December 2020 WMU News

Governor appoints new members to WMU Board of Trustees

Appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, the two new members of the board are WMU alumnus Kurtis Trevan of Grand Rapids, CEO at Gun Lake investments, and Alan Turfe of Boston, a consultant at private equity firm Thomas H. Lee Partners. The terms for the new members begin Friday, Jan. 1, 2021, and run through Dec. 31, 2028.

Test of WMU Alert system set for Wednesday, Dec. 23

The test will take place beginning at about 9 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 23, unless the WMU Alert system has been activated within the previous 24 hours. If it has, the test will be postponed until 9 a.m. Monday, Dec. 28.

Aviation grad ready for career to take off

While aviators have their heads in the clouds, there are a lot of people back on the ground working to keep them up there. Dezmond Stover is excited to be among them, passionate about making flight operations run smoothly

Passion for helping drives family studies graduate's success

Valeria Marin has always been passionate about working with kids. She treasures the memories she's collected from years of working at summer camps and in after-school programs. Initially intent on becoming a teacher, mentors and peers at Western Michigan University helped her combine her passion for education with purpose, bringing to light her drive to help families and underrepresented communities.

New app offers self-guided tour experience to prospective WMU students

Western Michigan University's Office of Admissions is reimagining the prospective-student experience amid the global pandemic. A new self-guided tour app—available for Apple and Android devices—gives families an innovative way to experience campus on their own terms.

WMU to confer about 1,400 degrees during virtual fall commencement ceremonies

In addition to conferring of degrees and a presentation of graduates, President Edward Montgomery and Dr. Jennifer Bott, provost and vice president for academic affairs, will speak. There will be vignettes on graduate success, insight from college deans and a tribute to graduates by staff and family.

Some campus offices on reduced hours for winter recess

Most Western Michigan University offices will observe winter recess from Thursday, Dec. 24, through Friday, Jan. 1. Winter recess begins with the end of fall semester, and some campus services will cease or have reduced hours through the start of spring semester, which begins Monday, Jan. 11.

WMU gear featured in Costco this holiday season

During the 2020 holiday season, Western Michigan University is one of two Mid-American Conference schools featured in athletic-gear displays in Kalamazoo's Costco store.