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A Publication for Friends of the College of Arts and Sciences
Special Awards Edition
Summer 2008 • Vol. X, No. 3
2 Social Sciences 5 Sciences and Mathematics 8 Ph.D. Graduates 12 University Awards 12 Humanities
Humanities
Gershon is WMU Distinguished Teacher
Communication 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, WMU Ethics team, won the Upper Midwest Regional Ethics Bowl, • Colin Cady, Ben Krupp, Ryan Lasure, and Justin Knapp, Telecommunications Information Management team, placed in the final three at the International Telecommunications Education and Research Association 2008 National Case Study Competition • Jacob Durrett, selected to attend the Cannes International Film 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 Christopher Sell, Presidential Scholar, School of • Santosh Rao, third in the feature-writing category Communication. of the Society of Professional Journalists’ Mark of Excellence competition • Christopher Sell, 2007 School of Communication Presidential Scholar • Nathaniel Abernathy, Sarah Anderson, Rebecca Bakken, Janee Beville, Halley Lynn Blythe, Krystal Bresnahan, 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 Academically Talented Youth Program continued on page 3
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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 for their instructional skills. 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 • Brandon McNab, Nash Scholarship in English Education • 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 • Kelly Granito, Laura Rosenberg, Adolescent Literature • Zachary P. Harlow, The Critical Eye for Excellence in Film Studies • Lee Hauser, The Book Award for Excellence in Critical Theory • Christopher Moore, Theresa Thomas, English Language and Linguistics • Robin Blanchard, Medieval Studies • Jill Hébert, Medievalism • Karen McPhail, Randall Seltz, Undergraduate Award for Excellence in Rhetoric and Writing Studies:
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 Activities 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 Award • Lacey Nicka, The Bruno Schulz Award for Undergraduate Fiction • Rachel Swearingen, Graduate Frostic Award; 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 continued on page 4
Dybek honored with MacArthur Foundation Fellowship
Stuart Dybek, an acclaimed short-story writer and Emeritus at Western Michigan University, is one of 24 Americans named recipients 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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Jennifer Dempsey, Presidential Scholar, Department of English.
Prague Summer Program seeks creative writing students
WMU’s Prague Summer Program is held each July, drawing about 100 students to the Czech Republic to study creative writing, Czech or American literature, Jewish Studies, or photography. 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. §
Humanities
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Humanities
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Foreign Languages Faculty
• Cynthia Running-Johnson, $52,590, National Kaohsiung Normal University • Dr. Jeffrey Angles, $3,500, PEN Translation Fund grant, PEN American Center
Spanish
Undergraduate Students • 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 • Morgan Allen, Loren Lapointe, Ryan Minier, Anastasia Morrow, Holly Greiner, Alexander Hudson, Phi Beta Kappa • 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 • Ana Beerbower, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz Award • Raphael Romero, Antonio Nebrija Award • Sofia Ruelas, Suzanne Wheatley Award
Department of Spanish graduate student awardees (from left) Alicia Arribas, Marlene Roldán Romero, Nuño Castellanos, Berta Carrasco de Miguel, and Ana Santos.
• • • • • • •
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 Kyria Bird, Anne Walen, Travel Study Abroad Award
Graduate Students • • • • • •
Alicia Arribas, Department Graduate Research and Creative Activities 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 Activities Award Pilar López Castilla, Graduate Research and Creative Activities Award
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Angles tapped by Kennedy Center for Japanese festival
Western Michigan University’s Dr. Jeffrey Angles (Foreign Languages) has organized a series of literary and poetryrelated 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 modernday 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 award-winning 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 WMU’s 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. §
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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
Social Sciences
Faires is Fulbright Distinguished Chair
• 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, Faculty Achievement Award , Research and Creative Activities Award • 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) • 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 • Mitch Kachun, Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History • Eli Rubin, $49,500, Humboldt Foundation, Germany (two-year grant) continued on page 6
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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Social Sciences
