WMU CAS Insider Summer 08

Visit our website at www.wmich.edu/cas

A Publication for Friends of the College of Arts and Sciences

Summer 2008 • Vol. X, No. 3

New Endowment Launched

College Nabs Awards

SPECIAL AWARDS EDITION 3

New Associate Dean, Chairs

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“Where do I go from Here?”

Vocke book provides help for teachers of migrant students

Faculty Awards Huffman and Covell named “Emerging Scholars”

New Arabic Minor Planned

Michigan’s only Arabic minor to launch in fall 2008

Alumni Achievement Awards 19 from College recognized for careers and service

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Names and Faces

Faculty Profile

In Touch with Western

H u m anities

Communication

Gershon is Distinguished Teacher

Graduate Students

• Erich Sommerfeldt, All-University Graduate Research and Creative Activities Scholar Award— the highest graduate student award • Taryn L. Krohn, Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award.

• Sarah Jones, Graduate Student Teaching Effectiveness Award.

Undergraduate Students • Natalie Kaftan, Linda Munnelly, Shawn Myers, Chelsea Thompson, Jonathon Freye, and Joshua Thomas, members of the WMU Ethics team won the second Upper Midwest Regional Ethics Bowl, held at the University of Wisconsin in Madison • Colin Cady, Ben Krupp, Ryan Lasure, and Justin Knapp, members of the Telecommunications Information Management team placed in the final three at the International Telecommunications Education and Research Association 2008 National Case Study Competition • Jacob Durrett, a first-year Communication student, was selected to attend the Cannes International Firm Festival in a competitive work-study program called the Student Program of the American Film Pavilion.

• Laura Henderson, Corey Wright, 2007 School of Communication Scholars • Laura Henderson, Justin Mayle, Nathaniel Abernathy, Jillian Kurtz, and Raymond Venezia, 2007 WWMT— Freedom Broadcasting of Michigan Scholarship • Zachary Reichard, Corey Rhodes, 2007 Burke Endowment Fund Scholarship in Journalism • Allison Gruner, Caitlin Nunes, WMUK Scholarship in Radio • Santosh Rao, third in the feature-writing category of the Society of Professional Journalists’ Mark of Excellence competition • Christopher Sell, 2007 School of Communication Presidential Scholar.

Christopher Sell, Presidential • Nathaniel Abernathy, Sarah Anderson, Rebecca BakScholar, School of ken, Janee Beville, Halley Lynn Blythe, Krystal BresnaCommunication. han, Bethany Briolat, Jon Callender, Chi Man Cheng, Ashley M. Choker, Trisha Craig, Paul Joseph Fishwick, Erica Frappier, Larissa Anne Friday, Allison Gruner, Kyle Herm, Katherine Jarvi, , Alexandra Kaiser, Jessica Krzesimowski, Jillian Kurtz, Lok Yin Li, Eric Litaker, Justin Mayle, Dane Middleton, Amanda Miller, Leslie Pawlak, D. Michael Reed, Katie R. Smith, Megan Sommer, Marissa Staniec, Raymond Venezia, Jacqui Volkmann, and, Alyssa Whitmore, national communication honor society, Lambda Pi Eta

English Faculty

• Elizabeth Bradburn, Chair’s Distinguished Service Award.

• Janet Bohac, Alisha Siebers, David C. Czuk Part-Time Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence • Nancy Eimers, College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Achievement Award in research/creative activity.

• Steve Feffer, College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Achievement Award in teaching.

• Katherine Joslin, Fulbright Senior Specialist.

• Christopher Nagle, American Society for Eighteenth Century Studies/Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies Fellowship.

• Drs. Ellen Brinkley, Jana Schulman, Nic Witschi, and Joyce Walker, Dean’s Staff and Faculty Appreciation Award • Scott Friesner, “Significant Educator” by Kalamazoo County’s Excellence in Education

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Dr. Richard Gershon, professor of Communication, was recognized as one of three recipients of the WMU Distinguished Teaching Award. This is the university’s highest teaching honor and recognizes faculty for their dedication to their students and lauded for their instructional skills.

Dr. Richard Gershon, a faculty member since 1989, is the co-founder of the Telecommunications and Information Management program at WMU. He teaches courses in telecommunications management, law and policy and communication technology. His attention to students--taking time to meet and learn the names of every student even in large classes-caused one former student to coin one of his classes not just a learning experience, but the “Gershon Experience.”

Gershon has been honored for his teaching in the past including being selected twice for national teaching honors--the Steven H. Coltrin Professor of the Year Award in 2000 by the International Radio and Television Society and the Barry Sherman Award for Teaching Excellence in 2001 by the Management and Economics division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. In 2005, he was the recipient of the WMU College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Teaching Award.

He holds a master’s degree from the University of Vermont and a doctoral degree from Ohio University. He is a founding member of the International Telecommunications Education and Research Association and an award-winning author.

Undergraduate Students • Jennifer Dempsey, Rebecah Pulsifer, Bucknell Seminar for Younger Poets, fellows • Elizabeth Bradburn, Chair’s Distinguished Service Award • Janet Bohac, Alisha Siebers, David C. Czuk Part-Time Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence • Jennifer Dempsey, Presidential Scholar • Josephine Tucker, Ralph N. Miller Memorial Award • Jackson K. Allen, Patrick D. Hagerty Promising Scholar • Darius Goebel, Jean and Vincent Malmstrom Scholarship Jennifer Dempsey, Presidential Scholar, • Brandon McNab, Nash Scholarship in English Education Department of English.

