BRIDGES Winter 2023

Deba Dutta

Regents of the University of Michigan

Jordan B. Acker, Huntington Woods

Michael J. Behm, Grand Blanc

Mark J. Bernstein, Ann Arbor

Paul W. Brown, Ann Arbor

Sarah Hubbard, Okemos

Denise Ilitch, Bingham Farms

Ron Weiser, Ann Arbor

Katherine E. White, Ann Arbor

Santa Ono (ex officio)

University Advancement Vice Chancellor

Shari Schrader

Executive Director Alumni Relations

Mary Jo Sekelsky

Alumni Relations Coordinator

Vacant

Annual Giving Manager

Sarina Ranville

University of Michigan-Flint Alumni

Leadership Corps Members

Brian J. Barrie, ’85

Carla S. Beasley, ’10

Mark M. Childress, ’00

Christie L. Copeland, ’93

Vanessa C. Ferguson, ’03

Gregory S. Hare, ’92

Clifford Hodges, ’79

Kris Johns, ’02

Kim S. Knag, ’96; ’01

Ibrahim A. Moiz, ’03

Tina M. Nies, ’89

Gregg A. Pane, ’77

Jerry Rule, ’78

Michelle L. Swarbrick, ’10

Terry J. Wisner, ’81

Gabriel Zawadzki, ’07

Editors

Sarina Ranville

Mary Jo Sekelsky

Contributors

Yvette Collard

Paul Gifford

Lynn Patrick Ingram

Robb King, ’90

Logan T. McGrady, ’13

Mike Turner

Graphic Design

Olmsted Associates, Inc.

Member

Council for the Advancement and Support of Education

02 A LIFE DEDICATED TO SERVICE

Alumnus Marty Mieras continues to live a life full of giving back

06 TIMELINE OF ACHIEVEMENT Alumni through the decades (1950s – 2010s)

10 70 YEARS YOUNG UM-Flint’s physical therapy program celebrates its impact on community and graduates

14 HISTORICAL TIMELINE

The history of University of Michigan–Flint and where it all began

20

SHIAWASSEE ADVANTAGE

The Cook Family Foundation serves as a resource for the Shiawassee County community

26 40 UNDER 40 Members of UM-Flint featured in Genesee County’s firstever 40 Under 40 recognition program

A Message from the Chancellor STEPPING FORWARD “A

ccording to Darwin’s Origin of Species , it is not the most intellectual of the species that survives; it is not the strongest that survives; but the species that survives is the one that is able best to adapt and adjust to the changing environment in which it finds itself.”

~ Leon C. Megginson

In 1956, Flint was changed forever.

In a town more than 50 miles to the south was one of the top universities in the world. The University of Michigan was established in 1817, and while it would, over the course of a couple of centuries, earn a reputation for national championships and celebrity alumni, its core mission of applying knowledge to address real human concerns remained. And, in 1956, it was time to grow and expand the reach of that mission. To Flint.

Flint was a different city then, the epicenter of a booming auto industry that drew people from across the country to take advantage of plentiful jobs and the best schools. Visionary leaders including Charles Stewart Mott knew that at the core of a great city is also a great university. The community rallied, passed a bond issue, and successfully brought higher education to Flint.

For more than six decades, the University of Michigan-Flint has been a place of academic excellence that combines vision with action and results. Our faculty, staff, students and alumni have worked to make our community – and our world – a better place. As our seventh decade approaches, we must commit to being an academically strong and financially viable institution that is an undisputed engine for economic growth and social mobility in the region.

When I came to UM-Flint in 2019, I found it inspiring to witness how the campus and community worked together in support of residents in and around Genesee County. I continue to be inspired by stories of Wolverines stepping forward to help one another in service to the greater good. In this issue of Bridges, you will meet several such individuals who, through their service, seek to improve the human condition.

Thank You, and Forever Go Blue!

Deba Dutta, Chancellor

January 1955 Harlan Hatcher, Everett Cummings, and C.S. Mott break ground for the Mott Memorial Building.

C.S. Mott

A LIFE DEDICATED TO SERVICE

Strong patriotic values. A desire to serve. A fascination with cars. And love for the Maize & Blue. For Marty Mieras, ‘22M, these principles were instilled in him from an early age. The Grand Rapids native was born into a military family – his father was in the U.S. Coast Guard, his stepdad served in the U.S. Navy, and a host of uncles were also military men. “The Fourth of July really meant something besides hot dogs and fireworks growing up,” Mieras recalled.

Mieras moved to Ohio when he was seven, but the highlight of his childhood summers was visiting Uncle Richard back in Michigan. His uncle, who served in the Navy, was a car buff, racing Austin Healy’s and tinkering in the garage, always with a cigar in hand. The young Mieras was fascinated, playing out his vehicular dreams with Hot Wheels while his uncle worked on the British imports. As summer turned to fall, Saturdays were for University of Michigan football – even in Ohio. He owes this passion for U-M to another uncle, Ted Ploughman, ‘54, ‘58M, ‘68PhD. Ploughman, a U.S. Army veteran, earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering and a doctorate in education from UM-Ann Arbor.

Equipped with a military, mechanical and U-M legacy, Mieras has built a life of excellence in these areas and more. His 34-year career with the Army saw him retire as a command sergeant major, having served in numerous overseas operations and earning a litany of commendations, including the Legion of Merit and Bronze Star. He fulfilled

his U-M aspirations in 2022, when he graduated from UMFlint with a master’s degree in liberal studies in American culture. His penchant for automobiles has resulted in international recognition thanks to his fleet of Ford Mustang pace cars, the largest collection of its kind in the world.

Mieras has woven a distinct commitment to service in each of his diverse pursuits. That mindset persists in his current role as the military program specialist with the U.S. Postal Service, a position that allows Mieras to continue his advocacy for service members and veterans, which is one of the Postal Service’s major goals and objectives in its Delivering for America Ten-Year Plan. Who could have guessed such a storied career would begin courtesy of a Bill Murray movie?

Photos by the Postmaster General Photography Team

From Skipping Class to Playing Sax

As a 17-year-old high school student, Mieras ditched class with friends to see “Stripes,” the 1981 comedy starring Murray and John Candy as fish-out-of-water Army recruits. The movie “wasn’t remotely related to actual military life,” but Mieras found inspiration from the tanks that were on screen nonetheless. As the end credits rolled, Mieras headed directly from the movie theater to the recruiting station. After completing basic training at Fort McLellan in Alabama, he underwent advanced individual training to become forward armor support at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland.

