Awards / en Natalie Sampson named Distinguished Professor of the Year /news/natalie-sampson-named-distinguished-professor-year <span>Natalie Sampson named Distinguished Professor of the Year</span> <span><span>lblouin</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-04-16T08:32:16-04:00" title="Wednesday, April 16, 2025 - 8:32 am">Wed, 04/16/2025 - 08:32</time> </span> <div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <div class="text"> <p dir="ltr"><span>Anyone who knows Natalie Sampson knows one of her more endearing (and perhaps Midwestern) traits is her reluctance to be in the spotlight — even when the attention is obviously due. Whenever we interview her about her work, which often has some connection to grassroots community organizations, she is quick to play up others’ hard work and contributions and lower the volume on her own. So it’s unsurprising that it's been a little uncomfortable for Sampson since the Michigan Association of State Universities shared that she had been selected as one of three&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.masu.org/sites/default/files/2025-04/press-release-final.pdf"><span>Distinguished Professors of the Year for 2025</span></a><span>. The news wasn't even public yet and Sampson was already sweating whether the invitations for her allotted guest list of seven for the Lansing awards ceremony should include her colleagues. "I didn’t want to bug them — ask them to drive to Lansing. They’re busy!” Sampson says, laughing. Luckily, her longtime friend and collaborator, the straight-talking Associate Professor of Sociology Carmel Price, told her to get over it.&nbsp;"She was, like, ‘They’re going to be upset if you&nbsp;</span><em>don’t</em><span> ask them.’”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Sampson’s aversion to attention is perhaps amplified a bit by the fact that, for much of her life, she’s not always been exactly comfortable in the world of academia. She says she definitely did not grow up with an eye on becoming an academic. Her father, who was an airline mechanic, and her mother, who was a customer service representative, grew up in an era where college degrees weren’t necessarily seen as prerequisites for solid, well-paying jobs. But both she and her older sister excelled in school, and their parents were huge cheerleaders when their daughters landed at the University of Michigan. In retrospect, Sampson sees it as a moment of generational transition in her own family — and one that also says something about the region. “My parents grew up at a time when it was Papa Ford and Papa Chevrolet, and people did quite well for a very long time without going to college,” Sampson says. “So for my family, this college thing was a different trajectory — especially because my sister studied sociology and I did environmental studies. I was lucky because my family was always very supportive. But I think there was this curiosity about what this would translate to.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>It took a little exploration during her undergraduate years at U-M to find her niche. Sampson says she gravitated to her major because she liked the outdoors, but not all of the coursework clicked: “I remember taking the woody plants class and memorizing all the different Latin names and the different kinds of acorns and thought, ‘Well, I’m definitely not going to be a conservationist,’” she says. However, through U-M’s&nbsp;</span><a href="https://lsa.umich.edu/mrads/students/urop.html"><span>Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program</span></a><span>, which is akin to 51Ƶ-Dearborn’s&nbsp;</span><a href="/summer-undergraduate-research-experience-sure-program"><span>Summer Undergraduate Research Experience</span></a><span>, she found something that was a little more her speed. She got paired with a faculty member who was doing research around the health impacts of truck traffic on people living in neighborhoods near Detroit’s Ambassador Bridge. During her assignment, she got to talk with dozens of people in the neighborhood and witness some of the inner workings of grassroots community organizations. “I remember thinking, ‘This is research? If this is research, then I like research,’” she says.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>It was indeed research — or a particular brand of research that was coming of age in the public health discipline at that time. Sampson says beginning in the late 1980s, some academics in the field were going through a bit of a what-is-it-all-for moment. There was an impulse to not simply use research to document, say, epidemiological trends, but to try to more deliberately use the data to actually improve, well, the public’s health. This sometimes meant interacting more directly with community organizations who were taking on big corporations or government agencies, or interrogating long-held assumptions about academic research, like the value or validity of “objectivity.” During her master’s program at Portland State University, Sampson got exposed to more examples of this kind of “action-oriented research.” During one of her internships, she collaborated closely with a small nonprofit that was working with residents on issues related to asthma. “I saw faculty listening to residents, and their experiences were shaping the research. I started to see, ‘Oh, this is how it works,’” she says.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Today, it’s easy to see the imprint of this approach on Sampson’s work. Along with Price and several partners, she co-created&nbsp;</span><a href="https://ehra.umd.umich.edu/"><span>Environmental Health Research-to-Action</span></a><span>, the flagship program of which is a summer academy that teaches high school students to do things like air and water quality monitoring, and to understand how environmental health science can support policy work. She’s also been working with community organizations and other academics on a plain language initiative, which is pushing government agencies like the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy to use language that is understandable to everyday people, so they don’t feel alienated from decision making processes. And a few years back, during the planning stages of the Gordie Howe International Bridge — a project that promised to bring a vast amount of truck traffic to a neighborhood already burdened by poor air quality — her team’s community health survey of residents in Southwest Detroit&nbsp;</span><a href="/news/how-researchers-can-help-win-long-game-public-health"><span>helped push the city and state to agree to a landmark $45 million community benefits package</span></a><span>. That agreement included an unprecedented relocation program that provided some residents of Detroit’s Delray neighborhood with the option of moving to a renovated Detroit Land Bank home. In typical Sampson fashion, she’s quick to point out that, in her opinion, her work made an impact because the timing was right. “This result is 100% due to the fact that this group had been organizing for 10 or 20 years, but they took that data and used that to support their argument for this community benefits agreement,” she says. “At that moment, the data just fit into that story.” Now, she says, another group, which is trying to get the city to design truck routes that don’t go through residential neighborhoods is using similar data that their community-academic teams are continuing to collect. The organizers’ work recently prompted&nbsp;</span><a href="https://planetdetroit.org/2025/02/detroit-truck-route-ordinance/"><span>the city to propose a new truck route ordinance</span></a><span>.</span></p><figure role="group"> <img alt="A professor walks along a sidewalk with two students in a Detroit neighborhood during the summer" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="37153598-a402-43e8-875d-c51b0531bf92" height="1600" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/SAM_3481-2.jpg" width="2400" loading="lazy"> <figcaption>Several years ago, Valeria Cossyleon, right, and Janine Hussein, left, were among the students who helped Sampson collect door-to-door health surveys in Detroit's Delray neighborhood. Photo by Lou Blouin</figcaption> </figure> <p dir="ltr"><span>That community organizations, who are good at community organizing, and academics, who&nbsp;are good at collecting and presenting data, could collaborate in practical ways to improve the public’s health is something that makes intuitive sense. But in practice, Sampson says it doesn’t always work smoothly. As she sees it, the key ingredient is trust: University researchers who aren’t from the community, and who might speak in technical jargon, are often greeted with a healthy degree of skepticism by local residents, who don’t know how durable or broad their allyship is. Sampson says there were plenty of times early in her career where her status as an academic made her feel out of place in community meetings. But that has changed over time — and because of time. Trust, she says, is built through relationships, and relationships don’t arise out of thin air. Nowadays, she rarely feels that kind of awkwardness, namely because she’s been working with the same communities for years, sometimes decades. “That’s one reason I feel like it’s been a blessing for me to come to 51Ƶ-Dearborn. I got to come back and work with people that I worked with as an undergrad when I was 20 years old,” she says. “Simone Sagovac, who now runs the Southwest Detroit Community Benefits Coalition, I know I have a picture of us somewhere at some meeting and I’m 20 years old, and I have an eyebrow pierced, and I’m not dressed professionally. And now here we are, a couple decades later, and we’re older ladies, some of us with gray hair, still working together, still trying to collect the data, because there’s so much frickin’ work to do.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>In the classroom, Sampson is always nudging her students to think about the practical applications of environmental health science too. She says she’s benefited greatly from teaching the same two courses — Community Organizing and Introduction to Environmental Health — for years now, which has enabled her to continually refine the curriculum. One of her go-to assignments in her environmental health class is to ask each student to bring in their municipal drinking water quality report, which local utilities are required to provide to residents. It’s a simple but powerful prompt. For one, many students discover for the first time things about their drinking water that aren’t great. And even the sheer challenge of deciphering these technical reports reveals that government documents aren’t always presenting important scientific data in ways that are easily understood — which in turns, stunts residents’ abilities to push their public officials when there is a problem. And for many semesters in her community organizing course, it’s been a staple assignment for students to partner with community groups on practical projects, like a collaboration a few years ago where students helped a group in south Dearborn write a grant proposal to support their work around air quality. She also recently did something she thought she’d never do: create a textbook. It has a benign sounding name: “</span><a href="https://www.springerpub.com/environmental-health-9780826183521.html?srsltid=AfmBOooAaylh-Bb5P3feQItlzmCqtcGwuRviljaeB7sBY2z32xbucxFG"><span>Environmental Health: Foundations for Public Health</span></a><span>.” But the content, featuring contributions from a diverse range of leading voices in the field, is far edgier, emphasizing the broad scope of the discipline, including the community-based approaches that originally inspired her.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Now a couple decades into her own public health journey, Sampson senses she might be entering a moment of transition. She says it’s a little weird to look around and see that she’s now one of three senior faculty members in the Health and Human Services Department. One of her colleagues, who’s just a little younger than her, recently recoiled when she casually referred to them both as “middle age.” And she’s also increasingly interested in exploring other approaches in her quest to make environmental health science universally accessible, including ones that utilize the arts. She’s also feeling more of a generational divide in the classroom, especially the past few years. In particular, she’s observing an increasing reluctance of students to talk — “like, at all” —&nbsp; in class, something she attributes a little bit to COVID, but mostly to the fact that young people’s lives are increasingly lived online. It’s something she can sort of relate to. “I never talked in class as an undergrad,” she says. “And I’m definitely sympathetic to students who are feeling anxiety about that. But many of them are going to be clinicians. A huge part of their jobs is going to be talking to people. So you have to practice. Definitely, one of my biggest priorities as an instructor is just creating any opportunity to make them talk.”&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>She also tries to keep their spirits up. Public health can, frankly, be a depressing subject much of the time, and she does feel like younger generations are living with a different kind of weight on their shoulders as they realize most of their lives will be lived in the climate change era. During her periodic efforts to bring them up to speed on current events, she makes sure to find at least some good news from the world. And it’s now one of her standard assignments to challenge them to do something for their mental health. (This semester, they are listening to a playlist of songs, crowd-sourced from the class, that get them pumped up.) She concedes that this kind of positivity can sometimes be a “performance.” But it’s also something that keeps her own motor going. “It’s funny: Sometimes I feel like I’m just getting started. And some days I feel like I’m ready to retire!” she says. “But there are always opportunities to reinvent.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>###</span></p><p><em>Story by&nbsp;</em><a href="mailto:lblouin@umich.edu"><em>Lou Blouin</em></a></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div><a href="/interest-area/awards" hreflang="en">Awards</a></div> <div><a href="/interest-area/faculty-and-staff" hreflang="en">Faculty and Staff</a></div> <div><a href="/interest-area/faculty-research" hreflang="en">Faculty Research</a></div> <div><a href="/interest-area/health-and-wellness" hreflang="en">Health and Wellness</a></div> </div> <div> <div><a href="/organizational-unit/college-education-health-and-human-services" hreflang="en">College of Education, Health, and Human Services</a></div> <div><a href="/organizational-unit/health-and-human-services" hreflang="en">Health and Human Services</a></div> </div> <div> <div>On</div> </div> <div> <div>Off</div> </div> <div> <div>Off</div> </div> <div> <div>Off</div> </div> <div> <div><time datetime="2025-04-16T12:30:15Z">Wed, 04/16/2025 - 12:30</time> </div> </div> <div> <div>The associate professor of public health talks about her sometimes uncomfortable relationship with academia, the politics of community-centered research and the challenge of getting today’s students to talk in class.</div> </div> <div> <div><article> <div> <div> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner/public/2025-04/natalie-class-1360x762px-72dpi.jpg?h=9e4df4a8&amp;itok=Y2Br4QLj" width="1360" height="762" alt="With three students to her left, a professor points to the front of the room while giving a lecture in a classrom"> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> <figcaption> Associate Professor of Public Health Natalie Sampson, far right, says she loves that she's been able to teach the same two courses for much of her career, which has allowed her to both experiment with and refine the curriculum. Photo by Annie Barker </figcaption> Wed, 16 Apr 2025 12:32:16 +0000 lblouin 319326 at Meet the Spring 2025 CECS and CEHHS Medallion winners /news/meet-spring-2025-cecs-and-cehhs-medallion-winners <span>Meet the Spring 2025 CECS and CEHHS Medallion winners</span> <span><span>lblouin</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-04-07T08:45:24-04:00" title="Monday, April 7, 2025 - 8:45 am">Mon, 04/07/2025 - 08:45</time> </span> <div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <div class="text"> <p dir="ltr"><span>This year’s Dean’s Medallion winners from the College of Engineering and Computer Science and College of Education, Health and Human Services are an inspiring bunch — with stories about everything from participating in advanced biomedical research to conquering the unique challenges of returning to college in your 30s as a single parent.