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• 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, 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, Research and Creative Activities Award, Doctoral Level • Jack K. Goodman, Research and Creative Activities Award, Master’s Level • Brian N. Becker, All-University Award and Departmental Award for Teaching Effectiveness, Doctoral Level • Travis Bruce, Graduate College Dissertation Completion Fellowship • Ashley N. Emerson, Departmental Award for Teaching Effectiveness, 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, Judith F. Stone Award • Stephen Staggs, Ernst Breisach Award • Kelly Sparrow, Edith Mange Assistantship • Terra Englemann, Stephen S. Upton Fellowship in Public History • Rex Hafer, Carolyn and John Houdek Award for Teachers in History Graduate Programs • David Zwart, Visiting Research Fellowship, Van Raalte Institute, Hope College, Holland, Mich. • 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 and Creative Activities Award, Graduate College continued on page 7
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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
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Undergraduate Students • • • • • • •
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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
WMU’s Mock Trial team includes (from left) coach Joelle Renstrom, Bethany Whittles,
Dan Brim, Hannah Markel, James Conner, Blake Nichols, Reema Nandy, Catherine • Liz Wheat, Todd Curry, Mark Beougher, Matt Arsenault, Klein, Brent White, Chris Little, and Alex Roman. Z.D. Shilling Graduate Student Award • Fodei Batty, $20,000, 2007-08 Jennings Randolph Peace Scholar • LaTasha Chaffin, Howard Wolpe Scholarship in African Studies Mock Trial team makes • Mihaiela Ristei, Zachary Cahalan, Emily Zerndt, George Klein Memorial Scholarship Nationals • Courtney Buck, Melissa Shaffer-O’Connell, Arden J. Elsasser Memorial Scholarship Western Michigan University’s • Fodei Batty, John R. Borsos Memorial Endowed Scholarship mock trial team captured fourth place • Michael Romano, William A. Ritchie Prize in Political Theory at the highly competitive Joliet regional • Fodei Batty (Ph.D.), Courtney Buck (M.A.), Graduate Research and Creative competition, finishing with a 5-2-1 Activities Award record. The fourth place finish secured • Greg Rathje (Ph.D.), All-University Teaching Effectiveness Award the team a bid to the national tour• Marisha Lecea (M.A.), Teaching Effectiveness Award nament in Waukegan, Ill. WMU beat • Courtney Buck, National Security Education Program David L. Boren teams from University of Michigan, Fellowship, Institute of International Education Michigan State, Illinois State and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee among others in a field of 24 teams. Bethany Whittles, captain and three-year member of the program led the team with her outstanding Faculty attorney performance, which gar• David J. Hartmann, $12,258, $11,379 and $11,378, Kalamazoo County; $10,000, nered her an award. She scored 17 City of Kalamazoo; $4,668, Portage District Library of 20 possible points as a defense • Thomas L. VanValey, $11,756, City of Portage; $2,930, Pentwater Community attorney—she also played an attorney on the other side. This was Whittles’ Undergraduate Students second attorney award of the season. • Denise Powers, Presidential Scholar So far this season, the WMU team has • Kyle Rundles, Sociology Scholar won nine individual awards. The WMU Mock Trial team would • Jason Therrien, Criminal Justice Scholar like thank attorney coach/adjunct fac• Lucas Patton, Leonard C. Kercher Award ulty Jamie Geary for his help, as well • Lindsey Muller, Michael Lininger, Brandon Dowty, Dustin Hubbell, as attorneys Kurt McCamman, James Kyle Hall, Lanny Wilde Scholarships Liggins, Annette Nickel and Manish • Lauren Ritter, Stanley S. and Helenan S. Robin Scholarship Joshi. • Amanda Counts, Research and Creative Activities Award, Undergraduate The WMU Mock Trial team was • Joseph Orr, Outstanding Student Leadership/Student Association founded in 1999 by Dr. Peter Ren• Kaylin Bolinger, Melanie Dodge, Amelia Harper, Lauren Ritter, Alpha Kappa strom. The team dedicated the victory Delta International Sociology Honor Society to his memory. § • Matthew Fuller, Deena Robarge, Alpha Phi Sigma, The National Criminal Justice Honor Society
Sociology
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Social Sciences
Political Science
Social Sciences
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 interFlora Myamba national women graduate students who are committed to the advancement of women and girls in their home countries. Myamba’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, open-mindedness, 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 cross-cultural comparisons of tolerance and its roots. This study also brings the group closer to conducting a similar research project in the United States. §
