Celebrating research and creative works

During Research, Innovation, and Creative Scholarship Celebration Week in April, we hosted the inaugural WMU Authors Reception to celebrate Western faculty, instructors and staff who published monographs. Writing and publishing monographs—or books—is a significant endeavor that often requires years of work. 

We recognized 60 authors at this first celebration and look forward to celebrating our WMU authors annually.
 

We were delighted to host four local authors for book talks on campus. These events allowed students and community members the opportunity to learn something new and hear authors talk about their research and writing.

• Hedy Habra, poet and author of “Or Did You Ever See The Other Side?”
• David Small, illustrator and author of “The Werewolf at Dusk and Other Stories."
• Dr. Cristina Fava, associate professor, Irving S. Gilmore School of Music, and author of "Art Music Activism: Aesthetics and Politics in 1930s New York City."
• Dr. Mary Land, associate professor, Irving S. Gilmore School of Music, and author of "The Value of Music Connections.

Waldo Library is a fantastic location for student events. This year, we hosted the Graduate College’s three-minute thesis (3MT) and graduate research poster competitions in the library. We are delighted to support these activities and showcase graduate student research.

At the 3MT event, graduate students presented their research ideas, dissertations or theses in three minutes for the judges panel and attendees. The winning presenters received scholarships, and the first-place winner advanced to the regional 3MT competition.

The Graduate Research Poster Day provided an opportunity for students across all disciplines to create a poster and present their research to event attendees. Academic departments nominated students to participate. This year, the winning research posters were featured in our summer student exhibit.

We installed a flexible exhibit system in Waldo Library’s second-floor rotunda to showcase Western students’ art and research posters. We select new pieces each semester based on proposals submitted by students. 

Students featured in the spring 2024 exhibits were invited to participate in Waldo Fest, our annual event that helps connect students with resources, campus departments and RSOs. This event allowed the community to chat with researchers and artists about their work.