&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>The award recognizing students' academic achievements, leadership and contributions to the community is given to three students in each college, with one student receiving the Chancellor’s Medallion, the university’s top student honor. Here are the Spring 2025 Medallion winners from CECS and CEHHS. You can also&nbsp;</span><a href="/news/congrats-casl-and-cob-medallion-winners"><span>meet the awardees from the College of Business and College of Arts, Sciences and Letters</span></a><span>, including this year’s Chancellor’s Medallion winner.&nbsp;</span></p><h3>College of Engineering and Computer Science</h3> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <figure class="captioned-image inline--left"> <img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/shams-1000px.jpg" alt="A headshot of Shams Fatma Ahson"> </figure> <div class="text"> <h4>Shams Fatma Ahson</h4><p dir="ltr"><strong>Degree:&nbsp;</strong><span>Bachelor of Science in cybersecurity and information assurance (cybersecurity and privacy concentration), minor in law and society; certificate in practical aspects of computer security (2024)</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Awards, Honors and Distinction:&nbsp;</strong><span>51Ƶ-Dearborn Difference Maker (2024); James B. Angell Scholar (2023, 2024); William J. Branstrom Freshman Prize; Dean’s List (F21-F24); University Honors (F21-F24), Honors Scholar (2025)</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Scholarships:</strong><span> Alan Mulally Leadership in Engineering Scholarship (2023)</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Academic Achievements and Internships:&nbsp;</strong><span>Shams has excelled through high-impact academic and professional experiences in cybersecurity, demonstrating technical expertise, leadership and innovation. Shams’ outstanding leadership was recognized with the 2023 Alan Mulally Leadership in Engineering Scholarship, a competitive award honoring students worldwide for exceptional leadership in academic or community settings. Shams conducted research in the Information Systems, Security and Forensics Lab under the supervision of Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Hafiz Malik. She played a pivotal role in implementing an automotive ethernet testbench featuring simulated electronic control units. Shams also led the CanQuest capstone project, where her team developed a mixed-reality cybersecurity game to educate engineers on protecting CAN bus communication. Shams served as a supplemental instruction leader beginning in January 2022, supporting her peers and reinforcing her own mastery of complex cybersecurity concepts. Shams has also been a cybersecurity testing intern at ETAS since May 2023 and served as a product cybersecurity intern at Bosch from May 2022 to May 2023.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Extracurricular and Community Projects:&nbsp;</strong><span>Google Developer Student Club (president); Women in Cybersecurity (chapter president); co-led CECS’ 2025 Engineering Week</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>As president of the Google Developer Student Club, Shams helped secure over $100,000 in funding for campus hackathons attended by students across Michigan, the Midwest and Canada. As co-lead of Engineering Week, she helped launch several innovative initiatives, including two new engineering games. In Chefgineering, student organizations formed teams to build a common solution using mystery “ingredients.” In the Engineering Escape Room, teams tackled a series of puzzles, such as decoding Morse code signals and reverse-engineering a Caesar cipher, to unlock the key and “escape” the room. “Shams is an expert organizer and an inspirational leader. She is quick to volunteer for community outreach activities, especially those that help make STEAM more accessible to younger students,” observed Professor of Computer and Information Science Bruce Maxim.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Future Plans:</strong><span> Shams’ ultimate career goal is not just to be a CEO within the cybersecurity industry, but to be a great leader who reflects the values, ambitions and spirit of her community.</span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <figure class="captioned-image inline--left"> <img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/Hawraa_Ismail-1000px.jpg" alt="A headshot of Hawraa Ismail"> </figure> <div class="text"> <h4>Hawraa Ismail</h4><p dir="ltr"><strong>Degree:</strong><span> Bachelor of Science in Engineering in computer engineering</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Awards, Honors and Distinction:&nbsp;</strong><span>Dean’s Honors List at the Lebanese International University, Lebanon (F22); 51Ƶ-Dearborn Honors Scholar (2023)</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Academic Achievements and Internships:</strong><span> Hawraa has actively contributed to projects spanning safety, technology and education throughout her college years. Such experiences have allowed Hawraa to develop innovative solutions, mentor emerging talent and give back to the community. In her two-semester capstone project, Hawraa led the development of an accident alert system that detects risky driving behaviors and delivers real-time alerts. By integrating multiple sensors with advanced artificial intelligence models, this system significantly enhances driver safety. In the Embedded Systems course, Hawraa engineered a GPS-based speed limit warning system that notifies drivers when they exceed limits in designated zones, further demonstrating her passion for technology-driven safety innovations.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Extracurricular and Community Projects:&nbsp;</strong><span>Peer tutor at the Engineering Learning Center; Michigan Aeronautical Science Association hardware and avionics team member; Eternal Light Organization volunteer</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>In her role as a peer tutor, Hawraa assisted students with programming, circuit design and problem-solving, boosting their confidence in challenging engineering subjects. “Hawraa has jumped in with both feet to support our students. Hawraa needs no supervision as she is a self-starter and wants to assist where she can. She enjoys sharing her knowledge of the electrical and computer engineering course material and you can hear her passion in her voice,” observed Elizabeth Edenstrom, assistant director of the ELC. With MASA, Hawraa helped develop flight telemetry system software. Her contributions included creating a real-time data monitoring dashboard that automates flight operations and streamlines data processing. Hawraa also served as a student staff member at the university’s Early Childhood Education Center, where she supported classroom activities and helped craft engaging learning experiences for young children.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Future Plans:</strong><span> Hawraa plans to leverage her expertise in embedded systems and artificial intelligence safety applications to develop smart systems that enhance community welfare and drive technological innovation. She envisions pursuing industry roles in embedded security, earning relevant certifications and advancing her graduate studies to further specialize in this field. Ultimately, Hawraa aims to earn a PhD and become a professor, using her experience as a peer tutor at the ELC to inspire and empower students. Her commitment to giving back stems from her gratitude toward 51Ƶ-Dearborn, an institution that has profoundly shaped her journey and one that she hopes others will also experience.</span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <figure class="captioned-image inline--left"> <img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/Nicole-Kormos-1000px.jpg" alt="A headshot of Nicole Kormos"> </figure> <div class="text"> <h4>Nicole Kormos</h4><p dir="ltr"><strong>Degree:&nbsp;</strong><span>Bachelor of Science in Engineering in bioengineering</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Awards, Honors and Distinction:&nbsp;</strong><span>Dean’s List (F21-F24); William J. Branstrom Prize; James B. Angell Scholar (2023); University Honors (F21-W23, W24); Honors Scholar (2024) Scholarships: Chancellor’s Scholarship; Honors Scholarship; James and Jeraldine Poe Research Assistantship</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Academic Achievements and Internships:</strong><span> Nicole’s academic excellence drive extends beyond the classroom. During her studies, Nicole actively pursued a series of research projects, all aimed at understanding the male predominance observed in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Her research focuses on investigating sex-based differences in the mechanical responses of pulmonary fibroblasts — a challenging endeavor that has led her to achieve significant new results while mastering advanced techniques such as cell culture, qPCR, cell staining and imaging. What began as a Summer Undergraduate Research Experience project at 51Ƶ-Dearborn following her junior year evolved into an ongoing project supported by the James and Jeraldine Poe Research Assistantship during her senior year. Nicole presented her findings as a poster at both the SURE Showcase and the Biomedical Engineering Society Research Symposium, where her project earned second place. Her promising results are slated for submission for publication at the end of the Winter 2025 semester. “Nicole is an exceptional student whose dedication and work ethic set her apart. As an undergraduate researcher, she not only excels in her own experiments but also goes above and beyond to support and train others, demonstrating leadership beyond her years. She is truly a rock star in every sense, and her future in research is incredibly bright,” observed Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Caymen Novak. Besides her commitment to advancing bioengineering research, Nicole served as a lab assistant for the Biosensors and Instrumentation course, further demonstrating her commitment to advancing research and her field.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Extracurricular and Community Projects:&nbsp;</strong><span>Society of Women Engineers; Biomedical Engineering Society; Tau Beta Pi, the Engineering Honor Society, Michigan Iota chapter (vice president, media coordinator)</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Nicole’s involvement in Tau Beta Pi will be recognized at the chapter’s initiation this semester, where she will be invested into the chapter for her significant contributions as a leader.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Future Plans:</strong><span> Nicole plans to continue her education in the PhD program in materials science and engineering at 51Ƶ-Ann Arbor. Her dissertation research will be on functional materials and biomaterials. Following graduation, she plans to pursue a career in applied research in the field of application of biomaterials to medical devices and wearable technology.</span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <div class="text"> <h3>College of Education, Health and Human Services</h3> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <figure class="captioned-image inline--left"> <img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/Chaymaa-Nehme-1000px.jpg" alt="A headshot of Chaymaa-Nehme"> </figure> <div class="text"> <h4>Chaymaa Nehme</h4><p dir="ltr"><strong>Degree:&nbsp;</strong><span>Bachelor of Science in health and human services (social work concentration)</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Awards, Honors and Distinction:</strong><span> University Honors (W24, F24); Dean’s List (F23-F24)</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Academic Achievements and Internships:</strong><span> Chaymaa has demonstrated academic excellence at 51Ƶ-Dearborn, earning a place on the Dean’s List as an honors student every semester since transferring from Henry Ford College in Fall 2023. Passionate about community engagement, she partnered with the Dearborn Public Health Department on a tree equity project through one of her courses, focusing on environmental justice and sustainability. Through this initiative, Chaymaa engaged with the community in meaningful ways, addressing disparities in tree coverage and advocating for greener, healthier neighborhoods. This included taking the initiative to translate all social media posts about the program into Arabic, greatly increasing the outreach of the posts to target communities.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Extracurricular and Community Projects:&nbsp;</strong><span>Seeking to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others, in addition to her academic achievements, Chaymaa has been actively involved in community service through organizing initiatives, supporting public service programs and by contributing to outreach efforts. These experiences have reinforced her passion for civic engagement and dedication to advocating for inclusive and equitable communities. Chaymaa remains committed to using her skills and knowledge to drive positive social change through social impact and advocacy, integrating psychology, sociology, and health and human services into her work in order to create meaningful change in both individual lives and broader communities. Assistant Professor of Health and Human Services Finn Bell, who taught Chaymaa in two courses, stated, “Chaymaa is consistently one of the most engaged students, who regularly makes connections for how the materials connect to ‘the real world.’ Chaymaa is an exemplar of what it means to be a good academic citizen with noteworthy curiosity and impeccable integrity.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Future Plans:&nbsp;</strong><span>Chaymaa currently works at a school as part of the administration team. Following graduation, she plans to apply her knowledge and social work skills to support both students and staff. Her goal is to create a positive environment, providing resources and assistance to help students thrive academically and emotionally. She remains passionate about using her social work education and experiences to build a supportive school community and to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those she works with.</span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <figure class="captioned-image inline--left"> <img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/Darci%20O%27Neil_03-1000px.jpg" alt="A headshot of Darci O'Neil"> </figure> <div class="text"> <h4>Darci O’Neil</h4><p dir="ltr"><strong>Degree:&nbsp;</strong><span>Bachelor of Science in health and human services (public health concentration)</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Awards, Honors and Distinction:</strong><span> University Honors (W24, F24); Dean’s List (F23-F24)</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Academic Achievements and Internships:</strong><span> Darci has demonstrated academic excellence at 51Ƶ-Dearborn, earning a place on the Dean’s List as an honors student every semester since transferring in Fall 2023 and receiving University Honors in both Winter and Fall 2024. Prior to attending 51Ƶ-Dearborn, Darci was a student at both Schoolcraft College and Wayne State University. “Before returning to school as a single mom in my 30s, I was a perpetual college dropout and thought that school just wasn’t for me,” Darci said. Initially, she returned with the intention of only completing certification for her pharmacy technician license. Once introduced to the idea of public health, however, she realized that she had a passion for the field. A six-month certification turned into an opportunity to participate in research with cancer patients and she ultimately continued on for her BS. Darci completed a capstone course project and has continued to work with Associate Professor of Health Communication Nick Iannarino on a research project looking at young adult cancer programs and how they address social support needs. Her contributions have included interviewing health care professionals and analyzing data. Health and Human Services Lecturer Timothy Michling, who has taught Darci, stated, “I’ve very much enjoyed working with Darci. She has a combination of intelligence, determination and compassion that will make her a tremendously effective public health professional.”&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Extracurricular and Community Projects:</strong><span> Peer mentor with Wolverine Mentor Collective; Public Health Society (treasurer)</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Future Plans:</strong><span> Darci is currently seeking a position in the field of epidemiology and plans to gain work experience before seeking a master’s degree. Darci believes that some experience in the field will help her decide whether to seek further education in epidemiology or, possibly, in public health policy.