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Graduate Students • Kristen DeVall, Graduate Student Teaching Effectiveness Award • Emily Lenning, Graduate Research and Creative Activities Award • Flora Myamba, Ph.D., All-University Graduate Research and Creative Activities Award • Jessica Edel, M.A., All-University Graduate Research and Creative Activities Award • David Piacenti, Ph.D., Graduate Research and Creative Jessica Edel, Sociology, Graduate Research and Activities Award Creative Activities 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 and Creative Activities Award, Ph.D. • David Barry, All-University Graduate Research and Creative Activities Award, M.A. • Emily Lenning, All-University Graduate Research and Creative Activities Award, Ph.D. • Jacob Armstrong, Graduate Research and Creative Activities Award, M.A. • Michael Berghoef, Elizabeth Bradshaw, Sarah Brightman, Carrie Buist, Jacquelynn Doyon, Jessica Edel, Kelly Faust, MichelleFether-Samtouni, 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 VasetskyChamberlin, 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
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School of Public Affairs captures Humanics award
Members of the American Humanics Student Association at Western Michigan University won a national award from American Humanics—The 2007 American Humanics Community Service and Volunteerism Award. WMU students won this award for their extensive community service and volunteerism at a long list of local organizations. Last year students volunteered as a group at Generous Hands, Gryphon Place and Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Individually, students volunteered at Kalamazoo Deacon’s Conference, Boys and Girls Club, Habitat for Humanity, Kalamazoo Gospel Mission, Western Student Association, Gryphon Place, Campus Activity Board, Ministry with Community, Planned Parenthood, American Cancer Society, Kalamazoo Institute of Art, Log Cabin Quilters, Women’s Education Coalition, Kalamazoo Student Housing Cooperative, Drive Safe Kalamazoo, The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Research Foundation, and Peace Jam. WMU’s School of Public Affairs and Administration offers a certification from American Humanics, an undergraduate minor in nonprofit leadership, as well as nonprofit concentration in the master of public administration program. §
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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 Jennifer L. Trout, Distinguished Senior in Biology Monica J. Czarnopys, Distinguished Pre-Professional in 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, M.A.; Mary Adams, Ph.D., Graduate Student Awards for Teaching Effectiveness Kyle Kinnell, M.A.; Michael Buchalski, Ph.D., Research and Creative Activities Award 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
Boe Bisset (Biological Sciences) received the Frank Hinds Zoology Award.
Distinguished senior in Biomedical Sciences Victoria M. Koepke with Dr. John Geiser.
Chemistry 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
Outstanding Seniors • Constantine Karis, Secondary Education • Joshua Groeneveld, Geographic Information Science • Melissa Braman, Geography
Steven B. Bertman (Chemistry) received a grant for $9,994 from the National Science Foundation. (photo by John Gilroy)
Geographic Bee held at WMU
Middle-school geography whizzes from across the state visited the Western Michigan University campus in April 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 the event. 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 fourth- to 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. §
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Sciences & Mathematics
Biological Sciences
Sciences & Mathematicsics
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• • • • • • • •
Benjamin Parsons, Environmental Analysis and Resource Management Yuka Nakamura, Tourism Gus Martinka, Geography Presidential Scholar, Geographic Information Science Jacob Dunneback, National Council for Geographic Education Award, Secondary Education Angela Fortino, Eric Piper, American Planning Association Memberships, Urban and Regional Planning Jeff Reicherts, Graduate Scholastic Achievement, 2007 Cathryn Whately, Graduate Scholastic Achievement, 2008 Teresa Bertossi, James Eichstaedt, Graduate Student Service Award Travis Hayden, Adam Milewski, Zhanay Sagintayev, Geosciences Research and Creative Activities Awards and Teaching Effectiveness Award recipients.
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; $ 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, $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 • David Barnes, Robb Gillespie, 2008 Geosciences Faculty 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
Graduate Students • Jeff Barney, GSA Geoscience Education Division, Travel Award • Tsigabu Gebrehiwet, National Association of Black Geologists & Geophysicists 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 Award • Adam Milewski, 2008 All-University Graduate Research and Creative Activities Award • Travis Hayden, 2008 Dept. of Geosciences, Graduate Research and Creative Activities Award • Audrey Ritter, Zhanay Sagintayev, 2008 Department of Geosciences, Graduate Teaching Effectiveness Award continued on page 11
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Kehew is Outstanding Geologist of the Year
