Centralight, Central Michigan University Alumni Magazine, Summer 2024

You can help prospective students see themselves on CMU’s campus

your service

Students travel between classes on a sunny spring day. Want to help grow CMU’s alumni ranks? Talk about Central to the students in your life!

PHOTO BY LANCE GASCHO,

’22

Meet the enterprising CMU alumni dedicated to delivering top-notch hospitality service around the globe.

Big Picture

The CMU Astronomy Club traveled to Ohio to stand in the path of totality during this spring’s solar eclilpse.

Campus Ambassador alumni reflect on helping recruit students as they built key life skills. And good news for alumni: You can be ambassadors in your community too!

Executive Editor and Executive

Director of Alumni Relations

Marcie Otteman, ’87

Editor

Betsy Miner-Swartz, ’86

Managing Editor

Robin Miner-Swartz

Visual Media Director

Amy White

Graphic Designer

Erin Rivard, ’07, MBA ’16

Photographer

Adam Sparkes

Writers

Terri Finch Hamilton, ’83

Kevin Essebaggers, ’98, M.A. ’01

Aaron Mills, ’02

Robin Miner-Swartz

Research Associate

Bryan Whitledge

Editorial Assistant

Alison Foster

Vice President for Advancement

Jennifer Cotter, ’01

Vice President for University Communications and Chief Marketing Officer

John Veilleux

For advertising information

Call Cindy Jacobs, ’93 (800) 358-6903

Send change of address information to:

Alumni

Central

Phone: (800) 358-6903

Fax: (989) 774-7159

Email: alumni@cmich.edu Web: alumni.cmich.edu

Strong family ties

Our network of alumni, faculty, staff and students connect us in a unique and important way across miles, time

Marcie Otteman, ’87, Executive Director of Alumni Relations

I’ve been thinking about the CMU family lately. It’s a massive, extended family, made up of current students, faculty and staff along with more than 245,000 alumni and hundreds and hundreds of retired faculty and staff. Much like our own personal families, it is far reaching, unique and has a lot of interesting characters. And, much like our own families, its members are with us through good and tough times, supporting us during major life achievements from welcoming new students during their first days on campus to celebrating graduation. They are there, grieving with us through challenges and hard times, encouraging us to hang in there and give it our all. They become our home away from home, and gradually over time, become part of our very fabric. In this issue, you’ll read about our Campus Ambassador program — the tour guides in the Admissions office. I was fortunate to be the coordinator of that program for a number of years, and I’m still in touch with some of those former students — now proud alumni — to this day.

We also feature stories of alumni who came through a variety of degree programs to land unusual, fascinating jobs in the hospitality industry, caring for their customers like family.

In CMU Today, you’ll find some incredible alumni and faculty who are still supporting CMU students with gifts that will make an impact for years to come. Still connected, still part of the family.

This summer we will have the opportunity to welcome several thousand new family members during orientation, just a few weeks after we say goodbye to some of the family who will move to first jobs, graduate school and more following commencement. The circle will continue.

Cheers to summer! I hope you get the time to travel — maybe to visit family — and if you do, stop by the Carlin Alumni House. We’d love to say hi and welcome you home for a visit.

Fire Up Forever,

Stay FIRED UP

Connect with CMU alumni at upcoming Alumni Association events across the country! Find the complete schedule of in-person and virtual opportunities here: go.cmualum.com/alumni-events

Get SOCIAL

Follow our activities and updates on your favorite social channels: FACEBOOK facebook.com/cmualum X @cmualumni

Central Michigan University – Alumni Presidential search update

During the summer, our presidential search committee will be working hard to find the next leader for CMU. You can stay up to date on the process by checking in at https://www.cmich.edu/about/ university-leadership/office-president/presidential-search

President Bob Davies

Creating a welcoming university CMU Campus Ambassadors form vital connections

Do you remember the very first time you set foot on Central Michigan University’s campus? Think back to your feelings on that day. Were you already excited to get started or were you — like so many incoming students — feeling anxious about the future or overwhelmed by the unfamiliar surroundings? Chances are the first person to welcome you and help you understand CMU’s culture and all we have to offer was a Fired Up student — a campus ambassador.

CMU Campus Ambassadors play a pivotal role in shaping the future of incoming students, embodying the spirit, values and culture of our community. They are a fundamental part of guiding high school seniors and transfer students through the crucial decision-making process of choosing their future educational home. They are often a prospective student’s first introduction to our community of scholars and leaders, and their energy sets the tone for many future interactions.

Ask any of our ambassador alumni, and they will tell you that this role is no ordinary position; it’s an opportunity to develop leadership skills, network with a diverse group of people, and contribute meaningfully to the CMU community. It can be demanding, requiring significant CMU knowledge and the ability to project that Fired Up attitude even on cold, rainy and snowy days.

Being a Campus Ambassador also can be tremendously rewarding. Beyond the immediate impact of their work in recruitment, they gain invaluable experiences that hone their public speaking skills, refine their time management skills, and enhance their ability to manage and inspire large groups. As they serve our university, these students are building professional skills that will serve them in whatever career path they choose to pursue.

In this issue you will meet alumni of the ambassador program and learn how it provides value as professional and personal development for students, while simultaneously playing a crucial role in the university’s community-building efforts.

Through their dedication and enthusiasm, CMU Campus Ambassadors ensure that every potential student can envision a warm, welcoming and enriching experience at Central.

Be well and Fire Up Chips!

Bob Davies, Ph.D. President, Central Michigan University

CMU TODAY

CMU aims to remedy state’s rural teacher shortage

$15M Department of Education grant jumpstarts new credentialing hub

BY AARON MILLS, ’02

Hiring and retaining certified teachers is a struggle for public schools across Michigan — especially those in rural settings.

With a new $15 million grant from the Michigan Department of Education, Central Michigan University will address

Leader of DEI efforts at CMU earns national attention

Shawna Patterson-Stephens creates connections to foster a sense of belonging

BY KEVIN ESSEBAGGERS, ’98, M.A. ’01

In the past year, Shawna Patterson-Stephens, vice president for Inclusive Excellence and Belonging, has garnered multiple national awards for her exceptional work to strengthen diversity, equity and inclusion in higher education.

At the heart of her ongoing work is a desire to create a sense of belonging at CMU. Her approach to this work involves asking many questions about what happens to people when they don’t feel connected to others.

that very issue through an innovative credentialing hub. The Michigan Consortium for Addressing Rural Education Expansion and Retention (MiCAREER) Resource Hub will offer teacher certification and ongoing professional learning opportunities at no cost to the future educator.

Through the MiCAREER Resource Hub, existing rural school staff who are not yet certified are eligible to work toward initial certification and ongoing professional learning. Prospective teachers also will be eligible.

“The need to attract, develop, and retain educators in rural regions is crucial for the health and well-being of children, families, communities and our state,” said Paula Lancaster, dean of the College of Education and Human Services at CMU. “We are proud to lead collaborative efforts and build a truly unique consortium of educator

“As a person, who wants to feel like they don’t belong? And what does that do to your psyche?” she asked.

Patterson-Stephens, ’03, knows those feelings well. As a CMU student, she struggled to make meaning of experiences that caused her to feel excluded. Guided by those memories and with the goal of improving the experiences of current and future students, as well as faculty and staff, her current work in diversity, equity and inclusion at CMU is addressing those concerns.

Her efforts have garnered significant national attention in the past academic year, earning several awards.

Patterson-Stephens was named one of Crain’s Detroit Business 2023 Notable Leaders in DEI, and she was recognized as an American College Personnel Association 2024 Diamond Honoree.

preparation programs and preschool-12 school districts that will address the persistent problem of educator shortages in rural communities across our state.”

With rural school districts comprising 65% of the state’s school districts and 31% of its students, the hub’s impact will be far-reaching.

CMU projects it will support hundreds of educators in the first few years of the hub’s operation, with the expectation for continued growth.

Among its partners are four additional state universities, at least nine northern Michigan intermediate school districts, and more than 50 local school districts.

Consortium partners began development of the hub in April. Lancaster said she expects programming will start no later than August. •

She received the 2024 National Association of Student Personnel Administrators Bobby E. Leach Award, and most recently was selected for the Pan African Network’s Anne S. Pruitt Foundation Award.

Patterson-Stephens is quick to acknowledge that she is only one part of the DEI work being done at CMU that these awards recognize. She points to her colleagues across campus and within the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the support they contribute to the effort.

“I’m not doing it by myself. I work alongside a very competent and passionate staff. This is not something that can be done insularly or in a silo,” she said. •

CMU TODAY

CMU campus landmark named Voisin Arch

Retirees’ gift supports athletic experiences for students

BY AARON MILLS, ’02

Tony Voisin came to CMU as an undergraduate in 1980 … and was still on campus nearly 40 years later.

Voisin, who retired in 2021 as associate vice president of student affairs, had long hoped for an archway on campus.

“I felt like we needed more architectural features, so it was a goal of mine to see one constructed before I retired,” Voisin said.

In 2018, that goal was achieved. Six years later, it has been named the Voisin Arch, to honor a generous donation and legacy gift by Tony, ’84, M.A. ’88, and his wife, Kim, ’90, who also is an alum and worked for CMU for 30 years.

The pedestrian gateway is a focal point just north of the John G. Kulhavi Events Center.

School of Accounting named for longtime CMU professor

Philip Kintzele has given time, talent and treasure for more than 40 years

BY AARON MILLS, ’02

Philip Kintzele arrived in Mount Pleasant during a St. Patrick’s Day snowstorm in 1980. Kintzele remembers then-dean Leonard Plachta, who would go on to become CMU’s president, picking him up in his red 1977 Chevy Impala to take the young educator to his faculty interview.

More than four decades later, the School of Accounting at Central Michigan

The landmark reflects the Voisins’ commitment to welcoming students and visitors to campus.

“The area where the arch stands used to be flanked by ‘do not enter’ signs. I wanted to change that,” he said. “CMU is a special place, and we should greet visitors in an impressive, warm way.”

Jennifer Cotter, vice president for advancement, said the Voisin name is an ideal choice for the gateway.

“The Voisins have made a lasting impression on thousands of students who are now dedicated alumni,” Cotter said. “Tony and Kim bleed maroon and gold, and

their gift symbolizes what it means to be part of the CMU alumni family.”

As a student, Tony spent endless hours at athletic events as a member of the CMU Marching Band, which fueled his passion for CMU Athletics. This passion extended throughout his career and now the Voisins’ gift has helped establish the Student Spirit and Traditions Endowment Fund, providing opportunities for CMU students to be more involved in athletics.

“The arch and the spirit and traditions fund are both designed to bridge academics and athletics,” Tony said.

“The more opportunities we give students to be actively engaged in athletics, the more they’ll be involved with CMU after they graduate. That’s why I also encourage others to consider making contributions to this fund.”

Not surprisingly, Tony proposed to Kim in front of the seal at Warriner Hall. And all three of the Voisins’ children — Rob, Casey and Maggie along with Rob’s wife, Grace — graduated from Central. •

University has been named The Philip L. Kintzele School of Accounting. The naming recognizes Kintzele’s lifetime gift commitments of more than $2 million — the largest employee gift in CMU history — as well as his unwavering dedication to the university.

“Dr. Kintzele has given much of his life — along with significant financial support — to Central Michigan University students,” CMU President Bob Davies said. “He is a shining example of the kind of faculty we have here at CMU, and this recognition cements his selfless commitment to improving the lives and futures of CMU Chippewas.”

Kintzele, who retired with emeritus status in 2019, established The Philip Kintzele Accounting MBA Scholarship in 1986 to

benefit accounting majors committed to completing CMU’s accelerated MBA accounting program following completion of their bachelor’s degree.

Naming the School of Accounting recognizes Kintzele’s financial contributions to the scholarship to date and his pledge of significant future commitments.

“I’m very thankful — I gave it all I had for 38 years,” Kintzele said.

Kintzele’s reason for giving to CMU is simple: he’s dedicated to paying it forward.

“As a student, I was able to get scholarships to help me get through college. I was so fortunate — I went and got all of these degrees and I had no debt,” Kintzele emotionally recalled. •

CMU alumni pay it forward with $2M gift

Magnussons’ donation supports athletics, College of Business Administration

Director of Athletics Amy Folan (from left), Tim and Sherry Magnusson, CMU

President Bob Davies, Dean Chris Moberg.

Tim and Sherry Magnusson met as high school students in the small Upper Peninsula town of Manistique. They attended and graduated from CMU together in 1994, getting married during their senior year.

Over the years, the Magnussons have given their time, talent and treasures to their alma mater. Now, they’ve made their largest gift to date — $2 million — to support CMU Athletics and the CMU College of Business Administration.

Tim studied business and German at CMU and has spent his career in the finance world. He helped found and serves as chief investment officer of Garda Capital Partners in Minneapolis. Sherry studied business administration and marketing, working in human resources until leaving the corporate world to raise their two children. She devotes much of her time to volunteer positions.

College of Business Administration Dean Chris Moberg said the Magnussons’ gift will enhance opportunities for finance students to learn through real-world experiences such as competitions and corporate visits.

“Tim and Sherry have ensured the next decade of finance students will have access to experiential learning opportunities, which we are truly grateful for,” he said.