• Stephen Hosfield, Frederick J. and Katherine Rogers Memorial Shakespeare Award: Undergraduate; Stephen Grandchamp, Graduate • Aaron T. Clark, Gregory Flynn, Rebecah Pulsifer, Nick Swartz, George Sprau Awards Prague Summer Program • Kelly Granito, Laura Rosenberg, Adolescent Literature • Zachary P. Harlow, The Critical Eye for Excellence in Film Studies seeks creative writing • Lee Hauser, The Book Award for Excellence in Critical Theory students • Christopher Moore, Theresa Thomas, English Language and Linguistics WMU’s Prague Summer Program • Robin Blanchard, Medieval Studies is held each July, drawing about 100 Jill Hébert, Medievalism students to the Czech Republic to study • Karen McPhail, Randall Seltz, Undergraduate Award for Excellence in Rhetoric and Writing creative writing, Czech or American Studies: literature, Jewish Studies, or photography.

Graduate Students • Christopher D. Carter, Joseph L. Gross, Norma VanRheenen Award for Excellence in Teaching College Writing • Gregory Laing, All-University Graduate Student Teaching Effectiveness Award 2007/08 • Stephen Grandchamp, English Department Graduate Teaching Effectiveness Award • Ilse Schweitzer, Mark Turcotte, English Department Graduate Research and Creative Scholar Award • Hassan Al-Momani, Abdullah Kheirou Awad Shehabat, International Student Award • Kate Dernocoeur, Bernadine P. Carlson Prize for Creative Nonfiction • James Roberts, Creative Writing Awards—Poetry • Jenna Caschera, Undergraduate Winner, Jen Dempsey, Honorable Mention; Laura Donnelly, Graduate Winner; Marin Heinritz, Honorable Mention • Natalie Giarratano, Herbert Scott Award

Fiction Awards • Lacey Nicka, Undergraduate Frostic Winner • Lacey Nicka, The Bruno Schulz Award for Undergraduate Fiction • Rachel Swearingen, Graduate Frostic Winner; Melinda Moustakis, Graduate Honorable Mention • Maggie Andersen, The David and Marion Gordon Prize for Graduate Fiction Nick Swartz, Creative Nonfiction, Undergraduate; Michael Levan, Graduate; Hilary Selznick, Honorable Mention • Max Clark, Playwriting: First Place Undergraduate Play; Ashley Christopher, Honorable Mention Undergraduate Play; Kristopher Peterson, First Place Graduate Play; Michael Monje, Honorable Mention Graduate Play

Dybek honored with MacArthur Foundation Fellowship

The faculty features recipients of some of the most prestigious writing awards, including the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award, as well as some of the Czech Republic’s finest writers and literature scholars.

Founded in 1992 and run in collaboration with Charles University, the PSP offers guaranteed scholarships of $750 to $1,000 to WMU alumni enrolling for a four-week program (awards are halved for two-week enrollments). Undergraduate and graduate academic credit is available (3-7 hours).

Alumni visiting Prague during the month of July, but who are not interested in attending as a student, may contact the program coordinator to arrange for a short-term program visit. For more information, visit the PSP website at: www. praguesummer.com.

Stuart Dybek, an acclaimed short-story writer and member of the faculty at Western Michigan University for the past 33 years, is one of 24 Americans named today the recipient of a coveted John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Fellowship.

Popularly know as the “genius awards,” MacArthur Fellowships are awarded to nominees selected for their creativity, originality and the potential to make important contributions in the future. Each MacArthur Fellowship comes with $500,000, no strings attached, designed to provide support for the recipient’s work over the next five years.

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H u m anities

Academically Talented Youth Program.

Spanish

H u m anities S ocial

Angles Tapped by Kennedy Center for Japanese Festival

Undergraduate Students

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Olena Koshmanova, Octavio Paz Award Justin Carrunchia, Jorge Luis Borges Award Michael Center, Inca Garcilaso de la Vega Award Alexander Hudson, Alfonso X el Sabio Award Michael Permoda, Joan Coromines Award Anna Mosher, Rosalía de Castro Award Laura Cojocari, María Moliner Award

Department of Spanish graduate student awardees (from left) Alicia Arribas, Marlene Roldán Romero, Nuño Castellanos, Berta Carrasco de Miguel, and Ana Santos.

