Eastern Michigan University
November 29, 2023
Academic and Student Affairs
Provost Briefing
Institutional Priority #1
Promote Student Engagement and Success
Enlighten U Podcast Launches to address student mental health
Lolita Cummings, Professor of Public Relations, and Melissa Thrasher, EMU's Executive Director of Media Relations and Social Media, co-host the new EMU visual podcast 'Enlighten U.' Every month, an EMU student sits down with two co-hosts and a noted mental health professional to share their journey and receive insight, strategies, and resources.
The first three episodes can be watched on EMU's YouTube channel:
- Student Mental Health on College Campuses – S1 • E1
- LGBTQ+ Experiences on College Campuses – S1 • E2
- Unpacking Alcoholism & College Students' Mental Health – S1 • E3
Read more about the podcast on the CAS Newsletter
Institutional Priority #2
High Performing Academic Programs & Quality Research
Left to right: Johnny Platt, Anthony Kennedy, Quentin Hunter
emu researchers awarded dr. daya singh sandu research and innovations in counseling award
Assistant Professor Quentin Hunter, Counseling Masters Student and GA Johnny Platt, and their colleague Anthony Kennedy of Western Kentucky University were recognized for their contributions to counseling research by being awarded the Dr. Daya Singh Sandhu Research and Innovations in Counseling Award by the Kentucky Counseling Association. Congratulations team on receiving this prestigious award!
EMU 14th Undergraduate Conference in Philosophy (UCiP)
EMU’s 14th Undergraduate Conference in Philosophy (UCiP) welcomed students from across the United States on November 4th and 5th for a lively weekend of philosophical discussion and conviviality. Paper presentations ranged across numerous subfields of philosophy, with topics spanning the phenomenology of PTSD, forgiveness, inclusivity in knowledge production, the ethics of abortion, artificial intelligence, and values in environmental decision-making. The conference continues to be an important event each year for EMU’s philosophy community as well as a high-impact learning experience for our students and student presenters from other universities.
The conference featured 20 anonymously peer-reviewed presentations from students at 15 universities, including Georgia Southern University, Grand Valley State University, Hamilton College, Northeastern University, Oakland University, Oberlin College, The Ohio State University, Pacific University, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, UC Davis, U-M Ann Arbor, Washington & Lee University, Wayne State University, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and Eastern Michigan University.
The conference is organized by EMU philosophy students, this year including Aleksei Alward, Amy Gardner, Priya Ghotane, Joshua Hunt, Brett Jensen, Austin Meek, John Milkovich, Niamh Quinnan, Justin Reamer, Nicole Reid, Edgar Vasquez, Rafael Velazquez, and Dylan Wolfe. Professor John Koolage, the faculty mentor of the UCiP team, could not be more proud of this event and of our students.
Undergraduate Emily St. Onge and Dr. Hannah Blatchford by their poster on the deformation history of the Western Gneiss Region in Norway.
EMU at Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America
This October, 12 students and 6 faculty members represented EMU at the annual meeting of the Geological Society of America in Pittsburgh. Six undergraduates and five faculty presented in oral and poster presentations, covering topics ranging from exploration of deformation in Norway, to the timing of the Laurentide Ice Sheet retreat, to early Paleozoic macroalgal radiation, to the contribution of groundwater versus precipitation to wetland systems, to the crystal chemistry of tourmaline minerals. In addition, a consortium of Michigan colleges and universities co-hosted a group alumni event with an excellent turn-out.
Read more on CAS Newsletter
Left: EMU APEX at Los Lunas Middle School in Los Lunas, New Mexico. Right: EMU APEX during pre-launch.
EMU APEX launch weather balloon in Los Lunas, new mexico
Student members of EMU APEX (Atmospheric Physics EXploration) traveled to Los Lunas, New Mexico from October 11 - October 15 to launch a high-altitude weather balloon during the October 14 annular eclipse as part of NASA's Nationwide Eclipse Ballooning Project (NEBP). The students, from the Departments of Physics and Astronomy and Geography and Geology, worked on the balloon payload for the past 6 months in preparation for this event. The goal of this mission was to test several flight sub-systems in advance of a second balloon launch during the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse.
Members of EMU APEX who participated in the trip were Miles Mercier, Rosie Friend, Hannah Popofski, Hamzah Al Thani, Axel Cartin-Paez, Olivia Tebo, Jacob Morgan, Isaac Thompson, and Nika Beridze. The students were accompanied by Professors Dave Pawlowski and Tom Kovacs. EMU APEX is supported by funding from the Montana Space Grant Consortium, the Michigan Space Grant Consortium, the Game Above Faculty First Initiative, and the Departments of Physics and Astronomy and Geography and Geology.
