The College of Arts and Sciences at Western Michigan University is proud to announce the 2019 Alumni Achievement Award winners and to celebrate the outstanding contributions made by these 22 influential alumni. These individuals will be recognized at our Alumni Achievement Awards reception on Friday, Oct. 11 in rooms 208-209 Bernhard Center.
Departmental awards
Dr. Colleen Mouw, B.S. '00
Assistant Professor of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island
WMU Department of Biological Sciences
Robert DeRyke, B.S. '02
President and CEO, Terumo Cardiovascular Systems
WMU Department of Chemistry
Dr. Chris Groscurth, B.A. '02, M.A. '04
Director of Learning, Design and Development, Stryker Corporation
WMU School of Communication
Alfredo Hernandez, M.A. '12
Equity Officer, Michigan Department of Civil Rights
WMU Department of Comparative Religion
Dr. Sonila Beliu, Ph.D. '05
Managing Director, JP Morgan Chase
WMU Department of Economics
Cara Lougheed, B.A. '96
High School English and History Teacher, Stoney Creek High School
WMU Department of English
Dr. Michael P. Bishop, B.S. '82
Professor of Physical Geography, Texas A&M University
WMU Department of Geography
Dr. Thomas Robyn, B.A. '72
Retired Consultant and Administrator
WMU Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences
Kathleen Fish, B.A. '11
Attorney, Ellis Porter PLC
WMU Global and International Studies program
Mark Lee, B.A. '95, B.S. '95
Founder and CEO, Better World Builders, LLC
WMU Institute of the Environment and Sustainability
Dr. John Knapp II, Ph.D. '72
Author and retired professor
WMU Mallinson Institute for Science Education
Kevin Dykema, M.A. '99
Mathematics Teacher, Mattawan Consolidated School District
WMU Department of Mathematics
Dr. David P. Hoogerheide, B.S. '04
Research Physicist, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Center for Neutron Research
WMU Department of Physics
Dr. Katia Levintova, Ph.D. '04
Professor of Political Science and Global Studies, University of Wisconsin–Green Bay
WMU Department of Political Science
Dr. Caio Miguel, Ph.D. '04
Professor of Psychology and Director of the Verbal Behavior Research Laboratory, California State University, Sacramento
WMU Department of Psychology
Geoffrey E. Kaituko, M.P.A. '06
Special Secretary and Advisor, Social Sector, the Executive Office of the Deputy President, Republic of Kenya
WMU School of Public Affairs and Administration
Dr. Rose Marie Brougham, B.A. '93, B.A. '96, M.A. '99
Associate Professor of Spanish University of Wisconsin–La Crosse
WMU Department of Spanish
Dr. Rebecca Scherzer, B.S. '95, M.S. '97, Ph.D. '06
Director of Biostatistics, Kidney Health Research Collaborative at the University of California, San Francisco
WMU Department of Statistics
Dr. Seven Mattes, B.A. '07
Assistant Professor, Center for Integrative Studies, Michigan State University
WMU Department of World Languages and Literatures
WMU Pillar Awards
Learner centered
Richard Cahow, B.A. '70, M.A. '77
Social Studies Teacher and Department Chair, Kalamazoo Central High School
WMU Department of History
Discovery driven
Dr. Melissa Cheyney, M.A. '97
Associate Professor of Clinical Medical Anthropology, Oregon State University
WMU Institute for Intercultural and Anthropological Studies
Globally engaged
Dr. JC Lau, M.A. '07
Producer, Harebrained Schemes
WMU Department of Philosophy
WMU Distinguished Alumni Award
Dr. Roger C. Steininger, B.S. '64
Consulting Geologist, Steininger Consulting
WMU Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences
Recent press release on Steininger