• • • • • • • • • •

• • • •

Ana Beerbower, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz Award Raphael Romero, Antonio Nebrija Award Sofia Ruelas, Suzanne Wheatley Award Stephen Denuyl, Mathilde Steckelberg Scholarship in Spanish Adriana Kniffin, Renee Roedvoets, Herb B. Jones Scholarships Ryan Minier, Lori Beth Pattison Scholarship for Literature Ryan Minier, Department of Spanish Presidential Scholar Catherine Upchurch, Cara Cheevers, Kiah Dana, President’s Scholarship Qandeel Irfan, President’s Award for Study Abroad Kristin Tuinier, Amanda Jahndahl, Laura Cojocari, Ann Daggett, Maija Graundins, Hanna Hafner, Amanda Harju, Angela Dally, Kelly McPhee, Lauren Dixon, Julián Ramírez, Abigal Sheperd, Lyndsey Carter, Ruth Y. Kirby Award Scholarships Tim Miley, Stephanie Terhaar, Sue Mardis Award Monica Fryer, Katherine Gaskey Award Kyria Bird, Anne Walen, Travel Study Abroad Award Morgan Allen, Loren Lapointe, Ryan Minier, Anastasia Morrow, Holly Greiner, Alexander Hudson, Phi Beta Kappa

Graduate Students • • • • • •

Alicia Arribas, Department Graduate Research and Creative Scholar Award.

Marlene Roldán Romero, Department Graduate Teaching Effectiveness Award.

Nuño Castellanos, Department Graduate Teaching Effectiveness Award.

Berta Carrasco de Miguel, All-University Graduate Teaching Effectiveness Award Ana Santos, Graduate Research and Creative Scholar Award Pilar López Castilla, Winner, Celebration of Research and Creative Activities

Foreign Languages Faculty

• Cynthia Running-Johnson, $52,590, National Kaohsiung Normal University • Dr. Jeffrey Angles, $3,500, PEN Translation Fund grant, PEN American Center

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Western Michigan University’s Dr. Jeffrey Angles (Foreign Languages) has organized a series of literary and poetry-related events for a festival celebrating Japanese culture at Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the premier national institution for the arts.

Angles, a WMU assistant professor of Japanese, was recruited for the honor because of his work co-editing a Japanese literary guide. His book, “Japan: A Traveler’s Literary Companion,” was a collaboration with Dr. J. Thomas Rimer, professor emeritus of Japanese Literature at the University of Pittsburgh.

Published in May 2006 by Whereabouts Press, the book is a collection of Japanese short stories and essays that guides readers through the diverse landscape and culture of modern-day Japan.

“When the Kennedy Center asked me to organize the literature events, I was thrilled. The idea of inviting my favorite authors to give readings in America seemed like a dream come true,” Angles says. “Immediately, I responded I would love to do it.”

Because of his research and work as a translator of contemporary Japanese literature, Angles has personal connections with a number of important authors, so he started by contacting them. Angles also arranged for two panel discussions about various aspects of Japanese literature. Angles travelled to Washington for the events, sometimes appearing as an interpreter for the readers or helping to moderate the panel discussions. His responsibilities involved serving as the main contact for the authors, helping to arrange for their visas to enter the United States, determining the individual needs for their performances, writing the programs for the events and scheduling.

“It was a thrill just to be around such important writers,” Angles says.

Dr. Nora Faires, a Western Michigan University professor of history who focuses on American history and gender and women’s studies, has been awarded the prestigious Fulbright Distinguished Chair for a four-month residency at York University in Toronto to study clubs founded by American women living abroad.

Faires will examine the relationship of gender, migration, American national identity and internationalism.

She will teach a graduate seminar on 20th-century gender and migration history, consult with other scholars and research the American Women’s Club of Toronto.

A former Fulbright Distinguished Chair in North American Studies at the University of Calgary, Faires holds a doctoral degree in American history from the University of Pittsburgh. She is co-author of two awardwinning books. “Jewish Life in the Industrial Promised Land, 1855-2005” received a 2006 State of Michigan award from the Historical Society of Michigan, and “Permeable Border: The Great Lakes Basin as Transnational Region, 1650-1990” received the 2006 Albert B. Corey Prize, awarded jointly by the American Historical Association and Canadian Historical Association for the best book on Canada. She heads WMUís Canadian studies initiative.

“Dr. Faires’ project is a fascinating one that will undoubtedly serve to aid our understanding of women’s experiences abroad and the extent to which their experiences influence national identity,” says Dr. Michael Hawes, executive director of the Canada-U.S. Fulbright Program, which is supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada and the U.S. Department of State.

Operating in more than 150 countries worldwide, the Fulbright program has been regarded as the world’s premier academic exchange with more than 30,000 individuals participating each year.

Anthropology Faculty

• Jon D. Holtzman, Fellowship, American Council of Learned Societies

Economics Faculty

• William S. Kern, $6,000, W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.

• Anthony Gebhart, First Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America honors.

Undergraduate Students • Kurtis Wickey, Werner Sichel Undergraduate Prize in Economics

History Faculty

• Robert F. Berkhofer III, $40,000, Institute for Research in the Humanities, University of Wisconsin, Madison Solmsen Fellowship • Robert F. Berkhofer III, Friedrich and Lieselotte Solmsen Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Institute for Research in the Humanities, University of Wisconsin-Madison • Robert F. Berkhofer III, $ 5,000, American Philosophical Society/British Academy Fellowship • José António Brandão, College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Achievement Award for Research and Creative Activity • Nora Faires, 2008 Association for Borderlands Studies Book Nominee Award for Permeable Border: The Great Lakes Basin as Transnational Region, 1650-1990 (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, and Calgary: University of Calgary Press, 2005); with John J. Bukowczyk, David R. Smith, and Randy William Widdis • Nora Faires, $17,000, Canadian Fulbright Visiting Chair • Lynne Heasley, College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Achievement Award for Professional Service • Catherine Julien, $100,000, National Endowment for the Humanities • Catherine Julien Reception in her honor by the city of Santa Cruze de la Sierrra for her editorship of the book, Desde el Oriente: Documentos para la historia del Oriente Boliviano y Santa Cruz la Vieja (1542-1597) (Santa Cruz de la Sierra, 2008).