As students, the Magnussons loved attending sporting events, beginning a lifelong commitment as CMU Chippewa fans. This commitment influenced their decision to fund the enhancement of student-athlete health and well-being.

“It isn’t easy to be a D1 student-athlete and we want to see student-athletes succeed,” Sherry said. “We’re grateful to play a small part in ensuring they have a positive experience at CMU and end up with a degree.”

Amy Folan, Zyzelewski Family Associate Vice President/ Director of Athletics, said the Magnussons made the first major gift to the recently announced Maroon & Gold BOLD campaign, a fundraising initiative for CMU Athletics.

“The Magnussons are incredible supporters and genuinely care about student-athletes,” Folan said. “Their gift will help fund game-changing programs and facility enhancements focused on student-athlete experiences.” •

NYC jazz-flamenco percussionist arranges one of largest gifts in CMU history

Flint native, Central grad helps future music students through endowed professorship in percussion

Flint native Mark Holen has made the largest financial commitment ever to the CMU School of Music, endowing a professorship in percussion through a legacy gift in his estate.

The gift will permanently fund the faculty position, including financial resources for salary, research, program enhancements and professional development.

Holen, ’70, the unpretentious New York City drummer of the New Bojaira Jazz Flamenco Band, prefers not to cite the amount of his gift, though it is among the largest legacy gifts in CMU history. And it’s not Holen’s first major gift to the university.

After his mother died in 2003, he and his father started a percussion scholarship in the family name. Thank-you letters from recipients quickly convinced him it’s “cool to help those who need it.”

“Students tell us our scholarship allows them to finish their degrees,” Holen said. “That feels pretty good,” he said.

Holen’s grandmother, Clara Katke, also graduated from CMU, earning a teaching degree in the early 1900s from what was then Central State Normal School.

Jefferson Campbell, dean of the College of the Arts and Media, said Holen’s scholarship allows students to pursue classes and extracurricular experiences that will accelerate their careers. He also said the impact of Holen’s endowed professorship cannot be overstated.

“This endowment will position the School of Music to attract and retain the highest quality faculty and best of the best students. We’ll compete effectively with any campus in the country,” Campbell said. “This is how universities make it to the next level.”

Holen hopes his gift inspires other alumni to talk with Central’s Advancement team about how the process of paying it forward works and to explore what’s possible.

“CMU made me a better musician because I played with so many different groups and worked with so many faculty,” Holen said. “A personal contact at CMU set me on the path that became my life. If CMU served you like that, I think it’s important to acknowledge that and give back as best you can. CMU students need our help.” •

At your SERVICE

Enterprising alumni are dedicated to delivering top-notch hospitality around the globe

BY TERRI FINCH HAMILTON, ’83

They’ve been up close and personal with Antarctic penguins — and Taylor Swift’s dad.

They serve vanilla lattes from a vintage camper and tout fluffy scones at a luxury California hotel’s fancy English tea.

When the global pandemic brought most of the hospitality industry to a debilitating halt, these enterprising alumni got creative, stuck it out, and came out thriving.

One thing they have in common? What one of them calls “the hospitality gene.”

You’ll see.

‘I went to 100 auditions before I got a job’

Musical theater experience at CMU set the stage for international career

BY TERRI FINCH HAMILTON, ’83

Sarah Bomber, ’15, once strolled among a colony of 500,000 King penguins in Antarctica. This story could end right here, and it would already be pretty cool.

As a singer, musician and world-traveling cruise ship entertainment director, Bomber could fill a book with wows.

She’s been the lead soprano soloist with the British National Symphony Orchestra and impressed audiences at Tokyo’s largest theater. She sailed the world as a lead singer onboard Cunard’s Queen Mary 2. She’s visited all seven continents and 90 countries. She plays harp, piano and ukulele.

Then there’s a photo of Bomber standing gleefully among thousands of penguins, with four of them approaching her. They probably wanted her autograph. Her current adventurous gig is as entertainment director for the RitzCarlton Yacht Collection on their luxury yacht, the Evrima.

Bomber is at sea for three months at a time, working 12-hour days, seven days a week hosting weeklong luxury cruises. When she isn’t on board, she lives in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

She’s the face of the ship, greeting passengers on the gangway, planning nonstop entertainment, impressing 300 discriminating passengers.

“Before I worked on cruise ships, I had never left America,” said Bomber, taking a break from her on-board duties in the British Virgin Islands.

We were kind of in a bubble.”

Then the bubble burst.

Now she tells of meeting women in Saudi Arabia who not long ago weren’t allowed to work and drive and letting fascinated children in The Gambia touch her long blonde hair.

“It changes you,” she said. “The more you travel, the more you want to learn about other places.”

Bomber grew up in a musical family in Findlay, Ohio, where the living room was an impromptu stage. Majoring in musical theater at CMU was a perfect fit.

“My first semester at Central I didn’t get any roles, and that was devastating to me,” she said. “But it helped me handle rejection, which is a huge part of this job. When I went to New York after graduation, I went to 100 auditions before I got a job.”

Bomber said there were a lot of teachers who believed in her and supported her who she still can call for advice.

“Central really shaped me. I was in the dance company and played harp in the orchestra. It was great preparation to move to New York. It really helped me become a strong person who can handle anything.”

That came in handy. Bomber was working on a world cruise when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

“We had just done the coast of Africa and were headed to the Maldives,” she said. “Nobody knew the depth of the situation.

“We were turned away from the port in the Maldives,” Bomber recalled, “so we headed to Sri Lanka. We were turned away there. We headed to Australia. Everyone was getting very panicked.

“We got to Australia the day before they closed the airport,” she said.

But the stress was just beginning.

“There were no jobs in anything I specialize in,” she said. “All the theaters were shut down.”

She was out of work for nine months.

It was a slow return for the cruise ship industry.

“Now,” she said, “we’re going nonstop.”

It must be a dream job, right?

“I get that a lot,” Bomber said, laughing. “But there are sacrifices. You’re away from home for three months at a time. You’re working every single day. When you’re the face of the ship, you have to always be smiling and happy, even when you’re not.”

Mostly, she is.

“When I graduated, I wanted to see the world and support myself by performing,” Bomber said. “I’m super proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish, and grateful to Central for setting me up for this.” •

‘When the lights shine the brightest, the pressure is on’

Event management at Ford Field all comes down to helping people — from guests to performers to staff

BY TERRI FINCH HAMILTON, ’83

When people find out that Chris Judd, ’07, is in charge of events at Ford Field in Detroit, he knows what question comes next.

“The answer is yes,” said Judd, senior event manager for S.A.F.E. Management of Michigan. “I’ve met some famous people.”

He hung out with “Wolverine” star Hugh Jackman and his family. He chatted with Taylor Swift’s dad.

“That’s as close as I got to her,” he said, laughing. “Madonna looked at me once. We made eye contact for about 10 seconds.”

That’s probably all the time he had.

“My focus is on the thousand people we have working the event or the 65,000 people in the stadium,” he said.

He works in big numbers.

Judd has successfully managed major events all over the country, including eight Super Bowls, several NCAA Final Four men’s basketball tournaments, countless Detroit Lions football games, and concerts by Jay-Z, Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Madonna, Ed Sheeran — and the list goes on.

It all started with his Introduction to Recreation class at CMU.

“I fell in love with it,” he said. “I felt right at home.” He quickly made Recreation and Event Management his major.

“The department is so vast, with so many career paths you can take,” he said. “I trusted that.”

He landed an internship at S.A.F.E. Management of Michigan in Detroit.

“Sixteen years later, I’m still here.”

S.A.F.E. stands for Security, Athletic Facilities & Events. Judd has been involved in every event that’s happened at Ford Field since 2008.

When you encounter an usher, Judd trained them. The security at the door? He’s responsible for that. When the big concert trucks roll up, he’s in charge of security inspections.

“When the lights shine the brightest,” he said, “the pressure is on.”

When the lights went out during the COVID-19 pandemic, a different kind of pressure loomed.

“The way our company makes money is through

events,” Judd said. “Without events, there are no jobs. We were very worried about our livelihood. We were working part-time security shifts just to stay afloat.”

Slowly, things opened up. Ford Field hosted games, but no spectators. Judd needed only 100 staff instead of the usual 1,000.

“COVID safety changed things that are still in place today,” he said. “Touchless payments. Self-serve concessions. Automated ticket scanners. And I’ve seen more hand sanitizer in the past three years than I’ve seen in my whole career.”

This past year was good for the venues he serves, from the joyous Detroit Lions season to the University of Michigan’s football national championship.

“Ultimately, I’m here to help people, whether it’s a young intern or somebody working part time or a guest,” he said. “We help people. And I had a lot of help at CMU.

“The faculty care about your success,” he said. “They’re unwilling to let anybody fail. I can still text my professors from 20 years ago. It’s really a special place.”

The feeling is mutual. Judd was awarded the 2023-24 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award, chosen by the faculty of the Department of Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services Administration.

He’s been paying it back to CMU for years. Judd became a member of the advisory board for RPL in 2016 and has mentored 45 CMU interns.

“The coolest thing I do as a professional is help young people,” he said.

And this is from a guy who locked eyes with Madonna. •

‘You learn how to keep trying’

Vintage coffee camper business fueled by big dreams, New Venture Challenge

BY TERRI FINCH HAMILTON, ’83

Hailey Caragay, ’18, has a way of making coffee seem magical, and it’s not just because she adds sparkles to the Italian sodas she serves from her vintage camper.

Caragay owns Hazel Coffee Company with her husband, Bryan Caragay, ’18. It’s a mobile coffee business that brings vanilla lattes and hazelnut cappuccinos to wedding receptions, farmers markets and community events.

Sure, the cute 1950s RedDale camper is part of the draw. So are the lavender

lattes and peppermint mochas.

Let Hailey tell you about the rest.

“Something about coffee makes people talk to you,” she said. “I love getting to know people beyond just their order.”

Who shows up?

“A lot of people who work from home,” she said. “Artists stop by in their aprons still full of paint or clay. I hear about their projects.

“A lot of people in the tech space come by. I love connecting people who might be able to help each other. I say, ‘Hey, you guys do the same thing.’ Then I’ll see them working together and helping each other solve problems.”

They might never have otherwise met.

“It’s always a positive environment,” she said. “It’s hard to be unhappy when someone is serving you coffee.”

Her coffee shop dream hatched at CMU, when she visited Kaya House, a cozy coffee haven a block from campus that soon became her favorite hangout.

“It made me feel not so away from home, always so familiar and inviting,” she said. “It’s what sparked my interest in opening a coffee shop someday.”

Caragay kept her eye on that goal, taking Entrepreneurship 101. She and Bryan both entered the CMU New Venture Challenge, an innovative program where students learn business start-up techniques and hone their innovative ideas. Workshops, mentor meet-ups and

Hailey Caragay sets up for sales from Hazel Coffee Company’s vintage camper.

networking events fuel big dreams.

“It made me realize maybe I could start something right out of college,” Caragay said.

She had no idea a global pandemic would open the door.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the Austin, Texas, coffee shop where she worked closed. Everybody was isolated. But they still needed coffee.

Caragay purchased an espresso machine and set up shop at apartment complex club houses, hired to deliver coffee to doors of cooped-up caffeine fans. She’d knock, set the coffee down, and scoot away.

“I never would have thought that’s how my business would get started,” she said.

By the time engaged couples were rescheduling their COVID-canceled weddings, the Caragays had purchased their vintage camper and outfitted it for coffee service. Brides booked Hazel Coffee Co. to roll up to their reception in their cute coffee camper.

Other events followed, from community Christmas tree lightings to Halloween trunk-or-treat events to a regular gig at the Canton Farmers Market, where the Caragays — who live in Ann Arbor — show up early on Sunday mornings.

Bryan, a software engineer who works remotely for a California company, helps out every Sunday, relishing the community vibe.

“When you come see us, you’re greeted with a smile,” he said. “We’ll learn your name. We’ll learn your dog’s name.”

He loves watching his wife thrive.

“It’s like she’s in love with this business and the people that come along with it,” he said.

Once a month the Caragays head to the CMU campus to mentor students preparing for the New Venture Challenge that meant so much to them.

“It taught us how to approach things in the real world,” Bryan said. “You try something, and it might fail miserably. So, you try it again and it fails a bit less. Then you try it again and it works. You learn how to keep trying.”

“New Venture prepared me in every way for my business,” Haliey said. “It made us believe in ourselves. I had a whole community at Central telling me to go for it.” •

Hazel Coffee Company travels to deliver coffee service to all types of events.

Hailey and Bryan Caragay, both 2018 CMU graduates, own and operate Hazel Coffee Company. “It’s hard to be unhappy when someone is serving you coffee,” Hailey said.

Listening ‘gives you all the information you need’

Alum leans into authentic connections and a culture of care in hospitality career

BY TERRI FINCH HAMILTON, ’83

You might wonder if a guy who has spent 30 years working at luxury hotels is sort of snobby about things when he travels.

Room service too slow? Those little scented soaps not scented enough? Too few mints on his pillow?

When Jim Caul, ’95, travels, what are his high expectations?

“I pick up the towels and clean the room,” said Caul, director of sales and marketing at the Langham Huntington Hotel in Pasadena, California. “My wife always has to remind me, ‘You’re not at work — housekeeping will clean our room.’”

Hotel guy habit.

