Dr. Susan Stapleton, Dean The Graduate College 263 W-WAL 7-8212
Director, Graduate Center for Research and Retention 207 W-WAL 7-8249	Dr. Marianne Di Pierro currently directs the Graduate Center for Research and Retention at Western Michigan University. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in English from the University of Maryland, a master’s degree in English Literature from Vermont College, and a Ph.D. in English from the University of South Florida. She was awarded the William G. Bentley Memorial Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement for her undergraduate work at the University of Maryland. Her research interests are in graduate education, particularly in the areas of doctoral retention and attrition. She participates in three national research projects in graduate education that examine best practices.
Director, Awards and Special Projects 261 W-WAL 7-8208	Dr. Julie Nemire earned a bachelor's degree in music at Coe College, a master's degree in music at Western Michigan University, and a doctoral degree in music at Michigan State University. Dr. Nemire, a composer, organist, pianist, and choir director, has been employed at WMU since 1988, serving as Theses and dissertation coordinator in the Graduate College from 1990 to 2000 and as Production Editor in Medieval Institute Publications from 2000 to 2006. She returned to the Graduate College in August 2006 upon being named Director of Awards and Special Projects. In that position she oversees such graduate award programs as the Graduate Student Research and Travel Grant, the Dissertation Completion Fellowship, the Graduate Research and Creative Scholar Award, and the Graduate Teaching Effectiveness Award.
Director, Graduate Student Recruitment and Retention7-8214 (Walwood)7-1247(Seibert)	Tony has been at WMU since 1993.He holds a Bachelor of Science degree petroleum distribution and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from WMU Tony’s career in higher education began in 1990 working as an admissions counselor at Kalamazoo College. In 1993 he was hired as Assistant Director of Admissions and Orientation at WMU. In June of 1999 he was promoted to Director of Recruitment and Outreach Director/Student Services at Western Michigan University’s College of Aviation. Tony has recruited students throughout the United States and has played a significant role in recruiting some of the top underrepresented students in the country to attend WMU. He takes a great deal of pride in helping students with the college selection process. Tony has presented at a national level for the National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC), NACAC as a Carl Brown Fellow at Loyola University in 1995, Michigan Association of College Admissions Counselors, and National Alliance of Black School Educators and at the Organization of Black Airline Pilots-Regional Airline Symposium, and frequently speaks at schools churches, and youth programs around the country. He truly enjoys helping students.
Coordinator, Graduate Appointments7-8259	Virginia Bowlby has been at WMU since 1981, previously working in: Registration, Graduation Auditing, The Graduate College, Graduate Admissions and now back to the Graduate College
Coordinator, Theses and Dissertations 7-8271	Jennifer Wendling Holm is one of the last people graduate students meet in the final months before they graduate. As coordinator of theses and dissertations in the Graduate College, Jennifer is responsible for reviewing and clearing these culminating works, putting on formatting workshops to help students make sure these works meet WMU guidelines, and assisting students with scheduling and announcing their oral dissertation defenses. “I understand where the students are emotionally and academically at this final stage in the educational process,” she says. “I try to make it as smooth as possible by being accessible to them, answering their questions, encouraging them and lending a sympathetic ear when needed.” Jennifer revises and shepherds 25-35 dissertations and 30-40 theses through the system each graduation period. “It’s a lot of work in a short period of time, but I don’t ever want a student not to graduate on my watch,” she says. “It’s really rewarding to see them through to the end. I want to make sure they go out on a high note, with scholarly theses and dissertations and a good feeling about WMU.” Jennifer earned a bachelor’s degree in English from WMU and was hired full time as assistant to the vice president for research in 2000, then moved to the Graduate College as assistant to the dean. She was named to her current post in January 2005.
Office Manager, 260 W-WAL 7-8237	Linda Comrie Office Coordinator
Web Author 260 W-WAL 7-8206	James Kison Web Author
Office Associate 260 W-WAL 7-8212	Carson Leftwich handles many duties in her position as Office Associate at the Graduate College. Carson is the first person most encounter when they contact the Graduate College via phone or in person. In this capacity, she assists students, faculty and staff members from across the University and throughout the community in answering questions about programs and procedures. If she doesn’t know the answer, she will find the person who does. In addition, she supports Tony Dennis, Director of Graduate Student Recruitment and Retention. She has many years of experience at Western, receiving a B.A. Magna Cum Laude in History in 1991 and an M.A. in 1997. She was a Presidential Scholar, an Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award winner, president of Phi Alpha Theta, and a Graduate Fellow. Carson has published several articles and reviews and teaches part-time at WMU.
Mr. Jason Hu Doctoral Associate
Haolai (Lincoln) Jiang Doctoral Associate 260 W-WAL 387-8253	Haolai (Lincoln) Jiang is a doctoral student with the Department of Statistics at Western Michigan University (WMU). He holds the Bachelor of Economics degree in statistics, conferred by Renmin University, China. He was also awarded a Master’s Degree in statistics from WMU. Lincoln served as a teaching assistant with the Department of Statistics and later joined the Graduate Center for Research and Retention in 2009 as a consultant, providing one-on-one statistical consultation to WMU graduate students completing dissertation/thesis research. In addition to his consultation work, Lincoln teaches a variety of statistics seminars to graduate students: Overview of Statistical Concepts; Overview of SPSS; Overview of SAS. His research interests are statistical computing and data visualization. He is a soccer fan of the Arsenal Soccer Club. Watching a live Arsenal’s match at Emirates Stadium in London, England, is one of his greatest desires. Lincoln is a doctoral associate to Dr. Marianne Di Pierro, Director, Graduate Center for Research and Retention.
Mr. Stefan King Doctoral Associate	Mr. Stefan King Doctoral Associate
Ms. Cheyla Milo Graduate Assistant 260 W-WAL	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.

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