• Mitch Kachun, “Outstanding Academic Title” in 2007 by Choice Magazine, for the book, The Curse of Caste; or The Slave Bride, by Julia C. Collins, edited with commentary by Kachun and William L. Andrews.

Fort St. Joseph project recognized

Western Michigan University has received one of the state’s highest awards for its archaeological exploration and educational efforts at the former Fort St. Joseph in Niles, Mich.

The University’s departments of Anthropology, Geosciences and History were recognized by the Historical Society of Michigan with one of 15 State History Awards for this year.

WMU received the award jointly with the Fort St. Joseph Museum in the educational programs category. The State History Awards are the highest recognition presented by the state’s official historical society and oldest cultural organization, which was established in 1828.

The award praised WMU and the Fort St. Joseph Museum for their excavation of artifacts at the 18-century mission and French fur trading post and their creation of a wide range of programs to teach the public about the post’s history.

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S ocial S ciences

Faires is Fulbright Distinguished Chair

S ocial S ciences

• • • • •

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Mitch Kachun, Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History Eli Rubin, $49,500, Humboldt Foundation, Germany (2-year grant) Eli Rubin, Humboldt Foundation Fellowship Wilson J. Warren, J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship for 2008-2009 to serve as a faculty member of the Graduate School of American Studies at Doshisha University in Kyoto Wilson J. Warren, The 2007 Benjamin F. Shambaugh Award bestowed by the State Historical Society of Iowa for the “most significant book on Iowa history.” Awarded for his book, Tied to the Great Packing Machine: The Midwest and Meatpacking (University of Iowa Press, 2007).

Wilson J. Warren, 8 million Yen (approx. $75,500), J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholar Program Wilson J. Warren, $79,032, Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency Takashi Yoshida, $67,759, Social Science Research Council Takashi Yoshida, College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Achievement Award for Teaching Robert Berkhofer, Edwin Martini, Lynne Heasley, Luigi Andrea Berto, Faculty Research and Creative Activities Support Fund (FRACASF) grants at $10,000 each

Undergraduate Students • Robyn Homan, Brittany Miller, Lucas Rewa, Amanda Becktel, Kevin Krawetzke, John Quasarano, Sondra Settington, Scott Kamen, Katharine Gaskey, Caitlin Murphy, Rachel Leonard, Christopher Gerrish, Andrew Craig, Phi Beta Kappa nominees • Caitlin Murphy, Scott Kamen, Brittany Miller, “Honors in History” • Caitlin Murphy, Richard Rouse, Margaret Macmillan Undergraduate Writing Award: • Kevin Krawetke, William Watson, Scott Kamen, Angela Fortino, Elizabeth Fritsch, History Undergraduate Fellows Award: • Jennifer Barns, Wesley Bassett, Eric Bowler, Pooja Dagli, Matthew Elder, Matthew Golusin, Andrew Hnatow, Christopher McCann, Austin Neilson, Stacey Nordstrand, Andrew Petersen, Daniel Priest, Shannon Ritzer, James Sattler, Gretchen Sawatzki, Richard Schaff, Scott Van Kampen, Jessica Yeiter, 2008 Phi Alpha Theta the national History Honorary Society • Johnna Ap’Morrygan, History Presidential Scholar • Chad Williams, Jesse Harrington, The Smith-Burnham Outstanding History Education Internship at Portage Central High School • Matthew Elder,The Elmore L. Haynor Scholarship in History

Graduate Students • James Clayton Johnson, Departmental Award for Research & Creative Scholarly Activity at the Doctoral Level • Jack K. Goodman, Departmental Award for Research & Creative Scholarly Activity at the Master’s Level • Brian N. Becker, All-University Award and Departmental Award for Teaching Effectiveness at the Doctoral Level • Travis Bruce, Graduate College Dissertation Completion Fellowship • Ashley N. Emerson, Departmental Award for Teaching Effectiveness at the Master’s Level • Paul P. Pipik, The Robert Russel Writing Award • Tony Frazier, Graduate College Dissertation Completion Award • Brian Becker, Graduate College Dissertation Completion Award • Emilie Bruce, The Judith F. Stone Award • Stephen Staggs, The Ernst Breisach Award • Kelly Sparrow, The Edith Mange Assistantship • Terra Englemann, The Stephen S. Upton Fellowship in Public History • Rex Hafer, The Carolyn and John Houdek Award for Teachers in History Graduate Programs • David Zwart, Visiting Research Fellowship, Van Raalte Institute, Hope College, Holland, • David Zwart, Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society Fellowship • Keena Graham, Thurgood Marshall Fellowship • Elise Boneau, Christopher Breyer, David DiTucci, Joshua Koenig, Jamie McCandless, Samuel Ngovo, Stephen Staggs, Research Awards from the Graduate College:

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The French in North America A series of symposia, lectures, and other public programs that will celebrate, explore, and analyze the enduring legacy of the French in North America.