“I leave my towels in a nice little pile,” he said. “I know how housekeeping likes things.”

Caul majored in business with an emphasis in hospitality management, wrapping up his CMU career with an internship at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Phoenix that had him working in every inch of the hotel, from the front desk to housekeeping.

“I can’t stress enough how great my internship experience was,” he said. “It was my gateway to having a job right after graduation.”

After a stint at the Phoenix Hyatt, he worked at several Loews luxury hotels coast to coast, working mostly in sales and marketing, where his nice-guy skills shine. Now at the luxurious Langham Huntington, he’s in charge of revenue coming in, overseeing catering operations, spreading the word about luxury hotel life.

He wouldn’t be doing his job if he didn’t offer a plug for the Langham’s famous fancy English tea, featuring fluffy scones with Devonshire cream and jam and French macarons created by the hotel’s in-house pastry team.

“This job allows me to be who I am,” he said.

Caul is a face-to-face kind of guy. All those Zoom meetings during the pandemic bummed him out. He loves stopping by, shaking hands, sealing deals on the golf course.

If you bump into him at the Langham and ask how to get to the restaurant …

“I don’t tell you to take a left then a right,” he said. “I’ll walk you over there.”

On the way, he’ll chat you up. How’s your morning going? What brings you there? It’s your wedding anniversary? He’ll send a bottle of champagne to your room.

“The best thing you can do is listen,” he said. “It gives you all the information you need. Some think good hospitality is talking a lot. That’s the worst thing you can do.”

All his favorite stuff came to a screeching halt during the COVID-19 pandemic, which hit hotels hard.

“It was very stressful,” Caul said. “I had to have tough, honest conversations. We had to lay off 70% of our team.

“For the first time in more than 100 years, we had to close the hotel for a month. Think about all the things that happened in 100 years that didn’t close it — wars, the Great Depression.”

Some people asked him, “Why aren’t you changing careers?”

No way.

“We had to sharpen our pencils and do a recalibration,” Caul said. They appealed to traveling health care workers and cooped-up families. Housekeeping left clean sheets and room service meals outside guests’ closed doors for no-contact service.

He learned to think outside the box at CMU, he said. And value life beyond work.

“I took a recreation class where we went backpacking in the woods and had to work together to build a campsite and start a fire,” he said. He’s still an outdoors guy, hiking and golfing in the California sun.

Caul loves mentoring young people captivated by the hotel business he adores.

“I can teach you the tools, but I can’t teach you the hospitality gene,” he said. “Smiling. Staying positive. You have to have that.”

If you pick up your towels, that’s a bonus. •

“This job allows me to be who I am,” said Jim Caul, ’95, director of sales and marketing at the Langham Huntington Hotel in Pasadena, California.

IRA Qualified Charitable Deduction (QCD) rollover gift limits for 2024 have increased to as much as $105,000! This is a great way to support CMU tax-free!

Visit cmich.giftlegacy.com and click “IRA Charitable Rollover” to search for and then directly contact your IRA custodian to make a QCD gift to CMU. You can also designate CMU as a Beneficiary of your IRA.

Unfortunately, almost two-thirds of all adults have no estate plan. The most common reason – it feels too overwhelming or complicated. I doesn’t have to be. CMU can help! You already know who and what is most significant to you. It’s not a matter of what you want to do. It’s about deciding to get it done the right way.

Visit cmich.giftlegacy.com today and download or request a print copy of our FREE Estate Planning Guide to get started.

Peace of mind – Know your loved ones and CMU will carry on your legacy.

Tax savings – A common feature of many gift plans is saving taxes – leave more for loved ones and CMU, and pay less tax.

More income – Discover ways of creating more income today while planning your estate for tomorrow.

Jeremy Mishler

Senior Director of Gift Planning

Sky

The CMU Astronomy Club took a road trip on April 8 to view the Great North American Eclipse, a solar eclipse visible in parts of Mexico, the U.S. and Canada. They traveled to the University of Toledo where they could see the eclipse’s totality as it happened — viewed through protective glasses, of course!

PHOTO CREDIT: LANCE GASCHO, ’22

Making the case for CHOOSING CENTRAL

BY TERRI FINCH HAMILTON, ’83

Just when Brandon McDonald, ’21, thought he had his career plan figured out, something startling happened. There he was, a mechanical engineering major planning a career in robotic surgery, when he signed up to be a Campus Ambassador — a student tour guide who leads prospective students and their families around campus, pointing out highlights, answering questions and showing how CMU shines. It changed everything.

“I absolutely loved it,” he said. “I loved giving tours; I loved talking to students. I loved sharing everything CMU had to offer.

“I thought, ‘This feels great. I want to do this all the time.’” So, he does. Today, McDonald is the tour guide coordinator and an admissions counselor at Pennsylvania State University. Call it the Campus Ambassador Effect. It’s not always this dramatic. Not every Campus Ambassador suddenly veers

from teaching or sports medicine to pursue a career in university tours.

But the effect is real. CMU alumni who worked as these friendly faces of campus say the experience gave them valuable skills they use today. They’re great communicators who think on their feet. They’re confident leaders. They know the value of comfortable shoes.

“I could talk to a brick wall,” McDonald said, laughing. “It doesn’t matter how big the group is — I’m comfortable. You learn how to answer difficult questions, how to

Campus Ambassador alumni reflect on helping recruit students as they built key life skills

No matter the season, CMU’s Campus Ambassadors are ready to greet potential new students to the Mount Pleasant campus.

deal with people with different political or religious beliefs, how to talk to an angry dad who’s mad his daughter didn’t get more financial aid. Those kinds of things happen in the workplace, no matter what job you end up in.”

Welcome to Central! Meet a real student

While Campus Ambassadors are trekking around the grounds, practicing lifelong skills, they’re also a crucial part of attracting students to campus, said Patricia A. Young, ’11, M.S.A. ’13, CMU’s director of Undergraduate Recruitment/ Admissions.

“Students who visit campus are more likely to enroll at CMU,” Young said. “The tour is the most important part of that visit — the chance to see themselves on campus, talking to a student who’s experiencing campus right now.

“When we get surveys back from families, they never mention the administrator from Admissions,” Young said, laughing. “It’s always about the student who led their tour. They mention them by name.”

When the Campus Ambassadors program started in 1981 the student tour guides were volunteers. Now it’s a paid job for 42 students who also spend time working as assistants in the Office of Admissions.

“They see this job as a point of pride,” Young said. “They’re students who love CMU, who bleed maroon and gold.”

Campus Ambassadors choose one of three tour routes that highlight different buildings or campus programs, based on the academic interests of their group. Everybody sees the library, the Bovee University Center and a residence hall showroom.

Everybody sees the CMU seal, the popular landmark in front of Warriner Hall.

“Ambassadors encourage students to take a photo now, and again when they graduate,” Young said. “Families eat that up. It’s a wow moment.”

More wow moments from a recent grad

If you took a campus tour from Madison Moore, ’24, you probably remember her.

“When we got to Brooks Hall, I’d say, ‘Brooks is home to the geology department — I hear it really rocks,’” Moore said.

Corny jokes were her trademark.

“It was also a way to tell if they were really listening — if I heard a few laughs,” she said.

Moore was a Campus Ambassador for three years, and she had it down.

“It’s important to engage everyone in your group — not just the student,” she said.

If younger siblings were along, she gave them a goody bag of CMU swag and told them about Sibs and Kids Weekend. She knew parents liked hearing about CMU’s efforts in safety and mental health.

As they walked across campus and Moore saw friends, she always waved and said hi.

“That showed them that even though it’s a big campus, you’ll always run into people you know,” she said.

She pointed out the Fabiano Botanical Garden as a great place to bring lunch and a hammock. She’d advise them not to step on the C in the pavement near the Dow Science Building. Bad luck. Superstition says you might fail your final exams.

Madison Moore, ’24, enjoyed peppering her campus tours with corny jokes to keep people tuned in.

Young

“I loved it when a student came up to me on campus and said, ‘You were my tour guide!’ ” Moore said. “Sometimes they’d tell me they remember a joke I told. I gave them a tour and they decided to come here. That really fills my cup.”

Make that a CMU cup, available at the University Center bookstore, up ahead on your left.

90 minutes of ‘unabashed truth’

“No matter how good we are at recruiting, we can’t sell CMU as well as a student living on campus,” said Wade Tomson, ’15, M.S. ’19, associate director of Undergraduate Admissions who oversees the Campus Ambassadors training. “A visit to campus without Ambassadors wouldn’t be as successful. They share good spots on campus to take a nap, and obscure places to study, like the rocking chair in the greenhouse.

“They have a 90-minute relationship with these families, and they share the unabashed truth.”

Campus Ambassadors are students of different races and religions. They might be a transfer student or an international student. They might also lead tours in Spanish.

“When we say we welcome and embrace all types of students here, we don’t just say it — we show it,” Tomson said. “That’s so important.”

So is making sure the information Campus Ambassadors share is current and relevant, he said.

“The more things change in society, the more people want to know if we’re keeping up with those changes,” Tomson said.

“Students have always wanted to know things like, ‘Where will I live? Is the food good? When I graduate, will I get a job?’

But now parents want to know about safety,” Tomson said. “There’s more diversity now than was spoken about 10 years ago. Transgender students want to know if they’ll be safe on campus.”

That means the Campus Ambassadors training is constantly evolving, he said. McDonald was part of that evolution as a Campus Ambassador and brought what he learned at Central to his tour program at Penn State.

“Inclusion is big at CMU, and that stuck with me,” McDonald said. “As Campus Ambassadors, we gave our pronouns on our tours to provide a safe space for students to share theirs.

“The words you use are important, so everyone feels included and part of the conversation,” he continued. “You don’t want to exclude a transfer student or a nontraditional student or a home-schooled student by the language you use.”

McDonald worked on strategic tour language as a Campus Ambassador, brought it to his tour program at Penn State and is often asked to come speak about the strategy at other universities. Last year, he helped make the Penn State tour guides a paid position, after being part of that conversation at CMU.

Eric Linguar, ’02, took his Campus Ambassador experience to his job with the Bay Area Transporation Authority in Traverse City.

Tomson

A live alligator at Brooks — and skills for life

Eric Lingaur, ’02, still uses his Campus Ambassador skills. He’s director of communications and development for the Bay Area Transportation Authority in Traverse City.

“You get great at public speaking and being comfortable with strangers,” he said. “My profession is public relations, so that experience dovetailed right into my career.

“I talk to people about public transportation all the time,” he said. “I’m on camera with local media outlets. It was great experience.”

Lingaur is a third-generation CMU Chippewa, joining his grandfather, his parents and his sister.

He’s been taking a lot of campus tours lately with his teen daughter.

Their CMU tour was lively and engaging, he said — and he’s a tough critic.

“At bigger universities we just saw a little piece of campus — a dorm room, a classroom,” he said. “CMU is a very manageable campus to tour.”

When Lingaur was a Campus Ambassador, he got lucky — the new library opened.

“I could say, ‘Look at our cool library — watch how the shelves move!’” He laughed.

“The greenhouse in the Brooks Hall biology department had a live alligator,” he said. That was cool. But he had plenty more to share.

“I focused on the connections you make with professors, the small class sizes, the hands-on opportunities,” he said. “All of that is a big deal.”

Sharing it was a big deal to him.

“You’re helping people make an important life decision,” Lingaur said. “It makes you feel good — and really proud of your university.”

Who makes great CAMPUS AMBASSADORS?

As CMU alumni, we do, with our Fired Up maroon and gold spirit and our thousands of enduring campus memories.

“There are a million ways for alumni to be campus ambassadors,” said Patricia A. Young, director of Undergraduate Recruitment/Admissions. “Your attitude, spirit, time, money, sharing your experiences.”

Looking for ways to hype your alma mater to prospective students? Here are some tips from some folks who know how to advocate for CMU:

» “Connect with other parents,” Young said. “Recruitment isn’t just for students. Tell parents about CMU grads you know and that they have jobs. That’s what parents want to see.”

» “Maybe you have an internship opportunity at your workplace,” Young said.

» Help at recruitment events, write postcards or call prospective students. “Volunteer at one of 22 dinners we have for admitted students. Each one needs three alumni to talk about their experiences. It doesn’t matter how long ago you graduated,” Young said. “You’re still fired up. That’s what matters.”

» “Donate to a fund to help bring high school groups to campus for a tour,” Young said. “Buses aren’t cheap.”

» “When you say, ‘Fire Up Chips’ — that itself is being a campus ambassador to anyone who hears,” Young said.

» “I fly a CMU flag in my front yard,” said Eric Lingaur, ’02, a former Campus Ambassador. “I live on a high-traffic street, so I like to think I’m making an impact among all the green and white and maize and blue.”

» “Wear your CMU gear, put a bumper sticker on your car, get a CMU license plate,” Lingaur said.

» “It doesn’t matter if we don’t know what all the latest CMU programs are,” said Brandon McDonald, ’21, a Campus Ambassadors alum. “We know how it made us feel to be there. That’s what matters.”