A few years later, Mieras was on his way to a tank unit stationed in Germany when he came upon an Army band rehearsal. When word got out he had played saxophone in high school, Mieras was promptly asked to prove it.

And just like that, he never made it to the tank unit. Mieras was reassigned to the band, spending four years performing across the world at events like D-Day anniversary ceremonies in Normandy, France. Mieras says he was one of the last soldiers to join the band in such a manner, as prospective musicians would soon be required to attend the U.S. Army School of Music. Sudden reassignments to unexpected jobs would become

a theme throughout his military career, but he was eager to take on new challenges.

“I’ve always found that if you are respectful, honest, and sincere with people, meaningful opportunities are going to come to you,” Mieras said. “Sometimes you have to be patient – more patient than you would like – but eventually good things happen if you have that foundation of integrity.”

Ann Arbor on 9/11

Mieras was volunteering at a Veterans of Foreign Wars post on a quiet Tuesday morning in 2001, filling out paperwork with the custodian for the company. Looking up at the TV, he saw the World Trade Center towers fall. Mieras asked what movie the custodian had put on. Then came the sinking realization that they were watching the news.

“I felt fear and anger. I wondered, ‘whose butt do I need to kick?’ I couldn’t believe it was happening,” Mieras recounted. “Then I jumped in the car and got on the phone.”

Mieras was now attached to the 406th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion in Ann Arbor as the headquarters first sergeant, a role responsible for the security of the personnel and assets of the headquarters. Driving from Grand Rapids to Ann Arbor, he literally rallied the troops, making calls to secure the building, set up the barricades, and prepare for combat.

“We were geared up, ready to go. Of course, we didn’t know what was going to happen, so we were prepared for anything,” Mieras said.

In the years following, Mieras helped to organize the Army’s first “in lieu of” company, taking 200 soldiers with various jobs and turning them into a truck unit. The 454th Transportation Company deployed to Iraq in 2005, and Mieras is proud to say they completed their mission and brought everyone home. Despite being promoted to sergeant major, Mieras accompanied his troops on a number of missions.

“I believed that if my soldiers were outside the wire facing the danger, I needed to be with them. I couldn’t go on every mission because of my operational duties, but I rode with the troopers in combat convoys,” said Mieras. “I believed in my soldiers. If you believe in your troopers, they believe in you.”

College in a War Zone

Shortly after arriving in-country for Operation Iraqi Freedom (he had previously been deployed during Operation Desert Storm), a superior officer asked Mieras if he had earned a bachelor’s degree. He had not.

“That was the wrong answer,” Mieras joked. He was immediately enrolled in Davenport University’s strategic leadership program, studying with a satellite phone after 12-hour shifts coordinating unit operations. He earned his bachelor’s degree in 2007, boasting a 4.0 GPA while overseeing the efforts of 10 companies in Iraq. He continued on to earn a Master of Business Administration from Davenport in 2012.

Mieras may have had several college degrees under his belt, but they just weren’t University of Michigan degrees. So when friend and fellow Command Sergeant Major Mike Poll shared the positive experiences he was having with UM-Flint, the next steps were clear. Mieras enrolled in UM-Flint’s Master of Arts in Liberal Studies in American Culture in 2019. He saw the program as an opportunity to round out his education and explore the complexities of the human experience, in contrast to the strictly defined balance sheets of an MBA. His thesis focused on the contributions of various subcultures to our society – an investigation that included the military as a subculture.

“The military is a non-democratic entity established to protect a democratic country. We protect ideals such as freedom

of speech, but we often don’t have those same freedoms afforded to us,” Mieras explained. “I was willing to accept that because of my belief in those ideals, that someone has to uphold them.”

As his thesis deadline loomed closer, Mieras was grateful he could turn to an advisor for help. Doug Knerr, interim dean of the College of Arts & Sciences and professor of history, was a constant source of guidance and reassurance – even giving Mieras his home phone number with instructions to call day or night if he needed support.

“We were true collaborators, and I learned so much from the way he approached his topic and from his experiences,” Knerr said. “His dedication and his passion fused perfectly in his research. I especially enjoyed meeting him at commencement after all our virtual interactions.”

The Student Veterans Resource Center (SVRC) was another support system for Mieras during his time with UM-Flint. He celebrated with fellow veterans in a dedicated military graduation ceremony, and he praises SVRC for providing him

I believed in my soldiers. If you believe in your troopers, they believe in you.”

- Marty Mieras

with a ready-made community, stating that “they really made me feel like I was supposed to be here. It was almost like, ‘what took you so long to walk through the door?’”

Helen Budd, SVRC program manager, heard from Mieras a few months after he graduated. “He was excited to inform me that he had obtained a promotion within the Postal Service as a result of his U-M degree and the work he has accomplished. It has been an honor to assist him during his program and I hope we will remain in touch in the future.”

Continuing the Mission

Throughout his time in the Army, Mieras advocated for his soldiers and their families with a servant-leader mentality and willingness to help in whatever scenario he found himself. That commitment continues post-Army retirement as he is now the military programs specialist for the Postal Service, representing nearly 88,000 veterans employed by the organization. He hosts regular roundtable discussions covering a variety of veterans' issues – the next event will focus on veteran suicide prevention.

When asked what readers should know about the Postal Service’s programs geared toward military veteran employees, Mieras said, “Our employees, and military veteran employees, are our greatest assets, and our success depends on investing in their futures. One of our Delivering for America Ten-Year Plan objectives is to invest efforts to promote retention and career development of our military veteran employees. I really enjoy working on initiatives designed to improve engagement with them, strengthen their employee experience, and their opportunities for growth, advancement and promotion.”

Mieras has been affiliated with the Postal Service since 1998 and was the vehicle maintenance facility supervisor for West Michigan before taking on his current role in May 2022. He believes having a U-M degree played no small part in his successful transition to military program specialist.

“I’m having an interview with folks from Washington, D.C., and my future boss must have said several times, ‘You’re a graduate from the University of Michigan!’”

