April 2020 WMU News

WMU education professor offers teaching advice for caregivers of homebound special education students

Dr. Luchara Wilson, who teaches special education courses at Western Michigan University, provides educational tips for struggling caregivers of students with special education needs who are now learning at home due to the pandemic.

Center for Principled Leadership and Business Strategy launches new podcast, 'The Jungle'

Grab your earbuds, because WMU's Center for Principled Leadership and Business Strategy has launched another method for tuning into the business world while sheltering in place. 

WMU employees going the distance, can participate in Kalamazoo Marathon at no cost

The Kalamazoo Marathon and Borgess Run are now being offered virtually between May 1 through May 17. WMU employees who want to participate can register for free before May 10 using code: WMU. Finishers will receive a t-shirt and medal after campus reopens.

Summer camps online at WMU in June

A listing of all camps, with new listings added as information becomes available, can be found at wmich.edu/admissions/camps.

Caring cases: Luggage for Love seeking donations for foster children

Western Michigan University School of Social Work students are helping children in foster care with the most difficult move of their life.

WMU trustees vote to freezes tuition, housing costs to support students in response to pandemic

Given the unpredictable environment and financial strain caused by the coronavirus outbreak, University officials say they want to create certainty for students around the cost of their education and demonstrate that WMU remains committed to affordability.

Exercise science graduate finds success while juggling school, work and extracurriculars

Kassidy Davis is excited about continuing her studies by pursuing a doctoral degree in physical therapy in the fall.

Career and Student Employment Services ready to help WMU students, recent alumni navigate uncertain job market

A new webpage has been created to help students graduating in a pandemic position themselves for success.

Dietician offers natural ways to boost immunity

Right now the world is in the middle of a health crisis. A novel virus—one that has not been identified in humans before—has swept the globe. While that means our bodies don’t have preexisting defenses to COVID-19, there are natural ways to boost your immunity in general.

Music theatre performance graduate ready for next act

Kobe Brown, a first-generation college graduate, is excited to begin his career as a vocalist at Disneyland Tokyo.

WMU supply chain alum helps drive GM’s efforts to produce ventilators

Creating a complete supply chain within 72 hours was something that Michael Schwandt, B.B.A.'13, never thought he would have to do, but with a strong team beside him and his WMU supply chain education guiding him, he was ready to help GM deliver a 30,000-unit ventilator order from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Standout business graduate enters workforce armed with grit, resilience

Kordell Smith, a double major in leadership and business strategy as well as sales and business marketing, says he's graduating with the real-world experience and skills he needs to succeed in his field.

Biomedical sciences graduate continues family legacy at WMU

Alaa Sleymann is applying to dental schools, excited for what the future holds.

Trustees to consider tuition, room and board rates in livestreamed meeting Thursday

The full agenda, associated materials and a link to watch the meeting is available at wmich.edu/trustees.

Why are store shelves out of products like toilet paper? WMU expert says it comes down to continuing to improve supply chain

Western Michigan University supply chain expert Tom Kelly explains how changes to consumer behavior and the disruption to global supply chains amidst the novel coronavirus pandemic are affecting product availability.

Future Broncos use talents to help frontline health care workers

Two incoming freshmen are using their engineering talents to 3D print personal protective equipment for frontline health care workers.

WMU nursing program students, faculty are pandemic prepared

Three Western Michigan University nursing students discuss their passion for their chosen profession, and why the benefits outweigh the risks for joining the workforce amid COVID-19.

WMU senior engineering students solve problems facing business, industry and people

Students showcased their research live online for the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences' 66th Conference on Senior Engineering and Design Tuesday, April 14.

Aviation alum delivers critical supplies, personnel for pandemic response

Noam Morgenstern, a first officer for Alaska Airlines and 2002 graduate of WMU, is transporting vital equipment and frontline health workers across the country to help with COVID-19 response.

Alexis Brown: Achieving Excellence in Aviation

When it came to a career in aviation, Alexis Brown always seemed to know she was on the right "track." During their college careers, her parents competed in that sport and, listening to their stories about travels and meets while growing up, she wanted to follow in their spike marks as well. Good enough as an athlete at LakeVille Memorial High School in Genesee County, Brown earned a track-and-field scholarship to Western Michigan University. The aviation part of the equation was spawned a little earlier when Brown was a youngster in her hometown of Otisville, a small hamlet northeast of Flint.

Physics professor amasses support for WMU students

Led by Dr. Michael Famiano, a professor of physics, a contingent of WMU faculty, staff, alumni, parents and community members is banding together to collect and deliver food and household products to students still living on or near campus.

Fine arts staff using skills for pandemic-fighting mask production

Eleven CFA workers are participating in the project aimed at helping fight the COVID-19 spread.

WMU telehealth: Is the doctor in? Yes!

Similar to an in-person visit, telehealth appointments use video to have a conversation by computer, tablet or smartphone with a provider.

Dean elected as library association vice-president/president-elect

Julie Garrison, dean of University Libraries at Western Michigan University, has been elected as vice-president/president-elect of the Association of College and Research Libraries, or ACRL.

Innovative ideas wanted: COVID-19 Response Grant established

The grant program, designed to support small-scale research projects and creative scholarship, is open to WMU faculty as well as administrators and those staff who meet  the University's requirements to serve in the role of principal investigator to apply for the grant program.

WMU Libraries staff support Smithsonian research into graphic designer, sunburst seal

WMU Libraries’ special collections staff and librarian recently helped the Smithsonian Archives find answers about the designer of their iconic sunburst seal, Crimilda Pontes.

Student entrepreneurs clinch e-Fest prize

Western Michigan University industrial and entrepreneurial engineering student Tyler Skibicki and mechanical engineering student Noah Schultz earned a $3,000 prize from the Schulze Entrepreneurship Challenge e-Fest competition in March.

WMU public health students’ social media campaign: #Bewellwmu during pandemic

Compassion and empathy amid the COVID-19 pandemic are the foci of a social media campaign designed and launched by students in Western Michigan University's chapter of the Society for Public Health Education, Eta Sigma Gamma.

Distance education: You do you

Dr. Alan Rea, professor of business information systems, and Dr. Marcel Zondag, associate professor of marketing, are mentoring college of business faculty and staff in the transition to distance education and will serve as experts for the wider campus community in transitioning summer I courses to distance learning. Their take: teaching online is not one size fits all.

Music challenge aims to build harmony, community from a distance

Thousands of miles apart, a Western Michigan University faculty member and alumnus hope to bring people together—through music. They're challenging the WMU community to sing or perform renditions of the University's alma mater and fight song and post them on social media.