The Michigan Section of the American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG) is proud to announce the recognition of Western Michigan University Geosciences Professor Dr. Alan E. Kehew, with the 2007 Outstanding Geologist of the Year Award for contributing to the advancements in the understanding of the glacial geology of Michigan. Dr. Kehew is a national leader in the interpretation of glacial landforms and landscapes, and he continues to make significant contributions to the understanding of the glacial events that shaped Michigan’s rich historic geologic past. The main focus of Dr. Kehew’s career has been researching the hydrogeochemistry of natural and contaminated aquifer systems and the glacial geology of southwestern Michigan. Dr. Kehew has authored several papers and textbooks on these topics and teaches geomorphology, glacial geology, introduction to soils, contaminant hydrogeology, environmental geology, and hydrogeochemistry at Western Michigan University where he has been a Professor of Geology since 1986 and was also Department Chair. Dr. Kehew is a graduate of Bucknell University with a degree in Geology and holds a Master of Science degree in Earth Science from Montana State University and Doctorate in Geology from the University of Idaho. —Sara Pearson,Walt Bolt
Mallinson Institute for Science Education Faculty
• Herb Fynewever, $215,287, Michigan Department of Education • Mark Jenness $109,756; $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 • Kristin Everett, $40,750, Grand Valley State University • David Schuster, $39,960, National Science Foundation
Mathematics Faculty
• Christian R. Hirsch, $485,250, University of Missouri • Niloufer Mackey, $177,681, National Science Foundation
Physics Faculty
• Charles R. Henderson, $331,143, National Science Foundation • Nora Berrah, $180,000, U.S. Department of Energy; $45,000, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; $10,000, American Physical Society • Clement Burns, $99,213, U.S. Department of Energy • Thomas W. Gorczyca, $54,999, National Aeronautics and Space Administration • Michael A. Famiano, $18,056, National Science Foundation
Charles Henderson
Psychology Faculty
• Richard C. Spates, $177,600, Kalamazoo Community Mental Health Services • Ron Van Houten $75,000 and $43,062, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; $69,176 and $7,746, Texas A&M Research Foundation • Linda A. LeBlanc, $59,112, Kalamazoo Community Mental Health Services • Richard W. Malott, $4,100, Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency
Linda LeBlanc
Graduate Students • • • •
Doug Johnson, All-University Award for Effective Teaching Krystyna Orizondo-Korotko,Thurgood Marshall Award John Panos, Graduate Research and Creative Activities Award (Ph.D. level) Kaneen Geiger, Graduate Research and Creative Activities Award (M.A. level)
Statistics
• Joseph W. McKean, $15,080, Bronson Methodist Hospital
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WMU hosts regional Science Olympiad contest
The brightest “intelletes” from 26 area middle and high schools swarmed Western Michigan University’s campus on Saturday, March 15, to compete in the 2007-08 South-Central Michigan Science Olympiad Regional Tournament. Michigan Science Olympiad describes an “intellete” as someone who demonstrates exceptional performance in an academic pursuit. Science Olympiad unites so-called “intelletes” from middle and high schools across the country in rigorous team competitions that test their scientific knowledge and skill levels. If brain is the new brawn, Science Olympiad is the equivalent of the Super Bowl.With regional and state competitions comparable to high school football state championships, the initiative is considered a major event among students, families and educators in participating districts. Competing at WMU were the program’s South-Central Michigan division, Region 10, which comprised the brightest young people from Allegan, Barry, Branch, Calhoun, Hillsdale, and Kalamazoo counties. Marty Buehler, Region 10 director for Michigan Science Olympiad and head of Hastings High School’s science department, agrees.When he stepped in as director, his region had no place to call home. As a WMU alumnus, he immediately recognized the wealth of untapped resources that flourished in the University’s atmosphere of learning. “I knew WMU was perfectly suited to host the event,” Buehler says. “A major college campus instead of another high school building is different and more exciting for the kids. It is good for them to see what is out there.” Science Olympiad is the most prestigious team science and technology competition in North America. It’s been praised by business leaders for its innovation and contribution to improving scientific and technological literacy, as well as for helping to ensure the nation’s global competitiveness. More than 14,000 elementary and secondary teams from Canada and all 50 states compete in the Science Olympiad each year. Michigan has some 500 secondary schools participating, more than any other state in the nation. §
Sciences & Mathematics
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University and College Awards Faculty/Staff University Awards