And that Mustang pace car collection? There’s no doubt he maintains his lifelong passion for the love of the cars. His Mustangs are multiple time Concours d’ Elegance, aka competition of excellence, winners and he has restored a few classic Buicks for good measure. But Mieras also manages to do good with his hobby. As president of the West Michigan Mustang Club, he hosts on-site car shows at nursing homes, participates in community parades and more. As a committee member for the Arthritis Foundation, he organizes fundraisers for childhood arthritis.

“My cars have allowed me to give back to our community and to share my personal successes with the country,” he said.

Mieras is now working toward a doctorate in strategic leadership from Liberty University, admitting that he is “running out of wall space for (his) college diplomas.” Even with such considerable experience in higher education – studying while at war included – one degree stands out from the rest.

“Putting aside the fact that a U-M degree enhances your career prospects, it feels so good to be a graduate of the University of Michigan. I tell all my friends now, I’m

not a fan, I’m an alum.”

Support the Student Veterans Resource Center on Giving Blueday!

Marty and the late Gale Halderman, designer of the Mustang

TIMELINE of ACHIEVEMENT

Over the decades, the University of Michigan-Flint has educated some truly remarkable minds. Our graduates have gone on to make significant impacts in their careers, communities and the world at large. In their respective sectors of business, education, physics and mathematics, their educations have opened doors of achievement for these alumni and those they have inspired.

Laura Eastman

Class of 1958 | Elementary Education

After one year at Eastern Michigan, Laura returned home to attend Flint Junior College. She describes her classmates as motivated to get an education close to home. Opportunities in Flint at the time were abundant. Many students had good jobs that allowed them to pay for college. Of the faculty, Laura says, “I was so impressed with the teachers. They were very serious about wanting to help students . . . and challenged us in ways that we weren’t accustomed to. Staff and students were motivated and Ann Arbor was supportive. Everyone wanted Flint Junior College to succeed. It was like one big family.”

“There was a great spirit to the Class of ‘58, a real feeling that we were pioneers.”

Michael J. Giacalone, Jr., MD

Class of 1968 | BA, History

Class of 1972 | MD, UM Ann Arbor

After completing his bachelor’s degree with distinction, Dr. Giacalone attended medical school at the University of Michigan, receiving his MD degree in 1972. He credits the University of Michigan-Flint for preparing him for a lifetime of challenges and opportunities as a physician and medical doctor. Currently chief medical officer at Hamilton Community Health Network in Flint, Michael was privileged to serve as a Navy doctor in Washington, D.C., and overseas with the U.S. Pacific Fleet. In November 1993, he was appointed

assistant dean for clinical affairsexternal relations at the University of Michigan Medical School.

Among Dr. Giacalone’s treasured memories of UM-Flint is receiving the 1967 Student of the Year Award. Moreover, he shared the stage that year with U.S. Representative Donald W. Reigle, Jr., 1967 Alumnus of the Year. Asked what advice he would give someone thinking about enrolling at UM-Flint, Michael said, “It is a great experience – the best of the best!”

Donald G. Rockwell

Class of 1971 | BA, Physics

Class of 1976 | JD, UD Mercy, cum laude

Q. What do you get when you cross a gentleman and a science nerd?

“I love to think about the physical universe, and this comes from my undergraduate major in physics at the University of Michigan-Flint.”

A. A traditional, yet futuristic, perspective on the legal profession. Considered by many to be a throwback to the more formal days of the legal profession, Rockwell is a lawyer who genuinely respects the law, the courtroom, the decorum, the process, and his opponent. But he is also considered progressive, innovative, forward thinking, even scientific in his approach, which his friends, colleagues, and Rockwell himself say should not surprise anyone. “I love to think about the physical universe, and this comes from my undergraduate major in physics at the University of Michigan-Flint. What is important to me is the sense of true wonder when I contemplate these matters and how we, the human race, are just an infinitesimally small part of this great and interesting universe.”

Excerpts from "A Gentleman and a Scholar," an article written by Lynn Patrick Ingram from Michigan Bar Journal, October 2017.

“Thankful and very grateful for the vision of Charles Stewart Mott and U-M President Harlan Hatcher in establishing Flint Junior College in 1956.”

Karen Cisowski Josey

Class of 1982 | BBA

Class of 1989 | MBA

Currently the senior business development director at Keyrus Life Science, a global contract research organization, Karen credits her MBA professors with preparing her to bring real world experiences to teams she has trained over the course of her career.

Among Karen’s many memories of UM-Flint are studying in the UCEN Loft; shopping at SmithBridgeman’s Department Store, located on Saginaw

Heidi M. Colby-Oizumi

Class of 1991 | BA, English

Class of 1996 | MA, International Affairs, GW

In her final year of college, Heidi participated in a three-week study tour to Egypt with her anthropology class. It changed her life! On the flight home, she made the decision to see more of the world. A few months post-graduation, Heidi moved to Sendai, Japan, to teach English. She stayed in Japan for three years and met her husband.

Heidi returned to the U.S. to attend graduate school at George Washington University on a fellowship and began an internship at the Department of State. Upon graduation, Heidi landed a job with the U.S. International Trade Commission –fulfilling a requirement of her fellowship that she enter public service – and has been there for the past 26 years. In her role

Street between Kearsley and First streets; and being mentored by UM-Flint’s Jazz Band Director, Dr. Vincent O’Keefe. “I wasn’t a music major and I wasn’t the best musician in the room, but Dr. O’Keefe taught me to believe that I was the best me I could be.” You can find Karen at the Big House playing trumpet on game days in the University of Michigan Alumni PEP Band!

Karen’s son, Nicholaus Josey, MD (Class of 2010), and daughter, Nichole Josey (Class of 2014, 2019) are also UM-Flint graduates.

as an international trade analyst, Heidi provides objective analysis of international trade issues to the President and Congress. Of her position, Heidi says, “I suppose it’s rare for someone to stay at a job for so long, but I can’t imagine a better fit. My work uses both my English degree (writing) and my international affairs background. It’s interesting, challenging, and always changing, and it’s given me the opportunity to travel to over a dozen countries, including places most people don’t get to see, such as Cuba and Mauritius.”

“Although many miles from Flint now and years removed from the campus, I love attending D.C. alumni gatherings when they happen, and I feel incredibly lucky to have had such a wonderful experience at UM-Flint. Go Blue!”

From left to right: Karen, Nic, Randy & Nichole at the September 11, 2021 halftime show commemorating the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks. Randy was a 9/11 first responder.