</span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <figure class="captioned-image inline--left"> <img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/Assma-Said-1000px.jpg" alt="A headshot of Assma Said"> </figure> <div class="text"> <h4>Assma Ali Said</h4><p dir="ltr"><strong>Degree:&nbsp;</strong><span>Bachelor of Arts in children and families</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Awards, Honors and Distinction:&nbsp;</strong><span>University Honors (W24, F24); Dean’s List (F23-F24)</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Academic Achievements and Internships:</strong><span> Prior to attending 51Ƶ-Dearborn, Assma was a student at Henry Ford College and Wayne State University. While studying at 51Ƶ-Dearborn, Assma participated in two internships: M&amp;M Academy Great Start Readiness Program classroom in Fall 2024 and a 51Ƶ-Dearborn Early Childhood Education Center practicum in Winter 2023.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Extracurricular and Community Projects:&nbsp;</strong><span>Assma volunteers at a local mosque and helps organize events during Ramadan to promote unity, spiritual growth and community support. One such initiative is Girls Night, a women-only event designed to foster a sense of belonging and empowerment, especially for women who face cultural and social challenges. In addition, Assma provides tutoring for preschool students after school, helping them build foundational skills while fostering a love for learning. For the past three years, this role has enabled her to support young children in the community, ensuring they feel seen, heard and encouraged to thrive. She is committed to using her skills and story to uplift others and create lasting change within the Arab and Muslim communities. Assma believes her personal journey has empowered her to create positive change and advocate for those who may feel marginalized or unheard. She strives to create a space where women can come together, share their experiences and find strength in each other.&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Future Plans:&nbsp;</strong><span>Following graduation, Assma plans to further her education by pursuing a master’s degree in early childhood education, with the goal of becoming a professor and educator who can make a lasting impact in the field. Her experience as a preschool teacher has ignited a deep passion for shaping young minds and she wants to contribute to the development of innovative educational practices that can be implemented in classrooms across the country.</span></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div><a href="/interest-area/awards" hreflang="en">Awards</a></div> <div><a href="/interest-area/commencement" hreflang="en">Commencement</a></div> <div><a href="/interest-area/student-success" hreflang="en">Student Success</a></div> </div> <div> <div><a href="/organizational-unit/college-education-health-and-human-services" hreflang="en">College of Education, Health, and Human Services</a></div> <div><a href="/organizational-unit/college-engineering-and-computer-science" hreflang="en">College of Engineering and Computer Science</a></div> </div> <div> <div>Off</div> </div> <div> <div>Off</div> </div> <div> <div>Off</div> </div> <div> <div>Off</div> </div> <div> <div><time datetime="2025-04-07T12:45:02Z">Mon, 04/07/2025 - 12:45</time> </div> </div> <div> <div>Three students from each college are being recognized with the Dean’s Medallion for their outstanding academic achievements, leadership and contributions to the community.</div> </div> <div> <div><article> <div> <div> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner/public/2025-04/CEHHS-CECS-Medallion-winners.jpg?h=9e4df4a8&amp;itok=WuAv7XBM" width="1360" height="762" alt="A graphic showing a grid of six headshots from the Spring 2025 Dean's Medallion winners."> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> Mon, 07 Apr 2025 12:45:24 +0000 lblouin 319197 at Congrats to the CASL and COB Medallion winners /news/congrats-casl-and-cob-medallion-winners <span>Congrats to the CASL and COB Medallion winners</span> <span><span>stuxbury</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-04-02T08:49:14-04:00" title="Wednesday, April 2, 2025 - 8:49 am">Wed, 04/02/2025 - 08:49</time> </span> <div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <div class="text"> <p dir="ltr"><span>From conducting melanoma research to advocating for veterans, 51Ƶ-Dearborn’s Spring Class of 2025’s leaders and best have accomplished many things. Adding to that: Twelve of this year’s top graduates earned the Chancellor’s Medallion or Dean’s Medallion awards.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Three Dean’s Medallion recipients are awarded per college with one of those students receiving the Chancellor’s Medallion. These students will be honored at April 26’s Commencement.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Here are 51Ƶ-Dearborn’s College of Arts, Sciences and Letters and the College of Business recipients — including the Chancellor’s Medallion winner, who is a CASL graduate. The awardees from the College of Engineering and Computer Science and the College of Education, Health and Human Services will be profiled in an article on Tuesday.</span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <div class="text"> <h3><strong>Chancellor’s Medallion</strong></h3> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <figure class="captioned-image inline--left"> <img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/Ayah_Farhat_%20%281%29.jpg" alt="Class of Spring 2025 Chancellor Medallion winner Ayah Farhat"> </figure> <div class="text"> <p><span><strong>Ayah Farhat</strong></span><br><span>College of Arts, Sciences and Letters</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Degree:</strong><span> Bachelor of Science in biochemistry&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Awards, Honors and Distinction:&nbsp;</strong><span>University Honors (F22, W23); Dean’s List (F22-F23,</span><strong>&nbsp;</strong><span>F24</span><strong>);&nbsp;</strong><span>James B. Angell Scholar (2024); William J. Branstrom Freshman Prize (2023); SURE Fellowship (2024); Honors Scholar (2025)&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Scholarships:</strong><span> Mardigian Library Student Assistant Scholarship; Alumni Legacy Scholarship; Michigan Competitive Scholarship; Excellence Scholarship; CASL Alumni Affiliate Scholarship; Andy and Cheryl Chapekis Scholarship; Dr. Richard A. Potts Endowed Scholarship; William and Alice Jenkins Memorial Scholarship&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Academic Achievements and Internships:</strong><span> Ayah is a dedicated researcher who worked with Assistant Professor of Biochemistry Besa Xhabija to conduct cutting-edge research in melanoma, the deadliest type of skin cancer. She characterized melanoma morphologically, optically and behaviorally to better understand its aggressive nature and metastatic potential. Her research has already resulted in a first-author publication in Advanced Biology and has been featured as the front cover of its February 2025 issue.&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Extracurricular and Community Projects:</strong><span> 51Ƶ-Dearborn Mardigian Library Circulation Desk student assistant; American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and ASBMB student chapter (president); Kumon Math and Reading tutor; Wolverine Mentor Collective mentor; volunteer at Corewell Health, Caroline Kennedy Library, 51Ƶ-Dearborn Food Pantry and 51Ƶ-Dearborn Wolverine Wardrobe&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Future Plans:</strong><span> Ayah plans to attend and present her research at the national conference of the American Chemical Society this fall. Her long-term goal is to become a physician who serves marginalized and vulnerable populations in metro Detroit.</span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <div class="text"> <h3><strong>Dean’s Medallion</strong></h3> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <div class="text"> <h4><span>College of Arts, Sciences and Letters</span></h4> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <figure class="captioned-image inline--left"> <img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/Vincent%20Intieri%20Headshot%20%281%29.jpg" alt="CASL Dean Medallion winner Vincent Intieri, Class of Spring 2025"> </figure> <div class="text"> <p dir="ltr"><span><strong>Vincent Intrieri</strong></span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Degree:</strong><span> Bachelor of Arts in international studies&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Awards, Honors and Distinction:</strong><span> University Honors (W24, F24); Dean’s List (F22-F24); 51Ƶ-Dearborn Difference Maker (2024); Honors Scholar (2025)&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Scholarships:</strong><span> CASL Alumni Affiliate Scholarship; Hugh M. Archer Veterans Scholarship; John J. Brownfain Endowed Memorial Scholarship; 51Ƶ-Dearborn Veterans Scholarship&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Academic Achievements and Internships:&nbsp;</strong><span>Vincent was the inaugural president of the Wolverine Media Network, uniting the university’s student newspaper, radio, video and arts journal into a single cohesive structure. He completed the Ottawa Internship in Canadian Parliament and participated in a virtual exchange program with the University of El Salvador in which he completed an e-book in Spanish with a Salvadoran partner. He was a work-study employee in the university’s Veterans Affairs office and is a mentor in the Dearborn Veterans Treatment Court, where he supports fellow veterans who are navigating the criminal justice system. Vincent is a nontraditional student and Navy veteran who retired as a petty officer second class logistics specialist.&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Extracurricular and Community Projects:&nbsp;</strong><span>Wolverine Media Network (president); Lyceum (editor-in-chief); Student Veterans Association (treasurer); Dearborn Veterans Treatment Court mentor; Veterans of the Game; Dearborn Allied War Veterans Council&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Future Plans:</strong><span> Vincent has been admitted to American University’s master’s program in international relations and is considering law school. He is interested in pursuing a career in public interest or international law.&nbsp;</span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <figure class="captioned-image inline--left"> <img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/Ahmad%20Makki_06%20%281%29.JPG" alt="CASL Dean Medallion winner Ahmad Makki, Class of Spring 2025"> </figure> <div class="text"> <p dir="ltr"><span><strong>Ahmad Makki</strong></span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Degrees:</strong><span> Dual Bachelors of Science in mathematics and economics</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Awards, Honors and Distinction:</strong><span> University Honors (W21, F21, F24); Honors Scholar in economics (2025); Dean’s List (F20-F24); SURE Fellowship (2022); Outstanding Delegate, Model Arab League (2023-2025); Overall Outstanding Delegation, Model Arab League (2024)</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Scholarships:</strong><span> Metropolitan Scholarship; Kochoff Impact Scholarship; Mathematics Scholarship; Dr. Ronald Stockton Scholarship; Dean’s Scholarship (U-M Law School)</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Academic Achievements and Internships:&nbsp;</strong><span>Ahmad has conducted research with Associate Professor of Political Science Emily Luxon focused on the attribution of responsibility for climate change in newspaper coverage. As a Summer Undergraduate Research Experience Fellow, Ahmad also researched nationalistic bias within networks related to accusation of chemical weapon use.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Extracurricular and Community Projects:</strong><span> Arab Affairs League Club (founder/president); Model Arab League; violin instructor</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Ahmad is also a talented language learner with proficiency in Korean and Arabic and intermediate skill in West African Creole.</span></p><p><strong>Future Plans:</strong><span> Ahmad has been admitted to the University of Michigan Law School and intends to attend starting in Fall 2025.</span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <div class="text"> <h4><span>College of Business</span></h4> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <figure class="captioned-image inline--left"> <img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/Christian%20Ankawi%20-%20Headshot_%20%281%29.jpg" alt="COB Dean Medallion winner Christian Ankawi, Class of Spring 2025"> </figure> <div class="text"> <p dir="ltr"><span><strong>Christian Ankawi</strong></span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Degree:</strong><span> Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting and finance&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Awards, Honors and Distinction:</strong><span> Honors Scholar (2025); James B. Angell Scholar (2023, 2024); University Honors (F21-F22, F23-F24); Dean’s List (F21-F24)&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Scholarships:</strong><span> Kris &amp; Ruth Pfaehler Scholarship; Allard Family Trust Scholarship;&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>51Ƶ-Dearborn Dean’s Scholarship; COB Undergraduate 4+1 Scholarship&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Academic Achievements and Internships:</strong><span> Christian’s career in accounting began in summer 2022 with an internship at Rocket Central, where he collaborated with senior leaders to resolve disputes and developed a review process that resulted in shorter lead times for reimbursements and expense requests. The following summer and fall he worked as a tax intern at Carhartt and performed a variety of tasks. In summer 2024, he was an audit intern at Doeren Mayhew and gained more specialized experience.&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Extracurricular and Community Projects:&nbsp;</strong><span>Supplemental instructor for College of Business; Beta Gamma Sigma honor society; Accounting Aid Society volunteer; Forgotten Harvest volunteer; frequent guest speaker for Business Foundations course&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Future Plans:</strong><span> This summer, Christian will take the first part of the CPA exam and begin a full-time role as an assurance intern at Ernst &amp; Young. As a 4+1 student, he will return to the College of Business in the fall and work toward his Master of Science in accounting and completing the CPA exam. Upon achieving these goals, Christian plans to work full time with a public accounting firm and currently has an open offer to return to Doeren Mayhew.&nbsp;</span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <figure class="captioned-image inline--left"> <img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/Elias%20Elzein%20-%20Headshot_%20%281%29.jpg" alt="COB Dean Medallion winner Elias Elzein, Class of Spring 2025"> </figure> <div class="text"> <p dir="ltr"><span><strong>Elias Elzein</strong></span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Degree:</strong><span> Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting and finance&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Awards, Honors and Distinction:</strong><span> University Honors (W22, W24, F24); Dean’s List (F21-F22,&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>F23-F24)&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Scholarships:</strong><span> 51Ƶ-Dearborn Dean’s Scholarship (2021-2024); COB Undergraduate 4+1 Scholarship&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Academic Achievements and Internships:</strong><span> In summer 2023, Elias worked as an accounting intern at Varsity Lincoln. In this role, he reconciled bank statements and inventory records, collaborated with the dealership’s CPA on financial statement preparation and gained hands-on experience in several accounting processes.