Marion R. Spear established what is today's Western OT program in 1922, just five years after the profession began. Located at the Kalamazoo Regional Psychiatric Hospital in those early days, the training program was one of the first of its kind in Michigan.

For more than 50 years, Bill Thompson has been giving to Western, generously supporting WMU Athletics, College of Education and Human Development, School of Music and Haworth College of Business. He's a Bronco sports fanatic, remaining a season ticket holder for football, men's basketball and hockey for five decades and counting. He also served on WMU's Grand Rapids Alumni Golf Outing Committee for nearly 40 years. So, there's no doubt he bleeds brown and gold.

In addition to exploring her field, one of senior Lila Rode’s priorities has been to be experience as much as possible while being a student.

Waldo Library's lower level is getting a much-needed refresh this fall as crews install new carpet, ceiling tiles and energy-efficient lighting. Construction kicked off in June, closing the lower level through December. All other floors and collections in Waldo Library are open and operating as normal. 

WMU students will have one more study spot on campus this fall. The University Libraries will reopen the Swain Library in Sangren Hall for open study and academic programming starting Aug. 31.

It’s no secret recreational cannabis sales in Michigan are continuing to climb. With that growth, skilled marketers in the industry are now in high demand, and Western Michigan University students will soon be prepared to meet the need.

Senior Jesse Blain is ready to take on a career in one of the most challenging fields—cybersecurity. A U.S.Navy veteran and experienced web professional, he says "the biggest challenge is being able to balance the need for security online with the need for companies to provide services that will generate profits."

Jerry Selbee won the lottery—literally and figuratively. A loophole landed him millions and actor Bryan Cranston's attention.

Forget fetching coffee—Broncos are gaining valuable industry experience and connections in their summer internships. From designing toys, furthering space explorations, influencing political policy, managing media for professional athletes, rewiring planes, crafting stories, creating new food packaging and equipment and even holding a birthing mother’s hand, students are learning in and out of the classroom.

A reconstruction project on Stadium Drive near campus could cause delays as traffic picks up during fall move-in, which runs Thursday through Tuesday, Aug. 25-30.

For the senior design project, Marie Bridges and Alex Whipple worked with faculty advisor Dr. Massood Atashbar to define, develop and test a viable printed electronic estrogen sensor.

WMU’s main campus has a variety of options available for the campus community to find food during the fall 2022 semester. The Valley Dining Center, a large, dine-in facility with many customizable choices, is open continuously from breakfast through dinner. Campus Cafés can be found in the Valley Dining Center, Sangren Hall, College of Health and Human Services, Waldo Library, Sprau Tower, Schneider Hall and other locations. The Bernhard Center offers the Bernhard Café and Market on the main level and Subway on the lower level.

New programs will join old favorites during student move in Aug. 25 to 30. Demand for on-campus housing is soaring along with excitement for a full slate of fun and memorable activities.

The swag, the performances, the unending line for Celebration! Cinema refillable popcorn buckets as Sangren Plaza bustles with activity—it's a sight we haven't seen since before COVID-19 was part of our vocabulary. Bronco Bash is charging back in person this year, for the first time since 2019, in celebration of its 40th anniversary.

Emma Simpson has wanted to be a nurse ever since helping her dad take out some stitches when she was in elementary school, so when it came to choosing a higher education institution, she knew exactly what she wanted. The holistic approach of Western's Bronson School of Nursing was the perfect fit.

Named a rising star and selected to share the stage with some of Broadway's brightest in New York, Jack Austin is well on his way to his dream of a performing career. But the Great White Way can wait a few more years while he prepares for his next big role: college student.

For the fall of 2022, the College of Health and Human Services is announcing new programs and redesigned certificates that show our commitment to growing and evolving to better support our students and the communities we serve.

At  the new  WMU Food Marketing and Supply Chain Conference in March, participants will have the opportunity to enjoy sessions in-person or online. The “live hybrid” format—and a new conference app—will encourage engagement and interaction. Participants in the hybrid environment will be able to ask questions of speakers in real-time, giving all conference attendees the opportunity to fully participate from anywhere in the world.

The road closure will allow for traffic signal work as part of the city of Kalamazoo's Stadium Drive Project.

Dr Ming Li announced his departure in an email to the CEHD faculty earlier this spring, citing personal reasons. He will continue on as a CEHD faculty member in the Department of Human Performance and Health Education in the fall.

Western marketing students are learning the complexities behind online searches and how to influence these search results. A new digital marketing course in the Haworth College of Business is helping students learn how to generate website traffic and conversions through search engine optimization (SEO) and content marketing, and it is already making an impact.

Alumna Maruj Jamal, B.S.E. '22, has returned to Saudi Arabia with her chemical engineering degree with hopes to land a job as a process engineer.

Entrepreneurship student Siera Gunnett, founder of SheMakings, recently won the Brian Patrick Thomas Entrepreneurial Spirit Award. 

Western researchers are leading a project that could develop low-cost, highly sustainable electric vehicle batteries based on readily available materials.

With a single Powerpoint slide and three minutes, one Western Michigan University doctoral candidate made her research stand out. Tabitha DiBacco, a clinical psychology Ph.D. student, is the first Western student to win the regional Three Minute Thesis (3MT), in which graduate students have three minutes and one slide to summarize their research to a general audience.

Western jazz studies graduate and undergraduate students secured three awards in what’s considered the most prestigious competition in jazz education, featured in DownBeat magazine.

Molly Cochran, who comes from a military family and lives on a base in Vilseck, Germany, plans to join the ROTC program and become an Army nurse.

Western Michigan University senior Isabelle Ownby has received $2,000 in scholarships from TAPPI, a professional organization focusing on technical aspects of the pulp, paper or converting industries.

Project management professional and engineer Steve Perlaky will take the lead on campus planning, capital projects, landscape and maintenance.

Kallie Mac, a student at Western Michigan University's Haworth College of Business, recently received a competitive $10,000 scholarship from the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) for the 2022-23 academic year. The merit-based scholarship is intended to encourage accounting students to pursue careers in auditing.