Below: Smith-Bridgman’s Department Store, 1935 (Flint Journal file photo)

“To be able to get a University of Michigan degree in Flint and have the one-on-one interactions with staff and professors that I experienced was an absolute win for me.”

Patriece Campbell-Palmer, EdD

Class of 2004 | BA Class of 2007 | MPA

Class of 2017 | EdD, UNE

Dr. Campbell-Palmer was among the first international students to enroll at the University of Michigan-Flint. Instrumental in the development of the campus's International Center, Patriece spent 12 years on staff at UM-Flint following her graduation. Currently, the director of graduate admissions and enrollment management at the University of Louisville, Patriece says UM-Flint made her the professional she is today. “UM-Flint gave me the opportunity to ask why, but also the responsibility to be part of the solution. Serving on various committees, I learned to understand, appreciate, and work through institutional policies. I learned about intergroup dynamics and how to work with people whose backgrounds and perspectives were different from mine. I learned how to be innovative and how to build innovative teams.”

“I came to the U.S. as a 17-year-old international student from Jamaica. Since then I have been helping others take advantage of the same opportunities I was afforded. I am committed to cultivating globally competent graduates from our universities, and I have devoted my education, work and volunteer experiences to this cause.”

While Patriece has many memories of campus, her communication classes, taught by Professors Dottie Filak, Chuck Apple, and Tony McGill, remain at the top of her list. She is quick to point out that a lot of their material is still incorporated into her day-to-day life. Some of her fondest memories involve socializing with fellow international students, including celebrating holidays together, traveling to Cedar Point or Mackinac Island, and attending football games at the Big House!

Ayana Ghosh, PhD

Class of 2015 | BS

Class of 2019 | MS, UConn

Class of 2020 | PhD, UConn

All it took was a conversation with UM-Flint Associate Professor of physics James Alsup for Ayana Ghosh to begin studying simulated black holes and higher dimensions during her freshman year. Dr. Alsup and Ayana would collaborate on theoretical research for the next three years.

Ayana describes UM-Flint as her first ‘port of entry’ after coming to the U.S. from India in 2011. In her own words, “I was a girl from a small town of age 18 who had never traveled abroad. I never lived alone without my parents. English was not my first language.” These days,

Dr. Ghosh is often an invited speaker at research conferences. These engagements remind Ayana of her very first conference, Meeting of Minds (MOM), in 2012. This annual undergraduate conference, a collaboration between UM-Flint, UM-Dearborn and Oakland University, has provided a forum for the presentation and publication of undergraduate research and creative activities.

“During my four years at UM-Flint, the institution embraced me with open arms, providing the support I needed to become successful in my academic endeavors while creating a ‘home away from home’ for me.”

MOM showcases the results of student-faculty collaboration from across all academic disciplines. “I was nervous back then, and while those feelings remain similar, along the way I picked up confidence and skills which wouldn’t have been possible without the contributions of my alma mater, UM-Flint."

YOUNG 70YEARS

UM-Flint’s physical therapy program celebrates its impact on community and graduates

Collegial, enticing, and storied.

“Ihad done my undergraduate work at Oakland University (OU), which was about five minutes from my home in Rochester,” said Guru, ’02DPT. “There was the opportunity to stay at OU for my master’s degree but after visiting UM-Flint and learning about its program, it was clear to me that (Flint) was better at preparing students for all specialties in the field, and there was

a relaxed and friendly, yet very cooperative feel about everything. It made the choice to relocate simple.”

And if Guru needed any further confirmation she made the correct decision in choosing UM-Flint, it came shortly after her arrival on the downtown campus.

“About three-quarters of the way through my first year in the program we found out it was going to be changing to a doctoral level program and, basically, we had the option to continue our education for one extra semester in order to earn our DPT,” Guru said. “To have that kind of opportunity, to elevate a master’s degree to a doctoral degree, was really exciting and only confirmed my decision to come to UM-Flint was the right one to have made.”

Guru, now the program coordinator of Mott Community College’s physical therapist assistant program, isn’t alone in having made “the right” decision either.

Since the program’s inception 70 years ago at UM-Ann Arbor – it relocated to UM-Flint in 1983 – more than 2,000 graduates have made their way through the program.

At its inception, graduates were awarded a baccalaureate degree with a certificate in physical therapy. Fast forward

Those are the first three words Anar Guru used to describe the reasons behind her decision to enroll in the University of Michigan-Flint’s Doctor of Physical Therapy Program. Then there was a fourth word – no-brainer.

to five years after its move to Flint, in 1988, the program’s curriculum was revised to reflect changes in professional expectations, and graduates were awarded a master’s degree before giving way to the DPT in 2002. That move provided not only UM-Flint with its first doctoral degree offering, but also gave the state of Michigan its first DPT program.

Beginning in 2009, the post-professional transitional DPT degree was offered to advance the knowledge of bachelor’s- or master’s-prepared physical therapists who desired to attain the DPT. The DPT/MBA option was added in 2014 so students could enroll in both a professional and a business program.

UM-Flint also offers a physical therapy PhD degree option, a program designed for physical therapists who have already earned a clinical DPT or master’s degree and are interested in pursuing a career in higher education.

“I am so grateful to the former program directors and faculty members who had the wisdom and courage to lead this program through its various transitions and the accompanying challenges with the foresight to know that their efforts would pay off,” said Jennifer Blackwood, ’00MPT, associate professor and director of UM-Flint’s Physical Therapy Department. “We honor their efforts today through our collective impact on the community through the work of our graduates and the research of students and faculty.”

Two people who were there at the very beginning were classmates Ann Oliver and Louise Fry. The two women were not only graduates of the inaugural Class of 1954 but friends and coworkers.

It seems the program’s “collegial” qualities were in effect right from the start, with Oliver and Fry beginning their careers together in Ohio. “One of our instructors at school was leaving the university to open his own practice in Toledo and asked if we’d like to go to work for him, but after interviewing, we decided the town just wasn’t for us,” Oliver said with a laugh. “We’d been classmates and we were friends so when it was time to go out in the real world, we knew we wanted to do it together, just not there.”

Ann Oliver, College of Health Sciences Dean, Donna Fry and Louise Fry

Louise Fry, her husband Gene, Ann Oliver and the gang are off to the stadium for the game. Forever Go Blue!

