January 2015 WMU News

The all-student cast will give several performances of the Victorian thriller Feb. 6-15 in the Shaw Theatre at the Gilmore Theatre Complex under the direction of guest director David Allen George.

College Goal Sunday at WMU will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8, in Schneider Hall. High school seniors and others can get assistance with filling out their Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

WMU will hold its annual Career Fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, and first Government and Nonprofit Career Fair from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13.

A series of spring lunch and learn programs is set from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. over several Fridays. The series focuses on accommodation challenges in the classroom and how faculty can minimize these challenges.

Dr. LaQuandra S. Nesbitt will deliver the Bill Burian University-Community Lecture at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11, and give the keynote address at 8 a.m. the following day at the Diversity and Inclusion Conference

Eight critical issues will be examined Feb. 2 through March 23 during the 2015 Great Decisions Series, a partnership between WMU and the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan.

Dachea Hill, an administrator at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago, will be WMU's new director of admissions beginning Feb. 9. She will succeed Penny Bundy, who is now the University's director of graduate admissions.

The PBS documentary "Hawking," a personal biography of renowned physicist Stephen Hawking, will be shown at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, in Room 1110 Rood Hall.

Comedian Chris James will bring his act from across the pond to campus at 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, in the Bernhard Center's North Ballroom. Admission is $1 with a valid student Bronco Card, and $2 without.

Vân-Ánh Vanessa Võ will perform at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4, in the Dalton Center Recital Hall. The performance will be preceded by a 7 p.m. discussion hosted by Dr. Robert White.

Sonic Escape will perform at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28 in the Dalton Center Recital Hall. The performance will be preceded by a 7 p.m. discussion hosted by Dr. Robert White.

Erwin W. Rayford, retired professor of industrial technology and education, died June 18, 2014, at age 94. Services have been held, and memorial guestbook entries can be made online.

James F. Hettinger of Fennville and Kenneth Miller of Kalamazoo were elected chair and vice chair, respectively, of WMU's Board of Trustees at the board's Jan. 22 meeting.

Deanna Dudley of Matteson, Illinois, was selected to receive the Gilman Scholarship, which provides up to $5,000 for American students to pursue overseas study for college credit.

Joel Kendrick, a leader in boosting recycling efforts in the fast food and packaging industries, died Monday, Jan. 19, at age 56. Services are set for Friday, Jan. 23, and Saturday, Jan. 24.

A lineup featuring cast members from Dancing With the Stars and contestants from American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance will perform at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6.

Guest author Dipika Guha will open the fifth annual New Play Festival on Friday, Jan. 30, with a reading of a new piece of her work. The free festival also will feature new plays by 11 local playwrights.

The formal annual meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, in 157-159 Bernhard Center. The board will set its remaining 2015 meeting dates and address a number of other administrative items.

An enhancement to the system that makes access to alerts available for WMU's eight regional locations was recently activated. The alerts notify members of the WMU community to emergencies and campus closures.

Randy Brecker, along with the Western Jazz Quartet, WMU Jazz Orchestra, WMU Jazz Lab Band and pianist Edward Simonill will appear at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, in the Dalton Center Recital Hall.

Some 800 academically talented high school seniors will be on campus Saturday, Jan. 24 or 31, to participate in the Medallion Scholarship Competition, one of the biggest competitive scholarship events in Michigan.

WMU's Board of Trustees approved the retirements of 13 faculty and staff members as well as the resignations of six faculty members during its Dec. 18 meeting.

Trustees have granted sabbatical leaves to 36 faculty members. The leaves are for the fall 2015 semester, spring 2016 semester and the 2015-16 academic year.

A dual effort between WMU and KVCC, the 96-credit-hour program will have a rigorous science base as well as sustainability, marketing and culture courses. The major will be offered beginning fall 2015.

Chris Harris, director of the program, will discuss "Fostering Success through the WMU Seita Scholars Program" at 8 a.m. Friday, Jan. 30, in 2150 Schneider Hall.

Anita Hill's talk, planned for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3, has been postponed due to bad weather on the East Coast causing travel difficulties. The talk will be rescheduled later this semester.

Nellie Hermann, author of the novel "The Cure for Grief," will speak at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, in the Dalton Center Recital Hall. This event has been canceled due to illness and may be rescheduled for a later date.

The guest soprano will perform "American Songs of Love and Faith" with pianist Gunta Laukmane at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26, in the Dalton Center Recital Hall.

WMU faculty members will perform at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, in the Dalton Center Recital Hall. The performance will be preceded by a 7 p.m. discussion hosted by Dr. Robert White.

All WMU students are invited to strengthen their leadership skills by registering for the Diversity and Leadership Institute Friday, Jan. 23, in the Bernhard Center. Registrations are due Wednesday, Jan. 21.