W Magazine

Layla Wallace stands in a kitchen holding cupcakes.

College athlete by day, Kalamazoo business leader by night

Food marketing major Layla Wallace is leveraging her classroom knowledge into sweet success.
Learn how this long jumper is on track to make a big impact

Dear friends and colleagues,

Within this issue of the W Magazine you’ll find stories that reveal the heart and purpose of our Western community—an extraordinary blend of passion, innovation and perseverance that drives us toward our North Star—holistic, experience-driven education. Each story featured here is a testament to the transformative power of our education, illustrating how Broncos continue to push boundaries and embrace new possibilities.

I am honored to share just a few of the stories that showcase the creativity that defines Western’s students, faculty, staff and alumni. Each underscores our approach to experiential education and is united by a shared Bronco spirit: commitment to excellence, the drive to pioneer and the desire to make an impact.

President Montgomery stands at a podium.

Layla Wallace embodies the very essence of passion and purpose. She didn’t just discover her love for baking in grade school a decade ago; she built a business—Layla’s Cool Pops! Now that she is a food marketing student, Western is empowering Layla to advance her entrepreneurial vision, with a mission to address homelessness. We applaud her for taking steps to find her passion early in life and for boldly demonstrating leadership and social responsibility, ambitions we aim to instill in every Bronco.

We are also excited to celebrate the University’s nearly $60 million record-breaking year in total awards for research, spotlighting unprecedented work at Western. Our commitment to research and innovation is woven into the University’s fabric as we actively seek solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. It’s rewarding to see our faculty and students at the forefront of this essential work, translating research into real-world impact. Building on this spirit of innovation, advancements in unmanned technologies are opening new opportunities for students interested in aviation-related fields. We’re extremely proud of the College of Aviation’s creation of a certificate program focused on drone technology. Western provides an impressive launching pad for cutting-edge careers in the field of flight and beyond.

Students stand with President Montgomery wearing their legendary bronco hats.

We are proud to highlight the accomplishments of alumni who exemplify the Bronco spirit in their professional arenas, including Trey Conner, BS ’11. He’s the chief operating officer of the Grand Rapids Gold NBA G League and attributes much of his career success to the foundation he built here at Western. His degree in physical education and health, mixed with a passion for sports, strong leadership skills and a love for the community has propelled his career to new heights in West Michigan. We’re excited to see how high his future will continue to soar.

As we celebrate the accomplishments of our students, faculty, staff and alumni, I am both grateful and inspired by the knowledge that Western has played an important role in their journeys to success. It is our honor to support all Broncos as they push boundaries of knowledge, gain relevant experiences and live the meaningful life of their choosing. ■

Sincerely,

Image

Edward Montgomery, PhD
President

WMU President Edward Montgomery greets two graduates

WMU president announces plan to retire next summer

Western Michigan University President Edward Montgomery, who for the past seven years has steadily led Western to remarkable milestones—including its first enrollment increase in a decade in the second most competitive market in the nation, record student retention and six-year graduation rates, an all-time high in research productivity and the largest gift ever made for a public university in U.S. history—has announced that he will retire next summer.

EDL is in our DNA

Western's Experience-Driven Learning (EDL) Venture Grants empower students with hands-on learning experiences to ensure career-readiness after graduation. 

From solving decades-old cold cases to revitalizing a historic African American community, these nearly two dozen faculty-led projects have further bolstered our University's commitment to experiential learning.

Learn more about the projects and the diverse disciplines they represent
A student stands with arms outstretched in front of a projector screen.

Kinetic imaging

Students engaged in the experiential technologies for the kinetic imaging program provide active demonstrations of their virtual reality and motion capture projects.
A student smiles with a camera.

Lights, camera, respect

Students enrolled in the "Non-extractive and Non-obtrusive Community-engaged Learning for Media Production" course shoot video and practice their interview techniques at the Ecumenical Senior Center in Kalamazoo.
A student talks to a potential employer at a career fair.

DigitalWMU Career Fair

The inaugural digital marketing and advertising career fair allows students to forge meaningful connections with prospective employers from Chicago to Detroit.
An MSP detective sits with students.

Solving cold cases

Students participating in Western’s pioneering Cold Case Program with Michigan State Police meet with detectives to discuss their current cases. To date, students have helped solve two cold cases and have collaborated on more than two dozen others.
A student presents a project next to a research poster.

Advancing student scholarship

The Undergraduate Research, Innovation and Creative Scholarship Summer Scholars Program pairs faculty and students for a mentored summer research experience, culminating in an event where students share their research with the greater campus community.
Students test a turbine in a wind tunnel.

Igniting innovation

With record-breaking research investments and a focus on experiential learning, Western is poised to shape the future. 
See how faculty and students are leading the charge

University news

The Corner at the student center

New WMU campus space highlights local attractions, engages community members and enriches students’ experience

Frank Waln

Indigenous hip-hop artist brings new perspective to Western

Alumni Lillian Alter and Yoseph Henry

Western's jazz program captures four 2024 DownBeat magazine Student Music Awards

A soccer player kicks a ball.

Top of the MAC

After a year in which the Broncos won 13 conference championships and six teams made NCAA appearances, Western finished first in the MAC in the 2023-24 Learfield Directors' Cup standings.
Learn more about the historic year
Kim Moore swings a golf club.

Bronco birdie!

Golf head coach Kim Moore racked up a second place finish once again at the U.S. Adaptive Open, securing her spot among the world's best golfers.
Read about her rounds
A football player runs with the ball.

Broncos Will Reign

As name, image and likeness (NIL) rules enter a new era in collegiate sports, WMU football alumni are partnering with Bronco Athletics to set students up for success on and off the field.
Support student-athletes
Maggie King jumps up to spike a ball during a WMU volleyball game.

A giant leap forward

Like the speed of U.S. Olympian Sha’Carri Richardson, women’s sports are gaining unprecedented momentum. From the track to the beam to the field and the court, female athletes are settling in as household names and faces—and they’re not going anywhere.
See what's fueling the rise of women's sports
Students cheer in the stands at a football game.

A season to remember

The Broncos gave fans plenty to cheer about at WMU Homecoming, starting off MAC conference play on a winning streak and extending it to 4-0 by rolling past Kent State with a convincing 52-21 victory.
Buster Bronco dances with some of the homecoming royalty.
Buster busts a move with the Homecoming Court.
Students hold flags for various countries.
International students prepare for the annual Parade of Flags.
A football player runs with the ball down the field.
Encouraging a "Gold Rush" at Waldo Stadium, the Broncos sported gold uniforms.