Western Michigan University’s Haworth College of Business has announced its 2026 alumni award recipients. Recognized for their career and service accomplishments, the elite group of business leaders will visit campus to celebrate and engage with students and faculty during WMU Homecoming week. 

Western Michigan University’s Bronson School of Nursing has welcomed Brad Phillips, Ph.D., R.N., as its new director. He brings a background in pediatric nursing, nursing education, research and academic leadership to the role.

Dr. Sally Hadden, a Western Michigan University professor of history, has been selected for a Fulbright U.S. Scholar award that will take her to the United Kingdom to conduct research at The University of Manchester.

Western Michigan University is kicking off the new academic year in style with the largest-ever Bronco Bash, planned for Tuesday, Sept. 1. The event, aimed at connecting students and the community, will feature a number of food and prize giveaways, fun activities, music, and more.

Abby Naugle, an interior architecture and design major in Western Michigan University’s Richmond Institute for Design and Innovation, took what she thought was a “shot in the dark” when she applied for SmithGroup’s competitive Design a Better Future Scholarship. But she had developed skills at Western that her competitors hadn’t, and 12 weeks later, she had worked on projects for Yale University, Google and the Arizona Cardinals, and had been named to Interior Design magazine’s exclusive 30/30 Class of 2026—an exclusive national honor.

WMU alumnus Dr. Aamir Hasan’s new book explores how learning English can empower marginalized communities by fostering leadership, confidence and opportunity. The research, developed during his doctoral studies at Western, introduces a new theory of language learning called “liberative motivation.”

Every year, Western Michigan University faculty and staff take learning beyond the classroom and travel with students to destinations around the world. Through WMU Study Abroad, faculty create opportunities for students to connect their academic studies with new cultures, communities and experiences. WMU Study Abroad ensures that all may learn through travel.

For Bronco alumnus Talal Arshad, community and coffee go hand in hand. Now the owner of local Yemeni coffee shop Shibam Coffee Co., Arshad earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in aerospace engineering at Western Michigan University.

Rachel Stickney graduated from WMU with a painting BFA. Today she runs Parallax Book Press, teaches book arts and sells on the regional art fair circuit.

New faces, returning friends and the excitement of a fresh academic year will bring Western Michigan University to life as thousands of Broncos arrive for Fall Welcome 2026 this month. From move-in day to the Matriculation Ceremony and Bronco Bash, the annual weeklong celebration at the end of August helps students make connections, explore Western traditions, and get involved in campus groups and activities.

See what Medieval Institute Publications has gotten up to this summer, with new published titles and our appearance at the International Congress on Medieval Studies!

The WMU Aviation Recognition Dinner is right around the corner. The event is an opportunity to pause for a moment, look around, and celebrate the people who have made aviation better through leadership, service, innovation, mentorship, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.  This year's honorees represent everything that makes the aviation community special. Their careers have taken them into military aircraft, airline flight decks, government agencies, aviation classrooms, community outreach programs, and leadership positions that have shaped the future of our industry.

Western Michigan University is opening the door for more students to get their bachelor’s degree and embark on fulfilling careers by extending guaranteed admission and financial support to Kellogg Community College students. The partnership streamlines the transfer process, removing barriers and creating opportunities for success.

Through the Broncos Lead Internship Program, Western Michigan University students Jazmine Grays and Kayleigh Podolski gained hands-on career experience by managing community events and outreach for the Edison Neighborhood Association. This impactful summer internship allowed the WMU students to apply their classroom learning to real-world projects while fostering meaningful connections and growth within the Kalamazoo community.

Western Michigan University student Mackenzie Flood gained hands-on nonprofit management experience during her paid internship with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Michigan. Through the Broncos Lead Internship Program, the public and nonprofit administration major honed key skills in event planning, fundraising and professional communication while building local community connections.

Western Michigan University educational and instructional technology student Amy Coughenour helped transform Zoetis’ new employee orientation into an engaging, learner-centered training experience during her instructional design practicum. By applying instructional design principles learned at WMU, she improved the company’s onboarding process, and her work is now being used to train new employees.

New Western Michigan University dance faculty member Tyreis Hunte brings a global foundation in Hip Hop, Afro-Caribbean and street dance forms to WMU’s Department of Dance, teaching students to see movement as cultural history.