Born in Abha, Saudi Arabia, Mohammed Alghawinam first studied Electricity at an Industrial High School, and later attended Riyadh Technological College, where he received his Bachelor's Degree in 2000. Mohammed has worked as a teacher in Abha Technological College for almost 4 years. He arrived in the United States in 2004, and after studying English in the CELCIS program, he entered the Electrical and Computer Engineering department in Spring of 2005. He says that he chose Western Michigan University for his studies after hearing positive things about the program. At the end of this semester he will graduate with a Master's degree from Western Michigan University's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. (Read more about Mohammed Alghawinam here.)

Laura C. Ford, PhD, RN, CNP

Dr. Laura Ford is a Nurse Practitioner with LakeView Family Care in Mattawan and a faculty member of the School of Nursing at the University of Michigan. A recent recipient of the Patricia Lee Thompson Dissertation Award, she is the proud mother of two exceptional children, and has lived in the Kalamazoo area for over 45 years. Her goal with achievement of a PhD from Western Michigan University’s Interdisciplinary Health Studies program out of the College of Health and Human Services is to continue to advocate for the role of advanced practice nurses in Southwest Michigan, and for her professional development as a faculty member with one of the top nursing programs in the United States. (Read more about Laura Ford Here)

CRISTIAN GUGIU

Born in Romania, P. Cristian Gugiu immigrated to the United States at the age of seven. Growing up in New York City has taught Cristian a profound appreciation for cultural diversity, which he brings into his studies and evaluation practice. He has earned an undergraduate and graduate degree in psychology from the universities of Michigan and Illinois, respectively.

Currently, he is a fourth-year graduate student at Western Michigan University (WMU), pursuing a doctoral degree in the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Evaluation (IDPE) program He selected the IDPE program because it offers the best graduate training in evaluation in the nation, and arguably the world. (Read more about Cristian Gugiu here.)

Hedy Habra

I have had the good fortune of receiving a Fellowship for Dissertation Completion and I am writing my doctoral Theses on the narrative of Mario Vargas Llosa, one of the foremost Latin American contemporary writers. On the Nobel list for decades, Vargas Llosa is one of the leading exponents of the Latin American "Boom" alongside Gabriel García Márquez, Carlos Fuentes and Julio Cortázar. (Read more about Hedy Habra here.)

Barbara Johnson

Barbara M. Johnson is a member of the second cohort of the Interdisciplinary Health Studies Ph.D. Program as well as faculty in the School of Social Work. Ms. Johnson has a private practice which specializes in working with overburdened families. Her research interest is in the area of therapeutic jurisprudence, such as treatment courts, which will be the topic of her dissertation. These grant awards will fund part of Ms. Johnson’s research for her dissertation. Dr. Nickola Nelson serves as Ms. Johnson’s advisor and Dr. Kieran Fogarty as her dissertation chair. Her expected graduation date is April 2009. (Read more about Barbara Johnson here)

Paula Lynn

Beginning classes at WMU in 2001 as a non-traditional student, I was somewhat concerned how faculty and fellow students would receive me. The Occupational Therapy department was very open and welcoming, offering personal and academic support in order to reach my goal of completing the combined BS and MS Occupational Therapy degree.
I have enjoyed the rigors of all aspects of the Occupational Therapy program at WMU. As a parent of two special needs children, it is not always an easy task. The faculty have offered me much support, inspiration and mentoring. In all aspects of life, both personal and professional, I have been challenged to pursue excellence. (Read more about Paula Lynn here.)

Jennifer Messana

Jennifer Messana is a graduate student pursuing a Master in Public Administration with a State and Local Government focus. Originally from Columbus, Michigan Jennifer has returned to her alma mater to continue her education. Jennifer is involved at many levels in the University. Along with her studies, she is a Graduate Assistant with Career & Student Employment Services (CSES) for the College of Engineering & Applied Sciences (CEAS). She is also a Representative for the Graduate Student Advisory Committee (GSAC) representing the School of Public Affairs & Administration. In addition to these duties she was also recently elected as the Employment Concerns Chair for the National Association of Graduate-Professional Students (NAGPS) in Washington, DC. (Read more about Jennifer Messana here.)

Cheyla Milo

Cheyla Milo, doctoral student in Counseling Psychology, hates the snow. She comes from Texas by way of Dillard University in New Orleans, and every time it snows she wants to crawl into her cave and hibernate. Of course she is much too busy to hibernate every time it snows in Michigan. She is Graduate Assistant to Tony Dennis, Director of Graduate Student Recruitment and Retention. In this capacity she assists Mr. Dennis in planning initiatives and programming for current and prospective graduate students. She also works as Director of Special Projects for the company Future4Teens. In this job she coordinates programs through collaborations with other community organizations for youth in the Kalamazoo area. (Read more about Cheyla Milo here.)

Brandi L. Pritchett

Brandi L. Pritchett, is currently a doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology program of the Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology department. She received her Masters here at Western Michigan University and her Bachelors degree at the Historically Black University, Clark Atlanta University. After attending a Historically Black University she was looking for a graduate program that not only displayed a high standard in scholastic work and achievement but a graduate program also invested in ethnic diversity and multiculturalism as displayed by diverse faculty and students. She found a home in the Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology department for this primary reason. She wishes to assist WMU in continuing to strive for a more diverse campus. Brandi was raised by her grandparents in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan but has been a resident and contributor to the Kalamazoo community for nearly 3 years. As a WMU Bronco, Brandi has been a true advocate for the graduate student body as displayed by her presidency of the Graduate Students of Color (GSOC) and multiple recruitment and retention efforts. (Read more about Brandi Pritchett here.)

Rene Zaya

Rene Zaya is a doctoral student in Biological Sciences and a recent recipient of the University Dames Scholarship.

"It’s interesting where life carries you. After working for 17 years for a local company, I found myself “downsized” and without a job. Since my husband was still employed in the area, our family made the decision to stay in the area significantly limiting the number of science-related jobs available to me. With two children at an age that increasingly required me to have schedule flexibility, I opted to find a situation that provided me with that flexibility, was intellectually challenging, and was science-based.." (Read more about Rene Zaya here.)

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