September 19, 2008 through October 1, 2009 Western Michigan University In recognition of the 400th anniversary of the founding of Qúebec, Canadian Studies is pleased to announce the program theme for 2008-09, The French in North America.

A series of symposia, lectures, and other public programs will celebrate, explore, and analyze the enduring legacy of the French in North America.

The purpose of these and other events is to examine the motivations, conditions, and effects of French activities, policies, and practices in Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean.

Original research from Western Michigan University faculty and students from multiple disciplines provide perspectives which will help to frame an understanding of the complex economic, political, social, and cultural relations of the French in North America from the 16th century to the present.

For more information, please visit the Canadian Studies website often at:

www.international.wmich. edu/canadianstudies

Canadian Studies/Études Canadiennes

Undergraduate Students • • • • • • •

• • • •

Bethany Whittles, 2008 Presidential Scholar Troy Louis, Peter Renstrom Prize William Menta, Arden J. Elsasser Memorial Scholarship Alyssa Coffey, Stanley & Helenan Robin Scholarship Ronald Webb, Mark Denenfeld Memorial Scholarship Stacy Johnson, Howard Wolpe Scholarship in Political Science Nikkole Buttler, Hannah Markel, Michael Bonkoski, Marlo Buser, Austin Neilson, Stephen Sadocha, Rachel LaCasse, Max Clark, Katie Goebel, Matt Van Kuiken, D.C. Shilling Senior Award Kyle Smith, D.C. Shilling Junior Award Brittany Waddell, Natalie O’Keefe, Shilling Foreign Study Scholarship Kiah Dana, United Nations Association Scholarship Michael Gregor, Timothy Hurttgam Award

Graduate Students • Liz Wheat, Todd Curry, Mark Beougher, Matt Arsenault, Z.D. WMU’s Mock Trial team includes (from left) coach Joelle Renstrom, Bethany Whittles, Shilling Graduate Student Award Dan Brim, Hannah Markel, James Conner, Blake Nichols, Reema Nandy, Catherine • Fodei Batty, $20,000, 2007-08 Jennings Randolph Peace Scholar Klein, Brent White, Chris Little, and Alex Roman.

• LaTasha Chaffin, Howard Wolpe Scholarship in African Studies • Mihaiela Ristei, Zachary Cahalan, Emily Zerndt, George Klein Memorial Scholarship Mock Trial team makes • Courtney Buck, Melissa Shaffer-O’Connell, Arden J. Elsasser Memorial Scholarship Nationals • Fodei Batty, John R. Borsos Memorial Endowed Scholarship Western Michigan University’s mock • Michael Romano, William A. Ritchie Prize in Political Theory trial team captured fourth place at the highly • Fodei Batty (Ph.D.), Courtney Buck (M.A.), Graduate Research Scholar Award competitive Joliet regional competition, fin• Greg Rathje (Ph.D.), All University Teaching Effectiveness Award ishing with a 5-2-1 record. The fourth place • Marisha Lecea (M.A.), Teaching Effectiveness Award finish secured the team a bid to the national • Courtney Buck, National Security Education Program David L. Boren Fellowship from the tournament in Waukegan, Ill. WMU beat Institute of International Education teams from University of Michigan, Michi-

Sociology Faculty

• David J. Hartmann, $12,258, $11,379 and $11,378, Kalamazoo County; $10,000, City of Kalamazoo; $4,668, Portage District Library • Thomas L. VanValey, $11,756, City of Portage; $2,930, Pentwater Community

Undergraduate Students • • • • • • • • • •

Denise Powers, Presidential Scholar Kyle Rundles, Sociology Scholar Jason Therrien, Criminal Justice Scholar Lucas Patton, Leonard C. Kercher Award Lindsey Muller, Michael Lininger, Brandon Dowty, Dustin Hubbell, Kyle Hall, Lanny Wilde Scholarships Lauren Ritter, Stanley S. and Helenan S. Robin Scholarship Amanda Counts, College of Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Award Joseph Orr, Outstanding Student Leadership/Student Association Kaylin Bolinger, Melanie Dodge, Amelia Harper, Lauren Ritter, Alpha Kappa Delta International Sociology Honor Society Matthew Fuller, Deena Robarge, Alpha Phi Sigma, The National Criminal Justice Honor Society

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gan State, Illinois State and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee among others in a field of 24 teams.

Bethany Whittles, captain and threeyear member of the program led the team with her outstanding attorney performance, which garnered her an award. She scored 17 of 20 possible points as a defense attorney— she also played an attorney on the other side.

This was Whittles’ second attorney award of the season. So far this season, the WMU team has won nine individual awards.

The WMU Mock Trial team would like thank attorney coach/adjunct faculty Jamie Geary for his help, as well as attorneys Kurt McCamman, James Liggins, Annette Nickel and Manish Joshi.

The WMU Mock Trial team was founded in 1999 by Dr. Peter Renstrom. The team dedicated the victory to his memory.

S ocial S ciences

Political Science

S ciences & M athe m atics

Graduate Student receives AAUW International Doctoral Fellowship Award

Flora Myamba, a doctoral student in sociology, specializing in Criminology and Applied Social Research, was selected from 957 applicants as one among 65 women to receive the American Association of University Women (AAUW) International Doctoral Fellowship for 2007-2008.