&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Extracurricular and Community Projects:</strong><span> Beta Alpha Psi (member since 2022; reporter 2023-2024; co-president April 2024-April 2025); Michigan Model Arab League (team received the 2025 Distinguished Delegation Award)&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>As an active member and leader of Beta Alpha Psi, an international honors organization for accounting and finance students, Elias has participated in several competitions across the country. He has pursued professional development opportunities through these competitions, including improving his public speaking and presentation skills, and helped lead the 51Ƶ-Dearborn chapter to a national-level competition.&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Future Plans:</strong><span> Elias will spend the summer completing an audit internship at Plante Moran and preparing for the CPA exam. He will return to the College of Business in the fall as part of the 4+1 program to earn his Master of Science in accounting. He hopes to continue working with Plante Moran upon completing his master’s degree and earning his CPA.</span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <figure class="captioned-image inline--left"> <img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/Carlos%20Gonzalez%20-%20Headshot%20%281%29.jpg" alt="COB Dean Medallion winner Carlos Gonzalez, Class of Spring 2025"> </figure> <div class="text"> <p dir="ltr"><span><strong>Carlos Gonzalez</strong></span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Degree:</strong><span> Bachelor of Business Administration in digital marketing&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Awards, Honors and Distinction:</strong><span> James B. Angell Scholar (2023); University Honors (W22-W23); Dean’s List (W22-F24); Honors Scholar (2025); student speaker at the College of Business Celebration of Excellence (2024); Bill Linn Fiction Prize Honorable Mention (2023)&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Scholarships:</strong><span> LEAD Scholarship; 51Ƶ-Dearborn Dean’s Scholarship; Jeffrey R. &amp; Donna T. Smith Scholarship; Michael &amp; Vana Surmanian Family Scholarship; 51Ƶ-Dearborn Honors Scholarship; Central Study Abroad Scholarship; College of Business Fast Track Scholarship; Russel J. Ebeid Scholarship; Louanne Sanez Scholarship&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Academic Achievements and Internships:</strong><span> Carlos began participating in 51Ƶ-Dearborn’s Digital Storytelling project as a first-year student when he created his own story. He was promoted to a mentorship role his sophomore year. As a mentor, he guided new participants through the creative process by organizing workshops and helping with technical challenges. Carlos took on more responsibilities over the years, such as assisting with curriculum development, and eventually became a lead strategist for directing faculty members on their own digital stories. He also worked as a digital marketing intern for MedsFinder in summer&nbsp; 2021 and as a digital marketing and business strategy intern for ESOP One from August 2023 to August 2024. Christopher Spilker, head of the Mardigian Library Research Center, observed that Carlos was an integral part of the Digital Storytelling project, stating that “his dedication not only strengthened the program but also inspired those around him.”&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><strong>Extracurricular and Community Projects:</strong><span> LEAD Scholars member and LEAD Advisory Board member; ISPM-Italy participant; LeaderShape participant; Real Estate Association; Eagle Scout.&nbsp;</span></p><p><strong>Future Plans:</strong><span> Carlos plans to pursue his Master of Business Administration in a specialization that will enable him to utilize his talents for storytelling and strategic thinking, such as marketing management or business analytics. He hopes to work for a multinational corporation and one day advance to an executive leadership position where he can inspire others to create meaningful content.&nbsp;</span></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div><a href="/interest-area/awards" hreflang="en">Awards</a></div> <div><a href="/interest-area/commencement" hreflang="en">Commencement</a></div> <div><a href="/interest-area/student-success" hreflang="en">Student Success</a></div> </div> <div> <div><a href="/organizational-unit/college-arts-sciences-and-letters" hreflang="en">College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters</a></div> <div><a href="/organizational-unit/college-business" hreflang="en">College of Business</a></div> </div> <div> <div>On</div> </div> <div> <div>Off</div> </div> <div> <div>Off</div> </div> <div> <div>Off</div> </div> <div> <div><time datetime="2025-04-02T12:48:01Z">Wed, 04/02/2025 - 12:48</time> </div> </div> <div> <div>51Ƶ-Dearborn recognizes a select group of soon-to-be grads each semester for outstanding achievement.</div> </div> <div> <div><article> <div> <div> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner/public/2025-04/medallion-headshots.jpg?h=9e4df4a8&amp;itok=_CEdo12e" width="1360" height="762" alt="Class of Spring 2025 Medallion winners"> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> <figcaption> COB and CASL graduating students were awarded for their high achievement. Graphic by Lou Blouin </figcaption> Wed, 02 Apr 2025 12:49:14 +0000 stuxbury 319119 at 51Ƶ-Dearborn earns R2 research designation /news/um-dearborn-earns-r2-research-designation <span>51Ƶ-Dearborn earns R2 research designation</span> <span><span>lblouin</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-02-26T07:34:13-05:00" title="Wednesday, February 26, 2025 - 7:34 am">Wed, 02/26/2025 - 07:34</time> </span> <div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <div class="text"> <p dir="ltr"><span>By every big metric that Vice Provost for Research and Dean of Graduate Studies Armen Zakarian tracks, 51Ƶ-Dearborn’s research enterprise is on a tear. The big top line stat: Since 2018, externally funded research expenditures have nearly tripled, increasing from $4.8 million to a projected $13.2 million for FY25. Earlier this month, that growth led to a reclassification of 51Ƶ-Dearborn as an R2 institution, a designation from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Council on Education for universities that award at least 20 research doctorates and have $5 million average annual research spending. It’s the first time the university has received this designation. 51Ƶ-Dearborn Chancellor Domenico Grasso says the honorific is, without a doubt, an important new feather in the cap for the university. But, for him, the real achievement is all the work that it’s a reflection of. “This recognizes something which we already accomplished — and that is great and I’m very proud of that — but we were going to do it anyway. And honestly, we’re not even satisfied with where we are. There remains enormous untapped potential, so this is really just the start for us,” Grasso says.&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>So how did we get here? Zakarian and Grasso point to a number of contributing factors. Flash back to 2018 and Zakarian says you’d see an institution where research was “recognized but not prioritized.” The tone changed when Grasso came in and made growing the university’s research and scholarly output one of his top priorities. “In my view, distinguished universities are defined by a faculty comprising scholar-teachers. To my mind, the definition of a professor is someone who is a scholar at the forefront of their field, sharing their passion, knowledge and discoveries with their students,” Grasso says. “Even in the elite small liberal arts schools in New England, where they are known for their focus on educating undergraduate students, the faculty are active scholars.”&nbsp; Zakarian says the administration endorsed that model and supported faculty with larger investments in research development and pre- and post-award support, so researchers could get assistance securing and administering grants.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Aside from the messaging and support from leadership, Zakarian thinks three other things helped set the stage for the explosive research growth the university has seen over the past few years. First, he says faculty consistently cite a shortage of time as their biggest impediment to building their research careers. So some departments decided to lighten the teaching load from three to two courses per semester. The second big factor: the sanctioning of the College of Engineering and Computer Science doctoral programs by&nbsp;</span><a href="/news/cecss-phd-programs-are-linking-rackham-graduate-school"><span>U-M’s Rackham Graduate School in 2019</span></a><span>. That affiliation meant the programs had to meet the same rigorous standards as doctoral programs on the Ann Arbor campus, which boosted 51Ƶ-Dearborn’s prestige and ability to recruit top PhD students. This&nbsp;helped faculty recruit valuable talent to power their labs, which further eased their time/labor burden. Finally, Zakarian says when filling faculty vacancies, colleges prioritized hiring ambitious, early-career, research-focused scholars who had the potential to become leaders in their fields.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Then, of course, there’s something to be said for momentum. As some of the above changes started to take root, a few faculty started landing bigger grants, and a larger share of the awards were coming from federal funders, like the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy and Department of Defense. “We used to get very few million dollar grants. But it just took a few teams to do that and then we started getting more,” Zakarian says. “You basically reach a point where I think people are looking at what each other are doing, and the mood shifts. Now, we are approaching $85 million in submitted proposals, which I think is just incredible. And the number of proposals hasn’t gone up by a whole lot. That means faculty are more confident going for bigger and bigger grants. Frankly, that’s what it’s going to take. It would be difficult for us to reach the next level, $200,000 at a time.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Zakarian says the university has also reached a point where the research enterprise has a fairly broad base. “When I think about how sustainable this is, I’m basically looking at whether this is just a handful of people bringing in the big dollar amounts. But it’s much broader than that,” he says. Moreover, while engineering disciplines are responsible for the largest share of the research growth, Zakarian says other disciplines, particularly in the natural sciences, are starting to develop the same momentum. Last year, with engineering in a good spot, the Office of Research made it a priority to assist faculty in the natural sciences. That resulted in several big research grants in biology and chemistry from national funders, including the National Institutes of Health and Department of Energy. Looking ahead, Zakarian and Grasso say the most untapped potential lies in those disciplines, along with computer science, artificial intelligence, and health and human services — the latter of which could also be targeting NIH grants, one of the national funders with the biggest budget.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Grasso notes, however, that realizing that potential now faces some new political hurdles. The Trump administration has pursued several measures that directly disrupt university research, including attempting to severely cut the amount of indirect costs covered by NIH grants, layoffs at the National Science Foundation and pauses by grant review committees. “This is a significant threat,” Grasso says. “I understand the desire to be cost conscious and efficient. But research has been the fuel in the engine that has powered this country, whether you’re talking about revolutionary medications, transistors, AI or practically everything that has changed the world — it all has roots in research — and many of those roots found a home in American soil. To hamper this is incredibly reckless and foolhardy.”&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Even within the climate, Zakarian says the R2 designation and what it represents should help keep the momentum going. “Obviously, a lot of this goes back to our ability to recruit and retain top faculty, and I think this designation really does help us communicate that if you are really ambitious and you want to build a strong research program, you can do it here. It says, ‘We’re open for business. We have the resources and the vision. Others have done it, you can do it too.’”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>###</span></p><p dir="ltr"><em>Story by&nbsp;</em><a href="mailto:lblouin@umich.edu"><em>Lou Blouin</em></a></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div><a href="/interest-area/academic-excellence" hreflang="en">Academic Excellence</a></div> <div><a href="/interest-area/awards" hreflang="en">Awards</a></div> <div><a href="/interest-area/faculty-research" hreflang="en">Faculty Research</a></div> <div><a href="/interest-area/research" hreflang="en">Research</a></div> <div><a href="/interest-area/university-wide" hreflang="en">University-wide</a></div> </div> <div> <div><a href="/organizational-unit/college-arts-sciences-and-letters" hreflang="en">College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters</a></div> <div><a href="/organizational-unit/college-business" hreflang="en">College of Business</a></div> <div><a href="/organizational-unit/college-education-health-and-human-services" hreflang="en">College of Education, Health, and Human Services</a></div> <div><a href="/organizational-unit/college-engineering-and-computer-science" hreflang="en">College of Engineering and Computer Science</a></div> </div> <div> <div>On</div> </div> <div> <div>Off</div> </div> <div> <div>Off</div> </div> <div> <div>Off</div> </div> <div> <div><time datetime="2025-02-26T12:33:49Z">Wed, 02/26/2025 - 12:33</time> </div> </div> <div> <div>The recognition follows six years of rapid growth in which externally funded research spending at 51Ƶ-Dearborn has nearly tripled. So how did we get here? And what’s next?</div> </div> <div> <div><article> <div> <div> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner/public/2025-02/2024_04_04_CASL_0915-2.jpg?h=f0fb51a5&amp;itok=vxb8SC32" width="1360" height="762" alt="A researcher watches over a student as she does work in a biology lab"> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> <figcaption> Associate Professor Dr. Zhi Zhang (not pictured) and Assistant Professor Jie Fan (pictured, middle) recently landed a $465,000 grant from the NIH. Large federal grants helped power 51Ƶ-Dearborn to an R2 designation in 2025. Photo by Julianne Lindsay </figcaption> Wed, 26 Feb 2025 12:34:13 +0000 lblouin 318530 at Campus Colleagues: Becky Richardson /news/campus-colleagues-becky-richardson <span>Campus Colleagues: Becky Richardson</span> <span><span>stuxbury</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-02-04T14:36:10-05:00" title="Tuesday, February 4, 2025 - 2:36 pm">Tue, 02/04/2025 - 14:36</time> </span> <div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <div class="text"> <p dir="ltr"><span>Becky Richardson’s desk — complete with its encouraging messages — is often one of the first things people notice when walking into the SOAR Program’s office in the College of Arts, Sciences and Letters Building: “All who enter as guests, leave as friends.” “Take the risk or lose the chance.” “Today is the day.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>There’s also the traveling sign that she’s given out to SOAR (</span><a href="/casl/undergraduate-programs/admission/soar-program?gad_source=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAiA74G9BhAEEiwA8kNfpWrX06wDtXY1i4nwyiqSyXye9P31gWiKzn3gAQonGyawwdT_Ae_cHRoCpOsQAvD_BwE"><span>Support, Opportunities, Advocacy and Resources for nontraditional undergraduates</span></a><span>) students. That one reads, “Tough times don’t last, but tough people do.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“Our students have been through a lot. Many of our students face personal and financial obstacles, most are raising families and many also care for older adults. That’s a lot of responsibility,” says Richardson, SOAR program assistant. “As silly as it might seem, seeing motivational words helps keep them in your head. I want these signs to remind our students that on tough days, they can get the support they need in the SOAR office — even if that’s just to vent. I have tissues ready for sad tears and happy ones.” With its mission to increase access to post-secondary education for nontraditional adult learners experiencing socioeconomic challenges, SOAR offers up to three semesters of partial tuition support and help with supplies like books and technology, along with other needs.