FACULTY IN THE NEWS

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CEHD FACULTY IN THE NEWS

Dr. Eric Archer

Albania has worked hard to improve the quality of its higher education system as it looks toward its eventual goal of joining the EU, and I feel privileged to be able to be a part of supporting these efforts.

Dr. Eric Archer, associate professor of educational leadership in higher education in the Department of Educational Leadership, Research and Technology (ELRT) at Western Michigan University, has been awarded a prestigious Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award to Albania for the 2022-2023 academic year. Dr. Archer will be completing his Fulbright Award with the International Relations and Scientific Research Office at Eqrem Çabej University of Gjirokaster, where he will engage in research and consulting work regarding comprehensive internationalization of Albania’s public higher education system. Dr. Archer’s research centers on issues of diversity and inclusion in postsecondary education broadly with a particular focus on the internationalization of higher education in the U.S. and abroad. He plans to leverage insights gained from this experience to inform his ongoing teaching and research related to the topics of internationalization of higher education, comparative education, and global leadership upon his return to the ELRT Department and the College of Education and Human Development in fall 2023. Dr. Archer is currently serving a three-year term on the Fulbright Specialist Roster for the U.S. Department of State.

The Fulbright Program is devoted to increasing mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. Fulbright is the world’s largest and most diverse international educational exchange program.

The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program offers over 400 awards in more than 130 countries for U.S. citizens to teach, conduct research and carry out professional projects around the world. Fulbright alumni have become heads of state, judges, ambassadors, cabinet ministers, CEOs, and university presidents, as well as leading journalists, artists, scientists, and teachers. They include 61 Nobel Laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize winners, 76 MacArthur Fellows, and thousands of leaders across the private, public and nonprofit sectors. Since its inception in 1946, more than 400,000 Fulbrighters have participated in the Program.

SPYBROOK TAKES ON NEW ROLE WITH NSF

Dr. Jessaca Spybrook, professor of evaluation, measurement and research, has taken on a new role as a Program Officer with the National Science Foundation (NSF). This temporary position, known as a Rotator, gives researchers an opportunity to make recommendations about which proposals to fund; influence new directions in the fields of science, engineering, and education; support cutting-edge interdisciplinary research; and mentor junior research members.

STAFF MEMBERS RECEIVE APPRECIATION AWARD

Two CEHD staff members were recipients of the Staff Semi-Annual recognition and appreciation award. Erica Martinez, the college’s business manager, received the award in the fall and Derek Andree, assistant director for admissions and advising, received the award in the spring. This award is given to staff members who make outstanding contributions in support of faculty, staff, students administrators and all those

those served by the college. Each recipient received an award of $800 for their contributions.

NAM AWARDED RESEARCH COUNSELING GRANT

Dr. Sojeong Nam was recently awarded a $1,500 Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling Research Grant titled Racial disparity in college students’ mental health under the COVID-19 Pandemic: Using latent class analysis.

LEWIS AWARDED GLOBAL CLASSROOMS GRANT

Dr. Ramona Lewis, professor of higher education and student affairs, received a WMU Global Classrooms Curriculum Development grant. For her grant project she is partnering with Dr. Dave Kim from the University of Toronto, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. Their Spring 2022 global classrooms cross border collaboration brings students together from higher education graduate classes to virtually discuss cases studies in student development.

NELSON SERVES IN COMMUNITY ROLES

Dr. Regena Nelson was selected by the NYU Metro Center for Research on Equity and the Transformation of Schools for the Culturally Responsive-Sustaining (CRS) Curriculum Scorecard Fellowship, to learn to facilitate curriculum evaluations using the CRE Curriculum Scorecards. She will lead a team in Kalamazoo to do this work in local school districts.

Dr. Nelson was elected to serve as the Vice-Chair of the Boards of the YWCA in Kalamazoo and Kalamazoo County Ready 4s.

Dr. Nelson was also recently awarded a U.S. Department of Education Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) grant for $961,392. The grant renews the College Assistance for Parenting and Education (CAPE) project (2017-2021) for an additional four years (2021-2025). wmich.edu/teaching/tles-professorawarded-doe-grant-renewal

Dr. Regena Nelson

FACULTY MEMBERS NAMED MAC ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FELLOWS

Two outstanding CEHD faculty members have been chosen to represent WMU in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Academic Leadership Program (ALDP). Drs. Carla Adkison-Johnson and Eric Archer are the University’s 2021-22 ALDP fellows. “I’m really excited about working with this year’s cohort,” says Dr. Ed Martini, associate provost of WMUx and dean of Merze Tate College. “They are already leaders on our campus and in their fields, so they’re very well positioned to step into new leadership roles and help move the University into the future.” The program identifies faculty members with interest in administration and provides academic leadership training and mentorship. Fellows, working closely with Martini and WMUx, take part in University-level programming, participate in MAC workshops and create a portfolio documenting their experience. They also have the opportunity to meet with previous fellows and leaders from across campus. “Fellows have the opportunity to examine different leadership roles and network outside the institution with the other MAC fellows. It’s a great way for them to explore new professional opportunities while also enhancing our own institutional leadership capacity,” says Martini.

Dr. Carla Adkison-Johnson