The award carries a stipend of $20,000 and is given to international women graduate students who are committed to the advancement Flora Myamba of women and girls in their home countries. Flora’s dissertation is titled “Domestic Violence Rights Movement in Tanzania: Cross-Cultural Comparisons and Lessons from around the World.”

Study Group Researches Religion, Interethnicity and Interfaith Tolerance

The Group for the Study of Religion, Humanity, and Social Change is based in the Sociology Department of WMU and works in close collaboration with scholars in the United States and Abroad. This group’s research focuses on the relationships of religion and spirituality with altruism, interfaith and interethnic tolerance, openmindedness, civility and peace in the context of societal and global change.

They comparatively assess these relationships across nations, cultures and traditions.

The group includes: Dr. David Hartmann, Dr. Vyacheslav Karpov, Dr. Elena Lisovskaya, Dr. Georgios Loizides, Jacob Armstrong, M.A. student, Jessica Edel, Ph.D. candidate, David Barry, M.A. student, and Yevgeniya Leontyeva, M.A. student Currently they are preparing a comparative study of religion and spirituality’s role in interethnic and interfaith tolerance among Muslims and Christians in Cyprus. This study parallel their previous research in Russia, and provides a framework for crosscultural comparisons of tolerance and its roots. This study also brings the group closer to conducting a similar research project in the United States

Graduate Students • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

•

•

Kristen DeVall, Graduate Student Teaching Effectiveness Award Emily Lenning, Graduate Research & Creative Scholar Award Flora Myamba, Ph.D. All University Graduate Research & Creative Scholar Award Jessica Edel, M.A. All University Graduate Research & Creative Scholar Award David Piacenti, Ph.D. Graduate Research and Creative Scholar Award Sara Brightman, Kristen DeVall, Chair’s Excellence Awards Flora Myamba, American Association of University Women (AAUW) International Doctoral Fellowship for 2007-2008 David Piacenti, Graduate Student Teaching Effectiveness Award Sarah Brightman, All-University Graduate Student Teaching Effectiveness Award Jessica Edel, Graduate Research & Creative Scholar Award, Ph.D. David Barry, All-University Graduate Research & Creative Scholar Award, M.A. Emily Lenning, All-University Graduate Research & Creative Scholar Jessica Edel, Sociology GraduAward, Ph.D. ate Research and Creative Jacob Armstrong, Graduate Research and Creative Scholar Award M.A. Scholar Award, M.A. Michael Berghoef, Elizabeth Bradshaw, Sarah Brightman, Carrie Buist, Jacquelynn Doyon, Jessica Edel, Kelly Faust, MichelleFetherSamtouni, Michael Gillespie, Michael Klemp-North, Emily Lenning, Yevgeniya Leontyeva, Ladel Lewis, Michael Macaluso, Flora Myamba, Syprose Owaja, Marie Sheneman, Angela Simon, Katherine Vasetsky-Chamberlin, Outstanding Graduate Scholars Joseph Abbott, Sarah Brightman, Kristen DeVall, Jessica Edel, Kelly Faust, Michelle Fether-Samtouni, Michael Gillespie, Lisa Kruse, David Piancenti, Jason Rapelje, Marie Sheneman, Angela Simon, JamesVaughn, Katherine Vasetsky-Chamberlin, Outstanding Graduate Teachers.

Jacob Armstrong, Chair’s Excellence Award.

Alumni • Dr. David Kauzlarich (Ph.D. ’94), William and Margaret Going Endowed Professorship of 2007, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville • Dr. Chad Kimmel (Ph.D. ’04), honorable mention, “The Mentor: An Academic Advising Journal” Academic Advising Writing Competition

Biological Sciences: Faculty

• Gyula Ficsor, $201,450, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services • Robert R. Eversole, $85,000, Core Technology Alliance Corporation; $20,600 and $20,000, Pharmacia and Upjohn Company • John R. Geiser, $6,726, AureoGen Biosciences, Inc.

Undergraduate Students • Victoria M. Koepke, Distinguished Senior in Biomedical Sciences Distinguished senior in Biomedical Sci• Jennifer L. Trout, Distinguished Senior in Biology ences Victoria M. Koepke with Dr. John • Monica J. Czarnopys, Distinguished Pre-Professional in Geiser.

Biological Sciences • Austin J. Klint, Merrill Wiseman Award in Microbiology • Stephen C. Denuyl, Presidential Scholar in Biological Sciences • Julie A. Ryan, Brett R. Blaauw, Distinguished Biological Sciences Graduate Student.

• Chad Trumble, Masters – Teaching, Mary Adams, Ph.D. – Teaching, Graduate Student Awards for Teaching Effectiveness • Kyle Kinnell, Masters-Research, Michael Buchalski, Ph.D. – Research, Graduate Research and Creative Scholar Awards

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Chemistry

Boe Bisett (Biological Sciences) Frank Hinds Zoology Award.

Faculty

• David Huffman, $185,000, National Science Foundation • John B. Miller, $178,030, Smithsonian Institution • Susan R. Stapleton, $109,748, Metabolic Solutions Development, Inc.; $101,337, National Science Foundation • Steven B. Bertman, $9,994, National Science Foundation • Dongil Lee, $9,500, Michigan Universities Commercialization Initiative; $5,000, American Chemical Society

Geography Faculty

• Chansheng He, $35,640, $17,408 and $13,401, U.S. Department of Commerce.