Photos by Danen Williams danenwilliamsphoto.com

While the duo did remain in Ohio, they did it about 140 miles to the east at Akron Children’s Hospital. And while the stay was shorter for Oliver due to the stationing of her husbandto-be on the West Coast, the one year the friends had in Northeast Ohio was memorable, nonetheless.

It was while the pair were there that the hospital’s polio cases climbed to more than 600. A power outage in July cut off all electricity, including secondary line service to the iron lungs, which kept children with polio alive by assisting them with their breathing. Hospital staffers flagged down passing motorists to help manually work the “rocking beds” to keep the patients alive until power was restored two hours later.

“And then, without warning, our supervisor left the hospital when he took off with the mother of one of our patients,” said Oliver. “And all of a sudden, I found myself in charge of the whole department simply because I’d been there the longest, which wasn’t all that long. I was just out of college!”

Oliver credits the preparation that the program provided her for her ability to successfully step in and take the reins. “I took the lead on setting up the polio ward, ordering all the equipment we needed. Louise and I were training some of the doctors on what to do with the patients because our university lessons were so comprehensive. It really was kind of an amazing time, and the University of Michigan made it all possible.”

For Fry, attending U-M was the continuation of a family tradition of sorts as both her parents were graduates. Her father, Kenneth Olmsted, would become an orthopedic surgeon, and instilled in his daughter a passion for health care.

“When I began my collegiate career, I thought about nursing but that was a five-year program and required you to live in a designated building and I just didn’t want to do either of those things,” Fry said with a laugh. “Then I thought about becoming a medical technician but there was a lot of physics involved with that and I wasn’t excited about that either.”

That put Fry’s attention firmly on choice No. 3 –physical therapy.

“I had a relative who was involved with the program as an advisor at that time, so I read up on it and decided that

would be the route I followed,” she said. “And, physical therapists spend a lot of time working with orthopedic surgeons, so it was also a way to stay connected to my dad in a way which appealed to me as well.”

Fry, who spent the bulk of her career working at a children’s orthopedic clinic in the Detroit area, said that despite their only being together a short time – four years between schooling and the start of their careers – she and Oliver have stayed connected throughout the decades.

“Ann and I get together every year or two and remain great friends,” Fry said. “She lives in California, but her family has a cottage in Cadillac, so we still get to see each other.” Their visit to U-M’s 2022 homecoming game to celebrate the DPT program’s 70th anniversary was their first get-together in three years due to the pandemic. “And that bond is all because of the ‘Michigan experience’ we shared.”

Cindy Kincaid and Paulette Cebulski

Cindy Kincaid’s ‘shared’ experience with the DPT program is one derived from being both a graduate, 1968, and a former faculty member, 1980-2007. Following graduation, she embarked on a 12-year career as a practitioner with stops at a rehabilitation facility in Detroit, a county welfare hospital in Cleveland, and a general hospital in New England before returning to Ann Arbor.

“The University of Michigan has always been an exciting place to be, whether you’re in Ann Arbor or Flint. It just so

happens that I got to experience both,” said Kincaid. “If you had told me while I was a student that I’d return as a faculty member one day, I wouldn’t have believed it.

“But to have the opportunity to share the practical knowledge that I had gained from 12 years in the field with others who were as dedicated to physical therapy as I was, was a unique opportunity, particularly at my alma mater. And to be at an institution that is always on the cutting edge of things in terms of research and medicine, it made it that much more desirable.”

Kincaid found herself on that cutting edge when the program transitioned to Flint and evolved from a certificate to a bachelor’s to a master’s, and finally, to a doctoral program.

“The program really grew upon arrival at UM-Flint and it was an incredible thing to watch,” Kincaid said. “And it came at the same time the field itself was growing. There are so many specialties now that one can go into whether it be geriatrics or pediatrics or working with cancer patients. There are just so many different directions that one can go, and change if the desire is there, but still remain in the field of physical therapy.” Much like the program will remain, perhaps for another 70 years, at UM-Flint.

There are so many specialties now that one can go into, whether it be geriatrics or pediatrics or working with cancer patients.”

- Cindy Kincaid

MOMENTS IN TIME

The University of Michigan–Flint continues to make an everlasting impact on its home community. When looking back at the university’s history, there are many distinctive milestones, but there is one that is especially significant

The Legend of Sarah C. Miles Case

Sarah Cushman Miles was born July 26, 1815 in Homer, New York, daughter of Manly and Mary (Cushman) Miles, and died December 13, 1900 in Flint. The Miles family was prominent in Flint. Her sister M. Elizabeth had a volume of poetry published. Her brother Manly was the first professor of agriculture at what would become Michigan State University. A scrapbook, donated by a descendant of her sister, the late Ted Brownell, is housed in the Frances Willson Thompson Library. The scrapbook shows Sarah to be active in the Ladies’ Library Association, and references her interest in art, music, theater, and travel. Sarah became the wife of Milton Case, and they had a son, George. Sarah and Milton are buried in Flint’s Glenwood Cemetery.

One might describe Sarah C. Miles Case as a bit of a legend on the Flint campus.

In a letter dated November 28, 1837, addressed to “Uncle,” meaning the brother of Manly Miles, Sr., Sarah wrote, “A branch of the Michigan University at Ann Arbor is to be established in Flint at some future day.” This letter was published in a pamphlet by Harriet C. Davison, entitled Memoirs. That day turned out to be September 23, 1956, nearly 120 years after Sarah penned the first recorded mention of a University of Michigan-Flint campus.

And now, for the rest of Sarah’s story . . .

In 2016, we reached out to Paul Gifford, former archivist in the Frances Willson Thompson Library, to inquire about Sarah’s letter to her “Uncle.” Paul’s research revealed the following:

According to Wilfred Shaw’s The University of Michigan: An Encyclopedic Survey (1942), legislation passed in 1837 to establish U-M in Ann Arbor also called for branches, which he says were more popular politically than the university itself. It was to be part of the plan for public secondary education. Each branch would have three courses of instruction: 1) classical or college preparatory; 2) English course for those not preparing for college; and 3) three-year course for those teaching in primary schools. Although several branches were started, money ran out and the plan ended in 1846. A branch was never established in Flint.

