Fall begins with new leadership at CHHS
On university campuses, fall is a time of new beginnings as high school graduates leave their hometowns to take the next steps in their education. The College of Health and Human Services begins the new academic year with a new dean, as well as a number of new chairs and directors in our departments and schools.
Dean Ron Cisler
On Aug. 1, Dr. Ron Cisler became the fourth dean of the College of Health and Human Services. Dean Cisler came to WMU from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he most recently served as the interim dean of their College of Health Sciences. He replaced Dr. Earlie Washington, who has returned the faculty in the School of Social Work.
"Of course, I'm thrilled to be in the College of Health and Human Services," says Dean Cisler. "I was impressed with the diversity of its people, its academic programs and, of course, the facilities when I first visited WMU in 2017. And I'm excited about the opportunities we have going forward."
Dean Cisler's primary research interests are in population health disparities, behavioral health risk factors, alcoholism and alcohol-related problems. He is internationally known for his expertise in assessing recovery outcomes for alcohol treatment clinical trials.
He is getting to know the campus and is quick to introduce himself to students in and around the college. Earlier this month, he took the opportunity to volunteer as a Bronco Buddy, helping new and returning students move into the CHHS learning community at Eicher Hall.
"Kalamazoo is a wonderful community," says Cisler. "There seems to be a culture here that values small and local business, and that's something that means a lot to me. I'm very impressed with the quality of life here."
Schools and Departments
Earlier this summer, Dr. Hector Diaz, announced that he would step down as director of the School of Social Work. Dr. Diaz will be on sabbatical leave this fall and will return to teaching in January 2019. Dr. Linwood Cousins has been named interim director for the School of Social Work for 2018-19. Dr. Cousins is well known to the school, having served as director from 2009-13. Most recently, he served as chair of WMU’s Department of Anthropology and chair of the Department of African-American and African Studies over the last three years.
On July 1, Dr. Laura DeThorne started at Western Michigan University as the chair of the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences. Dr. DeThorne came to WMU from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she served on faculty for 13 years, including administrative appointments as the director of undergraduate studies and associate head of speech and hearing science. She recently relocated to the Kalamazoo area with her husband and two teenage sons.
July 1 was also the first day of the permanent appointment of Dr. Carla Chase as chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy. Dr. Chase acted as interim chair during the 2017-18 fiscal year. She continues to work on the development of the new Doctor of Occupational Therapy program, which will replace the master's degree currently offered at WMU.
David Areaux, associate professor in the Department of Physician Assistant, accepted the role of interim chair of that department, effective July 1. David stepped into this one-year appointment, after the June 30 retirement of former interim chair, Denise Bowen.