&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Richardson recently received the University of Michigan's&nbsp;</span><a href="https://hr.umich.edu/working-u-m/awards-recognition/distinguished-diversity-leaders-award"><span>Distinguished Diversity Leaders Award</span></a><span>. A champion for students, Richardson advances a welcoming, supportive environment at 51Ƶ-Dearborn. She’s an advisor and co-founder for ANTS, the nontraditional student organization; a co-counselor for 51Ƶ-Dearborn’s chapter of Alpha Sigma Lambda, an honor society for adult learners; a&nbsp;</span><a href="/casl/undergraduate-programs/admission/soar-program/soar-celebrates-cew-scholars"><span>Center for the Education of Women+ Scholar</span></a><span> who now serves on their scholarship committee, and a member of the 51Ƶ-Dearborn Prison Education Working Group.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>In this month’s Campus Colleagues, Richardson shares why education advocacy is so important to her and how a little bit of the right support can go a long way.</span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <div class="text"> <h4>Find people who will support you with your goals — they are out there.</h4><p dir="ltr"><span>Richardson says education is an equalizer. It helps grow skills and confidence and changes lives. She knows this from experience.&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Richardson and her husband lost their jobs during the recession. Their home and cars soon followed. Then, after years of struggling and moving from place to place with their four children, a Michigan Works caseworker offered some advice. “He suggested going back to school and told me about the SOAR Program at 51Ƶ-Dearborn. It changed my life,” she says.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>It sounds like a nicely wrapped up story. But Richardson says it was a struggle for the seven years — from 2011 to 2018 — she took to earn her bachelor degree in behavioral sciences and women’s and gender studies. She says the SOAR office, and SOAR Director Ellen Judge-Gonzalez in particular, helped her see things that she didn’t see in herself.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“I originally wanted to get a degree where I didn’t have to interact with people. I wanted to work in a medical lab. My previous jobs were doing collections and working at a funeral home. As much as I tried to be positive, I was meeting people at their worst times and it wore me down,” Richardson says. “When I was a student, Ellen kept encouraging me to join student groups and work at the registration desk for events. She saw a natural ability in me when it comes to working with people. She later hired me as a student employee for SOAR and that turned into the fulltime position that I have today. Helping people transform their lives is hard, but rewarding. It’s exactly where I need to be.” Richardson has worked in the SOAR office for a decade.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>The office itself is also a refuge because it’s a place where SOAR students share their stories of tribulations and triumph. Richardson says hearing how people overcome challenges is motivating. “You want to find people who help you feel less alone on your journey,” she says. “They will help you keep moving forward even on the hardest days.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Richardson says she never expected to find a college initiative like the SOAR Program. But going through state social services programs and following up on advice shared with her changed the trajectory of her life. “It might not feel like it right now, but there are people who want to support you,” she says. “Don’t give up. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. And be ready to give it your all when a door opens.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><em>For adult learners considering a return to school to earn their first bachelor’s degree, check out the&nbsp;</em><a href="/casl/undergraduate-programs/admission/soar-program?gad_source=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAiA74G9BhAEEiwA8kNfpWrX06wDtXY1i4nwyiqSyXye9P31gWiKzn3gAQonGyawwdT_Ae_cHRoCpOsQAvD_BwE"><em>SOAR Program</em></a><em>.</em></p> </div> </div> </div> <div> <section class="carousel-wrapper"> <div class="carousel carousel--full "> <div class="carousel-item"> <figure> <img src="/sites/default/files/styles/single_img_carousel/public/2025-02/MPHOTO-DstngshdDivLdrs28Jan25_%20250.JPG?h=06ac0d8c&amp;itok=DuLHh0S1" alt="SOAR Program Assistant Becky Richardson, holding award, is pictured at the Jan. 28 awards ceremony in Ann Arbor with, from left, Disability and Accessibility Services Coordinator Judy Walker, SOAR Director Ellen Judge-Gonzalez, 51Ƶ-Ann Arbor Executive Assistant to the President Brenda Rutkey, who is Richardson's sister, and Sociology Professor Francine Banner. Photo by Michigan Photography"> <figcaption class="carousel-item__caption"> SOAR Program Assistant Becky Richardson, holding award, is pictured at the Jan. 28 awards ceremony in Ann Arbor with, from left, Disability and Accessibility Services Coordinator Judy Walker, SOAR Director Ellen Judge-Gonzalez, 51Ƶ-Ann Arbor Executive Assistant to the President Brenda Rutkey, who is Richardson's sister, and Sociology Professor Francine Banner. Photo by Michigan Photography </figcaption> </figure> </div> </div> </section> </div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <div class="text"> <h4>After reaching goals, look for ways to pay it forward.</h4><p dir="ltr"><span>With her kids and husband — as well as many 51Ƶ-Dearborn colleagues and professors — cheering her on at the 51Ƶ-Dearborn Fieldhouse, Richardson says she will never forget her December 2018 graduation day. “When I walked across the stage, I could hear people yelling my name,” she says. “It was surreal to actually experience something that had only lived in my mind for so long.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>She says many of the same people also nominated her for the U-M award. Nominators were Judge-Gonzalez, Sociology Professor Francine Banner, Criminology and Criminal Justice Lecturer Aaron Kinzel, CASL Advising and Academic Success Administrative Assistant Maureen Sytsma and Disability and Accessibility Services Coordinator Judy Walker.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“This award is something I didn’t see coming. I almost didn’t believe it was real when I first got the email. The subject line said, ‘Congratulations’ and it came in at 4:26 p.m. in the afternoon right before the holiday break began. After all of the spam email warnings we’ve gotten, I thought maybe it was one of those,” Richardson says with a laugh. “But it was very real. It’s amazing to be at a place where the people continue to lift you up.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Richardson works to express her gratitude through service to others. When SOAR students tell her they are behind on rent or their utilities are shut off, she connects them to financial support opportunities or organizations. If courses are a challenge, she lets them know about academic support services on campus. And there’s her open-door policy for her students. “Sometimes all we want is to know someone cares,” she says. “It’s important to remember where you come from and to be that person you once wished was there for you. I can’t say I’m perfect, but I try.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Richardson is also an education advocate for citizens reentering society after prison. She served as a teaching assistant for a 51Ƶ-Dearborn program at Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility and has seen the successes of some of her formerly incarcerated SOAR students like 51Ƶ-Dearborn graduate&nbsp;</span><a href="/news/it-only-takes-one-person-spark-change"><span>Penny Kane</span></a><span>.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“It’s as simple as, treat people how you want to be treated. What shocked me the most when I first worked in the prisons is how the women are trained to see themselves. When I asked their names to sign in, the women started listing off numbers. I kept saying, ‘No, I want to know your name and how to address you.’ Over time, they used their names instead of numbers — it changed the whole dynamic in such a positive way,” she says. “The returning citizens population is one group I am passionate about helping. I know people who have done their time and have difficulty getting jobs or an education because they were once in prison. Why are we still penalizing them beyond their sentence?”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>In the SOAR office on an early Wednesday morning, Richardson makes coffee and heats water for tea — she wants it ready for the students who drop in to use SOAR computers or just want to talk. She organizes a virtual meet-up for her remote students. And she seeks out scholarship opportunities to help a student in need.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“I’m here today — with my college degree and a job I love — because of all the people who supported me. I want to be that person for someone else,” she says. “I’m here to pay it forward.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><em>Story by&nbsp;</em><a href="mailto:stuxbury@umich.edu"><em>Sarah Tuxbury</em></a></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div><a href="/interest-area/awards" hreflang="en">Awards</a></div> <div><a href="/interest-area/faculty-and-staff" hreflang="en">Faculty and Staff</a></div> <div><a href="/interest-area/inclusion-or-diversity" hreflang="en">Inclusion or Diversity</a></div> <div><a href="/interest-area/student-success" hreflang="en">Student Success</a></div> </div> <div> <div><a href="/organizational-unit/college-arts-sciences-and-letters" hreflang="en">College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters</a></div> <div><a href="/organizational-unit/student-engagement" hreflang="en">Student Engagement</a></div> <div><a href="/organizational-unit/first-generation-programming" hreflang="en">First-Generation Programming</a></div> </div> <div> <div>On</div> </div> <div> <div>Off</div> </div> <div> <div>Off</div> </div> <div> <div>Off</div> </div> <div> <div><time datetime="2025-02-04T19:35:20Z">Tue, 02/04/2025 - 19:35</time> </div> </div> <div> <div>SOAR Program Assistant Becky Richardson recently received a U-M award for leaders creating a welcoming and supportive working environment. Richardson’s advice? ‘Treat people how you want to be treated.’</div> </div> <div> <div><article> <div> <div> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner/public/2025-02/02.06.25%20Becky%20Richardson.jpg?h=9fa87daa&amp;itok=s0tLYXOt" width="1360" height="762" alt="Photo of Becky Richardson"> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> <figcaption> SOAR Program Assistant Becky Richardson works to create a welcoming space for students. Photo by Sarah Tuxbury </figcaption> Tue, 04 Feb 2025 19:36:10 +0000 stuxbury 318213 at ‘Students from around the world thrive here’ /news/students-around-world-thrive-here <span>‘Students from around the world thrive here’</span> <span><span>stuxbury</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-01-27T08:40:51-05:00" title="Monday, January 27, 2025 - 8:40 am">Mon, 01/27/2025 - 08:40</time> </span> <div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <div class="text"> <p dir="ltr"><span>College of Business graduate student Mohamed Almajed's long-time dream was to study in the United States. He heard stories from his father, Bader, about how the experience changed his life.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“My father studied computer science in the U.S.in the 1980s and told me how it helped him make life-long connections and become a more independent person. He was very successful,” Almajed says. “Hearing him talk about life in the United States, I’ve wanted to study here since I was a child.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>For the past 10 years, the 28-year-old finance professional from Bahrain — Almajed works in Bahrain’s Ministry of Finance and National Economy, where he’s issued loans on the international and domestic side — looked for opportunities. Last year, he found one. Almajed applied and was selected as a Fulbright Scholar to study at 51Ƶ-Dearborn in the&nbsp;</span><a href="/academics/program/finance-ms?gad_source=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAiAkc28BhB0EiwAM001TXzrsejyXFEHA97ILY_zqH5qbtPoeVYyZzeYl3d_3EbF_sVtqPGmwxoC0DsQAvD_BwE"><span>College of Business’ Master in Finance program</span></a><span>. He moved to Dearborn and started his classes in the fall.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“Out of the 100 applicants in my country, I was selected. I feel so lucky to have this opportunity to study at 51Ƶ-Dearborn. My courses have been challenging, but they are led by professors who treat you well and give you the information needed to be successful. I expected my classes to be challenging, but what I didn’t prepare for is how cold it would be. How do people do it?,” asks Almajed, noting that Bahrain's coldest month of the year, January, averages 65 degrees. “You wake up to all this ice and snow on your car. It is beautiful, but it has taken some getting used to.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Almajed is one of the Fulbright Scholars studying at 51Ƶ-Dearborn this semester. Office of International Affairs Assistant Director Emlly Wang says, in the past, the university typically had one or two international Fulbright students at a time — but this academic year there are four. In addition to Bahrain, current Fulbright Scholars are from Cambodia, Kenya and Panama. They all started in the fall and will be on campus until they complete their degree programs. Reporter will be sharing these students’ stories in the next three Tuesday editions.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Fulbright applicants hoping to study in the U.S. list their top university choices, with the Fulbright organization&nbsp;</span><a href="https://foreign.fulbrightonline.org/host-institutions/foreign-student-program#:~:text=Placement%20into%20U.S.%20Universities,and%20the%20District%20of%20Columbia"><span>matching them based on academic fit</span></a><span>.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“We are becoming more noticed as a destination for Fulbright Scholars to study,” Wang says. “I attribute this to 51Ƶ-Dearborn’s diverse community, our growing graduate programs and the faculty research happening here. It makes the university attractive for students to list us as a top choice.”&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>With budget being a major consideration for Fulbright university applicants, she adds that the affordability of the region, along with 51Ƶ-Dearborn’s tuition costs and scholarship packages, make it attainable. According to a January 2025 Apartments.com&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.apartments.com/rent-market-trends/dearborn-mi/"><span>comparison</span></a><span>, the cost of rent in Dearborn is 21% lower than the national average.&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“Students from around the world thrive here,” Wang says. “We at 51Ƶ-Dearborn believe in providing opportunities for all students. As a community, we ensure that we can make a difference in people's lives here and around the world.” She says faculty and staff from across the university look for ways to make Fulbright students feel at home in a new country. For example, members of the 51Ƶ-Dearborn community typically help students find furniture and transportation, along with helping them navigate grocery stores and find events to attend like the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Almajed says he’s felt this hospitality, especially in the classroom. Even with the rigor of his graduate-level finance courses, he says his professors — especially COB faculty Vivek Singh, Mercedes Miranda and Zhixin (Jason) Liu — are very supportive and welcoming.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“In addition to my professors being experts in the fields, they are also very patient and understanding. They also have lived and studied in other countries before coming to the U.S. They understand what it is like to move somewhere new that’s away from your family to build a life,” he says. “Their kindness helped make the transition easier.”&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>With the first semester in the books, Almajed says he did well in his classes and passed the Bloomberg Market Concepts Certification through his course with Singh. Almajed looks forward to branching out beyond studies for the winter semester and plans to find a finance internship for the summer and take a trip to Chicago in the spring.