Know of a future CMU Chippewa (middle/ high school age) you would like to see receive communications from CMU? Let us know! https://fireup.cmich.edu/register/alumni-referral

ALUMNI NEWS

Central Michigan University Alumni Association Board of Directors

President

Scott Nadeau, ’89, Dexter, Michigan

Vice president

Erica (Lagos) Romac, ’13, Carmel, Indiana

Past president

Kandra (Kerridge) Robbins, ’90, Jena, Louisiana

Directors

Brooke Adams, ’11, Detroit, Michigan

Lester Booker Jr., ’08, MSA ’10, Canton, Michigan

Lisa (Laitinen) Bottomley, ’97, Kentwood, Michigan

Catherine (Bomber) Claes, ’90, Gladstone, Michigan

Melissa DeJesus, ’01, M.A. ’09, Dexter, Michigan

Elizabeth Dilg, ’22, Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Megan Doyle, ’03, Chicago, Illinois

Jonathan Eadie, ’93, Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan

Norma Eppinger, ’91, Lansing, Michigan

Matthew Franklin, ’04, Grand Blanc, Michigan

Chris Gautz, ’04, Adrian, Michigan

Jonathan Glenn, ’06, M.A. ’11, Alma, Michigan

Spencer Haworth, ’12, Kalamazoo, Michigan

Sean Hickey, ’88, M.A. ’90, Traverse City, Michigan

LaMarcus Howard, ’09, M.A. ’12, Flint, Michigan

Bret Hyble, ’82, M.A. ’86, Mount Pleasant, Michigan

J.J. Lewis, ’06, Muskegon, Michigan

Nathan Tallman, ’07, M.A. ’09, Macomb, Michigan

Abby M. (Hagland) Watteny, ’02, Berkley, Michigan

For a full listing including emeritus board members

please see https://go. cmualum.com/alumni-board

Central Michigan University Board of Trustees

Todd J. Anson, ’77

Regine Beauboeuf

Sharon Heath, ’96

Isaiah M. Oliver, ’07

Edward J. Plawecki Jr., ’75

Michael A. Sandler

Todd Regis

Denise Williams Mallett

For a full listing of Board of Trustees meeting schedules please see https://www.cmich.edu/bot/Pages/default.aspx

ALUMNI NEWS

Interpreting the stages of grief through fashion

Melissa Watkins is making sense of her cancer journey — and inspiring others — with her artistic take on emotions

This is an abridged version of a story by Sandy Cohen for UCLA Health

The first thing Melissa Watkins did when she was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 41 was deny reality.

“They’re probably going to call me back any minute and say those weren’t actually my results,” she told herself.

When that didn’t happen, she plunged into despair, wondering, “Am I going to die?”

As Watkins, ’05, underwent chemotherapy, surgery and radiation treatment at UCLA Health, she found herself vacillating through the five stages of grief — denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.

She completed treatment by the time her 42nd birthday came around in November 2022, and was determined to continue her tradition of celebrating with a fashion photo shoot.

A passionate fashionista who collects unique pieces by local designers, Watkins likes to memorialize her favorite outfits of the year by having them captured by a professional photographer as a birthday gift to herself.

But this photo shoot would be different. It would awaken a whole new part of herself, even if she didn’t know it yet.

The shoot almost didn’t happen at all, because when the photographer she consulted with suggested she consider memorializing her health journey in some way, Watkins scoffed.

“I actually said I want to forget it all happened,” Watkins recalled. “Let’s just erase it.”

She finished the meeting, dejected. And then it came to her: She would interpret the five stages of grief through fashion.

“Within like 10 minutes — no lie — I came up with the idea for the whole shoot, pulled out all the clothes and threw them in a bag,” Watkins says.

Once she had the concept, inspiration took over. She grabbed the wig she’d made from her own dreadlocks as they fell out during chemo. She pulled out her favorite night-on-the-town club dress: a funky brown sheath with a turtleneck that can be worn as a hood. This was denial.

She picked up the prickly bodysuit her twin sister had given her — a sheer, black number covered with silver spikes. This was bargaining — a pointed negotiation with life and the transparency of pleading for a good outcome.

There was a gray trench coat (depression), a leather sarong with a red sash (anger) and a beaded, gold tunic that looks like something a royal goddess might wear (acceptance). Each outfit had corresponding jewelry, makeup and energy.

“The gift that came from just pulling that together — I had no regrets,” Watkins says. “On the day of the shoot, I walked in and said, ‘We’re going to do the five stages of grief. Here’s my outfits.’”

When the photographer showed her the proofs, Watkins knew this was more than just a personal photo shoot. This was something she wanted to share with anyone who ever had or ever would experience grief — which is, of course, everyone.

This inspired her to do something she’d never done before: put together a gallery show. It would feature the five stages of grief photos and fashions and she’d call it “The Beauty of Acceptance.”

She found a gallery in Long Beach, California, not far from where she lives, and booked the space. And in March of 2023, Watkins publicly shared her love of fashion and the vulnerability of her cancer journey with hundreds of people.

Melissa Watkins holds up the wig she made out of the hair she lost during chemotherapy. (Photo by Nick Carranza)

of herself embodying the stage of depression.

(Photo by Nick Carranza)

“If I had to pick one thing in life that was the best thing I’ve ever done, it’s this,” Watkins says. “There’s so much beauty that comes from extreme pain. It’s transformed me in a way that reinforced this idea that something you might go through can be really, really hard or difficult or painful, but the other side of it can just be so much beauty and creativity and joy.

“The day I showed that exhibit was one of the happiest days of my life.”

Even though the day before the showing, she’d received terrible news.

Shortly before the exhibit opened, Watkins had seen UCLA Health radiation oncologist Susan McCloskey for a three-month check-up — a PET scan to see if the cancer was gone. The next day, McCloskey called with an urgent message: Watkins would need another scan to look more closely at her brain.

The follow-up scan revealed a tumor.

“The day before the exhibit, I found out I’ve got a brain tumor,” Watkins says. “The timing couldn’t have been more perfect.

Soaring Eagle CEO named Woman of the Year

Award honors contributions to the Native American community

Melinda Coffin, ‘04, MBA ‘13, CEO of Soaring Eagle Gaming, was recognized by Imagine This with the award for Native American Woman of the Year.

Overseeing two properties and an online gaming platform in Michigan, Coffin is the first tribal member to hold this position for the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe.

Under her leadership, Soaring Eagle Gaming launched sports betting and online gaming in 2022, including a multiyear national partnership with the Detroit Lions. Soaring Eagle Gaming chose to launch its own platform instead of selling its license, a milestone achievement.

Coffin also facilitated the opening of five new dining franchises within Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort,

Because if I had found out earlier, I would have canceled the exhibit. But this was the day before. So it was perfectly timed, because here was this outpouring of love from everybody” at the art opening.

Watkins had surgery to remove the brain tumor in March of 2023, which doctors discovered was fueled by the breast cancer. Subsequent scans have found other brain tumors. Watkins continues to receive chemotherapy. [Update: A scan this March was clear, showing no tumors.]

Watkins says her experience with cancer has made her “a new person.”

“Every week I’m doing something new with this art, and it’s given me this outlet to still find joy in the midst of — I’m still battling. But I point to this as a way to escape and a way to find grounding and peace,” she says. “Cancer is, like, saving my life while threatening to kill me at the same time.” •

Read the full UCLA Health story at https://go.cmualum.com/ grief-fashion

including Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and Guy Fieri’s Chicken Guy! She is a staunch supporter of Gift of Life Michigan and organ donation, having received three kidney transplants. In addition to her degrees from CMU, she has completed the executive development program through the University of Las Vegas Nevada.

Coffin is deeply involved in her community, serving on the board of directors for several organizations, and her spirit name is “Makoons Kwe,” meaning “Little Bear Woman,” reflecting her role as a healer and protector of her tribe.

Imagine This recognizes and honors outstanding contributions to the Native American community, particularly in the gaming industry, through its annual Native American Award of Achievement. This award celebrates the leadership, innovation and commitment of individuals who play pivotal roles in their communities. •

Foundation trustees cohort packed with CMU alumni

Community foundation welcomes board members with deep ties to Central

The Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation welcomed five new trustees to its board this spring. Four of the new members are CMU alumni and the fifth is a former CMU employee. They are:

Linda Coyne, ’79, ’84 M.A., who served as a CMU sorority adviser for more than 25 years and taught in public schools before moving on to assist in her family’s business, Coyne Oil and Propane.

Daniel Gaken, ’04, the director of the Sarah R. Opperman Leadership Institute at CMU since 2009. He also teaches in the College of Education and Human Services and College of Business Administration.

Alan L. Johns, ’84, a founding member of CRE Capital Group, LLC in Mount Pleasant with over 35 years of experience in commercial real estate appraisal and investment.

Brad Wahr, ’03, the first vice president of Mercantile Bank, where he has worked since 2005 in the commercial banking department.

Former CMU employee Liz Conway is the president and CEO of the Mt. Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce. •

Melissa Watkins is wrapped in a portrait

Melissa Watkins holds a portrait of herself embodying the stage of anger. (Photo by Nick Carranza)

ALUMNI NEWS

Former CMU player and assistant coach named to prestigious head coach watch list

Harmon earned four letters as a player 2001-04

Raina Harmon, University of Iowa women’s basketball assistant coach, was named to the 2024 ABIS Head Coach Watch List by the Advancement of Blacks in Sport committee.

Harmon, ’04, is in her seventh season as an assistant coach with the Hawkeyes. She works primarily with perimeter players. Among her accomplishments:

• In Harmon’s seven seasons, she has helped Iowa to a 180-51 overall record and its first National Championship appearance in school history.

• Helped Iowa to Big Ten Tournament Championships in 2019, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

• One of 15 leaders who are part of the Big Ten Conference’s LGBTQ+Working Group.

• With Harmon on the sidelines, the Hawkeyes returned to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time since 2015-16. (2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024)

• Iowa’s Caitlin Clark was the consensus National Player of the Year in 2023 and a three-time Big Ten Player of the Year.

• Iowa’s Kathleen Doyle earned consensus All-America status with nods from Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), United States Basketball Writers Association (WSBWA), and Associated Press (AP) in 2020.

• Guided Kathleen Doyle (2019 and 2020) to first team All-Big Ten honors as well as 2020 Big Ten Player of the Year.

The watch list includes the NCAA’s top Black men’s and women’s head and assistant coaches from across the country. This year’s list features 26 head coaches and 40 rising assistant coaches from midlevel and major NCAA programs as recognized by their peers as some of the best in the business. Those nominated are considered to be the year’s most deserving, qualified and prepared Black coaches in the NCAA to elevate their careers to the next level.

This ABIS Black coaches watch list is shared annually with athletic administrators and executive search firms in efforts to highlight their contributions as the hiring cycle for men’s and women’s basketball begins.

Harmon is a former CMU Chippewa player who spent five years on the CMU coaching staff under then-head coach Sue Guevara from 2012-17. •

Harmon coaches on the sidelines of CMU women’s basketball game.

Honors for CMU Chippewas

Jeffrey Collier, Ed.D. ’21, superintendent of the Saginaw Intermediate School District, was named the 2024 Michigan Superintendent of the Year by the Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators. He is the first ISD superintendent to receive this honor in the award’s history. Collier received seven separate nominations for the award, including testimonials from current staff, previous colleagues, and educators he has mentored.

Crystal James, ’16, is the first Black person to hold the position of police chief for the University of Michigan Police Department on the Ann Arbor campus and the first woman chief on any of the university’s three campus. James previously worked as deputy chief on the Dearborn campus. James supervises the police, university housing, and museum security operations. She also manages crime prevention on campus.

Dean C. Metry, ’77, was named Chief Administrative Law Judge by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. He will lead the SEC’s impartial Office of Administrative Law Judges, which conducts hearings and issues initial decisions in administrative proceedings before the agency. Metry has been a federal administrative law judge for over 22 years.

Tosh Anderson, MBA ’19, has been named vice president of marketing of The Bristol Casino in Virginia. Anderson’s experience in the gaming and marketing industries will help him play a pivotal role in elevating the casino’s profile and guest experience. This summer, the casino will transition into The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol.

Mindy Schultz, ’02, was promoted to vice president of safety for Barton Marlow Enterprise. She joined the employee-owned construction industry

leader as safety director in 2021 and has significantly impacted its safety culture since. A certified safety professional (CSP), Schultz has spent her entire 20-plus year career dedicated to environmental health and safety.

Dawn Sterling, ’99, joins News Channel 20-WICS in Springfield, Illinois, as co-anchor of the ABC affiliate’s evening news. She had previously spent two decades with WAND in Decatur, Illinois, before making the move.

Brian Sakowski, ’16, joins the Duke Blue Devils baseball program as director of recruiting, analytics and player development. He previously had worked for Perfect Game USA as a national crosschecker and national scouting supervisor.

Janeen Lalik, ’91, has been hired as executive vice president of SS&E, an organization created by the Nashville Predators to engage in operational and sales opportunities beyond Bridgestone Arena. She will work with internal and external partners to develop and execute strategies for the organization that owns and operates several sporting franchises and facilities in Tennessee. She will also be responsible for day-to-day operations of Austin Peay University Athletics, F&M Bank Arena in Clarksville, Tennessee, and existing Ford Ice Centers in Antioch, Bellevue and Clarksville, Tennessee.

Louis Negron, ’01, hosts the series “Brother to Brother,” created by 100 Black Men of Atlanta, showcasing Atlanta business leaders who are passionate about serving their community. The first season is available on YouTube, featuring men across generations who are dedicated to supporting the youth of Atlanta. https://www.youtube. com/@100BlackMenofAtlantaInc.

