Fall 2023

An exterior photo of the WMU Student Center.

The heart of campus

This new space for connection, collaboration and community is redefining the Bronco experience.

Dear friends and colleagues,

This semester marked a momentous occasion with the grand opening and formal dedication of the WMU Student Center. More than simply a building, it represents the University’s commitment to our extraordinary students and our relentless efforts to serve their needs in ways that are relevant, enriching and meaningful.

A portrait of President Edward Montgomery inside the WMU Student Center.
Students are at the heart of everything we do and every decision we make. We listened to their wants, needs and aspirations and then endeavored to create a space that would holistically enhance their Western experience. Within its walls, ideas are born as students collaborate among themselves as well as with faculty and staff. The center has become another campus platform for both teaching and learning as well as a space for relaxation, play and community. We envisioned the new student center as a hub for belonging, and the fact that it is continuously bustling with Broncos from morning until night underscores our successful mission.

While we take great pride in what this facility offers our students, our greatest pride is in Broncos themselves, including students like Nadia Famiano, a second-year creative writing and Spanish student. Nadia has recently ventured into the world of publishing by authoring the children’s book “Julie Loves to Dance.” You can read more about Nadia’s work in this edition. Her authorship serves as an excellent reminder that applied learning provides students with a first-class ticket to professional pursuits.

Our alumni also provide outstanding evidence of Western’s high-quality education. Aisha Thaj, one of the first graduates of the product design program, stands out as a shining example. She began as an intern in 2020 and earned a position in 2021 as Bell Flight’s first-ever industrial design engineer. Read about how she’s already playing a pivotal role in elevating the world-renowned company’s innovation.

Contributing to the journeys of individuals like Aisha and Nadia are why Western exists and why we remain committed to building on our 120-year legacy, “So that all may learn.”

All the best,

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Edward Montgomery, PhD
President
 
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Monks mesmerize with mandala

The Tibetan Buddhist Monks visited campus in October to construct a mandala sand painting. Capturing the attention of Broncos on the WMU Student Center Gathering Stairs, the monks painstakingly laid millions of grains of sand and then swept them away as part of this ancient spiritual art form to purify and heal the environment and its inhabitants.

University News

A birds-eye view of volleyball players on a court.

Set for success

Domination is the name of the game for volleyball this season! The Broncos claimed the Mid-American Conference (MAC) regular season title with a 15-game win streak, their first title since 2008 and the 10th in program history. Senior setter Logan Case, left, is now the program’s all-time leader in career assists. The Broncos are also leading the MAC off the court as well, with Western’s women’s athletics program winning the 2022-23 MAC Women’s Faculty Athletics Representative Academic Achievement Award for the first time in program history!
Sandy and David Rozelle stand with their arms linked.

Why I Give: David and Sandy Rozelle

People really thrive where they’re happy, and I loved the college campus. Both of us think that attending a university is a life-altering experience in so many wonderful ways.
David Rozelle, MSA '75

In Memoriam