• Kathleen M. Baker, $9,200, Hanes Fund.

Undergraduate Students • Whitney Alrick, Geographic Information Science • Timothy Hall, Environmental Analysis and Resource Management • Angela Fortino, Urban & Regional Planning • Eric Piper, Urban & Regional Planning • Magdalena Wisniewska, Geography • Sarah Spiwak, Tourism

Steven B. Bertman (Chemistry) received a grant for $9,994 from the National Science Foundation. (photo by John Gilroy)

Geographic Bee held at WMU

Outstanding Seniors • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Constantine Karis, Secondary Education Joshua Groeneveld, Geographic Information Science Melissa Braman, Geography Benjamin Parsons, Environmental Analysis & Resource Management Yuka Nakamura, Tourism Gus Martinka, Geography Presidential Scholar - Geographic Information Science Jacob Dunneback, National Council for Geographic Ed. Award - Secondary Education Angela Fortino, American Planning Assoc. Memberships Urban & Regional Planning Eric Piper, American Planning Assoc. Memberships Urban & Regional Planning Jeff Reicherts, Graduate Scholastic Achievement - 2007 Cathryn Whately, Graduate Scholastic Achievement - 2008 Teresa Bertossi, Graduate Student Service Award James Eichstaedt, Graduate Student Service Award

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Middle-school geography whizzes from across the state visited the Western Michigan University campus Friday, April 4, to compete for the Michigan title in a state Geographic Bee and a chance to travel to Washington, D.C., for the U.S. championship at National Geographic Society headquarters.

This was the first time WMU has hosted Michigan’s Geographic Bee. Similar competitions take place on the same day in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories and Department of Defense schools around the globe. Up to 100 fourthto eighth-graders compete in each location, with the state competitions organized by NGS and sponsored by Plum Creek, one of the nation’s largest private landholders.

The top geography students in Michigan were selected from a field of 10 students who made it to the final round. Sarah Whitcomb, a former news anchor in the state and a clue crew member of television’s “Jeopardy!” served as moderator at the Michigan Bee.

S ciences & M athe m atics

• Erica A. Ulch, Margaret Thomas Du Mond Award • Derrick S. Hilton, Aida Shafreena Ahmad Puad, Hazel Wirick Scholarship • Aida Shafreena Ahmad Puad, Leo C. Vander Beek Graduate Student Plant Biology Award • Kerry McMartin, Colin J. Gould Memorial Scholarship • Boe Bisett, Frank Hinds Zoology Award • Travis Dams, MPI Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award • Laura Nejedlik, MPI Outstanding Graduate Research Award

& M athe m atics ciences

Geosciences Faculty

• Mohamed Sultan, $67,939, NATO Science Programme Cooperative Science and Technology NATO Scientific Affairs Division.

• David A. Barnes, $50,000, Battelle Memorial Institute. He also, $ 39,823, NTG Consultants, LTD., and a grant in the amount of $10,000, Burns and Roe Enterprises.

• Michelle Kominz, $28,860, Northern Illinois University.

• Ronald B. Chase, $24,999, U.S. Department of Defense.

• Johnson Haas received a grant in the $17,567, National Science Foundation.

• William B. Harrison III, $13,600, Petroleum Technology Transfer Council.

• Duane R. Hampton, $8,310, Pall Corporation • Travis Hayden, Adam Milewski, Zhanay Sagintayev, Research and Creative Activities Awards and Teaching Effectiveness Award.

Undergraduate Students • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Stephanie Ewald, Amanda Walega, Lauren D. Hughes Environmental Scholarship.

Abdou El-Magd, Advisory Council Field Camp Scholarship.

Joshua Kirschner, Zhanay Sagintayev, David Kuenzi Graduate Student Research Award.

Stephanie Ewald, Richard Laton Field Camp Scholarship.

Ryan Sibert, Lloyd Schmaltz Scholarship.

Thomas Reich, Undergraduate Scholarship in Geology or Earth Science.

Doris Becker, Elizabeth M. Garrett Endowed Scholarship for Women in Science.

Jennifer Trout, Lloyd and Marilyn Schmaltz Undergraduate Award – MGRRE. Geology Club, Distinguished Service Award, AAPG—Student Chapter, Audrey Ritter, Best Seminar Speaker Award.

Shawn McCloskey, Kyle Patterson, Senior Honors Award – Geology.

Rachel Salim, Earth Science Education.

Tracie Cagle, Undergraduate Student Work Award.

Graduates • Jeff Barney, GSA Geoscience Education Division, Travel Award: • Tsigabu Gebrehiwet, National Association of Black Geologists & Geophysicists (NABGG) Superior Academics Award.

• Joshua Wabindato, Kalamazoo Geological and Mineral Society Scholarship.

• Joshua Kirschner, Alan LeFever, WMU Grants and Awards from September 2007 Research Grants.

• Doris Becker, Travis Hayden, Adam Milewski, Travel Grants.

• Richard Becker, 2008 All-University Research and Creative Activities Poster Award.