Malcom A. Shorter, MSA ’95, has been named assistant secretary for administration for the U.S. Department of

Agriculture. He is an accomplished administrative and financial professional who has offered his expertise in government relations and operational management at USDA for over a decade. Shorter is a retired lieutenant colonel from the U.S. Army with more than 22 years of service.

Lt. Col. Tanya McGonegal, ’11, is the first Black woman to command a Fort Eustis joint task force in Virginia. The task force is responsible for civil support and mission leadership during disasters. McGonegal became the 13th commander of U.S. Northern Command’s Joint Task Force-Civil Support in Newport News.

Cee Maul, ’10, has been named a Michigan state director of Vote Run Lead, a nonprofit that trains women to run for political office and win. Maul is a seasoned political organizer with a decade of experience in Michigan politics, grassroots organizing and constituent outreach.

Lisa Aukee, ’90, received the Teacher Excellence Award from Tucson Values Teachers after receiving nominations from parents of current students. She teaches Spanish and AP psychology at Canyon Del Oro High School in Arizona.

Taylor Harris, ’23, has been promoted to program director for Mystic Lake YMCA Camp. Harris has been part of the Mystic family for 18 years as both a camper and staff member, including roles as camp counselor, waterfront director and operation specialist. The camp is located in Lake, Michigan, and is run by the YMCA of Metropolitan Lansing.

In Memory

Lois E. (Winterberg) Meyer, ’39, Tulsa, Okla. , died Nov.9, 2023, age 105

Arthell L. (Arnold) Haggerty, ’47, Midland, Mich., died Jan. 22, 2023, age 98

Margaret A. (Blue) Christopher, ’47, Ionia, Mich. , died Jan. 13, 2024, age 98

Eleanor R. (Kalbfleisch) Lindahl, ’47, Iron River, Mich. , died Jan. 1, 2024, age 99

Janet R. (Schneider) McIlvaine, ’48, Los Lunas, N. M., died Feb. 5, 2024, age 98

Donna L. (Richardson) Howe, ’49, Park Ridge, Ill. , died Dec. 27, 2023, age 96

Wilma L. (Seeley) Lemcool, ’49, Traverse City, Mich. , died Jan. 14, 2024, age 97

Mary L. (Scherich) Malpass, ’50, Arlington, Texas, died Oct. 12, 2023, age 96

Patricia A. (Foster) Parsons, ’50, Presque Isle, Mich. , died Jan. 28, 2024, age 95

Beverly J. (Teck) Wangberg, ’50, Mount Pleasant, Mich. , died Feb. 21, 2024, age 95

Marie E. (Thelen) Gagnon, ’51, Birmingham, Mich. , died Mar. 29, 2024, age 94

Beverly J. (Behrend) Gross, ’51, Portland, Mich. , died Feb. 1, 2024, age 91

James R. Pollum, PhD, ’51, Saint Charles, Mo. , died Oct. 18, 2023, age 94

Hazel (Case) Vaughan, ’51, Elkton, Mich. , died Feb. 3, 2024, age 99

Mary A. (Rempert) McEwen, ’52; ’77 MA, Caledonia, Mich. , died Jan. 17, 2024, age 93

Elaine A. (Thelen) Partenio, ’53, Muskegon, Mich. , died Dec. 23, 2023, age 92

Marie E. Rasch, ’53, Venice, Fla. , died Nov. 4, 2023, age 96

Patricia A. (Willy) Ryan, ’53, Bay City, Mich. , died Oct. 28, 2023, age 91

Carol E. (Moeller) Simon, ’53, Traverse City, Mich. , died Jan. 15, 2024, age 93

Mollie (Churchill) Crandall, ’54, Lake Placid, Fla. , died Dec. 10, 2023, age 92

Dorothy L. (Galloway) Crooks, ’54, Trenton, Mich. , died Nov. 10, 2023, age 91

Kay A. (Kramer) Blessing, ’55, Birch Run, Mich. , died Dec. 13, 2023, age 88

Lorraine M. (Shoults) Jessop, ’55, Columbia, Mo. , died Dec. 30, 2023, age 90

Fred L. Lawless, ’55, Eaton Rapids, Mich. , died Jan. 26, 2024, age 96

Joan (Zegob) O’Halloran, ’55, Cary, Ill. , died Feb. 28, 2024, age 90

Jack F. Sheppard, ’55, Mission Viejo, Calif. , died Jan. 9, 2024, age 95

Charles F. Barnett, ’56, Vassar, Mich. , died Dec. 20, 2023, age 93

Dutch Bouwman, ’56, Owosso, Mich. , died Nov. 21, 2023, age 89

Ralph E. Gillette, ’56, Sacramento, Calif. , died Feb. 17, 2024, age 89

Phyllis Y. (Grasley) Herringshaw, ’56, Warren, Mich. , died Oct. 18, 2023, age 89

Suzanne M. (Heinrich) Weiss, ’56, Zurich, Switzerland, died Jan. 17, 2024, age 87

Anne M. Burman, ’57, Muskegon, Mich. , died Feb. 15, 2024, age 94

Helen M. (Lehto) Dorcey, ’57; ’89 MA, Farwell, Mich. , died Oct. 16, 2023, age 90

Dick (Eisenach) Eisenach, ’57, Scottsdale, Ariz. , died Oct. 23, 2023, age 93

Dolores E. (Meier) McInerney, ’57, Saginaw, Mich. , died Jan. 23, 2024, age 89

George A. Roegner, ’57, East China, Mich. , died Jan. 3, 2024, age 89

Joseph W. Scott, ’57, Seattle, Wash. , died Jan. 14, 2024, age 88

Harold R. Van Sumeren, ’57, Williamsburg, Mich. , died Nov. 4, 2023, age 91

Richard E. Ault, ’58; ’66, Warminster, Pa. , died Nov. 27, 2023, age 87

Lena M. (Britting) Colthorp, ’58, Grand Rapids, Mich. , died Feb. 13, 2024, age 85

Kenneth H. Feneley, ’58; ’62 MA, Clare, Mich. , died Dec. 26, 2023, age 87

LaVonne E. (Boyd) Johnson, ’58, Zephyrhills, Fla. , died Dec. 2, 2023, age 88

Don Lamphere, ’58; ’62 MA, Chelsea, Mich. , died Dec. 9, 2023, age 92

Nancy L. (Cornwell) Sensabaugh, ’58, Breckenridge, Mich. , died Dec. 19, 2023, age 88

Robert W. Gilbert, ’59, Lewiston, Mich. , died Jan. 16, 2024, age 87

Larry D. Haines, ’59, Chandler, Ariz., died Dec. 29, 2023, age 86

Patricia A. (Belill) Keenan, ’59, Leesburg, Fla., died Jan. 16, 2024, age 86

Joseph R. Richard, ’59, Macomb, Mich., died Jan. 23, 2024, age 94

Jean K. (Begole) Satterthwaite, ’59, Chelsea, Mich., died Feb. 29, 2024, age 83

Melvin B. Skillman, ’59; ’65 MA, Saginaw, Mich., died Jan. 1, 2024, age 88

W. James Sowle, ’59, Lowell, Mich., died Jan. 1, 2024, age 88

John E. Wiley, ’59, Overland Park, Kans., died Feb. 14, 2024, age 88

Barbara J. (Eisenach) Miller, ’60, Grand Ledge, Mich., died Dec. 10, 2023, age 85

Carl W. Munson, ’60, Twin Lake, Mich., died Mar. 5, 2024, age 85

Richard B. Page, ’60, Pentwater, Mich., died Dec. 3, 2023, age 86

Kenneth L. Reed, ’60, Grand Rapids, Mich., died Jan. 19, 2024, age 90

Parker F. Seiler Sr., ’60, Prudenville, Mich., died Oct. 30, 2023, age 97

James B. Smith, ’60, Zeeland, Mich., died Dec. 21, 2023, age 91

John D. Toma, ’60, West Bloomfield, Mich., died Jan. 6, 2024, age 85

Sheila K. (Ford) Warren, ’60, Howell, Mich., died Feb. 29, 2024, age 85

Elizabeth A. (Shield) Carden, ’61, Traverse City, Mich., died Mar. 22, 2024, age 84

Edward L. Freeman, ’61, Sebring, Fla., died Nov. 15, 2023, age 85

Barbara A. (Rann) Jeffries, ’61, East China, Mich., died Dec. 2, 2023, age 84

Barbara K. (Hagle) Kenn, ’61, Sault Sainte Marie, Mich., died Dec. 29, 2023, age 84

Claude H. Mestack, ’61, Cheyenne, Wyo., died Feb. 1, 2024, age 85

Karen A. (McIntyre) Raths, ’61, Saginaw, Mich., died Mar. 13, 2023, age 83

Roger L. Upham, ’61, Rockford, Mich., died Dec. 4, 2023, age 84

Paul W. Wilson, ’61; ’63 MA, Hessel, Mich., died Nov. 12, 2023, age 84

Carol L. (Kaufield) Wright, ’61, Davison, Mich., died Jan. 29, 2024, age 84

Jeanette J. (Werth) Elson, ’62, Rochester, Mich., died Dec. 1, 2023, age 81

David Gloss, ’62; ’72 MA, Clare, Mich., died Mar. 20, 2024, age 86

Donald J. Holmes, ’62, Edgewater, Fla., died Nov. 11, 2023, age 93

Jo Ann (Mutchler) Hunziker, ’62, Venice, Fla., died June 18, 2023, age 82

Gary C. Rice, ’62, Muskegon, Mich., died Feb. 1, 2024, age 89

John W. Ross-Moffett, ’62, Marine City, Mich., died Nov. 30, 2023, age 85

Kathleen S. (Brokaw) Schollar, ’62, Goodrich, Mich., died Dec. 19, 2023, age 83

Joseph E. Seddon, ’62, Clarkston, Mich., died Mar. 14, 2024, age 89

Ralph J. White, ’62; ’69 MA, Elkton, Mich., died Mar. 17, 2024, age 87

Robert W. Festerling, ’63; ’66 MA, Hemlock, Mich., died Nov. 6, 2023, age 83

Mary D. (Petoskey) Ford, ’63, Onekama, Mich., died Feb. 2, 2024, age 82

Edrea F. (Scudder) Griffiths, ’63, Dexter, Mich., died Dec. 18, 2023, age 82

Gary D. Harmer, ’63; ’66 MA, Marysville, Mich., died Dec. 29, 2023, age 83

Sharon K. (Woodbury) Kinsey, ’63; ’64; ’79 MA, Owosso, Mich., died Dec. 14, 2023, age 82

Robert K. Lents, ’63; ’64 MA, Battle Creek, Mich., died Dec. 31, 2023, age 87

Margo A. (Coffman) Marocco, ’63, Logansport, Ind., died Jan. 6, 2024, age 81

Patricia E. (Phillips) McLane, ’63, Clyde, Mich., died Nov. 3, 2023, age 82

Paul M. Nemecek, ’63 MA, La Grange Park, Ill., died Dec. 28, 2023, age 89

Diane M. (Hakola) Nickels, ’63, Linden, Mich., died Dec. 6, 2023, age 81

Robert D. Tift, ’63, Zeeland, Mich., died Oct. 12, 2023, age 82

Margaret A. (Swanson) Berian, ’64, Mount Morris, Mich., died Nov. 16, 2023, age 81

In Memory

Bert E. Boerema, ’64 MA, Caledonia, Mich., died Feb. 5, 2024, age 85

Lorene M. (Philip) Bruinsslot, ’64, Davison, Mich., died Jan. 1, 2024, age 83

Joseph M. Callaghan, ’64, Warsaw, Ind., died Feb. 11, 2024, age 82

Kenneth R. Clemens, ’64; ’81 MA, Holland, Mich., died Nov. 4, 2023, age 80

Harvey J. DeGood, ’64; ’74 MA, Hamilton, Mich., died Feb. 26, 2024, age 83

Ralph A. Douglas, ’64; ’69 MA, Cadillac, Mich., died Nov. 23, 2023, age 82

Janet K. (Hilborn) Finsterwald, ’64, Grand Blanc, Mich., died Dec. 19, 2023, age 81

Nancy A. (Carpenter) Kraft, ’64, Boynton Beach, Fla., died Jan. 20, 2024, age 92

Loretta D. (Coddens) Mauseth, ’64, Traverse City, Mich., died Nov. 27, 2023, age 94

Linda K. (Leahy) Roberson, ’64, Saint Louis, Mich., died Nov. 30, 2023, age 81

James R. Sheets, ’64, Benzonia, Mich., died Nov. 1, 2023, age 86

Wenda F. (Sillman) Duflo, ’65, Ashley, Mich., died Jan. 10, 2024, age 90

James W. Hodges, ’65; ’69 MA, Vestaburg, Mich., died Dec. 24, 2023, age 81

Nancy C. (Brown) Hutchinson, ’65, Cass City, Mich., died Jan. 8, 2024, age 80

Helen K. (Ritchie) Keeley, ’65; ’71 MA, Sanford, Mich., died Feb. 14, 2024, age 85