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Almajed says his experience has been personally fulfilling and he expects it to help him professionally too. He believes understanding finance from a U.S. perspective and learning how other countries handle debt will help him as the Bahrain Ministry of Finance’s head of domestic issuance, as his home country is currently looking at ways to curb inflation.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“I plan to build relationships and gain knowledge that I will take back with me to Bahrain. I want to help build connections between these two homes of mine, just like my father did. I wish I could live this moment with him. My father passed in 2013 when I was 16 years old,” Almajed says. “But he's always with me because he continues to guide me. I know he’s seeing all the things I am accomplishing. I hope he’s proud.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Not only is this experience beneficial to Fulbright students like Almajed — it also brings another layer of international experience at the university. For example, Wang says, a 51Ƶ-Dearborn undergraduate student recently spoke with Almajed about what it’s like to live in Bahrain. The student has family history in Bahrain and wants to teach there, but has not traveled internationally.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“For our 51Ƶ-Dearborn students who haven’t had the opportunity to travel yet, these students open windows into what life is like somewhere else. The Fulbright program fosters mutual understanding between nations and advances knowledge across communities. The world would have fewer conflicts with more understanding among nations and people if we had more exchanges like this,” Wang says. “The Fulbright program gives us an opportunity to live and learn with people from different cultures so we can all become a part of a wider global network.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><em>Story by&nbsp;</em><a href="mailto:stuxbury@umich.edu"><em>Sarah Tuxbury</em></a></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div><a href="/interest-area/awards" hreflang="en">Awards</a></div> <div><a href="/interest-area/international" hreflang="en">International</a></div> <div><a href="/interest-area/student-success" hreflang="en">Student Success</a></div> </div> <div> <div><a href="/organizational-unit/college-business" hreflang="en">College of Business</a></div> <div><a href="/organizational-unit/cob-graduate-programs" hreflang="en">COB Graduate Programs</a></div> </div> <div> <div>On</div> </div> <div> <div>Off</div> </div> <div> <div>Off</div> </div> <div> <div>Off</div> </div> <div> <div><time datetime="2025-01-27T13:40:13Z">Mon, 01/27/2025 - 13:40</time> </div> </div> <div> <div>51Ƶ-Dearborn hosts Fulbright Scholars from Bahrain, Cambodia, Kenya and Panama this academic year. Meet Mohamed Almajed, a finance professional from Bahrain who’s studying in the College of Business.</div> </div> <div> <div><article> <div> <div> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner/public/2025-01/01.28.25%20Mohamed%20Almajed.JPG?h=e56526e0&amp;itok=_1SDwsPj" width="1360" height="762" alt="Mohamed Almajed, a finance professional from Bahrain who’s studying in the College of Business"> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> <figcaption> Fulbright student Mohamed Almajed, pictured in Fairlane Center South's Bloomberg Finance Lab, is a COB student in the Master of Finance program. Photo by Annie Barker </figcaption> Mon, 27 Jan 2025 13:40:51 +0000 stuxbury 317982 at 51Ƶ-Dearborn earns high marks in the U.S. News & World Report “best colleges” rankings /news/um-dearborn-earns-high-marks-us-news-world-report-best-colleges-rankings <span>51Ƶ-Dearborn earns high marks in the U.S. News &amp; World Report “best colleges” rankings</span> <span><span>stuxbury</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-09-23T12:04:41-04:00" title="Monday, September 23, 2024 - 12:04 pm">Mon, 09/23/2024 - 12:04</time> </span> <div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <div class="text"> <p dir="ltr"><span>51Ƶ-Dearborn ranks as the No. 1 regional public university in the state and No. 3 in the Midwest, according to U.S. News &amp; World Report’s 2025 guide to American colleges and universities, which was released today. This marks the 22nd consecutive year 51Ƶ-Dearborn is rated as one of the region’s best.&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Among public and private universities, 51Ƶ-Dearborn continues its upward trend, moving up a place from last year and ranked No. 16 overall in the Midwest regional universities category.&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>51Ƶ-Dearborn is also the highest-ranking regional public university in Michigan on the list of “Top Performers on Social Mobility,” and ranked 12th overall among regional universities in the Midwest, moving up a spot from last year. This list includes colleges that are successful at advancing social mobility by enrolling and graduating large proportions of Pell Grant eligible students and financially supporting these students during their collegiate journey.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>The university is also a top school for veterans. It’s No. 1 on the “Best College for Veterans” list among regional public universities in Michigan. Among all Midwest regional universities, 51Ƶ-Dearborn placed fifth overall.&nbsp;Criteria for the designation include being GI Bill-certified and participating in the&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/post-9-11/yellow-ribbon-program/"><span>Yellow Ribbon Program</span></a><span>. In addition, 51Ƶ-Dearborn provides structure for incoming Dearborn Wolverines who have served, has&nbsp;</span><a href="/veterans-um-dearborn"><span>veterans-based programming</span></a><span> and is active in veteran-supporting activities throughout the community. For example, 51Ƶ-Dearborn’s student veterans and Veteran Affairs Coordinator Tom Pitock are instrumental in U-M Athletics Veterans of the Game program.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>In college-specific listings, U.S. News recognized 51Ƶ-Dearborn’s undergraduate business, computer science, engineering and psychology programs.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>The&nbsp;</span><a href="/cob"><span>College of Business</span></a><span>’ undergraduate business program is ranked fourth in the state. This is the 16th consecutive year it’s appeared on the list.&nbsp;The&nbsp;</span><a href="/cecs"><span>College of Engineering and Computer Science</span></a><span> has two programs on the list: both the ABET-accredited undergraduate engineering program and the computer science undergraduate degree program rank fifth in Michigan. The&nbsp;</span><a href="/casl"><span>College of Arts, Sciences and Letters</span></a><span>’ undergraduate psychology program placed fifth among public universities in the state.&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>U.S. News and World Report’s rankings are based on data on indicators of academic excellence, including first-year retention rate, graduation rate and strength of faculty.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><em>The </em><a href="https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/us-news-ranks-best-colleges"><em>complete 2025 rankings</em></a><em> appear in the magazine’s annual guidebook to “America’s Best Colleges.”</em></p><p dir="ltr"><em>Story by&nbsp;</em><a href="mailto:stuxbury@umich.edu"><em>Sarah Tuxbury</em></a></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div><a href="/interest-area/academic-excellence" hreflang="en">Academic Excellence</a></div> <div><a href="/interest-area/awards" hreflang="en">Awards</a></div> </div> <div> <div><a href="/organizational-unit/college-arts-sciences-and-letters" hreflang="en">College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters</a></div> <div><a href="/organizational-unit/college-business" hreflang="en">College of Business</a></div> <div><a href="/organizational-unit/college-engineering-and-computer-science" hreflang="en">College of Engineering and Computer Science</a></div> </div> <div> <div>On</div> </div> <div> <div>Off</div> </div> <div> <div>Off</div> </div> <div> <div>Off</div> </div> <div> <div><time datetime="2024-09-23T16:02:25Z">Mon, 09/23/2024 - 16:02</time> </div> </div> <div> <div>Among the accolades: No. 1 regional public university in the state and a top university for veterans and for students looking to move up the economic ladder.</div> </div> <div> <div><article> <div> <div> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner/public/2024-09/09.24.24%20US%20news.jpg?h=1b18aafc&amp;itok=AxUVvprU" width="1360" height="762" alt="Students in CIS professor Bruce Maxim's class."> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> <figcaption> Students work on a computer science project in Professor Bruce Maxim's class. </figcaption> Mon, 23 Sep 2024 16:04:41 +0000 stuxbury 316671 at 51Ƶ-Dearborn earns nationwide recognition for exceptional mathematics program /news/um-dearborn-earns-nationwide-recognition-exceptional-mathematics-program <span>51Ƶ-Dearborn earns nationwide recognition for exceptional mathematics program</span> <span><span>stuxbury</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-06-10T12:40:46-04:00" title="Monday, June 10, 2024 - 12:40 pm">Mon, 06/10/2024 - 12:40</time> </span> <div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <div class="text"> <p dir="ltr"><span>There is only one collegiate math program in the state that’s accredited by America's two leading actuarial societies&nbsp; — and it’s right here at 51Ƶ-Dearborn.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>The&nbsp;</span><a href="/academics/program/actuarial-mathematics-babs"><span>51Ƶ-Dearborn Actuarial Mathematics program</span></a><span> — a campus major that has a core curriculum of mathematics, statistics, economics and finance courses — earned the seal of approval from the Casualty Actuarial Society and the Society of Actuaries, acknowledging it as a strategically designed program that actively guides students towards attaining the qualifications of an actuary associate.</span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <figure class="captioned-image inline--right"> <img src="/sites/default/files/2024-06/mikedabkowski_0-500x.jpg" alt="Mathematics Associate Professor Mike Dabkowski"> <figcaption class="inline-caption"> Mathematics Associate Professor Mike Dabkowski </figcaption> </figure> <div class="text"> <p dir="ltr"><span>The campus’ actuarial mathematics major, which had SOA recognition for years, earned the&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.casact.org/university-programs/university-recognition-program"><span>CAS University Recognition Program</span></a><span> honor in May, which evaluates universities around the world. Other institutions on the 2024 CAS list include Penn State, Temple University, University of New South Wales Sydney, Boston University, University of Toronto and Arizona State.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Mathematics Associate Professor Mike Dabkowski said this is an important milestone for the university. “There are two major career pathways in actuarial science and now we are officially recognized for having an exceptional program and being student-centered for both,” he said, noting the CAS path focuses exclusively on property and casualty risks; the SOA path focuses on life insurance, health insurance, pensions and retirement. “The mission of the university is to give our students the tools and skills they need to succeed after graduation. This is the seal of approval to say we are doing just that.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>The accolades sound great — but what does an actuary actually do? Dabkowski described the position as providing a safety net for an organization. Actuaries assess financial risks in various sectors, such as insurance, investments, pensions and environmental sustainability, and they develop models to predict and manage future events, even under uncertain circumstances. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, it’s a great job to have. The median pay for actuaries is $120,000 per year, and employment of actuaries is projected to grow 23% by the end of the decade, much faster than the average for all occupations.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>This credential, which lists 51Ƶ-Dearborn at the bronze tier, gives students access to CAS exam resources, provides avenues for actuarial conference attendance, shares job opportunities and more. Mathematics Associate Professor Mahesh Agarwal — who said the university was evaluated based on course topics, faculty involvement with CAS, student achievement and exam prep — said the university is already striving for silver.</span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <figure class="captioned-image inline--left"> <img src="/sites/default/files/2023-04/mahesh_agarwal.jpg" alt="Mahesh Agarwal"> <figcaption class="inline-caption"> Mathematics Associate Professor Mahesh Agarwal </figcaption> </figure> <div class="text"> <p dir="ltr"><span>“Our strength is that we are a small program with individualized attention that combines the resources of U-M,” said Agarwal, who mentioned that Dearborn Wolverines attend the 51Ƶ-Ann Arbor Actuarial Career Expo, which attracts large companies from around the world. “It is wonderful to have organizations vouching for the quality of our program. But, for the CAS recognition, we are not stopping at bronze level. We are getting more alumni engaged and students are forming an actuarial society on campus. We are actively progressing and working towards fulfilling the criteria for the silver designation. We view achieving the bronze level as an initial milestone in our journey.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Prep for actuarial exams in part of the evaluation. And exams are not easy, Agarwal said. On average, the effective pass rate for the first actuarial exam is 46%. 51Ƶ-Dearborn's first exam pass rate is 20-plus percentage points higher at 67%.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Alum Autumn Tashman, Class of 2023, passed both the first exam (probability) and the second one (financial mathematics) on the first try while she was a student. “To help me understand the concepts, Professor Dabkowski and Professor Agarwal began twice weekly study sessions with me six months prior to taking the first exam,” said Tashman, who went the CAS route for her career. “They even reached out to me right before the exam to help me calm down — I was so stressed — and I think that helped me have better focus.”</span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <figure class="captioned-image inline--right"> <img src="/sites/default/files/2024-06/Autumn%20tashman.jpg" alt="Alum Autumn Tashman, Class of 2023"> <figcaption class="inline-caption"> Autumn Tashman </figcaption> </figure> <div class="text"> <p dir="ltr"><span>Tashman is now an associate actuarial analyst at Ally Financial in Detroit. She heard about Ally Financial job opportunities through the 51Ƶ-Ann Arbor Actuarial Career Expo, which she learned about from her 51Ƶ-Dearborn professors. She’s currently preparing for her next exam — and even though she is no longer a student, Dabkowski met with her over Zoom last week to do a material overview. “The professors I’ve had at 51Ƶ-Dearborn are the best and I credit them for where I am today,” she said.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><em>Have questions about the actuarial science career field or the program? Dabkowski and Agerwal said they look forward to talking with parents, prospective students and anyone who would like more information. You can reach them at&nbsp;</em><a href="mailto:mkagarwa@umich.edu"><em>mkagarwa@umich.edu</em></a><em> and&nbsp;</em><a href="mailto:mgdabkow@umich.edu"><em>mgdabkow@umich.edu</em></a><em>. Learn more about the&nbsp;</em><a href="https://www.casact.org/university-programs/university-recognition-program"><em>CAS University Recognition Program</em></a><em>.&nbsp;</em></p><p><em>Story by&nbsp;</em><a href="mailto:stuxbury@umich.edu"><em>Sarah Tuxbury</em></a><em>.</em></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div><a href="/interest-area/academic-excellence" hreflang="en">Academic Excellence</a></div> <div><a href="/interest-area/awards" hreflang="en">Awards</a></div> <div><a href="/interest-area/student-success" hreflang="en">Student Success</a></div> </div> <div> <div><a href="/organizational-unit/college-arts-sciences-and-letters" hreflang="en">College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters</a></div> <div><a href="/organizational-unit/mathematics-and-statistics" hreflang="en">Mathematics and Statistics</a></div> </div> <div> <div>On</div> </div> <div> <div>Off</div> </div> <div> <div>Off</div> </div> <div> <div>Off</div> </div> <div> <div><time datetime="2024-06-10T16:40:09Z">Mon, 06/10/2024 - 16:40</time> </div> </div> <div> <div>The formula of active learning, dedicated professors and student success leads to a new actuarial science society honor.