December 2022 WMU News

Except for essential services, all WMU campuses will close at 3 p.m. for the remainder of the day due to impending severe weather.

Amy Burns, executive assistant to the dean, is the fall recipient of the College of Education and Human Development’s Semi-Annual Staff Recognition Award. 

Undergraduate students will have the opportunity to pitch innovative ideas and receive support and mentorship through the Office of Research and Innovation's Bronco Innovators Challenge. The winning ideas will receive funding and see their projects through to production.

About 60 staff and administrators from across vice presidential divisions gathered in December at Heritage Hall for the Empowering Futures Work Group Kickoff. This was the first collective gathering of all team members working on the Empowering Futures project. Work groups, with the support of the Executive Leadership Team and Steering Committee, will continue advancing and refining initiatives supported by the historic Empowering Futures Gift.

Western's cybersecurity program is letting Evelyn Ortiz-Martinez explore her fascination with encryption and decryption—and solving a good mystery. The sophomore loves "having the flexibility and freedom to find a specific part of cybersecurity I love and do that as my career.”

The Board of Trustees approved an honorary degree for outgoing U.S. Rep Fred Upton at its Dec. 15 meeting. A campuswide committee recommended the honor, noting during his tenure, Upton has “remained committed to his district and the entire state of Michigan. Our institution has greatly benefited by having a respected bipartisan leader advocating for WMU in the U.S. House of Representatives.”

In 2022, the physician assistant program at Western Michigan University celebrated 50 years of preparing physician assistant professionals. Founded in 1972, it was one of the first PA programs in the nation and the second in Michigan.

Dr. Bernardine Lacey was the founding director and professor in the WMU School of Nursing, where she served for five years. She passed away on March 26, 2021.

Each year during the holiday season, students, faculty and staff from Western's physician assistant program adopts a family to help them meet basic needs and provide Christmas gifts for their children. Catholic Charities Diocese of Kalamazoo matched the PA program with a local family in need, a family with six with children ranging in age from three months to eight years old.

Senior Jordan Chopp has found his passion and niche in human resource management. Taking time to discover his interests and natural talent has paid off, guiding him to take the next step in his education and career.

From student ambassador to undergraduate researcher to COVID-19 Student Coalition leader, Grace Filpi has engaged herself in just about every corner of campus.

Items for consideration by the Board of Trustees on Thursday, Dec. 15, include renaming the Stadium Clubhouse, an honorary degree recommendation for Congressman Fred Upton, personnel updates and a proposal seeking flexibility in the use of an endowment fund to compensate graduate assistants in Bronco Athletics.

Fahad Shiraj, from Dhaka, Bangladesh, is a senior majoring in business analytics and becoming a leader every day. As treasurer of the Business Analytics Information Technology registered student organization and a founding member of the Bangladesh Student Association, Shiraj is making an impact at Western. 

Math and its many applications isn't everyone's idea of a good time. For Sydney Wade, a student in the accountancy and finance programs, she was practically born for it—coming from a family of entrepreneurs who exposed her to business plans and financials early on.  

Unified Clinics has announced a therapy dog clinic focused on training, testing and incorporating therapy dogs into existing operations at the clinic and community.

“Dr. Thompson has extensive professional accomplishments in the aviation field both in academic as well as industry settings,” says Dr. Christopher Cheatham, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs. “I believe he is uniquely positioned to lead this college in part due to his knowledge and experiences related to the three different majors in the college.”

Graduates hail from 35 countries and will participate in one of three programs beginning at 9 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) at Miller Auditorium.

Spring semester begins at 8 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023.

Western students will enjoy to a refreshed space in Waldo Library's lower level as construction finishes in December, and the floor reopens on Monday, Jan. 9.

Western's amped-up EV charging network, facilities management staff member DeVon Miller and alumnus Matt Hollander were all recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council of West Michigan during its 2022 Leadership Awards on Dec. 8.

College of Arts and Sciences faculty and graduate students embarked on a 10-day, grant-funded study tour of Japan to enhance understanding of pandemic response and gain appreciation for Japanese culture.

Elizbia Capula's childhood experiences with migrant farmwork have inspired her to become a voice for migrant families through immigration law. She'll be a step closer to her dream after graduating from Western with a degree in sociology and plans to attend law school.

Sai Myint, a Navy veteran, found direction in Western's food marketing program while honing his leadership skills in RSOs and on the pickleball court.

The Association of Doctoral Programs in Health Sciences (ADPHS) has recently bestowed the Program of Merit status on the Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Ph.D. Program at Western Michigan University. It is one of only five doctoral programs in the country to obtain this distinction.

Auden Ceithaml is a digital marketing and eCommerce major who has found success in the program's registered student organization, digital marketing competition and managing the men's soccer team social media. 

Western is helping the Hooligans Flight Team bolster its reserves and continue its mission to honor military veterans with the donation of parts from two vintage military aircraft.

Haley Jackson aims to put heart into her career in human resources. In joining student organizations, securing an recruiting internship and networking with business professionals, Jackson is positioning herself to make a positive impact on people at organizations that value their employees and culture. 

If you type in #community into TikTok, Instagram or your preferred social media, senior Megan Taylor will certainly be in your feed. Inspired by well-known companies like Nike for their impactful campaigns, Taylor is ready to take on advertising and promotion once she graduates—with an industry-relevant internship and scholarship already on her resume. 

Semiannual and annual award recipients are Western staff members who are recognized each year based on nominations from across campus.

The Senior Design Conference celebrates with pride the dedication, perseverance and excellence of our students. You are invited to attend our students’ presentations—virtually or in-person—to learn about their work and the exciting things they have accomplished. What you will see are the results of our thriving Broncos—designing, building and testing.