Charles S. Kolsrud, ’65 MA, Tucson, Ariz., died Dec. 6, 2023, age 88

Gary J. Majeske, ’65; ’69 MA, Bay City, Mich., died Mar. 6, 2024, age 81

David E. Maynard, ’65, Las Vegas, Nev., died Oct. 9, 2023, age 82

Janet M. (Pauwels) McCully, ’65, Atlanta, Ga., died Nov. 4, 2023, age 80

Harold N. Richardson, ’65, Reston, Va., died Jan. 4, 2024, age 81

Micheal A. Tate, ’65; ’67 MA, Saginaw, Mich., died Feb. 27, 2024, age 80

David C. Bourgeau, ’66, Naples, Fla., died Feb. 20, 2024, age 79

Nancy L. (Rolle) Day, ’66 MA, Bad Axe, Mich., died Oct. 16, 2023, age 86

Mariamanda M. (Goebel) Edinger, ’66, Essexville, Mich., died Nov. 8, 2023, age 82

Roy T. Eiker, ’66, Flint, Mich., died Dec. 22, 2023, age 80

Donald F. Elliott, ’66, Flint, Mich., died Feb. 6, 2024, age 81

Daniel E. Harfst, ’66 MA, Williamsburg, Mich., died Dec. 30, 2023, age 87

Hazel L. (Schneider) Hiester, ’66, Saginaw, Mich., died Oct. 9, 2023, age 92

Suzanne E. (Wisler) Hoover, ’66, Mattawan, Mich., died Nov. 10, 2023, age 79

Leonard W. Jagello, ’66, Clinton Township, Mich., died Dec. 2, 2023, age 81

Robert W. King, ’66 MA, Ottumwa, Iowa, died Feb. 18, 2024, age 93

John G. Schuster, ’66, Northville, Mich., died Feb. 2, 2024, age 80

Stephen J. Slisko, ’66 MA, Swartz Creek, Mich., died Jan. 23, 2024, age 90

Manfred R. Stahl, ’66; ’70 MA, Brighton, Mich., died Jan. 4, 2024, age 80

Larry D. Stanley, ’66, Niceville, Fla., died Nov. 8, 2023, age 82

Ealie W. Thornton, ’66 MA, Shreveport, La., died Nov. 1, 2023, age 88

Georgene M. (Corneillie) Alger, ’67, Boyne City, Mich., died Mar. 16, 2024, age 79

Frances C. Bartlett Barhydt, ’67 MA, Lower Waterford, Vt., died May 22, 2023, age 83

Patrick J. Corcoran, ’67 MA, Chicago, Ill., died Dec. 1, 2023, age 86

Richard W. Dumbrille, ’67, Lake Ann, Mich., died Feb. 23, 2024, age 79

Lewis E. Hurley, ’67; ’73 MA, Croswell, Mich., died Jan. 25, 2024, age 79

Kenneth J. Lipe, ’67, Powder Springs, Ga., died Mar. 20, 2024, age 79

Mary A. (Brook) Puma, ’67, Rochester, Mich., died Dec. 28, 2023, age 79

David C. Silden, ’67, Charlotte, N.C., died Feb. 24, 2024, age 79

Roger F. Workman, ’67 MA, Bay City, Mich., died Jan. 1, 2024, age 90

Linda A. (Freiburger) Bailey, ’68, ’82 MA, Cass City, Mich., died Feb. 27, 2024, age 76

Duane A. Bouliew, ’68; ’70 MA, Bridgeport, Mich., died Jan. 30, 2024, age 79

Judy L. (DeVries) Castro, ’68 MA, Cedar Springs, Mich., died Feb. 5, 2024, age 80

Clark E. Conant, ’68, Jackson, Mich., died Mar. 22, 2024, age 79

John W. Furlo, ’68, Saginaw, Mich., died Jan. 7, 2024, age 78

Frank S. Goldberg, ’68, Naples, Fla., died Oct. 28, 2023, age 80

Bonnie J. (Brandenburg) Howe, ’68; ’72 MA, Alpena, Mich., died Nov. 24, 2023, age 87

Kathleen E. (Justman) Justman-Crane, ’68, Muskegon, Mich., died Feb. 24, 2024, age 78

Judy L. (DeJager) Koelsch, ’68, Lansing, Mich., died Feb. 3, 2024, age 77

Robert B. Moffett, ’68, Fenton, Mich., died Jan. 24, 2024, age 77

Dolores E. (Quick) Mumby, ’68, Owosso, Mich., died Mar. 7, 2024, age 92

Harold J. Schenck, ’68, Fort Myers, Fla., died Nov. 20, 2023, age 77

Kay P. Seaton, ’68 MA, Greensboro, N.C., died Feb. 14, 2024, age 82

Albert J. Wirth III, ’68, Brighton, Mich., died Nov. 20, 2023, age 78

Thomas M. Yankoviak, ’68, Portage, Mich., died Dec. 21, 2023, age 78

Richard F. Burow, ’69 MBA, Midland, Mich., died Jan. 12, 2024, age 85

Verlyn G. Eisenhauer, ’69 MS, Nunica, Mich., died Nov. 4, 2023, age 91

Marcel P. Ferrere, ’69 MA, Pittsburgh, Pa., died Mar. 16, 2024, age 87

George L. Pagels, ’69 MA, Presque Isle, Mich., died Aug. 21, 2023, age 82

Benjamin C. Powell, ’69, Bellaire, Mich., died Nov. 20, 2023, age 77

Chrysta M. (Albrecht) Schmelzer, ’69; ’83 MA, Jackson, Wis., died Mar. 18, 2024, age 96

Ronald J. Schury, ’69; ’74 MA, Saginaw, Mich., died Nov. 12, 2023, age 76

Neil W. Stark, ’69, Clinton Township, Mich., died Dec. 8, 2023, age 76

Darcio M. Stielstra, ’69; ’72 MA, Kodiak, Alaska, died Jan. 15, 2024, age 77

Melvin R. Underwood, ’69; ’71, Leonard, Mich., died Jan. 30, 2024, age 77

Henry A. Ziemke, ’69, Kalamazoo, Mich., died Nov. 3, 2023, age 77

Peggy K. (VanLandegent) Allabaugh, ’70, Fulton, Mich., died Oct. 23, 2023, age 74

John Bateson, ’70; ’75 MA, Colfax, N.C., died Jan. 2, 2024, age 76

Carol L. (Beurkens) BeurkensBorden, ’70, Mattawan, Mich., died Dec. 23, 2023, age 75

Robert N. Calkins, ’70; ’77 MM, Howell, Mich., died Nov. 11, 2023, age 75

R. John Cully, ’70, Hilton Head Island, S.C., died Oct. 26, 2023, age 76

Mary K. (Davidson) Darnell, ’70; ’76 MS, Morley, Mich., died Mar. 19, 2024, age 76

Thomas D. Everson, ’70 MA, Utica, Mich., died Dec. 28, 2023, age 78

Michael J. Hrabonz, ’70, Lake Orion, Mich., died Feb. 24, 2024, age 75

John R. Karr, ’70, Mount Pleasant, Mich., died Dec. 16, 2023, age 75

Orlin P. Knuth, ’70, Linden, Mich., died Nov. 1, 2023, age 80

Helen (Shopbell) Lavin, ’70 MA, Weslaco, Texas, died Jan. 22, 2024, age 92

Theresa (Kozaczewski) Martel, ’70, Nottawa, Mich., died Feb. 22, 2024, age 76

Woodrow E. Millspaugh Jr., ’70; ’78 MA, Scottville, Mich., died Mar. 17, 2024, age 78

Pamala A. (Abbott) Mosley, ’70 MA, Standish, Maine, died Nov. 23, 2023, age 80

Joel A. Osborne, ’70 MA, Cleveland, Ohio, died June 15, 2023, age 86

Barbara M. (Bishop) Peterson, ’70, Lake Zurich, Ill., died Jan. 12, 2024, age 76

Donald M. Roebel, ’70, Fort Wayne, Ind. , died Jan. 2, 2024, age 75

Robert E. Turner, ’70 MA, Rumford, R.I., died Dec. 15, 2023, age 86

Toni L. (Goss) Wood, ’70; ’80 MA, Charlevoix, Mich., died Apr. 13, 2023, age 73

Thomas J. Behm, ’71; ’73 MA; ’79 MA; Blanchard, Mich., died Oct. 24, 2023, age 76

Donald O. Bokhart, ’71, Essexville, Mich., died Mar. 10, 2024, age 75

Wayne J. Desjarlais, ’71; ’77 MA, Otisville, Mich., died Jan. 20, 2024, age 74

Gary A. Gosling, ’71, Grand Rapids, Mich., died Nov. 27, 2023, age 75

Carol J. (Wregglesworth)

Latsch, ’71, ’77 MA, Onaway, Mich., died Jan. 24, 2024, age 86

Marjorie E. Long, ’71, Traverse City, Mich., died Feb. 7, 2024, age 75

Grace M. (Almeida) Stinton, ’71 MA, Midland, Mich., died Feb. 19, 2024, age 101

Alan G. Verheek, ’71, Manistee, Mich., died Feb. 14, 2024, age 80

Earl C. Bronson, ’72, Weidman, Mich., died Nov. 6, 2023, age 76

Norman J. DeCourcy, ’72, Rochester, Mich., died Dec. 9, 2023, age 73

Charles D. Durnan, ’72, Swartz Creek, Mich., died Feb. 9, 2024, age 77

Diana R. (Reber) Ferguson, ’72, Spring Branch, Texas, died Feb. 20, 2024, age 77

Robert R. Hood, ’72 MBA, Naples, Fla., died Dec. 18, 2023, age 74

Bernard P. Maxwell, ’72; ’82 MA, Freeland, Mich., died Feb. 5, 2024, age 74

Irene F. (Friday) Schuberg, ’72; ’03 MA, Big Rapids, Mich., died Dec. 21, 2023, age 72

Bertha J. Vreeman, ’72 MA, Spring Lake, Mich., died Mar. 1, 2024, age 74

Susan (Page) Clara, ’73, Petoskey, Mich., died Jan. 23, 2024, age 72

Kenneth L. Haan, ’73, Melvindale, Mich., died Dec. 6, 2023, age 77

Joann R. (Wilson) Heintz, ’73; ’79 MA, Harrison, Mich., died Nov. 5, 2023, age 88

Gary H. Kendrick, ’73, White Lake, Mich., died Mar. 3, 2024, age 72

Sarah E. (Allen) Lindsey, ’73, Livingston, Texas, died Dec. 18, 2023, age 79

Roberta L. (Lewis) Purcell, ’73; ’74 MA, New Braintree, Mass., died Mar. 11, 2024, age 73

Cindy D. (Funk) Salem, ’73, Mount Pleasant, Mich., died Mar. 16, 2024, age 72

Donald E. Spencer, ’73, Midland, Mich., died Oct. 2, 2023, age 97

Ron G. Zyzelewski, ’73, East Lansing, Mich., died Feb. 15, 2024, age 78

Michael J. Glancy, ’74, East Tawas, Mich., died Jan. 26, 2024, age 71

James R. House, ’74, Plant City, Fla., died Oct. 9, 2023, age 72

Beth (Procter) Isenburg-Capel, ’74, Oakville, Ontario, died Oct. 22, 2023, age 84

Teresa R. Newkirk, ’74, Grand Ledge, Mich., died Dec. 31, 2023, age 75

Robert B. Roberts Jr., ’74 MBE, The Villages, Fla., died Feb. 11, 2024, age 75

David L. Russell, ’74, Traverse City, Mich., died Jan. 11, 2024, age 71

Henry W. Steffens, ’74 MA, Midland, Mich., died Mar. 15, 2024, age 84

Brian S. Valle, ’74 MS, Fremont, Ind., died Oct. 17, 2023, age 82

Thomas O. Westcott, ’74 MA, Ludington, Mich., died Dec. 5, 2023, age 88

Charles C. Barnhill Jr., ’75 MA, Mount Pleasant, S.C., died Oct. 19, 2023, age 85

Philip E. Burtrum, ’75, Battle Creek, Mich., died Feb. 7, 2024, age 71

Jeffery T. Eaton, ’81, Rhinelander, Wis., died Nov. 9, 2023, age 71

Joyce E. (Cowell) Gentry, ’75, Canton, Mich., died Oct.17, 2023, age 69

George E. Grostick, ’75, Marne, Mich., died Dec. 26, 2023, age 73

Ruth A. (Reitnauer) Horner, ’75 MA, Altoona, Fla., died Oct. 24, 2023, age 88

Arthur R. Janke, ’75 MA, Ogden, Utah, died Jan. 5, 2024, age 83

Ronald R. Jones, ’75 MA, Benton, La., died Dec. 21, 2023, age 80

Edith L. McCullough, ’75 MA, Indianapolis, Ind., died Feb. 22, 2024, age 73

Benjamin A. Miiller, ’75, Petoskey, Mich., died Dec. 2, 2023, age 73

Illa D. (Montgomery) Moffett, ’75, Big Rapids, Mich., died Dec. 11, 2023, age 85

Joanne C. (Szocs) Shyne, ’75, Colorado Springs, Colo., died Feb. 1, 2024, age 71

Francis L. Siau, III, ’75 MA, Georgetown, S.C., died Nov. 10, 2023, age 84

John W. Small, ’75 MA, Rocky Hill, Conn., died Nov. 27, 2023, age 89

Jerome J. Sullivan, ’75 MA, Montgomery, Ala., died Feb. 18, 2024, age 90

Ivan R. Taylor, ’75 MA, Springfield, Ohio, died Jan. 7, 2024, age 89

William E. Irwin, ’76 MA, Leesburg, Fla., died Oct. 17, 2023, age 89

Leona M. (Kroes) KroesBenson, ’76, Rockford, Mich., died Dec. 15, 2023, age 81

Joseph P. Maher, ’76 MA, Ogallala, Neb., died Jan. 11, 2024, age 77

James M. Mazur, ’76, Ludington, Mich., died Jan. 25, 2024, age 69

Anthony Napoli, ’76 MA, Hollis, N.H., died Nov. 24, 2023, age 89

Robert F. Olejniczak, ’76; ’80 MA, Sterling Heights, Mich., died Nov. 12, 2023, age 85

