Exemplars of campus engagement honored with Distinguished Service Award
KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Mentors, innovators, advocates: two Western Michigan University employees are being recognized for their exceptional efforts to support and elevate the WMU community.
Dr. Whitney DeCamp, professor of sociology, and Dr. Lori Wingate, Ph.D.'09, executive director of The Evaluation Center, will be honored with WMU’s Distinguished Service Award on Friday, Oct. 3, at 11 a.m. in Kirsch Auditorium at the Fetzer Center.
“Congratulations to these two outstanding individuals whose extensive service embodies the very best of what it means to be a faculty and staff member at Western,” says Dr. Chris Cheatham, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs. “Through their leadership and engagement, they have enriched our campus community and elevated the experience of both students and colleagues.”
The Distinguished Service Award recognizes exceptional support through innovative and effective programs that are academic or related to another facet of University life, such as programs that serve students, faculty or staff in an important and unique way.
In addition to the Distinguished Service Award, other prestigious awards will be presented at the Fall Awards Celebration, including the Distinguished Faculty Scholar, Emerging Scholar, Distinguished Teaching, Excellence in Diversity and Make a Difference awards.
Dr. Whitney DeCamp
Arriving at Western in 2011, DeCamp has demonstrated service in a variety of avenues, from academic stewardship to community volunteerism to faculty representation. He has served on 11 University-level committees, five college-level committees and completed numerous service activities within his department, often taking on leadership roles.
As a member of the leadership team for the WMU chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) for nearly a decade, DeCamp provided service across 14 appointed or elected positions between 2015 and 2024, including the organization's chief negotiator and vice president.
"It’s not mere involvement or membership status with different committees and
organizations that matters; it is the quality of the contribution to these entities and the people they serve. This is what sets Dr. DeCamp apart. He brings real expertise and original insight to all his service work," says Dr. Jesse Smith, professor of sociology.
Students applaud DeCamp's ability to balance academic standards with practical impact, ensuring they not only learn but are engaged in research and scholarship.
"By incorporating students into the research process, Dr. DeCamp provided hands-on experience in applied social research, bridging the gap between theoretical learning and practical implementation," says Dr. Rebecca Sevin, a recent graduate of the sociology doctoral program.
DeCamp is also generous in his service outside the University, becoming an editorial board member and peer reviewer for dozens of academic journals. He finds time to leverage his expertise outside the academic realm, as well.
"Dr. DeCamp has been remarkably effective in extending WMU's presence into the broader community through his community-oriented research projects. His work with local municipalities and organizations, including the city of South Haven, Kalamazoo Community Foundation, Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety and Kalamazoo Public Library, has helped to establish WMU as a valuable partner in addressing regional challenges," writes Dr. Regina Garza Mitchell, professor of educational leadership, research and technology.
Dr. Lori Wingate
Since joining The Evaluation Center at Western in 1997, Wingate has elevated its reputation around the world and increased its research capacity and impact.
As principal or co-principal investigator on more than 30 grants and contracts, she has secured more than $14 million in external funding from sponsors such as the National Science Foundation and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those grants have supported significant projects such as EvaluATE, an evaluation resource hub, and evaluations of national data modernization initiatives in public health.
She has also spearheaded initiatives to advance the evaluation field such as the Evaluation Cafe, which features discussions and presentations on real-world evaluation issues, and the Evaluation Checklists Project, which promotes excellence in evaluation by providing high-quality checklists to guide practice. Wingate also collaborated with Evaluation Center colleague Dr. Kelly Robertson, principal research associate, to create Valeo, a suite of self-paced courses on program evaluation.
"This platform has significantly enhanced the University's credibility in the field of evaluation, as it addresses the growing demand for high-quality evaluation resources. Valeo's success reflects Lori's vision and dedication to advancing the field of evaluation," says Dr. Michael Harnar, assistant professor of educational leadership, research and technology.
Wingate's influence on the evaluation field is far-reaching, having contributed significantly to the knowledge base through journal articles, book and book chapters, presentations and workshops. Her impact was recognized in 2024 with the John A. Seeley Friend of Evaluation Award, a statewide award honoring consistent and continuing leadership to the field of evaluation in Michigan. She also serves on numerous committees both within Western—from the Empowering Futures Gift Student Success Team to the WMU Strategic Planning Steering Committee and Gardner Institute Equity in Retention Academy Work Group—and externally for prestigious journals and professional interest groups.
"Dr. Wingate is a rare leader who not only builds infrastructure for meaningful evaluation practice but who does so in ways that amplify the voices of others and extend WMU's influence nationally and globally," says Dr. Ayesha Boyce, associate director of strategic partnerships and associate professor at Arizona State University. "Her service extends far beyond administrative excellence—it reflects a rare capacity to inspire, build and sustain systems that empower others."
With the 2024 launch of the Evaluation Lab, Wingate has strengthened The Evaluation Center's connection to Western's commitment to Experience-Driven Learning, employing students of multidisciplinary backgrounds to complete evaluation projects for nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies in Kalamazoo County.
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