Campus memorial event set to honor Van Cooley

KALAMAZOO—A campus memorial service will be held Sunday, Oct. 21, for Dr. Van Cooley, interim dean of Western Michigan University's College of Education and Human Development, who died suddenly July 31 in Florida.

The service, which will be a celebration of Cooley's life, will be held at 1 p.m. in 1910 Sangren Hall. Sangren, the new home of the education college, was a major focus of Cooley's work during the final months of his life. It opened for classes this fall and was formally dedicated Sept. 28.

Cooley was appointed in January to serve for 2012 as interim dean of WMU's education college. Prior to that he had served since 2006 as chair of the Department of Educational Leadership, Research and Technology. Before joining the WMU faculty, he enjoyed a 22-year career in public education in Indiana, holding positions as a middle and high school teacher and as an assistant superintendent and superintendent.

A reception will follow the service. Parking is available in lot 41 and at Henry Hall, which is next to Sangren Hall. Memorial contributions may be made to the Van E. Cooley Memorial Scholarship fund through the WMU Foundation at mywmu.com.