• Adam Milewski, 2008 All-University Graduate Research and Creative Scholar Award.

• Travis Hayden, 2008 Dept. of Geosciences, Graduate Research and Creative Scholars Award.

• Audrey Ritter, Zhanay Sagintayev, 2008 Department of Geosciences, Graduate Teaching Effectiveness Award.

• Dr. David Barnes, Dr. Robb Gillespie, 2008 Geosciences Faculty Award.

Mallinson Institute for Science Studies Faculty

• Herb Fynewever, $215,287, Michigan Department of Education.

• Mark Jenness received grants in the amounts of $109,756.30, $85,000, $72,000, $64,020, $30,000, $12,324 and $7,521, Michigan Department of Education, Wayne County Regional Educational Agency, University of Michigan-Dearborn, Michigan State University, Saginaw Valley State University and San Diego State University Foundation.

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Approximately 200 faculty, staff, and students attended the Graduate Research and Creative Activities Day held April 11 in the Fetzer Center. The program featured posters and displays by faculty and senior graduate students from across the University. Two WMU Emerging Faculty scholars gave lectures that capped the day. The Research Policies Council of the Faculty Senate along with the Office of the Vice President for Research and the Graduate Student Advisory Committee sponsored the day’s events in cooperation with the Graduate Studies Council and Graduate College.

Thirteen awards were granted to 14 graduate students from across the university for their scholarly endeavors. The 2008 Research Day award winners from the College or Arts and Sciences were: • Richard Becker, Geosciences, “Land Subsidence in the Nile Delta: Inference from Radar Interferometry,” faculty mentor, Mohamed Sultan; • Maria Lopez Castilla, Spanish, “Bringing the Writings of Early American Explorers to Life: The Case of Alvar Nunez Caebeza de Vaca in South America,” faculty mentor, Pablo Pastrana-Perez; • Anirban Dutta, Mathematics, “Implementing a Stable Pricing and Trading Method for Stock Index Options,” faculty mentor, Qiji Zhu; • Veronica Garcia-Bayo, Biological Sciences, “Localization and Effect of YopE in Saccharomyces cerevisiae,” faculty mentor, John Geiser; • Jon Lighthall, Physics “HELIOS, a Novel Detector for Nuclear Reactions,” faculty mentor, Alan Wuosmaa; • Sandra Madden, Mathematics, “High School Mathematics Teachers’ Evolving Knowledge of/Comparing Distributions,” faculty mentor, Chris Hirsch • Sandhya Nair, Chemistry, “Model of Insulin Resistance in Primary Rat Hepatocytes,” faculty mentor, Susan Stapleton; • Jon Panos, Psychology, “The Modulatory Effects of Neonatal Cytokine Exposure on Central Nervous System Development,” faculty mentor, Lisa Baker; • Rick Seim, Psychology, “The Efficacy of Dosed Exposure Therapy for Animal Phobias,” faculty mentor, Richard Spates; • Elizabeth Semkiw, Chemistry, “Dairy Whey as a PRB Carbon Substrate for Enhanced TCE Reductive Dechlorination,” faculty mentor, Mike Barcelona.

WMU 2008 Presidential Scholars

Faculty/Staff University Awards •

2007 Outstanding Achievement In Professional & Community Service Sisay Asefa (Economics) Lynne Heasley (History)

•

2007 University Distinguished Service Award John Benson (Spanish)

•

2007 Distinguished Faculty Scholar Award Arthur McGurn (Physics)

José Brandão (History) Christine Byrd-Jacobs (Biological Sciences) Nancy Eimers (English)

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

• 2007-2008 WMU Emerging Scholar Awards Stephen Covell (Comparative Religion) David Huffman (Chemistry) • 2007-2008 WMU Distinguished Teaching Award Richard Gershon (Communication) • 2007 Outstanding Achievement in Teaching Steve Feffer (English) Takashi Yoshida (History) • 2007 Outstanding Achievement In Research & Creative Activity

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Coleman Cunningham, Kalamazoo, Africana Studies Anthony P. Helms, Columbia, S.C., Anthropology Stephen C. Denuyl, Clinton, Mich., Biological Sciences Emily Alampi, Sterling Heights, Mich., Chemistry Krystal M. Bresnahan, Haslett, Mich., Communication Sara B. Dorrien, Kalamazoo. Comparative Religion Kurtis J. Wickey, Burr Oak, Mich., Economics Jennifer L. Dempsey, Romeo, Mich., English Carrie J. Susemihl, Three Rivers, Mich., Environmental Studies Lindsey M. Rucker, Kalamazoo, Foreign Languages Skylar J. Bre’z, Kalamazoo, Gender and Women’s StudiesGus J. Martinka, Vassar, Mich., Geography Shawn M. McCloskey, Portage, Mich., Geosciences Johnna L. ap’Morrygan, Owosso, Mich., History Joshua C. Boardman, Stevensville, Mich., Philosophy Jesse D. Snyder, Fife Lake, Mich., Physics Bethany K. Whittles, Holland, Mich., Political Science Megan R. Heinicke, Kent City, Mich., Psychology Denise L. Powers, Simi Valley, Calif., Sociology Ryan J. Minier, Reed City, Mich., Spanish

S ciences & M athe m atics

Graduate Research and Creative awrds

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