Read more on CAS Newsletter
Institutional Priority #3
Service and Engagement
Driven by the Dream
2024 MLK Celebration
Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration: Jan. 15-19, 2024
2024 marks the 56th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination, which occurred on April 4, 1968, along with the founding of the Martin Luther King Memorial Center in Atlanta 56 years ago.
On Monday, January 20, 1986, the United States observed the first national holiday honoring the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It is also the day that Eastern Michigan University hosted its first MLK President’s Luncheon under the leadership of the late President John W. Porter. As we prepare to commemorate the 38th anniversary of this auspicious celebration, we do so with a keen awareness of current challenges on EMU's campus and communities across the U.S.
The 2024 Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration theme of "Driven By The Dream,” captures the essence of the ongoing nature of our work and the need to use the power of our collective voices to address racial injustice.
We look forward to providing a week-long, wide ranging in-person activities that acknowledge and celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and invite our campus and community members to join together in this important celebration.
The movement for civil rights and social justice is far from over. It is our hope that this year’s events and discussions will encourage and galvanize each of us to continue to act for change. Please join us as we explore, inform, and inspire the entire EMU and wider community to engage in meaningful action in order to foster a more ideal and just society for all.
MaryAnne Wilk Recieves GLACUHO Services Award
We are proud to announce that the Great Lakes Association of College and University Housing Officers awarded MaryAnne Wilk their annual Services Award. MaryAnne serves as the Assistant Director for Residence Life. This award is presented to a housing member who has served at least 10 years in the profession and personally contributed to the region through their active membership with the organization, significant contributions to the home institution, outstanding service to the field, and experience fostering inclusiveness.
MaryAnne has served as the Assistant Director for Residence Life since January and previously was an Area Director with Housing and Residence Life for 5 years. Congratulations on this honor.
Housing & Residence Life
Upcoming Events
Location: Student Center
Date/Time: Friday, December 1
While faculty are clearly the content experts regarding what they teach, students have a unique perspective on their own learning. When we consider how to most effectively teach and support students, it behooves us to listen to the learner. This conference, hosted by the Faculty Development Center, will “Flip the Script” to empower the learners to become the teachers, and the teachers to become the learners. Flipping the Script offers all of us an opportunity to straddle both worlds, and to grow through that opportunity. Stay tuned for the conference program!
Location: 109B Halle and Zoom
Date/Time: Tuesday, December 5 / 2:30pm
Lots of us have been wondering how the emergence of generative AI tools will affect our teaching going forward. A first step in thinking through this question is trying out a generative AI program, such as ChatGTP. What can it do? What can it not do? How can you work with it to enhance what you do in the classroom? Join Professors Raed El-Jarrah and Christine Clark for a hands-on session to explore generative AI and reach your own conclusions about its affordances and constraints.
The FDC has also created a page in our Teaching Blog that compiles previous blog entries on generative AI.
Institutional Priority #4
Institutional Effectiveness
Popcorn Days Hosted by the COE
The College of Education hosted popcorn days for the Winter 24 registration period this year.
The Student Popcorn Days are designed to promote awareness of registration times and student supports. It also serves to provide a welcoming environment not only for College of Education majors but also for all students who have classes in Porter Building. This is part of our initiative to provide student success and student sense of belonging opportunities.
Following the success of their Student Teacher Interview session, the COE has been on a roll for student success!
Davis Clement Receives JRLE Article of the Year
Assistant Professor Davis Clement’s co-authored 2022 Journal of Research on Leadership Education (JRLE) article, “Program Capacity for Redesign in Educational Leadership Preparation,” has been selected as JRLE article of the year.
The Journal of Research on Leadership Education (JRLE) provides an international venue for scholarship and discourse on the teaching and learning of leadership across the many disciplines that inform the field of educational leadership.
His work was also recognized this month at the University Council for Educational Administration’s Convention in Minneapolis. Congratulations Davis!
Davis Clement
Alicia Jones
Alicia Jones Awarded 2-year Grant from Michigan Health Endowment
Assistant Professor Alicia Jones, Occupational Therapy, in Collaboration with Engage@EMU, has been awarded a 2 year grant for $161,000 from Michigan Health Endowment Funds' Healthy Aging Initiative.
The project is entitled “Using Technology to Enhance Older Adult Quality of Life”.
This grant allows Engage to expand its Digital Connecting Corps, which was launched in 2020 by Engage and the U of M Ginsberg Center, following requests by the county commission on aging and philanthropy to launch a program to support older adults in navigating technology.
The success of the DCC, which is currently providing year-round training to older adults at the Ypsilanti Senior Center and Metro Detroit's Jewish Family Services, led to this expansion and subsequent funding. This grant will allow the training/classes to be situated at the Ypsilanti District Library and with Lori's Hands, a non-profit focused on providing in-home care for homebound seniors.
Office of the Provost
Academic and Student Affairs
Prepared by: Andi Pontiff & Karen Peacock
734.487.3200