</div> </div> <div> <div><article> <div> <div> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner/public/2024-06/2024_03_12_CASL1078%281%29.jpg?h=455b0d43&amp;itok=FEZgUl2_" width="1360" height="762" alt="Photos of actuarial math students in spring 2024"> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> <figcaption> Students in the actuarial math program brainstorm solutions together. Photo/Julianne Lindsey </figcaption> Mon, 10 Jun 2024 16:40:46 +0000 stuxbury 305375 at Congrats to the CECS and CEHHS Medallion awardees /news/congrats-cecs-and-cehhs-medallion-awardees <span>Congrats to the CECS and CEHHS Medallion awardees</span> <span><span>stuxbury</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-04-10T18:41:27-04:00" title="Wednesday, April 10, 2024 - 6:41 pm">Wed, 04/10/2024 - 18:41</time> </span> <div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <div class="text"> <p dir="ltr"><span>This commencement season, 12 students are recognized with 51Ƶ-Dearborn’s top honors.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Chosen by faculty from their respective colleges, graduates are recognized for their outstanding quality of character, intellect, integrity and academic record.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Three Dean’s Medallion awardees are chosen per college with one of those students selected to receive the Chancellor’s Medallion. This semester’s Chancellor’s Medallion winner comes from the College of Engineering and Computer Science. These students will be recognized during the April 27 commencement celebrations.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><em>The </em><a href="/news/congrats-casl-and-cob-medallion-awardees"><em>College of Arts, Sciences and Letters and the College of Business recipients</em></a><em> were featured in a Reporter article on Tuesday.</em></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Here are the awardees from the College of Education, Health and Human Services and CECS.</span></p><h3><span>Chancellor’s Medallion</span></h3> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <figure class="captioned-image inline--left"> <img src="/sites/default/files/2024-04/Mink%20-%20Brahim%20Medjahed-500x.jpg" alt="Photo of Zoie Mink, Chancellor Medallion winner and Spring 2024 CECS grad"> </figure> <div class="text"> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Zoie Mink</strong><br><strong>College of Engineering and Computer Science</strong></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Zoie Mink is receiving a dual Bachelor of Science in Engineering in mechanical engineering and bioengineering. She is also receiving an undergraduate certificate in engineering mechanics.&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Mink’s outstanding leadership was recognized with the Alan Mulally Leadership in Engineering Scholarship in 2022. This competitive scholarship recognizes students from universities around the globe that “have demonstrated leadership skills in academic or community-based settings.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Mink was a researcher in the Human Factors Lab under Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering Amanda Esquivel. She studied female lacrosse athlete head impacts, as well as dancer and soccer player landing kinematics and kinetics. Mink was also a research intern at Wake Forest School of Medicine during summer 2022 and 2023. During her first summer, she researched soccer athletes performing headers and the kinematic and neurocognitive effects. During her second summer, she worked with NASCAR to investigate rear crashes and the effect of head surround foam on driver head kinematics. Mink published and presented her research results at annual meetings of the Biomedical Engineering Society.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Mink, a supplemental instructor in the Mechanical Engineering Department, is president of the Society of Women Engineers, vice president of Pi Tau Sigma, corresponding secretary of Tau Beta Pi and professional development chair for the Biomedical Engineering Society at 51Ƶ-Dearborn. As SWE president, she led the organization of the 2024 POWER (Professional Opportunities for Women and Engineering and Research) conference. Mink also is passionate about K-12 outreach and encouraging young girls to pursue majors and careers in STEM. Mink has initiated and helped lead middle school outreach programs, a big sister/little sister mentorship program and a rocketry event for Girl Scouts.&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Mink will work at Ford Motor Company in the crash safety labs for the summer. She will then start a biomedical engineering graduate program in August to work toward her master’s and doctoral degrees.</span></p><h3><span>Dean’s Medallion</span></h3> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <figure class="captioned-image inline--left"> <img src="/sites/default/files/2024-04/Headshot%20-%20Eejoy%20Lim%20-%20Brahim%20Medjahed.jpeg" alt="Photo of Eejoy Lim, Spring 2024 grad and CECS Dean's Medallion winner"> </figure> <div class="text"> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Eejoy Lim</strong><br><strong>College of Engineering and Computer Science</strong></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Eejoy Lim is receiving a Bachelor of Science in software engineering.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Lim is involved in research. She’s worked with Assistant Professor of Computer and Information Science Zheng Song on detecting bias and discrimination in web services. Lim also worked with Assistant Professor of Computer and Information Science Probir Roy to fine tune transformer models for detecting performance bugs in high performance computing applications.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>She secured an internship position in summer 2023 with Petronas, a Fortune Global 500 oil and gas company, where she developed and designed a website to facilitate and streamline the handover process across teams for more than 1,100 gas stations. Her contribution led to a 30% reduction in processing time, significantly improving efficiency.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Aiming to contribute to the academic success of her peers, Lim worked as a supplemental instruction leader, where she led boot camps and study sessions for core computer and information science courses. Additionally, she aimed to introduce different perspectives and enhance the breadth of student learning. She revived TEDx51ƵDearborn, which had been discontinued during the pandemic, and is a core team member of Hack Dearborn events. And, as president of the Student Activities Board, Lim organized some of the biggest events on campus, including the Homecoming Carnival, the Cedar Point trip and the Thanksgiving dinner. Lim also helped bring the campus friend, Bruce the Goose, to life.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Lim has applied to several graduate programs in computer science.</span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <figure class="captioned-image inline--left"> <img src="/sites/default/files/2024-04/Mackiewicz%2C%20Michael%20-%20Brahim%20Medjahed.jpg" alt="Photo of Michael Mackiewicz, CECS Dean's Medallion winner and Class of Spring 2024 grad"> </figure> <div class="text"> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Michael Mackiewicz</strong><br><strong>College of Engineering and Computer Science</strong></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Michael Mackiewicz is receiving a dual Bachelor of Science in Engineering in electrical engineering and engineering mathematics.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Mackiewicz is a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success and is highly regarded by faculty in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department as well as the Mathematics Department. Mackiewicz had an internship with Consumers Energy in the summer of 2023, working as a low voltage distribution planning engineer. He worked on many projects that focused on increasing the safety and reliability of power lines. Mackiewicz continued to work for Consumers Energy part time during his final year of college.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Mackiewicz’s outstanding college experience has not been without challenges. In his senior high school year, Mackiewicz was diagnosed with lupus, an autoimmune disease. His treatment carried into college, which included a kidney biopsy, hip and ankle surgery, and a full hip replacement along with many sessions of physical therapy totaling around two years. With the help of the Office of Disability Services, Mackiewicz was able to attend college throughout his medical treatment.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>On top of managing his health and studies, he has been an active member of the United States Powerlifting Association for more than two years. Through his engagement in powerlifting, Mackiewicz strives to inspire others not to be confined by their disabilities.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Following his graduation, Mackiewicz has accepted a position as electrical engineer at Wade Trim, an energy utility company.</span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <figure class="captioned-image inline--left"> <img src="/sites/default/files/2024-04/Mary%20updated-500x.jpg" alt="Photo of Mary Bradshaw, Class of Spring 2024 CEHHS Dean's Medallion winner "> </figure> <div class="text"> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Mary Bradshaw</strong><br><strong>College of Education, Health and Human Services</strong></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Mary Bradshaw is receiving her Bachelor of Science in health and human services with a focus on human services.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Bradshaw is a leader on the field and in the classroom. She was named captain of the women's cross country team from Fall 2022, participated on the Student-Athlete Advisory Council and served as the Team Representative on the Council since Fall 2023. She’s earned multiple WHAC Champions of Character awards and the Chancellor's Award for exemplary leadership and community engagement through athletics. In addition, Bradshaw has worked as a supplemental instruction leader and has been a student associate in the Graduate Studies/Admissions office.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Working as an undergraduate research assistant alongside Associate Professor of Sociology Carmel Price and Associate Professor of Public Health Natalie Sampson, Bradshaw delved into the complexities of using plain language in public notices pertaining to the Clean Air Act — an initiative resonating with environmental justice concerns. Their collective efforts culminated in a publication featured in the journal Environmental Science and Policy. Bradshaw played an active role in presenting the findings at the American Public Health Association annual conference and the Environmental Health Research to Action Academy.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>What makes Bradshaw’s academic journey unique has been her commitment to the 4+1 HHS to MSW program where — through her academics, research, athletics and work experience — she has had the opportunity to engage with her various passions, such as mental health, public health, the environment, communities and social work, to generate a vision for change that she wants to see in the world.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Following graduation, Bradshaw will finish her Master of Social Work at 51Ƶ-Ann Arbor.</span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <figure class="captioned-image inline--left"> <img src="/sites/default/files/2024-04/Britney%20Chungag%20-%20Shari%20Marshall.jpeg" alt="Photo of Britney Chungag, CEHHS Dean's Medallion winner and Class of Spring 2024 grad"> </figure> <div class="text"> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Britney Chungag</strong><br><strong>College of Education, Health and Human Services</strong></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Britney Chungag is receiving a Bachelor of Science in health and human services with a focus on public health. Additionally, she has earned an undergraduate certificate in health communications from the College of Arts, Sciences and Letters.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>A nontraditional student, Chungag transferred to 51Ƶ-Dearborn from Oakland Community College. Though faced with challenges and delays in her educational timeline, she attributes her success to the unwavering support of friends and family as she juggled studies, work and personal aspirations.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>In her research efforts, guided by Assistant Professor of Human Services Finn Bell, Chungag developed a logic model for the nonprofit Foster Love to evaluate and improve their Family Fellowship Scholarship. This project was pivotal in helping former foster youth with the college process, focusing on nondiscrimination and enhancing student success rates. Chungag also completed a research project dissecting the fashion industry's history and environmental impact. This sustainability-focused research project highlights the effects of fast fashion on society, environmental repercussions and potential legislative solutions. Under Lecturer Michael Montgomery’s mentorship, Chungag developed a fundraising portfolio for Code.org, showcasing effective strategies for individual and corporate fundraising efforts.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Chungag’s extracurricular activities include memberships in the African Student Union, Black Student Union, Criminology and Criminal Justice Collective, Pre-Law Association and Public Health Society, as well as the Phi Theta Kappa honor society and the National Society of Leadership and Success.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Following graduation, Chungag plans to take the LSAT and pursue law school. Envisioning a Fall 2025 entry into a JD/master's program, she is considering specializations in either public health or health informatics.</span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <figure class="captioned-image inline--left"> <img src="/sites/default/files/2024-04/Hannah%20Funk%20Updated-500x.jpeg" alt="Photo of Hannah Funk, Class of Spring 2024 grad and CEHHS Dean's Medallion winner"> </figure> <div class="text"> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Hannah Funk</strong><br><strong>College of Education, Health and Human Services</strong></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Hannah Funk is completing her Bachelor of Arts in mathematics, with a vision to transition into elementary education.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Funk participated in multiple field-based learning experiences throughout her academic journey. At Salina Elementary School, Funk not only observed first-grade math lessons, but also delivered an addition lesson. At Thorne Elementary, she assisted in sixth-grade ELA instruction and taught a class, further sharpening her pedagogical skills. As a student teacher at Allen Elementary, Funk was immersed in a kindergarten setting, balancing the instruction of various subjects with the development of classroom management techniques and nurturing educational connections.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Her professional portfolio is further enriched by her undergraduate research experience. During her capstone courses, Funk created educational action plans that utilized researched-based practices to fill gaps in understanding for students. These targeted multiple content areas like science, ELA and math. Within the action plans, Funk reviewed studies that utilized best practices and then used the findings to support students. She also wrote lesson plans that required the use of researched-based practices in order to tailor instruction to support students. During her current semester of student teaching, she continues to research best practices to ensure the success of her students.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Funk has balanced full-time work, achievements and rigorous course loads, while experiencing challenges, including losing a family member. Through it all, she continues to look for ways to help others.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>After graduation, Funk plans to teach elementary education and is eager to enter the classroom as an in-service teacher. She intends to begin a master’s degree in special education.