• Sisay Asefa (Economics), Lynne Heasley (History), 2007 Outstanding Achievement In Professional & Community Service • John Benson (Spanish), 2007 University Distinguished Service Award • Arthur McGurn (Physics), 2007 Distinguished Faculty Scholar Award • Stephen Covell (Comparative Religion), David Huffman (Chemistry), 2007-2008 WMU Emerging Scholar Awards • Richard Gershon (Communication), 2007-2008 WMU Distinguished Teaching Award • Steve Feffer (English), 2007 Outstanding Achievement in Teaching • Takashi Yoshida (History), José Brandão (History), Christine Byrd-Jacobs (Biological Sciences), Nancy Eimers (English), 2007 Outstanding Achievement In Research & Creative Activity
WMU’s 2008 College of Arts and Sciences Presidential Scholars • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Coleman Cunningham, Africana Studies Anthony P. Helms, Anthropology Stephen C. Denuyl, Biological Sciences Emily Alampi, Chemistry Krystal M. Bresnahan, Communication Sara B. Dorrien, Comparative Religion Kurtis J. Wickey, Economics Jennifer L. Dempsey, English Carrie J. Susemihl, Environmental Studies Lindsey M. Rucker, Foreign Languages Skylar J. Bre’z, Gender and Women’s Studies Gus J. Martinka, Geography Shawn M. McCloskey, Geosciences Johnna L. ap’Morrygan, History Joshua C. Boardman, Philosophy Jesse D. Snyder, Physics Bethany K. Whittles, Political Science Megan R. Heinicke, Psychology Denise L. Powers, Sociology Ryan J. Minier, Spanish
2008 Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Awards
• Gavin Bates, Documentary Film Making of “Rich” Mentor: Heather Addison, School of Communication • Patrick J Birkholz, “Investigation of Ach in an invivo model of glaucoma” Mentor: Cindy Linn, Department of Biological Sciences • Ashley Bishop, “Evaluation of Indoor Vegetable Gardening” Mentor: Todd Barkman, Department of Biological Sciences • Boe Bisset, “Testing Inbreeding Avoidance in a Solitary Wasp” Mentor: David Cowan, Department of Biological Sciences • Adam J Brown, “The effects of habitat quality on the social behavior of the neotropical bat species (Thyroptera Tricolor) through genetically examining patterns of parentage and relatedness” Mentor: Maarten VonHof, Department of Biological Sciences
• Elyse M Cornett, “Effects of Orexin-A microinjections in the rat lateral hypothalamus on conditioned place preference” Mentor: Lisa Baker, Department of Psychology • Amanda Counts, “Chronicling Rape Since Reform” Mentor: Susan Caringella, School of Communication • Jacob Durrett, “The 2007 Cannes Film Festival” Mentor: Jennifer Machiorlatti, School of Communication • August Holtyn, “Probabilitstic discounting: does age affect risk sensitivity?” Mentor: Cynthia J. Pietras, Department of Psychology • Scott Kamen, “The Congress for Cultural Freedom and American Foreign Policy” Mentor: Edwin Martini, Department of History • Brian Lee, “Rites of Passage: Gross Human Anatomy and the Inter-Subjective Impressions of the Modern Medical Student” Mentor: Ann Miles, Department of Anthropology • Bryan Phinezy, “Singular Coloring of Graphs” Mentor: Ping Zang, Department of Mathematics • Lance Pride, “Analysis of Sinorhizobium melioti Mutant Strains in Response to Heavy Metals” Mentor: Sylvia Rossbach, Department of Biological Sciences • Joshua Shultz, “Companion planting, trellising, and rainwater collection for sustainable urban food production” Mentor: Lynne Heasley, Department of Environmental Science • Heather Tanner, “The Political Dimensions of Environmental Decision Making: An Ethnographic Study of the Kalamazoo River Clean-up” Mentor: Vincent Lyon-Callo, Department of Anthropology • Ray Vanezia, “Prodigal Son: Catholicism and Redemption in the Films of Martin Scorsese” Mentor: Heather Addison, School of Communication
2008 All-University Research and Creative Activities Awards
• Richard Becker, Geosciences, “Land Subsidence in the Nile Delta: Inference from Radar Interferometry” Mentor: Mohamed Sultan, Department of Geosciences • Maria Lopez Castilla, Department of Spanish “Bringing the Writings of Early American Explorers to Life: The Case of Alvar Nunez Caebeza de Vaca in South America” Mentor: Pablo Pastrana-Perez, Department of of Spanish • Anirban Dutta, Mathematics, “Implementing a Stable Pricing and Trading Method for Stock Index Options” Mentor: Qiji Zhu, Department of of Mathematics • Veronica Garcia-Bayo, Biological Sciences, “Localization and Effect of YopE in Saccharomyces cerevisiae” Mentor: John Geiser, Department of of Biological Sciences continued on page13
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Sisay Asefa
Lynne Heasley
John Benson
Arthur McGurn
Stephen Covell
Steve Feffer
Takashi Yoshida
continued from page 13
• Jon Lighthall, Physics, “HELIOS, a Novel Detector for Nuclear Reactions” Mentor: Alan Wuosmaa, Department of of Physics • Sandra Madden, Mathematics, “High School Mathematics Teachers’ Evolving Knowledge of Comparing Distributions” Mentor: Chris Hirsch, Department of of Mathematics • Sandhya Nair, Chemistry, “Model of Insulin Resistance in Primary Rat Hepatocytes” Mentor: Susan Stapleton, Department of of Chemistry • Jon Panos, Psychology, “The Modulatory Effects of Neonatal Cytokine Exposure on Central Nervous System Development” Mentor: Lisa Baker, Department of of Psychology • Rick Seim, Psychology, “The Efficacy of Dosed Exposure Therapy for Animal Phobias” Mentor: Richard Spates, Department of of Psychology • Elizabeth Semkiw, Chemistry, “Dairy Whey as a PRB Carbon Substrate for Enhanced TCE Reductive Dechlorination,” Mentor: Mike Barcelona, Department of of Chemistry
Lance Pride (left) and project mentor Sylvia Rossbach, Department of Biological Sciences.
