With the program naming comes a goal to increase philanthropic support for students through the program. Greater voluntary support will allow expansion of current services as well as the addition of new and other needed services.

Stephen Blanco is the mariachi director at Las Vegas High School in the Clark County School District.

The love Barbara Rider and Fred Sammons share—for one another, for the field of occupational therapy (OT) and for WMU—has always been undeniable.

Len “Lefty” Johnston, a respected member of the Western community and an inductee to the WMU Athletics Hall of Fame, died Dec. 15, 2024, at the age of 96.

Benjamin C. Wilson Jr., professor emeritus of Africana studies, passed away on Nov. 27, 2024, at his home in Kalamazoo.

Planned for Saturday, March 29, in the WMU Student Center, International Bazaar give visitors an opportunity to sample foods, purchase goods and see music and dance performances by students and community groups representing dozens of cultures from around the world.

This is an announcement letting the public know that they can nominate an outstanding alumni to be inducted into the CHHS alumni academy

Dr. Melba Joyce Boyd, BA ’71, MA ‘72, a celebrated poet and author, was named Michigan’s third poet laureate.

Western’s commitment to preparing learners for leadership and career success has been moving the needle in national rankings and surveys touting student and graduate response.

Even beyond the court, Bronco Athletics is supporting student-athletes for a lifetime of success. Whether they go pro in the big leagues or the C-suite, our students are ready for a meaningful career and life.

Western artist-in-residence Frank Waln is leaving a lasting legacy—one that bridges the gap between history, healing and advocacy through the universal language of music.

The following are Western alumni and emeriti who passed away and were reported during the winter and spring of 2025.

Western Michigan University recognizes alumni achievements and announcements submitted during winter and spring of 2025.

Drs. Alessander Danna-dos-Santos and Carrie Barrett are tackling concussion detection. They created new testing to uncover the impacts of these seemingly common and undetected injuries.

After capturing the world’s attention on Forbes’ 30 under 30 list, alumnus Tinashe Chaponda is celebrating the impact Western and Kalamazoo had on his career. The “Mayor of Influencer Marketing” is now using his moment to boost his fellow Broncos.

March 25, 2025—MeLCat, Michigan’s eLibrary catalog, is celebrating its 20th anniversary year. Western Michigan University Libraries is a proud MeLCat participant. 

In a whirlwind trip to the city that never sleeps, two Broncos got an exclusive, behind-the-scenes experience at New York Fashion Week. The VIP access to runway shows, brand insiders and networking made them eager to weave their future in fashion.

Two KAMSC seniors, Sophia Barnard and David Li, collaborated with Dr. Kieran Fogarty and Dr. Rob Lyerla from WMU's College of Health and Human Services on a project titled "Revolutionizing Adolescent Health Monitoring: Passive Surveillance Analysis vs. National Surveys for Tracking Exercise and Mental Health (2011-2021)." 

Senior accountancy student Nadia Collins is using her time at Western Michigan University to create a career that grows with her. The Haworth College of Business student is taking advantage of internship opportunities with hands-on work that’s giving her valuable experience. 

Recent graduates of WMU Haworth report successful outcomes when it comes to working or continuing their education quickly after earning their degrees, job satisfaction, salaries, experience-driven learning and engagement with faculty members.

This free event for kids ages 5 to 12 explores the world of science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) through new hands-on activities and interactive exhibits. This annual event is presented in partnership with Autocam Medical, Bricks 4 Kidz, The Diatribe, GRCC, GRPS Robotics, YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids, STEM Greenhouse, and WMCAT, with participation from WMU’s College of Aviation, College of Engineering, Kinetic Imaging, School of Communication, and University Libraries.  

Victor Onama, a Ugandan doctoral student at Western Michigan University, is driven by his personal experience witnessing widespread need to contribute to humanitarian efforts. His decade-long career, involves utilizing geographical information systems to support nonprofits in Africa and the Middle East, focusing on emergency response and food security.

At a joint WMU/Grand Rapids Gold event on March 15th at Van Andel Arena, alumni shared career journeys and job-seeking advice with students. Subsequently, the College of Education and Human Development awarded a scholarship to incoming student, Logan Rockwell.

A team of four WMU Haworth students won first place at the Arizona Collegiate Sales Challenge, bringing the Desert Cup back to WMU for the third time. Competing in sales role-play and marketing presentation events, the students worked hard to prepare and support each other, leading to the top spot out of 15 schools represented at the competition.

Each year, faculty members from across the University select the most outstanding senior in their nearly 50 academic schools, departments and programs to represent their unit as a WMU Presidential Scholar.

Bella Leon Flann transitioned from a student at Western Michigan University to a full-time staff member, driven by her passion for healthcare and the relationships she built. Her academic background in Healthcare Services and Sciences informed her approach to caregiving. Bella's empathetic nature and organizational skills helped her succeed in her role. Bella's journey highlights her growth, leadership skills and dedication to improving community health.

In Michigan, Western Michigan University's Master of Public Health (MPH) program has partnered with the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi (NHBP) to create impactful community health initiatives. This collaboration, led by Christina Anthony and Shelby Brueck, involves student-led projects that address NHBP's health priorities. These projects include creating visual media for STI and HIV prevention, drafting culturally relevant communications, and developing campaigns on immunizations, tickborne disease prevention, and nutrition. This partnership provides WMU students with real-world experience and highlights the program's success in developing public health leaders.

Aya Zahreddine embraces diverse opportunities from the technical challenges to networking in WMU’s College of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

Faculty at the Haworth College of Business are looking for ways to make sure students have access to the materials they need to be successful in the classroom. Several faculty members applied for and received grants to adopt or create OER course materials, providing significant benefits to students.