W Magazine

What a year it has been!

Returning to my alma mater, the University that made me who I am, has been exhilarating and incredibly meaningful. As you may already know, my Bronco story started long before I attended Western myself; both my parents are alumni, and their decision to come here forever changed the trajectory of my family tree. Now, as I complete my first year back home, I am reminded every day why this University matters so much.

A lot has changed since my time as a student here. New technologies have transformed how we teach and learn, and the needs of today’s students continue to evolve. But what has remained constant is the spirit of WMU and its role in shaping the leaders and doers of tomorrow. We are—and always will be—a community committed to opportunity, innovation and student success.

Experience-Driven Learning remains at the forefront of who we are as a University. As a critical piece of their Western education, our Broncos take their classroom know-how and apply it in real-world settings so that they are prepared to hit the ground running when they start their post-graduation careers. Take Miles Cramer, a leadership and business strategy graduate who led a team in identifying a $2 million growth opportunity through Sleeping Giant Capital and now applies that experience as a services sales specialist with Dell Technologies. Or consider Grace Mulock, a service-oriented student who turned a yearlong internship with Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes, the largest independent food bank in the state, into a career in marketing and communications.

Students are also gaining hands-on experience in high-stakes financial decision-making. Through the Zhang Financial Presidential Internship, for example, personal financial planning major Mo Tall manages my personal investment portfolio under the guidance of industry professionals.

And graduates of Western’s internationally recognized Cold Case Program are now serving with the Michigan State Police. Their work alongside investigators on unresolved cases prepared them to enter law enforcement and make a difference in their communities.

Many of our University’s successes are possible because of the ongoing impact of the Empowering Futures Gift, which continues to create new opportunities for our students. What made headlines five years ago as the largest gift ever for a public university in U.S. history is being measured by its impact on student success today. The gift lives in Broncos such as recent supply chain management graduate Jadazay Ledbetter, who is the first in her family to earn a bachelor’s degree. She also graduated with multiple job offers and, thanks to the Bronco Promise, one of several scholarships funded by the Empowering Futures Gift, left college debt-free. We wish her well as she begins her supply chain career at Dayton Freight Lines Inc. this summer.

I continue to be inspired by her and the rest of our University community, whose commitment to excellence makes Western a leader in higher education. My hope is that Western will continue to be recognized as a place that delivers the best student experiences and career outcomes and answers our community’s most pressing challenges.

Go Broncos!

President Russ Kavalhuna