Ricky M. Post, ’76, Cary, N.C., died Nov. 23, 2023, age 76

Larry W. Rea, ’76, Grand Rapids, Mich., died Oct. 27, 2023, age 72

Dennis K. Traviss, ’76, Mesick, Mich., died Feb. 26, 2024, age 76

Linda M. (Jones) Wolf, ’76 MA, Idaho Falls, Idaho, died Feb. 2, 2024, age 70

Aileen M. (Gross) Acker, ’77, Sanford, Mich., died Feb. 27, 2024, age 69

Michael D. Barnett, ’77 MA, Alpena, Mich., died Feb. 1, 2024, age 80

J. Cischke, ’77, Hyde Park, Mass., died Nov. 19, 2023, age 75

Lynn Culkowski, ’77 MA, Centreville, Va., died Dec. 4, 2023, age 83

Steven S. Fish, ’77 BS, Stanton, Mich., died Oct. 20, 2023, age 76

Charles A. Hancock, ’77, Millington, Mich., died Dec. 12, 2023, age 71

Mary E. (Davis) Jones, ’77 MA, Gastonia, N.C., died Dec. 24, 2023, age 78

Kevin C. Lee, ’77, Saint Clair Shores, Mich., died Nov. 12, 2023, age 69

Maurita Reynolds, ’77 MA, Grand Rapids, Mich., died Nov. 5, 2023, age 97

Thomas L. Wheeler, ’77 MA, Douglassville, Pa., died Nov. 30, 2023, age 84

Francis B. Brake, ’78 MA, Asheboro, N.C., died Nov. 8, 2023, age 82

Carol J. Christy, ’78, Lansing, Mich., died Dec. 14, 2023, age 67

Kathryn D. (Dopp) Cleveland, ’78, Portage, Pa., died Mar. 12, 2024, age 68

June N. Conrad, ’78 MA, Reydon, Okla., died Jan. 8, 2024, age 96

Pieter M. Droog, ’78 MA, Reno, Nev., died Nov. 29, 2023, age 71

Gilbert R. Felmlee, ’78, Bay City, Mich., died Feb. 8, 2024, age 68

Everett J. Garman, ’78 MA, Hilton Head Island, S.C., died Jan. 2, 2024, age 79

Michael L. Hefner, ’78 MA, Columbus, Ohio, died Jan. 28, 2024, age 81

R. Richard Mulder, ’78 MA, Layton, Utah, died Nov. 3, 2023, age 84

Donald J. Sumner, ’78, Clarkston, Mich., died Jan. 30, 2024, age 67

Donald F. Walsh, ’78 MA, Green Cove Springs, Fla., died Aug. 27, 2023, age 93

Beth A. (Bagley) BagleyStanton, ’79, New Baltimore, Mich., died Nov. 17, 2023, age 66

Rosemarie C. (Calcaterra) Bentgen, ’79 MA, Saint Ignace, Mich., died Nov. 4, 2023, age 94

Viola M. Bohr, ’79 MA, Decorah, Iowa, died Feb. 26, 2024, age 95

Lynette M. (Schafer) Bragg, ’79, Mount Pleasant, Mich., died Nov. 26, 2023, age 67

Judith A. (Patton) Killman, ’79 MA, Maryville, Tenn., died Mar. 17, 2024, age 80

Nina F. (Collins) Merten, ’79, Traverse City, Mich., died Mar. 12, 2024, age 66

In Memory

Dennis J. Anderson, ’80, East Jordan, Mich., died Mar. 6, 2024, age 66

Charles J. Bellmore, ’80, Franklin, Tenn., died Jan. 26, 2024, age 67

Kelly J. (Hoffman) Hamsley, ’80, Louisville, Ky., died Nov. 6, 2023, age 65

Carol M. (McPhee) Kemmer, ’80, Bay City, Mich., died Mar. 3, 2024, age 66

Kevin D. McKim, ’80, Grand Rapids, Mich., died Mar. 24, 2024, age 68

Patricia J. (Murray) MurraySteding, ’80 MA, Saginaw, Mich., died Nov. 27, 2023, age 81

Winston F. Nash, ’80 MA, Fort White, Fla., died Feb. 29, 2024, age 77

Steven W. Nictakis, ’80 MA, Titusville, N.J., died Jan. 18, 2024, age 80

John A. Sidor, ’80 MA, Plymouth, Mich., died Dec. 6, 2023, age 70

Michael J. Sinko, ’80 BS, Alma, Mich., died Jan. 1, 2024, age 69

Kenneth J. Werner, ’80, Bay City, Mich., died Oct. 22, 2023, age 70

Donald L. Wolfswinkel, ’80 MA, Mount Pleasant, S.C., died Dec. 18, 2023, age 86

John W. Blume, ’81 MA, Georgetown, Fla., died Jan. 19, 2024, age 84

Cindy R. (Black) Greene, ’81, Richmond, Va., died Oct. 24, 2023, age 64

Leo E. Hall, ’81; ’89 MSA, Dryden, Mich., died Nov. 7, 2023, age 84

Mary E. (Mullett) Janes, ’81 MA, Mount Pleasant, Mich., died Feb. 5, 2024, age 91

Guy G. McCormick, ’81 MA, Cape Coral, Fla., died Oct. 21, 2023, age 70

Clemens M. Meyer, ’81 MA, Springfield, Ohio, died Sep. 24, 2023, age 91

Charles T. Mitchell, ’81 MA, Petersburg, Va., died Oct. 18, 2023, age 79

Sally J. (Brown) Moss, ’81 MA, Midland, Mich., died Nov. 11, 2023, age 94

Michael A. Sabbe, ’81 MA, Novi, Mich., died Dec. 3, 2023, age 82

Larry W. Stokely, ’81 MA, Saint Marks, Fla., died Dec. 18, 2023, age 76

Julie A. (Lekovish) Wilson, ’81, Sault Sainte Marie, Mich., died Nov. 12, 2023, age 65

Derrick C. Aardal, ’82, Bloomfield Hills, Mich., died Jan. 22, 2024, age 64

Henry H. Amster, ’82 MA, Cumming, Ga., died June 12, 2023, age 94

Charlene E. Barton, ’82 MA, Lebanon, Pa., died Dec. 23, 2023, age 71

Thomas D. Bosscher, ’82, McBain, Mich., died Mar. 21, 2024, age 65

Nelda L. Bratcher, ’82 MA, Zionsville, Ind., died Dec. 21, 2023, age 85

June C. (McKenney) Brott, ’82, Gladwin, Mich., died Mar. 18, 2024, age 65

Jeffrey G. Conway, ’82, Carlisle, Pa., died Apr. 12, 2023, age 75

Mark R. Forster, ’82; ’85 MS, Holly, Mich., died Nov. 13, 2023, age 64

Kenneth Gant, ’82 MA, Waldorf, Md., died Oct. 30, 2023, age 74

William R. Harris, ’82 MA, Crossville, Tenn., died Nov. 18, 2023, age 84

Steven A. Linley, ’82 MA, Midland, Mich., died Jan. 27, 2024, age 71

Thomas J. Niswonger, ’82, Rochester, Mich., died Dec. 23, 2023, age 64

John A. Seymour Jr., ’82 MA, Gulf Shores, Ala., died Jan. 1, 2024, age 80

Douglas J. Wabeke, ’82, Grand Haven, Mich., died Nov. 25, 2023, age 65

Charles Q. (Downs) Allgood, ’83 MA, Dothan, Ala., died Jan. 4, 2024, age 80

Linda A. (Teselsky) Al-Omair, ’83, Saginaw, Mich., died Nov. 25, 2023, age 67

J. Gary Clifton, ’83, Traverse City, Mich., died Sep. 20, 2023, age 77

Mark A. DeGroat, ’83, Freeland, Mich., died Mar. 23, 2024, age 64

Dawn (Reynolds) Hill, ’83, Punta Gorda, Fla., died Jan. 10, 2024, age 64

Ronald G. Hoshal, ’83 MA, Oakley, Mich., died Mar. 13, 2024, age 80

James W. Tobias, ’83 MA, Annapolis, Md., died Nov. 26, 2023, age 81

Ralph (“Stan”) Allsopp, ’84 MA, Pensacola, Fla., died Feb. 12, 2024, age 75

Jay C. Beckman, ’84, Chandler, Ariz., died Nov. 20, 2023, age 62

Sandra A. Bolling, ’84, Ardmore, Okla., died Jan. 22, 2024, age 82

Marguerite Cool, ’84 MA, Grand Rapids, Mich., died Nov. 17, 2023, age 82

Kevin M. Kern, ’84, Frankenmuth, Mich., died Nov. 6, 2023, age 61

Daniel T. Lumm, ’84, Waterford, Mich., died Mar. 10, 2024, age 62

Brooks C. Preacher, ’84 MA, Hartwell, Ga., died Oct. 28, 2023, age 81

Alfred A. Sauter, ’84 MA, Royal Oak, Mich., died Jan. 4, 2024, age 85

Samuel J. Stucky, ’84 MA, Tecumseh, Mich., died Jan. 14, 2024, age 71

Mary E. (Daley) Davis, ’85 MA, Columbia Station, Ohio, died Nov. 4, 2023, age 81

Karla J. (Willi) Markel, ’85 MA, Greenfield, Wis., died Nov. 30, 2023, age 68

Theron M. Parker, ’85, Cadillac, Mich., died Feb. 26, 2024, age 62

Paul H. Phillips, ’85 MA, Petaluma, Calif., died Aug. 17, 2023, age 74

Vicente Rodriguez, ’85, Alma, Mich., died Mar. 5, 2024, age 62

Elsie C. (Parson) Rubin, ’85 MA, Savannah, Ga., died Nov. 26, 2023, age 90

Robert A. Trout, ’85 MA, Loveland, Colo., died Mar. 16, 2023, age 71

Cha-Jan Chang, ’86 MS, Henderson, Nev., died Dec. 6, 2023, age 64

Richard C. Flynn, ’86, Sparta, Mich., died Mar. 3, 2024, age 61

Gale L. Sanders, ’86, Shepherd, Mich., died Dec. 4, 2023, age 73

Roger G. Wise, ’86, Hilton Head Island, S.C., died Jan.7, 2024, age 77

Anne-Marie L. (Wood) Batten, ’87; ’91 MBA, Ridgefield, Conn., died Jan. 18, 2024, age 58

Harold G. Freehling, ’87 MA, Norwalk, Ohio, died Mar. 3, 2024, age 76

Ellen F. (Hales) Henshaw, ’87 MA, North Street, Mich., died Nov. 18, 2023, age 80

Werner R. Slocum, ’87, Broomfield, Colo., died Nov. 24, 2023, age 59

Roger J. Houze, III, ’88 MA, Sterling, Va., died Nov. 25, 2023, age 77

Lisa A. Johnston, ’88, Warren, Mich., died Mar. 21, 2024, age 58

Terry Rountree, ’88 MSA, Holt, Mich., died Dec. 10, 2023, age 74

Gregory W. Altman, ’89; ’95 MA, Alpena, Mich., died Mar. 29, 2024, age 66

Matthew P. Cole, ’89, Muskegon, Mich., died Dec. 21, 2023, age 58

Randall G. Thomas, ’89, Birmingham, Mich., died Nov. 8, 2023, age 58

Thomas W. Turner, ’89 MSA, Bellevue, Neb., died May 15, 2023, age 80

Diana L. (Peters) Brady, ’90 MA, Traverse City, Mich., died Nov. 25, 2023, age 79

Emanuel Centifonti, ’90 MSA, Burlington, N.J., died Feb. 29, 2024, age 89

Ann L. (Nelson) Kasley, ’90, Ludington, Mich., died Mar. 12, 2024, age 58

Dolores J. (Zielinski) McNish, ’90 MSA, Rapid City, Mich., died Jan. 6, 2024, age 83

David A. Riley, ’90, Midland, Mich., died Oct. 31, 2023, age 64

Glenn H. Schneiter, ’90 MSA, Pensacola, Fla., died Nov. 11, 2023, age 73

Audrey M. (Kimberley) Wilson, ’90 MA, London, Ontario, died Jan. 20, 2024, age 91

Lynn M. Downey, ’91, Linwood, Mich., died Nov. 23, 2023, age 75

Michele L. (Ballard) Ford, ’91, Saginaw, Mich., died Mar. 23, 2024, age 54

Pat (Reynolds) Gamage, ’91 MA, Lachine, Mich., died Jan. 30, 2024, age 87

Janice M. (Krolikowski) Jerome, ’91, ’99 MBA, Pinconning, Mich., died Feb. 9, 2024, age 72

