Retirement and role changes in the college

Summer 2017 has been relatively active at the College of Health and Human Services where personnel are concerned. Several department heads retired or started stepping back toward retirement in July 2017.

School of Interdisciplinary Health Programs

Dr. Bob Wertkin has relinquished his director role as he steps toward retirement. He will return in the fall, on assignment to Dean Washington. After that, he will return to the faculty of the School of Social Work.

As of July 1, the director of the School of Interdisciplinary Health Programs is Dr. R. Mark Kelley. Dr. Kelley has served in faculty and administrative capacities at several universities including the University of Tennessee at Martin, Western Illinois University, Oklahoma State University and the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse.

Department of Occupational Therapy

Dr. Ben Atchison officially retired as chair of the OT department on June 30, after 34 years in higher education and 18 years at WMU. Dr. Atchison's career was celebrated at a gathering at the college in June. The Ben and Marcia Atchison OT Endowment was set up in his honor and has met the requirements to establish a full endowment.

Dr. Carla Chase has accepted the role of interim chair while a search for a permanent chair is underway.

Department of Physician Assistant

Dr. Eric Vagnses has also retired after 17 years at WMU, during which he served as faculty, chair and program director in the Department of Physician Assistant. 

Associate Professor Denise Bowen steps up as interim chair of the department.