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Faculty and Staff

Students Services

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Office: Office 2210 Kohrman Phone: (269) 387-0347 Fax: (269) 387-0355 sharon.vandyken@wmich.edu

Sharon VanDyken Director of Academic Advising Sharon considers herself a Bronco for life. She joined the College of Aviation in June of 2010. Originally from Chicago, Sharon came to WMU as a student in 1980, and is a 1984 graduate of the Haworth College of Business, majoring in marketing. She began her employment with the university in 1982 while still a student. Sharon held several positions in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences from 1982 until 1997, including academic advising part-time for the college. Her passion for working one on one with students led her to accepting an academic advising position in the Haworth College of Business, where she remained from 1997 until 2005. Since then, she has worked as an academic advisor for both the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the College of Education and Human Development. Sharon commutes daily from Rockford, Michigan, where she resides with her husband Mike.

Office: 1201 AEC Phone: (269) 964-5768 Fax: (269) 964-6473 tom.thinnes@wmich.edu

Tom Thinnes Recruitment and Outreach Manager Although a recent addition to the College of Aviation, Tom Thinnes has been a long time Bronco. Graduating with a degree in history and secondary education from Western Michigan University in 1990, Tom began a career path which eventually led him to the College of Aviation. Soon after graduation, Tom spent approximately ten years just a hop, skip, and a jump from his current office. Working for Sub-Aquatic Sports and Service he combined his love of scuba diving with his passion for education and student outreach. However, after almost a decade underwater, the call of academia encouraged him to pursue his master’s degree. Enrolling at Michigan State University and earning a Masters of Arts in Curriculum and Teaching, the next journey in his career pathway led to Florida and Brevard Public Schools. During his tenure, he taught fourth and sixth grade, eventually finding a home at McNair Magnet School where he was the coordinator of recruitment and outreach activities. While in Florida, the lure of Michigan kept tugging at him. After five years, the decision was made to move back to the Great Lakes State, where he was fortunate enough to become part of the College of Aviation.