</span></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div><a href="/interest-area/awards" hreflang="en">Awards</a></div> <div><a href="/interest-area/commencement" hreflang="en">Commencement</a></div> <div><a href="/interest-area/student-success" hreflang="en">Student Success</a></div> </div> <div> <div><a href="/organizational-unit/college-education-health-and-human-services" hreflang="en">College of Education, Health, and Human Services</a></div> <div><a href="/organizational-unit/college-engineering-and-computer-science" hreflang="en">College of Engineering and Computer Science</a></div> </div> <div> <div>On</div> </div> <div> <div>Off</div> </div> <div> <div>Off</div> </div> <div> <div>Off</div> </div> <div> <div><time datetime="2024-04-10T22:40:24Z">Wed, 04/10/2024 - 22:40</time> </div> </div> <div> <div>51Ƶ-Dearborn honors a select group of soon-to-be grads each semester for outstanding achievement.</div> </div> <div> <div><article> <div> <div> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner/public/2024-04/medallion-winners2.jpg?h=f0fb51a5&amp;itok=aK6veVY8" width="1360" height="762" alt="Photo collage of CECS/CEHHS medallion award winners"> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> Wed, 10 Apr 2024 22:41:27 +0000 stuxbury 305103 at Honoring 1,022 years of service — and more /news/honoring-1022-years-service-and-more <span>Honoring 1,022 years of service — and more</span> <span><span>stuxbury</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-11-27T14:00:40-05:00" title="Monday, November 27, 2023 - 2:00 pm">Mon, 11/27/2023 - 14:00</time> </span> <div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <div class="text"> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The Chancellor’s Staff Recognition Awards honors the work staff members do on 51Ƶ-Dearborn’s campus every day like advising students, prepping labs, mowing lawns, advancing technology and more.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Welcoming the audience of more than 150 to the Nov. 8 staff award breakfast, Chancellor Domenico Grasso applauded the dedication of campus’ employees. “Our staff serves as the backbone of our great university,” he said. “You are central to our operations and make our campus work, not just for our students, but for faculty, as well. We could not create the excellent learning and teaching environment we have without you.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Grasso said the average number of years of service for 51Ƶ-Dearborn staff attending the event was 10 years. To show how impressive this number is, he compared it to The Bureau of Labor Statistics 2022 report that said the median number of years wage and salary workers stay with their current employer is 4.1 years.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Grasso also said the 2023 51Ƶ-Dearborn milestone anniversaries totaled 1,022 years, with individuals celebrating up to four decades on campus. “What you do helps to transform the lives of our students, and all of our staff should be proud of the support they provide, empowering those attending 51Ƶ-Dearborn to make the most from their time here,” he said.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p>Counseling and Psychological Services Director Sara Byczek, who was a featured speaker at the event, echoed Grasso's message about the staff's dedication to students when she shared information about mental health services available on campus.&nbsp;"CAPS is here to help staff and faculty in their endeavors to support students' mental health," Byczek said to the audience. "We appreciate the work you do."&nbsp;</p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>In addition to the milestones — which are listed below — five awards honored people or teams that went above and beyond 51Ƶ-Dearborn’s mission. </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Chancellor’s Staff Recognition Awards co-chair Linda Jacoby, Institutional Advancement business director, said the selection committee received 24 nominations.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>“It is always extremely difficult for the committee to select the award recipient from such strong candidates,” Jacoby said. “Congratulations to all of our nominees and thank you to their nominators.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <h4><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Here are the 2023 award winners.</span></span></strong></span></span></span></h4> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <figure class="captioned-image inline--center"> <img src="/sites/default/files/2023-11/2023_11_08_51ƵDAwards_0276.jpeg" alt="Photo of the 2023 CSRA winners"> <figcaption class="inline-caption"> Chancellor Grasso, far right, stands with the 2023 award winners. They are, from left, Robin Wagner, Jocelyn Young Huinder, Kelsey Parker, Ryan Neloms, Tahnee Prokopow and Noel Hornbacher. Dawn Roult is not pictured. </figcaption> </figure> <div class="text"> <p><strong><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Dearborn Victors Award</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></strong><br> <span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Winner: Ryan Neloms</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>New this year, the Dearborn Victor Award recognizes</span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> actions that personify diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and who positively impacts the lives of others on campus.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Here’s what a nominator had to say:</span></span></span></span></span></span><br> <span><span><span><span><em><span>“His compassionate approach has helped calm many students who are struggling with a host of different issues. He is always willing to go the extra mile to help students receive the resources and support they need to be successful and does so with respect and awareness of the different backgrounds of our students. Engaging with students who are often distressed can easily take a toll on anyone. Still, Ryan's positive attitude and commitment to students' success are evident, as he never backs away from being fully present and going the extra mile.”</span></em></span></span></span></span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <div class="text"> <p><strong><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Advancing the Mission</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></strong><br> <span><span><span><span><span><span>Winner: The Financial Services Leadership team members Noel Hornbacher, Dawn Roult, and Robin Wagner</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Here’s an excerpt from the nomination:</span></span></span></span></span></span><br> <span><span><span><span><em><span>“With a decentralized financial model, it is a challenging task to find strategies that work for all colleges and units. And yet, Noel, Dawn, and Robin continually look for ways to guide decisions in light of our campus strategic priorities. More than that, ‘the three’ really care about the campus culture and understand that while we have to budget responsibly, we must also think about the human beings impacted by financial decisions.”</span></em></span></span></span></span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <div class="text"> <p><strong><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Innovation</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></strong><br> <span><span><span><span><span><span>Winner: Kelsey Parker, Experience+ project manager for experiential learning</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>To quote excerpts from the nomination:</span></span></span></span></span></span><br> <span><span><span><span><span><em><span>“Kelsey devised engaging and innovative ideas for the Graduate Summer Writing Camp, having us host it in the EIC, making trail maps and supplying s’mores and camp T-shirts to the primarily international students who had yet to have a camping experience. She was vital in proposing and convening the first ‘Student Employment Advisory Council,’ comprised of unit leaders who employ many student employees. It’s typical of Kelsey, taking what is established and time-honored and rethinking it to make it more accessible, inclusive and fun.”</span></em></span></span></span></span></span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <div class="text"> <p><strong><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Staff Development</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></strong><br> <span><span><span><span><span><span>Winner: Jocelyn Young Huinder, software training and documentation coordinator</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Here’s what a nominator said:</span></span></span></span></span></span><br> <span><span><span><span><em><span>“She was proactive in her approach…and instead of waiting until staff were struggling with technology, she went ahead unprompted and coordinated an hour-long recorded training session for users to attend. Her ability to facilitate collaboration and communication among different teams has been instrumental in streamlining the process, ensuring that software is effectively utilized to support student success.”</span></em></span></span></span></span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <div class="text"> <p><strong><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Student Success</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></strong><br> <span><span><span><span><span><span>Winner: Tahnee Prokopow, health professions advising director</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>To quote an excerpt from her nomination:</span></span></span></span></span></span><br> <span><span><span><span><em><span>“Tahnee has a unique ability to challenge students to become the best versions of themselves so that when they apply to health professional schools, they are prepared and at an advanced level compared to other applicants.”</span></em></span></span></span></span></p> <h4><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Here are the staff service milestone honorees.</span></span></strong></span></span></span></h4> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <figure class="captioned-image inline--center"> <img src="/sites/default/files/2023-11/5%20years%20of%20service%202023%202023_11_08_51ƵDAwards_0216.jpeg" alt="2023 5-year service award milestone"> </figure> <div class="text"> <p><strong><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>5-year milestone anniversary</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></strong></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Louis Blouin, Andy Dean, Michael DeVoe, Karen Dimanche Davis, Chancellor Domenico Grasso, Brian Hoang, Christine Homan, Jessica Johnson Jackie Kortes, Brian LaGoe, Francisco Lopez, McKenna Maurino, Andrea McDaniel, Aijalon McLittle, Rick Morrone, Blythe Murphy, Faith Olson, Latresa Rice, Celia Robinson, Ethan Savage, Shawn Simone, Homer Stone, Kyle Sutherland, Paul Tadajewski, Kamal Turner, Nathan Wallace, Charles Wang and Jerrard Wheeler</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <figure class="captioned-image inline--center"> <img src="/sites/default/files/2023-11/10%20years%20of%20service%202023_11_08_51ƵDAwards_0223.jpeg" alt="10 year employees"> </figure> <div class="text"> <p><strong><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>10-year milestone anniversary</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></strong></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Marc Brigolin, Danielle Camardese, Elizabeth Clark, Jason Crofton, Kaitlin Deslatte, Cris Frendo, Christopher Haltinner, Nina Loveberry, Molly Manley, Dawn Roult, Brittnie Smith, Matthew Speck, Jesse Stanghini, Thomas Stockwell and Nikki Wasilius</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <figure class="captioned-image inline--center"> <img src="/sites/default/files/2023-11/15%20years%20of%20service%202023_11_08_51ƵDAwards_0229.jpeg" alt="15 year employees"> </figure> <div class="text"> <p><strong><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>15-year milestone anniversary</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></strong></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Deidra Berry, Sarah Dorchak, Susanne Gassel, Ellen Judge-Gonzalez, Barbara McLaughlin, Lisa Miller, Kelly Schester, Howard Williams, Steve Williams and Joey Woods </span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <figure class="captioned-image inline--center"> <img src="/sites/default/files/2023-11/20%20years%20of%20service%202023_11_08_51ƵDAwards_0235.jpeg" alt="20 year employees"> </figure> <div class="text"> <p><strong><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>20-year milestone anniversary</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></strong></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Kenneth Byrd, Terry Ebenhoeh, Michael Kamen, Wonsuk Kim, Corey Lambert, Larry Papin and Judith Walker</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <figure class="captioned-image inline--center"> <img src="/sites/default/files/2023-11/25%20years%20of%20service%202023_11_08_51ƵDAwards_0242.jpeg" alt="25 years of service employees"> </figure> <div class="text"> <p><strong><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>25-year milestone anniversary</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></strong></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Madeline Snipes Derrick, Caryn Finkelstein, Susan Flannery, Noel Hornbacher and Scott Howard</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <figure class="captioned-image inline--center"> <img src="/sites/default/files/2023-11/30%20years%20of%20service%202023_11_08_51ƵDAwards_0246-1600x.jpeg" alt="30 years of service employees"> </figure> <div class="text"> <p><strong><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>30-year milestone anniversary</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></strong></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Sherri Frost and Giannina Wilson</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <figure class="captioned-image inline--center"> <img src="/sites/default/files/2023-11/35%20years%20of%20service-1600x.jpeg" alt="35 years of service employees"> </figure> <div class="text"> <p><strong><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>35-year milestone anniversary</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></strong></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Julie Dunckel and Soraya Jeffries Patton</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <figure class="captioned-image inline--center"> <img src="/sites/default/files/2023-11/40%20years%20of%20service%202023_11_08_51ƵDAwards_0255-500x.jpeg" alt="40 years of service"> </figure> <div class="text"> <p><strong><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>40-year milestone anniversary</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></strong></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Marlene Dupre, Geoffrey Hosker, Robert St. Clair, Greg Taylor and&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span>Melisa Wilson</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="copy-media paragraph l-constrain l-constrain--large paragraph--type-text-media paragraph--display-mode-default"> <div class="text"> <p><span><span><span><span><em><span>Event co-chairs were Linda Jacoby, Shari Marshall and Rachel Buzzeo. Additional committee members included Nada Bachir, Mary Jones, Kari Kowalski, Nina Loveberry, Molly McCutchan, Kelsey Parker, Celia Robinson, Erin Vickey, event consultant Sheryl Kubiak and c</span></em></span></span></span></span>hancellor liaison Jackie Kortes.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div><a href="/interest-area/awards" hreflang="en">Awards</a></div> </div> <div> <div><a href="/organizational-unit/staff-senate" hreflang="en">Staff Senate</a></div> </div> <div> <div>On</div> </div> <div> <div>Off</div> </div> <div> <div>Off</div> </div> <div> <div>Off</div> </div> <div> <div><time datetime="2023-11-27T18:59:14Z">Mon, 11/27/2023 - 18:59</time> </div> </div> <div> <div>At the Chancellor’s Staff Recognition Awards ceremony, the campus community shared a meal, camaraderie and thanks for a job well done.</div> </div> <div> <div><article> <div> <div> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner/public/2023-11/Feature%20No.%203%20Chancellor%20Recognition%20Awards.jpg?h=76a9f532&amp;itok=PEm4iu8c" width="1360" height="762" alt="Photo of the audience at the Chancellor's Staff Recognition Awards"> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> Mon, 27 Nov 2023 19:00:40 +0000 stuxbury 303726 at