Today, the University of Michigan–Flint continues to thrive in and invest in the heart of downtown Flint. It is a place of academic excellence that fuses vision with action that produces results. Our faculty, staff, students and alumni are working every day to make our community – and our world – a better place.

Historical Timeline

THE BEGINNING:

1837 – In a letter to family back east, Sarah C. Miles Case writes, “A branch of the Michigan University at Ann Arbor is to be established in Flint at some future day.”

May 1944

Flint Board of Education requests that a University of Michigan extension office open in Flint.

February 1956

David M. French is named first dean of the Flint College of the University of Michigan.

March – July 1965

Michigan State Board of Education recommends a four-year college in Flint and the phasing out of U-M’s involvement. Public outcry and C.S. Mott threatening to withdraw millions in pledged support leads to state approval of a four-year University of Michigan College in Flint.

September 23, 1956

First day of school for the 167-student pioneering class. Three programs are available: business administration, teaching, and liberal arts and sciences.

1960s

The canoe and sailing club were popular student groups.

1960s

Annual Gilkey Creek tug-of-war.

May 1966

First anti-Vietnam War protest is held on campus.

1970

April 1971

Regents approve the name change to The University of Michigan–Flint.

March 1978

President Gerald Ford visits campus.

1980

1980s

After class, the Brewery is a popular hangout for students.

1980s

Alpha

1990

October 2000

Classroom Office Building (CROB) is renamed after the first dean of UM-Flint, David M. French.

2000

2000s

Clint’s Café is a popular hangout for students.

November 1994

President Bill Clinton visits campus.

50

HAPPY TH

ANNIVERSARY

September 2006 UM-Flint celebrates its 50th Anniversary.

November 2009 Student Veterans Resource Center opens.

2010

Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

March 2016

UM-Flint hosts CNN and readies for Flint Democratic Presidential Debate.

September 2020

The College of Innovation & Technology launches with degree programs in cybersecurity, digital manufacturing technology, and information technology & informatics.

June 2019

Deba Dutta is named the eighth chancellor of UM-Flint.

2020

January 2019

Center for Gender & Sexuality opens.

September 2019

The nation’s first bachelor’s degree in green chemistry is introduced at UM-Flint.

August 2022

The Accelerated Online Degree Completion program welcomes its first students, creating a degree pathway for Michiganders with some college credits but no degree.

STRATEGIC TRANSFORMATION

InAugust 2022, President Mary Sue Coleman charged Chancellor Deba Dutta with developing a robust vision and thoughtful implementation plan for transforming the University of Michigan-Flint. Declining enrollment, low graduation rates, demographic trends that forecast an accelerating decline in the state’s high school graduates, and increasing numbers of students leaving the Flint area to attend other state universities are realities facing the campus.

The University of Michigan is prepared to invest in UM-Flint’s success, but the transformation must be robust, resulting in a strong and attractive brand that conveys a clear and nimble institutional focus, meets the immediate education and career needs of students, focuses on the current and future employment needs of businesses in

Transformation Process & Timeline

ACTIVITY

Stakeholder Engagement

Market Demand Analysis

Program Economics

Synthesis of Findings

Transformation Phase Detail

Market Demand Analysis

• Summarize state and regional student and labor market demands

• Develop hypotheses for additional approaches to market opportunities

• Map labor market to potential programs

• Inform case for strategic direction of UM-Flint

the region and supports the local community. Helping UM-Flint emerge as an academically strong and financially viable institution is the ultimate goal.

Launched at a town hall meeting in September 2022, the process has been driven by data and robust engagement. In addition to numerous meetings with stakeholders across the campus, a series of focus groups and interviews with students, faculty, staff, alumni, local employers and community members have taken place. These efforts have been key to an inclusive process intent on soliciting ideas for growth and innovation.

The transformation process remains underway, and we invite you to follow the initiative via the Strategic Transformation website, www.umflint.edu/strategic-transformation, where you will find additional resources, information and updates.

Q4 2022

Q1 2023

Halls

Academic Program Analysis

• Evaluate academic portfolio alignment to market analysis

• Review enrollment trends

• Perform additional programmatic analyses; highlight key considerations

• Develop facilitation materials

Business Case & Implementation Roadmap

• Develop Board proposal

• Create a “case for change” and summary of plan

• Gather resource needs/requests

• Create implementation roadmap

ITAC / SC Meetings Town

A BLUE CARPET Affair

Thank you for attending A Blue Carpet Affair . . . we’ll see you Homecoming Weekend ~ Fall 2023!

Congratulations to Rashard Wagner, class of 2014, winner of a 1-year membership to the Alumni Association of the University of Michigan!

COLLEGE OF INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY Breeds Innovation

CIT

is ground zero for innovative thinking, creative teaching and hands-on learning at UM-Flint. From creating robots to building prototype vehicles for NASA missions, our students are problem-solvers and enjoy a collaborative environment. With strong connections to industry partners, we’re preparing our students to go directly from the classroom into the workforce of the future.

This past year, a move was completed bringing UM-Flint’s computer science, engineering, and physics programs into CIT. We look forward to our future integrating these programs and have already witnessed great collaboration among students, faculty and staff.

CIT is always looking for new partnerships and opportunities to help strengthen our student experience and provide inroads into the next generation of careers in technology. For organizations interested in partnering with CIT, please reach out to us at flint.cit@umich.edu.

Photos by Anna Church AnnaChurch @annalynnphotography

Shiawassee ADVANTAGE

In memoriam ~ Bruce L. Cook, 1928-2022

Incorporated in 1979, the Cook Family Foundation serves as both a resource for the Shiawassee County community and as a catalyst for positive change. A multigenerational family foundation based in Owosso, Michigan, the Cook Family Foundation collaborates with organizations to support education, the environment, the arts, and community stewardship.

For 42 years, the Cook Family Foundation has provided several hundred scholarships to Shiawassee area students attending the University of Michigan.

Today, any high school senior with a GPA of 3.5 or higher from any of the area high schools serving all or part of Shiawassee County will receive a $3,000 Cook Family Scholarship if they enroll at any U-M campus. In addition, these students are eligible for the many U-M merit-based scholarships as well as the full-tuition Go Blue Guarantee if they have demonstrated financial need.

