WMU receives $4.4 million in grants
Nov. 9, 2000
KALAMAZOO -- More than $4.4 million in grants was received by Western Michigan University in the first three months of its fiscal year, according to a report presented to the University's Board of Trustees Oct. 27.
The grant total for July, August and September was reported at $4,455,368. The University's fiscal year began on July 1.
Two previously announced awards were the largest grants received during the period. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded $950,000 to WMU's Environmental Institute to fund collaborative efforts to clean up the Kalamazoo River watershed. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded Dr. Richard G. Long, principal research associate in the Department of Blind Rehabilitation, $600,027 to supplement the efforts of the WMU's blind rehabilitation faculty to develop technology to assist blind and low-vision pedestrians in negotiating complex intersections.
A number of grants were received from several other federal agencies, including the U.S. Departments of Education, Energy and Health and Human Services; the National Science Foundation; and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
The Department of Education awarded a number of grants to WMU, including four grants to the WMU Division of Minority Affairs. Of those, $213,700 was awarded to Maxine Gilling, director of the division's Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Scholars Program, to continue the University's efforts to encourage low-income, first-generation and minority students to pursue graduate education; and $216,000 was awarded to Dr. Martha Warfield, director of the division, to continue an Upward Bound math and science program for high school students.
Several other grants were received from the Department of Education.
Marilyn Duke, director of the University's Academic Skills Center, was awarded $200,903 to continue providing academic and personal support to low-income, first-generation and handicapped college students.
Dr. Paula Kohler, assistant professor of educational studies, received $179,923 to continue her research into female participation in nontraditional vocational education.
Dr. Kristal Ehrhardt, associate professor of psychology, and Dr. Edward Daly, assistant professor of psychology, received a $135,634 grant from the agency to initiate a new program that prepares school psychologists to work with students with high-incidence, disabilities such as learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder and behavior problems.
The following were among other grants received by the University during the months of July, August and September.
A $178,550 grant from the Research and Technology Institute awarded to Dr. Paul Engelmann, associate professor of industrial and manufacturing engineering, will support research that analyzes mold design strategy to improve process repeatability.
Gayle Thompson, instructor of health, physical education and recreation, was awarded $139,700 by various health and education agencies to establish a paid internship program for athletic trainers.
A $128,007 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities was awarded to Drs. Paul Szarmach and Timothy Graham, director and assistant director, respectively, of the Medieval Institute, to conduct a six-week long seminar on Anglo-Saxon texts at the British Library in London this summer.
A $110,000 grant awarded by the Department of Energy to Dr. John Tanis, chairperson of the Department of Physics, will support his continued research on collisions between atomic particles.
Media contact: Marie Lee, 616 387-8400, marie.lee@wmich.edu