Whether in the lab, in the air or far beyond earth's orbit, Western faculty members are blazing trails and inspiring change in their fields of study. Drs. Megan Grunert Kowalske, Kristina Lemmer and Adam Mathews are the 2021-22 Emerging Scholar Award recipients.

“To know that the work I do has made an impact is very important to me,” says Dr. Kristina Lemmer, associate professor of aerospace engineering. Lemmer has been elected to the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Class of 2022 Associate Fellows.

Dr. Merze Tate saw boundless possibilities in a world where the odds were stacked against her; she refused to sit in the mold society created for her and instead set out to conquer her dreams and explore the world. Western is honoring Tate's legacy by naming University College—the academic home for exploratory majors—after the inspirational alumna who was a scholar, world traveler, journalist, author and disarmament specialist who advised world leaders.

After a months-long search, we are excited to welcome Dr. Reetha Raveendran and Dr. Barry Olson as our new AVP/Dean of Students, and AVP/Campus Life, respectively. They will join Student Affairs on Monday, Oct. 4.

Students from the food and consumer package goods marketing program at the Haworth College of Business have received competitive scholarships from the National Grocers Association Foundation.

A celebration of Latin culture and traditions is underway as Western Michigan University recognizes Hispanic Heritage Month.

The annual recognition of faculty and staff achievements for excellence in teaching, research and service is taking a new shape this year as the Academic Excellence Awards Series. The awards will be given at several ceremonies throughout the fall semester, beginning Thursday, Sept. 30. Ceremonies will feature a presentation and interviews with the recipients followed by a reception.

A blueprint for a more inclusive and equitable environment is beginning to take shape at Western Michigan University. One year after President Edward Montgomery charged Dr. Candy McCorkle, vice president for diversity and inclusion, to lead the Racial Justice Advisory Committee, the group is ready to present its progress to the campus community.

The discussions of three books begins Monday, Sept. 20, and continues through mid-November.

Tracey Joubert will graduate in December with a master's degree in orientation and mobility for children. She hopes to bring her skills back to her native South Africa and help other practitioners implement practices to fill the growing need to teach safe, efficient and independent travel skills to children with vision impairment.

Where do our elements come from? And how are they made? Dr. Michael Famiano's new research is flipping the script on those age-old nuclear astrophysics questions. He will present his findings to the American Physical Society on Wednesday, Oct. 13.

Geologists have studied the "dolomite problem" exhaustively to determine what conditions in the past were favorable to create the mineral.

President Edward Montgomery and other Western leaders celebrated the opening of BTR Park North in a joint ceremony with officials from Ascension Borgess Cancer Center and Ascension Michigan. The cancer center is the first organization to locate in BTR Park North, a job creation and business development initiative that expands on the success of WMU's original business park.

The Western Michigan University Board of Trustees meets at 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 17, at the College of Aviation in Battle Creek.

It was a way to connect with his passion when theaters around the globe went dark during the pandemic. Now a year and a half later, Western Michigan University theatre student Henry Lee is about to see his unique Lego hobby take center stage in New York City on the same weekend he takes the stage to kick off the new WMU Theatre season.

The CHHS Committee for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion has been recognized with a 2021 Excellence in Diversity Award from the WMU Office of Diversity and Inclusion. Dr. Candy McCorkle, vice president for Diversity and Inclusion, came to the college in early August to present the award to members of the committee.

He's been patrolling the Western Michigan University campus for years, and on Saturday a new brown and white steed named Triumpgh will lead the charge onto the field at Waldo Stadium as the Broncos look to lay down the law on the Redbirds of Illinois State. Haley Lesiow, president of Western's equestrian team, will take the reins as his rider this season.

Refreshments, an Inclusive Bike Ride and an opportunity to connect with the Office for Sustainability are highlights of the 2021 Fall Sustainability Celebration at Western Michigan University on Friday, Sept. 17.

The annual event celebrates Western's commitment to sustainability by highlighting campus programs and projects.

Doctoral student Tabitha Mpamira, who also received her bachelor's degree in psychology from Western in 2005, has been recognized internationally for her efforts to break the cycle of sexual and gender-based violence in sub-Saharan Africa.

Western Michigan University is rewarding students for doing their part to keep the community safe by getting vaccinated against COVID-19. A second round of vaccination incentive scholarship winners has been announced.

Two Western Michigan University engineering students, Riya Subedi and Joseph Van Den Hombergh, have each been awarded a $1,500 scholarship by the East Michigan Association of Energy Engineers. 

WMU's Food Industry Research and Education Center has partnered with Learning Evolution to offer training, education and category management certification for professionals in the consumer packaged goods and retail industries.