College receives $12 million+ in grants for 2006-2007 The College of Arts and Sciences perennially leads Western Michigan University’s external research funding efforts. The annual College external funding awards have increased from $9.8 million in 2001-2002 to $12.1 million in 2006-2007. Institutionally, WMU attracted a total of $33.5 million in grants to the campus during 2006-2007—overall, the College of Arts and Sciences contributed 36.1% to this total. Of the $12.1 million awarded to the College in 2006-2007, approximately 66% was from competitive federal sources. This fact is a strong testimonial to the high quality of the College’s research-active faculty.
Anthropology �15,000.00 Biological Sciences �946,571.00 Chemistry �2,616,921.00 Economics �6,000.00 English �83,200.00 Geography �195,205.00 Geosciences �1,193,038.80 History �408,215.93 MISE �884,488.00 Mathematics �3,540,954.50 Medieval Inst. �275,465.00 Philosophy �134,936.00 Physics �877,506.00 Psychology �249,624.24 Communication �498,354.00 Public Affairs �15,600.00 Sociology �110,416.00 Statistics �35,777.50
Total $12,087,272.97
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2007-2008 College of Arts & Sciences Ph.D. Graduates December 2007
Alemayehu Azeze Ambel, Applied Economics Gaithersburg, Md. “Essays on Intrahousehold Allocation and the Family: Fertility, Child Education, and Nutrition” Doctoral Committee chair: Wei-Chiao Huang, Ph.D.
David W. Ayer, Psychology: Behavioral Psychology Murfreesboro,Tenn. “The Effects of Acute Nicotine Abstinence on Vigilance and Verbal Memory in Nondiagnosed Smokers” Doctoral Committee chair: Lisa Baker, Ph.D. Nesrin Cengiz, Mathematics Education Kalamazoo, Mich. “What Allows Teachers to Extend Student Thinking During Whole Group Discussions?” Doctoral Committee co-chairs: Theresa J. Grant, Ph.D. and Kate Kline, Ph.D. Judith Brown Clarke, Public Administration Lansing, Mich. “Evaluating the Effectiveness and Benefitcost of the Michigan Background Check Program Using Crime Opportunity Theory” Doctoral Committee chair: Robert Peters, Ph.D. Marwan Abdel Rahim Daoud, Statistics Greenfield,Wis. “Extensions of Two-part Tests to Compare K Independent Populations” Doctoral Committee chair: Magdalena Niewiadomska-Bugaj, Ph.D. Soumya Das, Geosciences Piscataway, N.J. “Adsorption of Lead on Single and Mixed Solid Systems” Doctoral Committee chair: Carla Koretsky, Ph.D. Anna Aleksandrova Filipova, Public Administration Au Gres, Mich. “Perceived Organizational Support and Ethical Work Climates as Predictors of Turnover Intention of Licensed Nurses in Skilled Nursing Facilities” Doctoral Committee chair: Matthew Mingus, Ph.D. Jessica Rae Schultz Fischer, Psychology: Clinical Psychology Kaneohe, Hawaii “Treatment of Co-Morbid Methamphetamine Substance Abuse and Borderline Personality Disorder Features Using Modified Dialectical Behavior Therapy” Doctoral Committee chair: Amy Naugle, Ph.D. Talal Ghannam, Physics Kalamazoo, Mich. “Quantum Properties of Light Emitted from Dipole Nano-laser” Doctoral Committee chair: Alvin Rosenthal, Ph.D. Venkat Reddy Guduru, Chemistry Portage, Mich. “Synthesis, Study of Self-assembly, and Trivalent Lanthanide Metal Ions Recognition Characteristics of Amphiphilic Acylpyrazolones and Amphiphilic Acylisoxazolanes” Doctoral Committee chair: Ekkhard Sinn, Ph.D.
