteers listed below for their help to further WMU’s enrollment efforts. Thank you for making a difference for WMU! If you are interested in participating in the Alumni Admissions Ambassador Program, which will resume in the fall, please visit <www.wmich.edu/alumni/aaa.html>. Kelly Jolin Debra Jones McConnell Chris Karaptian Scott Karaptian Jeff Karns Jason Kaspzyk Danielle Kavc Sheila Keitsch Brian Kemper Chris Kennedy Lauren Kerekes Robyn Kernagis Nanette Kinney Barrie Kiser Jack Klarr Mary Ann Klimas Chris Kline Eric Kline John Knowles Meg Koenemann Marcia Koestner Cheryl Koning Shelley Kowitz Lisa Krejcik Jeoffrey Krieg Carol Kuczborski Andrew Laboe Cynthia LaGrow Steven Lane Meg Lanstra Maryalene LaPonsie Lorie Latsko Julie Laubach-Casper James Lemerand Catie Lenaway Jennifer Leonard Kimberly Lewandowski Michael Lorenz Sharon Love-Rice Guk Keong Low Yee Ka Ma Stuart MacKenzie Paul MacNellis Brian Magnuson Katherine Marcusse Terri Marsh Quentin Martin Therese MaupinMoore Rebecca Mazure Dennis McFarland Brett McGovern James McKinley Keith McMillon Angeline Merkel Teresa Merritt-Ellis Matthew Meyers Dean Miller Jennifer Miller Kimberly Miller Mary Mills Janice Minter Connie Mollison Steven Mollison Gregory Moorehead Ann Moran Brian Moran Eric Morris Kim Mudd Richard Mudd Lisa Mueller Jessica Murawski Stephanie Murphy Kimberly Musselman Mat Myers Ashley N. Akerman Melanie Naugle Matt Nelson Susan Neumann Susan Neumann Michael Nevarez Konnie NicholsonGeorge Pauline Nixon Arhea Norton Joan O’Bryan Tracy O’Connor Kirstin Olmstead Michelle Olmsted Terry Olson Anitta Orr Susan Ossewaarde Julie Pabian Kurtis Pake Mycheal Palmer Sarah Papke Christy Parsch Cynthia Patterson Donald Patterson Kelley Pattison David Patton Aaron Pawlowski Ann Marie Pendell Patricia Peters Annaliese Peterson Kristin Petrucci Marvin Petty Matt Phelan Courtney Phelps Angel Phillips Janet Poppei L. Ronald Portser Stephanie Postma Kathryn Potoczak Jill Potrykus Jennifer Potter Lynn Prescott Mark Prescott Jennifer Prince Stacy Putnam George Rabick Betsy Raby Ken Raby Mandy Repotski Allison Reske Jennifer Richards Jim Richmond Lois Richmond Leslie Riley Shannon Rininger Kathy Rivera Jason Roe Sara Rokicki Scott Rolando Nicole Romyak William Rushcamp Kevin Russell Shawn Sackett Michele Sanchez Rick Sanders Lisa Sanzica Fred Schaible Kevin Scheppman Jennifer Schmitz Weber Karen Schnurstein Jessica Schubert John Schubert Beth Schwartz J. Blair Schwarz, II Barbara Secrist Mandy Seiferlein Lisa Senical Michelle Seymour Jason Sherrill Larry Shumaker Jaswant Singh Sue Skiba Mia Slager Angela Smith Barbara Smith Brian Smith Tara Smith Genise Smith-Watkins John Somerville Amelia Srugis Lisa St. Peter Charlene St. Pierre Lee Stamper Mark Stamper Kristin Stanfill Markita Staples Charlyn Starks Janelle Stitt David Stone Colleen Stout Shelley Strickland Heather Strole Amy Stuck Michael Stuhler Rebecca Stuurwold Christina Suchyta Taaj Suri Evan Sutton Cynthia Swan-Eagan Vera Swiney-Conerly Lindsay Szafranski Peter Szczesny Jeff Taft Dale Tanis Jenny Taylor Kathleen Teall Mandy Telgenhoff Christina Terenzi Elizabeth Thomas Judy Thomas Stacy Thomas Yvonne Thomas Suzanne Thompson Stacy Thorpe Nancy Thursam Sarah Tinsley Amber Topp JoAnn Tree Dan Troup Henry Ulanski LaDonna Upshaw Kristen Valentine Sara Van Wormer Andrew VanArtsen Robert Vance Keith Vandenbussche Katie VanderMolen Kevin VanPeteghem Erin Vanstelle Holly Verde Jesse Vos Amy Wagenfeld Benjamin Wagner Jr. Kent Walters Amanda Ward Rebecca Ware Randi Watchorn Randy Watkins Corey Watt Julie Weaver Amy Webb Kathryn Weeden Rebecca Wehner Karen Weimer Cherie Welch Ryan Werenka Wendy Westbrooks Andrew Widner Elizabeth Wierenga Jeff Wierenga Travis Wilcox Michael Williams MegAnn Williams Owens Lekeshia Wilson James Winiarski Paula Witherow Barbara Woltjer Christopher Womack Wai Pong Wong Andrea Woolf Robyn Wyatt Michael Yasick Laura Young Paul Zafarana Bryony Zeese Natalie Zoufal ACCENT ALUMNI on www.wmich.edu/alumni [email protected] 269.387.8777 ASSOCIATION Calendar June 06 7 12 16 30 Chicago Alumni Chapter Annual Spring Reception Grand Rapids Area Alumni & Friends Golf Outing Southeast Michigan Alumni & Friends Golf Outing End of the University Fiscal Year July 06 Bronco alumni gathered in Scottsdale, AZ, to reconnect with former classmates and to network with other alumni. Fellow alumni gathered in Dallas on April 6 to share Bronco memories. 1 4 14 WMU Commencement, Miller Auditorium, 9 a.m. and noon (tickets required) University Closed University Board of Trustees meeting, Bernhard Center, WMU Campus, 9 a.m. (time and location tentative) September 06 2 5 8 9 16 23 Football at Indiana, 7 p.m. Fall Semester Classes Begin Bronco Bash, WMU Campus Football vs. Toledo, CommUniverCity Night, Waldo Stadium, 7 p.m. Football at Virginia, time T.B.A. Football vs. Temple, Waldo Stadium, 7 p.m. October 06 Everyone was smiling at the May 2 alumni event in Foster City, CA, just outside of San Francisco. Alumni from Florida gathered in Sarasota to hear about the University’s recent accomplishments from WMU president Judi Bailey. 7 Football at Ohio, 7 p.m. 12- 13 WMU Alumni Association Board of Directors Meeting 13 Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner 14 WMU Homecoming Events WMU Alumni Association PepFest Events in brown sponsored by the WMU Alumni Association. For complete schedules of Bronco men’s and women’s athletics, visit <www.wmich.edu/athletics> or call 269.387.3120 to have a schedule faxed or mailed. ACCENT ALUMNI on Accent on Alumni is published through the support of the dues-paying members of the WMU Alumni Association. Nonprofit U.S. Postage 1903 West Michigan Avenue Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5404 PAID Kalamazoo MI Permit No. 478