WMU HOME > ABOUT WMU > WMU NEWS Dean candidates make public presentationsJuly 27, 2005 KALAMAZOO--Three candidates for dean of graduate studies at Western Michigan University, all three members of the WMU faculty, will make public presentations Monday through Wednesday, Aug. 1-3. All presentations will be held in the Brown and Gold Room of the Bernhard Center from 1:30 to 3 p.m. The candidates and dates of their presentations are: Dr. Alan Poling, professor of psychology, Monday, Aug. 1; Dr. Robert Ulin, professor and chair of anthropology, Tuesday, Aug. 2; and Dr. Susan Stapleton, professor of chemistry with a joint appointment in biological sciences, Wednesday, Aug. 3. Candidates have been asked to speak to their vision for graduates studies at WMU and discuss specific innovative and creative ways they would advance the graduate-education culture on campus. Following the formal presentations, candidates will entertain questions from the audience. Alan Poling joined the WMU faculty in 1977 and was named interim associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences in 2003 and interim chair of the Department of Mathematics in 2004. His primary research is in psychopharmacology and behavior analysis, with grants from the National Institutes of Health and Department of Education funding much of his work. He was named a WMU Distinguished Faculty Scholar in 1996 and received the WMU College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Achievement in Research and Creativity Activity Award in 2003. Poling received a bachelor's degree from Alderson-Broaddus College, a master's degree from West Virginia University and earned his doctoral degree the University of Minnesota. Susan Stapleton joined the WMU faculty in 1989 and has conducted extensive federally funded joint research in biochemistry with grants from such agencies as the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health and Diabetes Research and Education Foundation. She is part of WMU's Center for Research into Environmental Signal Transduction, which investigates the effects of environmental contaminants on human cells. Her CREST research is focused on the effects of metals as insulin-mimicking substances, which ultimately could lead to development of new treatments for diabetes and other insulin-related diseases. Stapleton earned her undergraduate degree from Juniata College and a doctorate from Miami University. Robert Ulin was named chair of anthropology in 1999, coming to WMU from the University of Kansas, where he had served one year as visiting associate professor of anthropology. Prior to that, he had served as associate professor and chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Allegheny College since 1992 and as assistant professor there from 1985 to 1992. He also has been a visiting scholar or adjunct faculty member at several colleges in the United States and France and has conducted field research and published on the topic of French wine cooperatives. Ulin received his undergraduate degree from Whittier College and earned master's and doctoral degrees from New School University. For more information, contact Dr. Joseph G. Reish, dean of University Libraries and chair of the search committee at joe.reish@wmich.edu. Media contact: Mark Schwerin, 269 387-8400, mark.schwerin@wmich.edu WMU News |