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James Clayton Johnson, History Dayton, Oh. “Flights Past:The Wright Brothers’ Legacy and Dayton, Ohio” Doctoral Committee chair: Kristin Szylvian, Ph.D. Ruvie Lou Maria Custodia Martinez, Statistics Kalamazoo, Mich. “Diagnostics for Choosing between Log-rank and Wilcoxon Tests” Doctoral Committee chair: Joshua D. Naranjo, Ph.D. Mark Steven Reece, Public Administration South Haven, Mich. “Economic Impacts of Casino Gambling on Rural Michigan Communities” Doctoral Committee chair: Robert Peters, Ph.D. Dawit Legesse Senbet, Applied Economics Catawissa, Pa. “Estimating the Impact,Transmission Mechanism and Reaction Function of Monetary Policy: A Factor-Augmented Vector Autoregressive (FAVAR) Approach” Doctoral Committee chair: Mark Wheeler, Ph.D. Kent D. Smallwood, Psychology: Behavior Analysis Chicago, Ill. “Behavioral, Attitudinal, and DecisionAltering Effects of Aggressive Video Games on Young Adults” Doctoral Committee chair: Wayne Fuqua, Ph.D. Blen Solomon, Applied Economics Kalamazoo, Mich. “Three Essays on the Impacts of Risk and Uncertainty on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Remittances Flows into Developing Countries” Doctoral Committee chair: Sisay Asefa, Ph.D. Matthew W.VanBrocklin, Biological Sciences LasVegas, Nev. “Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase Signaling Promotes Survival in Melanoma” Doctoral Committee chair: Bruce Bejcek, Ph.D. Chun Wang, Chemistry Kalamazoo, Mich. “Synthesis and Characterization of Stilbenoids and their Aza-analogues as Photoluminescence Materials for the Detection of Nerve Agents Doctoral Committee chair: Ekkhard Sinn, Ph.D. Xue Wang, Physics Kalamazoo, Mich. “Structure and Excitations in Metal Ammonia Compounds” Doctoral Committee chair: Clement Burns, Ph.D. continued on page15
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August 2007 Shai M. Brosh, Psychology: Clinical Psychology Durham, N.C. “Evaluating the Immediate Impact and Short-term Therapeutic Effects of the ‘Internalized-other’ Interviewing with Couples” Doctoral Committee chair: Galen Alessi, Ph.D. Jean Louise Clore, Psychology: Clinical Psychology Salem, Ore. “Cognitive vs. Supportive Therapy for Distressed Collegians” Doctoral Committee chair: Scott Gaynor, Ph.D. Chris L.S. Coryn, Interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Evaluation Kalamazoo, Mich. “Evaluation of Researchers and Their Research:Toward Making the Implicit Explicit” Doctoral Committee chair: Michael Scriven, Ph.D. James D’Agostino, English Jackson, Mo. “Nude with Anything” Doctoral Committee chair: William Olsen, Ph.D. Ray DeBruler, Jr. , History Kalamazoo, Mich. “Land Use and Settlement Patterns in Michigan, 1763-1837” Doctoral Committee chair: José António Brandão, Ph.D. Dawn J. Dore-Stites, Psychology: Clinical Psychology Kawkawlin, Mich. “Evaluation of a School-based Program Targeting Pediatric Asthma Self-management Skills in an Urban Population” Doctoral Committee chair: R.Wayne Fuqua, Ph.D. Gregg G. Guetschow, Public Administration Owosso, Mich. “Coordination, Collaboration, and Culture: Local Economic Development in a Time of Networks” Doctoral Committee chair: James A. Visser, Ph.D. Ozcan Gulacar, Science Education Michigan City, Ind. “An Investigation of Successful and Unsuccessful Students’ Problem-solving in Stoichiometry” Doctoral Committee chair: Herb Fynewever, Ph.D. Hedy Sabbagh Habra, Spanish Portage, Mich. “La Creación de Submundos: Lo Visual en la narrativa de Mario Vargas Llosa” Doctoral Committee chair: Benjamín Torres, Ph.D. Peter K.W. Harris, Biological Sciences Portage, Mich.
“The Effect of Chloramphenicol on BB88 Murine Erythroleukemia Cells” Doctoral Committee chair: Susan Stapleton, Ph.D. Rebecca Lanai Jennings-Knotts, Psychology: School Psychology Thornton,W.Va. “Citation Analysis and Journal Impact in School Psychology: 1995 - 2004” Doctoral Committee chair: Alan Poling, Ph.D. Elizabeth Kerlikowske, English: Creative Writing Kalamazoo, Mich. “The Laying on of Maples” Doctoral Committee chair: Nancy Eimers, Ph.D. Lezheng Liu, Applied Economics Kalamazoo, Mich. “Empirical Essays on Inflation and Economic Growth” Doctoral Committee chair: C. James Hueng, Ph.D. Abraham Matthew Northup, Geology Vicksburg, Mich. “Modified Fenton Oxidation of Hydrocarbon Contaminated Soils with CaO2: Microbial Survival and Surfactant Production” Doctoral Committee chair: Daniel Cassidy, Ph.D. Byoungkook Park, English Portage, Mich. “The Biographic and Poetic Dimensions in Gary Snyder’s Green Buddhism Poetry: Cold Mountain Poems, Mountains and Rivers without End, and Danger on Peaks” Doctoral Committee chair: Daneen Wardrop, Ph.D. Nathan George Peplinski, Biological Sciences Kalamazoo, Mich. “The Effects of Aging and Activity on Glial Cell Line-derived Neurotrophic factor Expression in Skeletal Muscle” Doctoral Committee chair: John Spitsbergen, Ph.D. Nadini Persaud, Interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Evaluation Cave Hill Campas, Barbados “Conceptual and Practical Analysis of Costs and Benefits in Evaluation: Developing a Cost Analysis Tool for Practical Program Evaluation” Doctoral Committee chair: Michael Scriven, Ph.D. Ronald Riekki, English: Creative Writing Negaunee, Mich. “A Post-Marxist Perspective on Chuck Palahniuk’s Early Novel and the Four Plays of Incarcerated” Doctoral Committee chair: Arnold Johnston, Ph.D. Jennifer Lee Sobie, Psychology: Behavior Analysis Grand Rapids, Mich. “Effect of Extinction across Multiple
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Contexts on Renewal of Responses within a Functional Response Class” Doctoral Committee chair: Lisa Baker, Ph.D. S. Mark Veldt, History Wayland, Mich. “Christian Attitudes Toward the Jews in the Earliest Centuries A.D.” Doctoral Committee chair: Paul Maier, Ph.D. Gerald Lee Zandstra, Public Administration Caledonia, Mich. “Public Administration Theory and Views of the Human Person” Doctoral Committee chair: Matthew Mingus, Ph.D.
