Dr. Christina Stamper, professor of management, earned the highly competitive Student Chapter Advisor Impact Award from the Society for Human Resource Management Foundation.

Caroline Arana and Claire Beaman helped the community theatre in Whitehall, Michigan reimagine its summer season through livestreamed performances.

Dr. Tim Palmer, professor of management and director of the Center for Sustainable Business Practices, has earned a highly competitive Fulbright Specialist Award from the U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. His Fulbright project will center around developing service courses at a partner institution abroad.

"Do Black lives matter?” That’s the question local artists aim to answer with the upcoming three-part series “Black Lives, Black Words.” Hosted in partnership by Western Michigan University’s Department of Theatre and the Black Arts and Cultural Center’s Face Off Theatre Company, the series will feature an "art as activism" workshop, a panel discussion and a talent showcase.

Research is underway at Western Michigan University that could impact science, technology, engineering and mathematics—STEM—teaching and improve learning outcomes in multiple states. The National Science Foundation awarded Dr. Jessaca Spybrook, professor of evaluation, measurement and research, a $1,328,108 grant for her project entitled “Improving Evaluations of STEM Programs: An Empirical Investigation of Key Design Parameters.”

Dr. Ola Smith, chair, Department of Accountancy, has been elected chair of the Michigan State Board of Accountancy, one of the highest oversight posts in the field. The board is responsible for the certification, licensure and regulation of certified public accountants and public accounting firms.

When work involves playing with toys all day, it hardly feels like a job. Western Michigan University product design and innovation student Madison Dempster is living that dream.

Dr. Alessander Danna-dos-Santos is developing a spirometer to measure lung efficiency. His Western Michigan University COVID-19 grant-funded research seeks to sidestep more costly design and production methods to benefit underfunded Michigan healthcare clinics and the patients they serve.

Director of Vocal Jazz and Gold Company Greg Jasperse has set a goal of biking 1,000 miles to raise $10,000 for the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund. His fundraising journey has become a life-changing journey toward understanding that will have lasting effects both personally and professionally.

Western Michigan University alumna Angela Blood Starr, a regional school health coordinator for Calhoun Intermediate School District, served on the the Michigan Return to School Advisory Council. Find out what her main concerns for K-12 fall education are and how her expertise helped the council formulate reopening guidelines.

Spared from pandemic closures by greenhouse specialist Christopher Jackson, native plant seedlings are now being planted across campus. The effort is part of Landscape Services' larger goal of increasing naturalized areas on campus and enhancing learning opportunities for the WMU community.

The WMU integrated supply management program once again claims a spot on Gartner's list of top programs. A national leader in supply chain education, the program has been recognized by Gartner for its excellence for more than a decade.

Dr. Steven Butt and Dr. Christine Byrd-Jacobs are the new permanent deans for the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the Graduate College, respectively.

WMU's Daria Orlowska is maintaining data sets on COVID-19 cases, demographics and statewide hospital occupancy and personal protective equipment.

Recent graduate Khadejah Al Muhaisin is now pursuing a master's degree in social work, drawing on her experiences growing up in Saudi Arabia to fuel her passion to create new educational and vocational opportunities for girls and women in need.

Dr. Tim Palmer, professor of management, speaks about how sustainability may be negatively impacted by COVID-19 as well as the importance of stakeholders communicating the value of sustainability, during pandemic and beyond, to companies and organizations.

Pursuing a bachelor's degree in freshwater science and sustainability at Western Michigan University allowed RJ Bolzman to channel his passion into purpose.

Determined to foster community and connections, Western Michigan University's Office of Student Engagement is reimagining Bronco Bash 2020. To ensure the health and safety of participants and mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the event will be held virtually instead of in person.

No other buildings on campus are affected. In lieu of boiling water for the recommended two minutes, bottled water should be used for consumption. Water fountains in the building will not be accessible for use during the advisory period.

Jobs are out there. While the pandemic and ensuing financial crisis may sow seeds of worry in the minds of students, Western Michigan University’sCareer and Student Employment Services department is working overtime to connect them to employment opportunities.

Research underway at Western Michigan University will create a national archive of religious response to the pandemic. Funded by a University COVID-19 response grant, the project will also fuel the development of relevant coursework for students at WMU and other colleges and high schools across the country. 

Maddie Cordell, a student in the Haworth College of Business, recently received a competitive $10,000 scholarship from the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board for the 2020-21 academic year.

Doctoral student Adam Austin began his WMU journey as an undergraduate pursuing an English degree. Ten years later, he is now leading an impactful biological sciences research project on human-made wetlands across Michigan.

With new health and safety protocols, field projects have acted as pilots for the Office of Research and Innovation as it works to restart research at the University.

The general fund for the fiscal year that begins July 1 is one of the top action items up for consideration when the Board of Trustees convene at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 25. The meeting will be livestreamed at wmich.edu/trustees.

As some do with other taboo topics of conversation, parents are now looking for resources and guidance on discussing issues of race and racism with their children. While it can be uncomfortable and daunting, ignoring the issues—especially with young kids—could be even more detrimental. Drs. Candy McCorkle, Regena Nelson and Glinda Rawls discuss how parents can approach the subject in age-appropriate ways.

The Michigan American Council on Education Network has recognized Dr. Carla Koretsky, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, as a distinguished woman in higher education leadership. This annual award is given to those who have distinguished themselves by providing outstanding leadership to women in their institutions, in their profession and in society at large.

The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation announced that Western Michigan University is one of 60 providers from 29 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to receive accreditation for their educator preparation programs.

Abby Ragsdale (Raymond) is making her "success" march as well. Since August of 2019, she has been flying for the aviation department of Steelcase, a century-plus-old enterprise headquartered in Grand Rapids that, with 12,000 employees, has grown far beyond its origins as a maker of office furniture and equipment.