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Six administrative appointments announced

Dec. 20, 2006

KALAMAZOO--Acting at their Dec. 15 meeting, Western Michigan University trustees approved the appointments of six administrators to posts across the campus.

Trustees signed off on the appointments of Dr. David Cowan as chair of the Department of Biological Sciences, effective July 1, 2006, through June 30, 2007; Robert Dlouhy as director of the Career English Language Center for International Students, effective July 1, 2006, through June 30, 2008; Dr. Leonard Ginsberg as interim vice president for research, effective Jan. 1, 2007; Shari Glaser as director of parent and family programs, effective Dec. 4, 2006; Dr. Keith Hearit as interim dean of the Lee Honors College, effective Jan. 1, 2007, through June 30, 2007; and Dr. Curtis N. Swanson as interim faculty chair in the College of Aviation, effective July 1, 2006, through June 30, 2007.

Dr. David Cowan has been a faculty member in the Department of Biological Sciences since 1979 and has served as interim chair of his department since April 2005. His research interests are in behavioral ecology and evolution, and in particular, the reproductive behavior of insects. His work includes the study of populations in nature, laboratory breeding and behavior experiments, and the use of molecular markers for genetic analysis. Cowan earned his bachelor's degree in 1970, his master's degree in 1976 and his doctoral degree in 1978, all from the University of Michigan. Top

Robert Dlouhy has taught English as a second language at WMU since 1975. Before joining the University staff, he taught English while serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Kenya, earned a master's degree from WMU in education and earned a master's degree in linguistics from Michigan State University. While at WMU, he has taught in CELCIS contractual arrangements with Denso Corp. in Battle Creek and with what was then the Upjohn Co. in Kalamazoo. He also has taught and been the coordinator for summer institutes for students from Japan and Korea. He replaces Laura Latulippe, who retired earlier this year. Top

Dr. Leonard Ginsberg has served as associate vice president for research since 2004, and since mid-2005 has had administrative responsibility for the unit. He succeeded Dr. Jack Luderer, who left to head WMU's Biosciences Research and Commercialization Center. A professor of biological sciences, Ginsberg has been a member of the faculty since 1977 and has a strong track record in attracting grant funding. He has been awarded major federal funding for his own research in molecular biology and in vitro toxicology. A 1969 graduate of Albright College in Pennsylvania, Ginsberg earned master's and doctoral degrees from Temple University in 1971 and 1974, respectively. Top

Shari Glaser was named to direct the Division of Student Affairs' expanded parent and family programs unit after serving for nearly five years as executive secretary and assistant to two WMU presidents and two interim presidents. Glaser first came to the University in 1996 as a member of the management staff for the University's catering operation. She previously worked in a variety of professional convention and catering positions in New York, Indiana and Michigan. She is a 1980 graduate of Kalamazoo College. Top

Dr. Keith Hearit has served as associate dean of the Lee Honor College since the beginning of 2006. An associate professor of communication, he has been a WMU faculty member since 1996. Prior to coming to WMU, he taught at Northern Illinois University, Indiana University at Kokomo and Purdue University. He is an expert in crisis communication and issue management and has just completed a book on corporate response to allegations of wrongdoing. Hearit earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Central Michigan University in 1986 and 1988, respectively, and he completed his doctoral degree at Purdue in 1992. Hearit replaces Dr. Larry ten Harmsel, who is retiring. Top

Dr. Curtis Swanson is a veteran faculty member who taught in WMU aviation programs from 1983 to 1999. He then spent four years in England--one as a lecturer at London Guildhall University and three years on special assignment with the London Metropolitan University, where he developed and helped validate three new degree programs. He returned to WMU in 2004 as a laboratory supervisor and coordinator. Swanson earned bachelor's and master's degrees from WMU in 1966 and 1968, respectively, and a doctoral degree in civil engineering from the University of Virginia in 1983. Top

Media contact: Cheryl Roland, (269) 387-8400, cheryl.roland@wmich.edu

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