At an August reception honoring students planning to attend UM-Flint in Fall 2022, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Chris Giordano said, “I was deeply honored to be a part of the Cook Family Foundation reception for scholarship recipients. For over four decades, Bruce Cook and the Cook Family Foundation have been awarding scholarships to assist area students to attend the University of Michigan. The newly-announced University of Michigan Shiawassee Advantage will support even more area students to attend UM-Flint. The foundation’s dedication and commitment to the support of our young adults and the value of higher education serves the future of our region, state and nation. I look forward to a growing partnership between the Cook Family Foundation and UM-Flint!”

For more information on the Shiawassee Advantage at UM-Flint, visit the Cook Family Foundation at cookfamilyfoundation.org or call (989) 725-1621.

August 16 reception honoring students from the area planning to attend UM-Flint. Pictured with the late Bruce Cook (1928-2022), are (from left) University of Michigan-Flint’s support team for the Shiawassee area: Brent Nickola, Senior Officer Major Gifts; Nia Bashir-Benton, Undergraduate Admissions Counselor; Shari Schrader, Vice Chancellor for University Advancement; and Chris Giordano, PhD, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs.

(Photo Credit: DLP David-Lorne Photographic)

For the Greater Good

The Cook Family Foundation

OVERVIEW AND HISTORY: A Partnership Approach

The Cook Family Foundation was created by Donald and Florenceetta Cook out of their desire to do good. This philanthropy continues as a testament to their values of hospitality, investment in the future, and loyalty to people and place.

Incorporated in 1979, the Cook Family Foundation received its IRS 501(c)(3) status as a private foundation in 1980. The foundation serves as both a resource for the Shiawassee County community and as a catalyst for positive change. It seeks to establish partnerships with nonprofits and other institutions, and through communication with the leaders of those organizations, identify mutual objectives and grant opportunities.

Board of Directors:

Thomas Cook – Secretary & Treasurer

Bailey Cook – Trustee

Jacqueline Cook – Trustee

Paul Cook – Trustee

Anna Owens – Trustee

Susie Phillips – Trustee

Matthew Van Epps – Trustee

OUR VISION:

We envision a diverse, healthy and thriving community where all children have access to the best education, the natural environment is protected and enjoyed, and all people have the opportunity and support to build joyful, meaningful lives.

OUR MISSION:

The Cook Family Foundation, a multigenerational family foundation based in Owosso, Michigan, collaborates with organizations to support education, the environment, the arts, and community stewardship. We work to be a catalyst for positive community change to promote a more equitable society.

OUR VALUES: Be Inclusive:

We are welcoming to all. We build relationships with people through sharing our collective and unique experiences so that we can collaborate respectfully and use our resources to address disparities across our community.

Have Integrity:

We keep our promises. We value partnerships and collaboration – both require being honest, trustworthy and reliable. We engage in ethical and transparent business practices and expect that of others we work with.

Make True Impact:

Through big and small investments of money, time, talent and energy, we work with willing partners to improve our community and our collective future. We use our resources effectively and efficiently, measuring results and outcomes.

Donald and Florence-etta Cook

Henderson Allen Master of Public Administration, 2011

Henderson works for the State of Michigan as a forensic security supervisor at the State of MichiganCenter for Forensic Psychiatry. Asked to share news about his professional life, Henderson said, “After graduating with my MPA, opportunities for growth in my profession increased tremendously. The confidence I gained while a student at UM-Flint also helped me venture into the entrepreneurial field, starting High Quality Services LLC. HQS provides CPR training and certification classes for businesses, schools and individuals in Grand Blanc, Michigan, and surrounding areas (hqscpr.com).”

Joshua Daunt

Communication, 2002

Owner, Undaunted Visuals Video, Photography and Post-Production (undauntedvisuals.com)

Josh is a multi-Emmy Award winning videographer and editor who has worked for 20 years in TV news at stations in Flint and Detroit. Now a freelancer at WDIV in Detroit, his “mostly” post-production company, Undaunted Visuals, offers a wide range of photography options, from senior pictures and family portraits, to business photos and real estate photography. Asked how UM-Flint shaped his career, Josh said, “By getting waitlisted for several computer science classes sophomore year, I randomly chose an introduction to journalism class. I then signed up to write for the student newspaper, The Michigan Times, when the professor, Donna Ulrich, offered to give extra credit if our articles were published. Since I had no idea what I was getting into, I figured I’d need the extra credit. I fell in love with journalism and storytelling and wound up with a long career in TV news.”

Ross Emerton Computer Science, 1985

“Be sure to expand your horizons. It is education – not training – that makes you succeed.”

’85

Ross is employed by Oracle as senior managing director, Cloud Engineering. Throughout his career, Ross has held senior management and executive positions maximizing business value using technology as an enabler. Asked if he had a mentor at UM-Flint, Ross said, “Dr. Alfred Raphelson –although I was a computer science major, I took every class that Dr. Raphelson offered each semester. As I grew in my career, I discovered that what I learned about human behavior was more important than what I learned about computer programming. I am truly grateful for what I learned from Dr. Raphelson.”

Katie (Graham) Timmerman Marketing, 2010

“I was dual enrolled as a high school student and loved the courses and faculty. The University of Michigan reputation for being Leaders and Best was also a deciding factor for me.”

“I will always be grateful to the faculty and staff at UM-Flint, and I will always and forever be Blue to the Bone!”

Janay Johnson

Communication –

Margee Nickola History, 2020

Media

Studies, 2017 Janay’s advice to students: “If you are enrolling, get involved. Make new friends. The people you meet and the things you do help make your experience great.”

Asked how UM-Flint shaped her career Janay said, “I always had work on campus while a student. The courses I took helped me learn how to facilitate conversation with people from every background. It was essential to me becoming who I am. All of the campus jobs I held as a student gave me experience for the job I have now!”

Tiffany Quinn Social Work, 2009

Among Tiffany’s favorite campus memories is hip-hop artist Common’s 2008 performance in Lot A.

Dr. Tiffany Quinn is a master social worker, life coach and author. Asked how UM-Flint shaped her career, she replied, “UM-Flint was quite immersive and a new chapter of my life. I am honored and proud that I found the courage as a non-traditional single mother, and transfer student, who graduated with a Michigan degree. UM-Flint helped shape and led me to where I am today. The university helped me build resilience and challenged me to broaden my ideas about mental health and community, and provided me with opportunities to learn and work in both vulnerable and multicultural groups.”