April 2008 Kristen Elizabeth DeVall, Sociology: Criminology Kalamazoo, Mich. “The Theory and Practice of Drug Courts: Wolves in Sheep Clothing?” Doctoral Committee chair: Susan Caulfield, Ph.D. Peter James Geye, Creative Writing Minneapolis, Minn. “You Will Come Safe from the Sea” Doctoral Committee chair: Jaimy Gordon, D.A. Nuria Ibanez-Quintana, Spanish Kalamazoo, Mich. “Visiones Convergentes: Mito, Historia y Arquetipo en la Dramaturgia de Lourdes Oritz, Sabina Berman y Diana Raznovich” Doctoral Committee chair: Irma Lopez, Ph.D. Emily Elizabeth Lenning, Sociology: Criminology Portage, Mich. “This Journey is not for the Faint of Heart: An Investigation of Challenges Facing Transgender Individuals and Their Significant Others” Doctoral Committee chair: Susan Caringella, Ph.D. Jonathon Muterera, Public Administration Sterling Heights, Mich. “The Relationship between Transformational Leadership Theory Behaviors, Follower Attitudes and Behaviors, and Organizational Performance in United States County Governments” Doctoral Committee chair: Matthew Mingus, Ph.D. John Samuel Risley, Interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Evaluation Kalamazoo, Mich. “Legislative Program Evaluation Conducted by State Legislatures in the United States” Doctoral Committee chair: Michael Scriven, D.Phil.
I Remember WMU… Frank Friedman – Professor Emeritus
B.A. 1957, M.A. 1959 Fifty years. Can you believe it? 2007 was the golden anniversary of my graduation. As I recall so many people and events that shaped my career in teaching, I am blessed, or should I say grateful, to have succeeded. My French professor, Dr. Frances Noble, who taught for 42 years, was very thorough in her knowledge of French language and culture. Her influence was extensive. I remember her motto: COURAGE! In English, Miss Lucille Nobbs was funny and easy going. Her American Literature classes always were full. On final exam day, an urgent telephone call pulled her away from her desk, and she never came back! On the stairs, she fell and broke her leg and/ or ankle. From her hospital bed, she corrected our exams. I, like others, got an A. Miss Lucille Walker taught English 101 in the old gym, second floor of East Campus. She was very articulate, punctual and demanding. Upon walking up to the main door, if she saw any debris – candy wrappers for example – she’d say aloud, ‘Pick up those, Mr. Friedman.’ Dr. Edyth Mange of the history department and foreign student adviser, helped me obtain a one year scholarship from the Institute of International Education, NY, to teach in France. I was one of 43 recipients in the U.S. Now I take care of my wife and direct a successful kidney cancer support group (formed in 2007). Our dear son died from the disease in 2005. The WMU Alumni Association has my blog on kidney cancer. I am a lifetime member of this glorious university and still feel a part of the WMU ‘community.’”
You, too, can join the WMU Online Community at www.wmualumni.com/
College of Arts & Sciences Office of the Dean 1903 W. Michigan Ave. Kalamazoo MI 49008-5308 Address Correction Requested
We would like to learn more about our alumni. Please share your favorite memory of WMU, your current activities, or anything else others might be interested in knowing, and return it to the College via one of the methods listed below. To learn more about us, please visit www.wmich.edu/cas. Name
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Mail to: Office of the Dean, College of Arts & Sciences, Western Michigan University, 1903 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo, MI, 49008-5308 or email your story to cheri.bales@wmich.edu. Include a current photo if you have one.
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