Contact: Deanne Puca
Left to right, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Jamauri Bogan, YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo CEO David Morgan and Amy Hovey, executive director and CEO of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. (Photo courtesy of Bogan Developments)
Western Michigan University recognizes alumni achievements and announcements submitted during spring and summer 2024.
- Helen LeZotte Faulkner, BA ‘64, was promoted to vocational nursing program director at the Arlington (Texas) Career Institute.
- David Nolley, MA ‘70, a psychologist in private practice in San Francisco, has been included in Marquis Who's Who.
- Judy K. Snider, BS ‘74, published her fourth novel, “Betrayed,” which was co-authored with her husband, Gil Snider.
- Christopher W. Tremblay, BA ‘94, MA ‘99, co-edited the sixth edition of the graduate textbook "The Fundamentals of College Admission Counseling" for the National Association for College Admission Counseling.
- Mike Howard, BS ‘94, was hired by Magline in Standish, Michigan, as president and chief operations officer.
- Michael Woolsey, BS ‘95, was appointed regional vice president of human resources - Southeast for McLaren Health Care in Grand Blanc, Michigan. He is leading human resources operations at the statewide system’s McLaren Macomb, McLaren Oakland and McLaren Port Huron hospitals.
- John Dunlop, MA ‘95, was named Michigan’s 2023 Society of Health and Physical Educators Middle School Physical Educator of the Year.
- Brian Pyles, MA ‘95, PhD ‘07, won the Lifetime Achievement and Hall of Fame Award at the Association for Career and Technical Education Region 1 Conference in New York City. Pyles has been the director of the Michigan Department of Education Office of Career and Technical Education since 2018. He has been in the field of CTE for more than 30 years. At the conference, two more alumni received regional awards: Lucas Schrauben, MA '11, director of secondary programs at Holt High School, was named Administrator of the Year, and Kenneth Flowers, PhD '15, provost and vice president of academic affairs at Lake Michigan College, was named Postsecondary Professional of the Year.
- Kristin Perkowski, BA ‘96, MA ‘00, has been selected as the next superintendent of Grand Haven (Michigan) Area Public Schools.
- Christopher Lewis, BA '97, of Williamston, Michigan, serves as the director of graduate programs for the University of Michigan-Flint. He has received two recent honors, including the 2023 Greater Lansing Entrepreneurial Awards Nonprofit of the Year award and he was recognized by the NASPA Foundation as one of 18 people globally honored as a Pillar of the Profession in the student affairs profession.
- Michael N. Sarcheck, BBA ‘97, is vice president, managing partner and financial coach for First Financial Coaching, Inc. in Mount Clemens, Michigan.
- Gary Churchill, BS ‘98, was named president and chief operating officer of Old Republic Aerospace in Chicago.
- Benjamin Kirby, MA ‘98, was chosen to serve as the next superintendent of Forest Hills Public Schools in Grand Rapids, Michigan, starting July 1. Kirby is currently the superintendent of Lake Orion Community Schools.
- Myla Edmond, BBA ‘00, joined the marketing and branding strategy practice for RW Jones as senior vice president.
- Mandy Scott, BM ‘00, Rockford (Michigan) High School choir director, was named the Michigan School Vocal Music Association’s Teacher of the Year.
- Shaun Patrick Willis, BS ‘00, founder and shareholder at Willis Law in Kalamazoo, was named again to the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers in the Nation.
- Psychelia Terry, BBA ‘03, was nominated for the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, the most prestigious civilian volunteer award in the United States that honors individuals whose service positively impacts communities in every corner of the nation and inspires those around them to take action.
- Craig Sutherland, BBA ‘04, a vice president at Bank of America in Grand Rapids, Michigan, was appointed to the Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes board.
- Michele Wallace, BS ‘06, was appointed to the Litchfield Elementary School District in Litchfield Park, Arizona, as a governing board member for a term expiring Dec. 31, 2024.
- Elizabeth Fluty, BS ‘04, of Delton, Michigan, was named by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to the Michigan Board of Nursing. Fluty is the licensed practical nurse director at Epic Consortium Programs and a retired nurse educator at Kellogg Community College.
- Amber Mosley, BS ‘07, MA ‘15, PhD ‘22, has been named interim executive director of the Purdue University Northwest Counseling Center.
- Kaitlyn Elias, BA ‘09, joined the Troy, Michigan, office of Detroit law firm Dickinson Wright as an associate.
- Megan Murphy, MPA ‘09, was named executive director of the Superior Health Foundation in Marquette, Michigan.
- Amber Krycka, BA ‘10, is working at WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids, Michigan, co-anchoring the 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts.
- Katy Tigchelaar, MA '11, was promoted to vice president of operations for the West Michigan Sports Commission.
- Michigan Sen. Sarah Anthony, MPA ‘12, is the winner of EMILY’s List 11th annual Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award.
- Jamauri Bogan, BBA ‘17, MBA ‘19, was joined by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a representative for the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) and several local leaders in early April for a ribbon cutting at a new housing development in Kalamazoo. Zone 32 Phase I was the first solo new construction project for Bogan Developments’ CEO, a New Jersey native and former Bronco football standout. The development features 12 affordable housing units and includes a child care center in partnership with the YMCA of Kalamazoo. The apartments serve tenants who make between 60% and 120% of Kalamazoo’s median area income. Bogan Developments is working on Phase 2 of Zone 32 on adjacent land to include more affordable housing and community amenities for the Northside Neighborhood. The project is expected to break ground by fall 2025.
Jeddie Sophronius, BA ‘18, published his poetry works “Interrogation Records” through Gaudy Boy in April 2024.