Denise (Scodellaro) MacDonell, ’91 MSA, Allen Park, Mich., died Feb. 1, 2024, age 62

Ronald G. Masar, ’91, Marysville, Mich., died Mar. 5, 2024, age 83

Donna J. (Beaupre’) Parr, ’91 MA, Mount Pleasant, Mich., died Feb. 21, 2024, age 79

Darren L. Trisel, ’91 MSA, Roseville, Calif., died Nov. 4, 2023, age 64

Bryan C. Bosscawen, ’92, Orchard Lake, Mich., died Oct. 21, 2023, age 55

Donna J. (Wieber) Fruchey, ’92, Owosso, Mich., died Dec. 20, 2023, age 68

Christian E. Larsen, ’92 MSA, Holland, Mich., died Feb. 21, 2024, age 79

Luellen J. (Burbank) Newmann, ’92 MSA, Boca Raton, Fla., died Nov. 3, 2023, age 84

John L. Rouse, ’92 MSA, Lillington, N.C., died Dec. 2, 2023, age 63

Paul S. Wilson, ’92 MSA, Pontiac, Mich., died Dec. 31, 2023, age 78

James J. Braxton, ’93 MSA, Fredericksburg, Va., died Nov. 27, 2023, age 69

Alvin E. Hall, ’93 MSA, Dayton, Ohio, died Dec. 21, 2023, age 84

Patrick H. LaVergne, ’93 MSA, Shawnee, Kans., died Jan. 22, 2024, age 82

Arcenaux B. Macklin, ’93 MSA, Columbus, Ohio, died Oct. 8, 2023, age 75

Mark P. Siino, ’93 MSA, Little Egg Harbor Township, N.J., died Dec. 5, 2023, age 70

Thomas W. Tolbert, ’93 MSA, Jacksonville, Fla., died Nov. 12, 2023, age 76

Suzanne J. Woods, ’93 MA, Peterborough, Ontario, died Mar. 7, 2024, age 69

Sheila M. (Cole) AndersonLandesman, ’94 MSA, Naples, Fla., died Feb. 13, 2024, age 80

Polly A. (Coleman) Christensen, ’94, Essexville, Mich., died Feb. 18, 2024, age 52

Erika L. Engler, ’94, Elkhart, Ind., died Dec. 16, 2023, age 51

Jennifer J. Osier, ’94, Clare, Mich., died Dec. 19, 2023, age 53

Kenneth G. Springer, ’94 MA, Tallahassee, Fla., died Mar. 9, 2024, age 67

Kevin K. Fred, ’95 MSA, Dayton, Ohio, died Nov. 9, 2023, age 63

James C. Sproul, ’95 MSA, Royal Oak, Mich., died Dec. 2, 2023, age 77

Vencent W. Tripp, ’95 MSA, Fort Hood, Texas, died Dec. 17, 2023, age 61

Robert B. Downs, ’96, Farwell, Mich., died Jan. 17, 2024, age 92

Chris H. Kindsvatter, ’96 MSA, Indian River, Mich., died Feb. 19, 2024, age 78

Mary L. (Papier) Longeway, ’96 MSA, Livonia, Mich., died Nov. 15, 2023, age 80

Steven D. Black, ’97, Livermore, Calif., died Feb. 29, 2024, age 48

Douglas F. Elliott, ’97 MSA, Traverse City, Mich., died Jan. 15, 2024, age 74

Dominic Giacona, ’98, Sterling Heights, Mich., died Mar. 8, 2024, age 69

Dianne M. (Domeracki) Ringwelski, ’98, Punta Gorda, Fla., died Nov. 22, 2023, age 78

Byron R. Sims, ’98 MSA, Fredericksburg, Va., died Jan. 27, 2024, age 57

Joseph A. Flint, Jr., ’99 MA, West Bloomfield, Mich., died Oct. 27, 2023, age 69

Lynette (Garland) Lindsey, ’99 MSA, Griffin, Ga., died Nov. 10, 2023, age 75

Valerie K. (Durand) Maher, ’99, Port Huron, Mich., died Mar. 15, 2024, age 46

Ronald D. Rohlfs, ’99 MSA, Elkhorn, Neb., died Oct. 11, 2023, age 77

Mary L. (Liebaert) Malone, ’00 MA, Royal Oak, Mich., died Mar. 17, 2024, age 83

Arthur Cavallo, ’01 MSA, Devils Lake, N.D., died Jan. 18, 2024, age 74

Robert L. McDonald, ’01; ’07 MA, Patoka, Ill., died Oct. 21, 2023, age 83

Wes A. VanPetten, ’01 MBE, Reese, Mich., died Mar. 17, 2024, age 59

Xiaoqing Wang, ’01 MA, Potomac, Md., died Mar. 10, 2024, age 45

Andrea D. (Adams) Benaske, ’02, Weidman, Mich., died Dec. 21, 2023, age 46

Maxine V. (Carey) Benson, ’02 MSA, Albuquerque, N.M., died Nov. 13, 2023, age 82

Shelly M. (Hoogewind) Kelley, ’02, Belding, Mich., died Dec. 18, 2023, age 44

Sarah C. Wrinkles, ’03, Grand Haven, Mich., died Jan. 6, 2024, age 43

Danita K. (Whipple) Park, ’05, Honor, Mich., died Jan. 9, 2024, age 57

Adam J. Schaefer, ’05, Naples, Fla., died Feb. 2, 2024, age 40

Vivian A. (Bonner) Bland, ’06 MA, Petersburg, Va., died Jan. 30, 2024, age 76

In Memory

Sarah E. Martin MacLachlan, ’06 MA, Midland, Mich., died Jan. 30, 2024, age 45

Kelly A. Mays, ’06, Westland, Mich., died Jan. 7, 2024, age 49

Joe B. Prine, ’06, Lakeland, Fla., died Mar. 23, 2024, age 52

Marc L. Anderson, ’09 MSA, Atlanta, Ga., died Jan. 1, 2024, age 46

Melvynne J. (Clark) Reed, ’09 MPA, Snellville, Ga., died Dec. 11, 2023, age 69

Erik J. Feldt, ’11, Grand Rapids, Mich., died Nov. 8, 2023, age 39

Dillon E. Miller, ’14, Adrian, Mich., died Mar. 1, 2024, age 32

Elisabeth J. Olson, ’14, Clarksville, Mich., died Feb. 2, 2024, age 33

Charity F. (Thompson) Redfern, ’14 MSA, Midland, Mich., died Nov. 10, 2023, age 54

Sarah J. Larges, ’15 MA, Saginaw, Mich., died Dec. 25, 2023, age 48

Anders M. Reed, ’16, Birmingham, Mich., died Oct. 14, 2023, age 30

FACULTY (FORMER/RETIRED)

Bee (Richards) Hallett, ’52, Fort Myers, Fla., died Aug. 26, 2023, age 96

Keith Allen, ’57; ’60 MA, Lake, Mich., died Dec. 19, 2023, age 90

LeRoy R. Klopcic, ’59, Mount Pleasant, Mich., died Aug. 1, 2023, age 89

Larry Reynolds, ’62; ’64 MA, Omena, Mich., died Oct. 30, 2023, age 85

Jim Foulds, ’77, Grand Blanc, Mich., died Dec. 12, 2023, age 67

Richard Hardy, ’82 MA; ’85 MA, South Jordan, Utah, died Feb. 25, 2023, age 88

Michael J. Papa, ’82, Mount Pleasant, Mich., died Aug. 24, 2023, age 65

Brian Owen, ’97, Bellingham, Mich., died Nov. 9, 2023, age 51

Lisa Yanick Litwiller, ’00, Mount Pleasant, Mich., died Mar. 18, 2024, age 46

Philip D. Arben, East Lansing, Mich., died July 1, 2022, age 94

Thomas Arch, Westland, Mich., died Nov. 28, 2022, age 86

Christopher A. Bailey, Mount Pleasant, Mich., died July 22, 2023, age 63

Thomas R. Bambas, Kaleva, Mich., died Aug. 15, 2023, age 85

Sarah A. Delia, Mount Pleasant, Mich., died Oct. 6, 2023, age 83

Peter H. Fries, Mount Pleasant, Mich., died June 10, 2023 age 85

Pamela Gray, Mount Pleasant, Mich., died Nov. 13, 2023, age 72

Keith (Helferich) Helferich, Grand Rapids, Mich., died Mar. 28, 2024, age 89

Michael Kent, Mount Pleasant, Mich., died Dec. 14, 2023, age 80

Michael Libbee, Chattanooga, Tenn., died Jan. 28, 2024, age 78

David Ling, Mount Pleasant, Mich., died Dec. 1, 2023, age 81

David McDowell, Mount Pleasant, Mich., died Mar. 8, 2024, age 83

William Miles, Traverse City, Mich., died Oct. 31, 2023, age 81

Kitty Payne, Saint Johns, Mich., died Feb. 7, 2024, age 73

John R. Pfeiffer, Mount Pleasant, Mich., died Apr. 30, 2023, age 84

George Ronan, Mount Pleasant, Mich., died Nov. 23, 2023, age 69

Samuel A. Spralls III, Mount Pleasant, Mich., died Sept. 21, 2023, age 71

David Sprague, Shepherd, Mich., died Mar. 9, 2024, age 82

David Whitney, Saint Paul, Minn., died Oct. 13, 2023, age 85

STAFF (FORMER/RETIRED)

Janet C. Larrance, ’93, Mount Pleasant, Mich., died Aug. 8, 2023, age 75

Christopher R. Baxter, Shepherd, Mich., died July 30, 2023, age 53

Kimberly Betzold, Saginaw, Mich., died Oct. 26, 2023, age 70

Nila S. Biller, Mecosta, Mich., died June 24, 2023, age 68

Esther Brookens, Riverdale, Mich., died Feb. 8, 2024, age 102

Eugene R. Bushey, Hastings, Mich., died May 30, 2023, age 98

Rose Forton, Mount Pleasant, Mich., died Mar. 5, 2024, age 95

Ruth Frick, Mount Pleasant, Mich., died Mar. 4, 2024, age 100

Cleta Goodwin, Alma, Mich., died July 28, 2023, age 93

Joyce Hayward, Osage Beach, Mo., died Nov. 22, 2023, age 75

Charlene Hubbell, Mount Pleasant, Mich., died Apr. 17, 2023, age 75

Dolores J. Lawrence, Mount Pleasant, Mich., died June 5, 2023, age 89

Hildegard Machuta, Mount Pleasant, Mich., died Mar. 8, 2024, age 84

Emerson Marshall, Clare, Mich., died Jan. 25, 2024, age 86

Micheal Martin, Rosebush, Mich., died Oct. 14, 2023, age 57

Shelly Martin, Rosebush, Mich., died May 17, 2023, age 59

Jean M. Moss, Mount Pleasant, Mich., died May 21, 2023, age 92

JoAnn Neubecker, Prosper, Texas, died Aug. 19, 2023, age 88

Richard Nisbet, Ann Arbor, Mich., died Feb. 26, 2024, age 94

Gary Rubingh, Mount Pleasant, Mich., died June 13, 2023, age 70

Christina Simmer, Mount Pleasant, Mich., died Jan. 25, 2024, age 58

William Theisen, Mount Pleasant, Mich., died Nov. 29, 2023, age 82

Susan Welsh, Mount Pleasant, Mich., died Mar. 23, 2024, age 91

Marjorie (Parks) Williams, Canton, Ga., died Feb. 5, 2024, age 81

Kathleen Wilbur, Okemos, Mich., died Nov. 26, 2023, age 70

PHOTO BY LANCE GASCHO

DO YOU REMEMBER

SUMMER STAGES

Seasonal productions are a longtime CMU tradition

1949

For decades, CMU’s Summer Theatre program has entertained audiences and expanded the resumes of students both onstage and behind the scenes.

In the late 1940s and into the 1950s, CMU’s Summer Theatre did residencies at playhouses around the state. Here’s an excerpt from Northwest Ottawa County Encyclopedia of History about a stint in Grand Haven:

“In 1949, a summer stock group began putting on performances at the Women’s Club at 318 Washington, formerly the Unitarian Church. Its first performance was on July 5, 1949, and productions that summer included ‘Dear Ruth,’ ‘The Taming of the Shrew,’ ‘Mr. Pim Passes By,’ and ‘John Loves Mary.’ The permanent cast included drama students from Central Michigan College.”

Today, our unique Summer Theatre program gives students the opportunity to perform in venues across the state — including Beaver Island’s BIC Center and The Playhouse at White Lake — all while earning money and college credit. Alumni consider this opportunity to be one of their most valued experiences at CMU.

Want to catch a current production? Check out the CMU Summer Theatre schedule here: https://go.cmualum.com/ theatre-season

1989

2010

Touching up hair and makeup for a Grand Haven Summer Theatre production.

A scene from a production of “Something to Hide.”

An alumni theater performance of “Almost Maine.”

A scene from “And Miss Reardon Drinks A Little.”

Grand Haven Summer Theatre production. Fred Bush (Bush Theater’s namesake) stands far right.

$1,373,390 dollars have been awarded

1,101 Students awarded dollars

$227,886 Dollars raised since July

1,652 Donors since July 1, 2023