Dr. Quinn’s advice to those thinking about enrolling at UM-Flint: “It's totally up to you to work hard, trust the process, and believe that you can do it and you will!”

Owner of The Black Hive Co. (blackhiveco.com)

“I love history! Now I purchase history, restore it, and let others enjoy it!”

The Black Hive Co. is a wedding design, service, and rental company based out of Genesee County, Michigan. Among the company’s core values is understanding and delivering what their customers want. Asked what advice she would give someone thinking about enrolling at UM-Flint, Margee said, “DO IT . . . The best option around.”

Deandra Robinson Health Care Administration, 2022

“UM-Flint is a great school and I love how I was treated while attending the university. It was close to home and I received a great education.”

An experienced and self-motivated health care professional, Deandra prides herself on providing an outstanding level of care while establishing a positive rapport with her patients, visitors, staff and supervisors.

Jeff Roth Elementary Education, 1996 Founder, Arbor Advising (arboradvising.com)

When asked to share how UM-Flint impacted his career, Jeff said, “The academic and career preparation and close relationships with my professors.”

Jeff went on to share, “As a public school science teacher for 25 years, I’m on a mission to prove that real estate ownership and investing is financially accessible and deeply desirable for regular folks – and not just an exclusive practice of the super wealthy. My own journey in real estate investing was borne out of necessity to supplement my income from teaching.”

’14

Stephanie Speck English, 2014

“All of this started with my degree from UM-Flint.” Following graduation, Stephanie spent five years teaching English to various ages of children in Japan. She moved back to the U.S. as the pandemic struck, completed a master’s degree online while quarantined, and teaches in a middle school. Stephanie is currently studying coding so that she can be a developer if she so chooses.

Sunzia Sultana Master of Science in Computer Science & Information Systems, 2021

When asked what advice she would give to someone thinking about enrolling at UM-Flint, Sunzia said, “I would encourage anyone who is thinking about enrolling at UM-Flint to do so because your degree will open doors.”

Sunzia is currently working as a software engineer at AeroTrain Corporation. She is also a part-time lecturer in the College of Innovation & Technology at UM-Flint.

Emanee Walker Psychology, 2020 “UM-Flint was my dream school and it was close to home.”

Are you a business owner?

Scan here to tell us about your business!

Emanee is in the process of completing her master’s degree in higher education/student affairs at Eastern Michigan University, obtaining an academic advising certificate, and fulfilling an academic advising internship at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. Asked about her mentors while at the University of Michigan-Flint, Emanee replied, "Sara Cyrus helped me with my financial aid and was very understanding. Nicole Altheide was the BEST academic advisor I have ever had; she made sure I was taken care of. Chris DeEulis changed my perspective on student affairs. I admired Chris, and still keep in contact with him.”

“With each century comes new challenges, and the 21st century is no exception. Today, Leaders and Best are being called upon to build relationships, develop people, lead change, inspire others, think critically, communicate clearly and create accountability.”

– Chancellor Dutta

Congratulations to the following members of the University of Michigan-Flint community on being recognized among Flint and Genesee's rising professionals, entrepreneurs, and influencers!

Scan to read the entire story!

Lauren GOSLEE Class of 2009 – BA English

Dylan STRAKA Class of 2017 – BBA Accounting Class of 2021 – MBA

Kellen RIKER Class of 2015 – BBA Accounting Class of 2018 – MBA

Elizabeth BURTCH Class of 2012 – BSW Class of 2013 – MSW, U-M Ann Arbor

Milton STRAHAM III Class of 2016 – BBA Accounting Class of 2021 – MBA

Brian BOGGS

Kara KUNKLEMAN Studied Pre-Education

Elements of SUCCESS

Asplanning began for the Murchie Science Building expansion, Professor Jessica Tischler suggested supporters of the project be recognized on a large periodic table of elements. The idea was embraced, and leadership named the project “Elements of Success,” symbolizing the importance of each individual contributor. Support of our students is as fundamental to their success as each of the elements in the periodic table is to our existence. Without oxygen, we would not breathe. Without calcium, our bones could not be strong. Each of the 118 tiles on the donor wall features details of the element,

along with a message from the donor. The minimum donation to become an Element of Success is $1,000. Funds raised throughout the Elements of Success campaign are being used to support student research experiences; student clubs, organizations, and competitions; K-12 outreach activities; academic support services such as tutoring; and ongoing equipment purchases for research and laboratories.

Scan here to see which elements are still available!

Meet

Dolores Porte

When disaster strikes a community, people turn to civic “leaders” for help, guidance, or maybe just the encouragement that “everything will be ok.” Far too often, those leaders are ill-prepared for the task or, even worse, simply fail to do their job. Fortunately for the community of Sanford, Michigan, nothing was further from the case when a dam failure led to massive flooding just weeks after the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Luckily, UM-Flint alumna Dolores Porte (2012) was serving as village president. Porte spent her professional career at Dow Chemical, where she oversaw 1,000 employees and was responsible for $50 billion in payments. Dolores retired from Dow in 2016. Years of experience solving complex problems, and a gift for working with people, prepared Dolores to lead Sanford’s response to the tragedy.

Dolores credits an “empowerment management style” as key to her career success and pivotal in dealing with the flood’s aftermath. Throughout the day leading up to the flood and the two-plus years that followed, her service to the community has lived up to the moniker of “leader.”

From being a shoulder to cry on (when a resident found her refrigerator magnet in a debris-filled street), to advocating government agencies for resources, and helping those struggling to complete difficult paperwork, Dolores was and continues to be a driving force for recovery and a source of inspiration to many. When asked to summarize the experience, Porte said, “The most moving part of the ordeal was that in the midst of tragedy, you sometimes get to see the best of what people can do for one another. You get to see what being a human being is really about.”

The most moving part of the ordeal was that in the midst of tragedy, you sometimes get to see the best of what people can do for one another.”

- Dolores Porte

Class of 2012 Master of Arts in Social Sciences

Porte stands next to sign in Porte Park (named in her honor) that lists families whose homes once stood there.

ALUMNI MAGAZINE PREFERENCE

Bridges is available in print and digitally. Let us know how you prefer to receive future issues of Bridges, UM-Flint's magazine for and about alumni.

PT'S FIRST GRADS

Ann Oliver (left) and Louise Fry, members of the first class of PT grads, University of Michigan, 1954. See story on page 10.