SATURDAY, MAY 15, 2021 57th Annual Alumni Awards 1 PROGRAM WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION Josh Landon ’06 Master of Ceremonies REMARKS Mia Milton ’96, ’12G Interim Executive Director for Alumni Relations and Engagement PRESENTATION OF AWARDS OUTSTANDING YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD Farah Harb ’12G Jasmine A. Lee ’09 Zach Wigal ’16 ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Kevin N. Alschuler ’06G, ’10PhD Dr. Derrick R. Coleman ’96, ’01G Christina Miller ’02G Chad Newton ’97, ’11G DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD Carrie J. Clark ’89 Bynarozell Elliott ’92 DR. JOHN W. PORTER DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD Gregory A. Peoples Bette Warren CLOSING REMARKS James M. Smith EMU President 60th Annual Alumni Awards 1 MASTER OF CEREMONIES ALUMNI AWARDS Josh Landon (BS06) is OUTSTANDING YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD an alumnus of Eastern This award is presented to alumni whose Michigan University (EMU) achievements have been signified by personal and a renowned journalist honors bestowed upon them by their peers and who currently working at FOX have demonstrated the worth of their education 2 News as an anchor/ through their post-college achievements. Generally, reporter, delivering news recipients have been graduates of Eastern to viewers across metro Michigan University for less than ten years. Detroit. Landon was born and raised in the city of Detroit and attended Denby ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD High School. He continued his education at EMU where This award is presented to alumni who have he received a Bachelor of achieved distinction in their chosen field, clearly Science in broadcast journalism. demonstrated the value of their college education, Before returning to Detroit, Landon’s career and maintained a continuing interest in Eastern carried him to many other news stations as a Michigan University. Generally, recipients have reporter, including WLNS-TV6 in Lansing, Michigan, been graduates of Eastern Michigan University for NBC News in Miami/Fort Lauderdale, Florida, ten to twenty-five years. WRIC in Richmond, Virginia, and WDJT CBS 58 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Josh’s passion for the DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD city can be seen through his work at FOX 2, which resulted in a second Emmy for his news feature This award is presented to alumni who have about widespread illegal dumping in Detroit. He achieved extraordinary distinction in their chosen received his first Emmy while reporting in Richmond, field, demonstrated exceptional service to others, Virginia covering gang activities. In addition to and maintained a continuing interest in Eastern these accolades, Josh was the cover story for the Michigan University. Generally, recipients have June 2019 edition of Beautiful Machine Mag and been graduates of Eastern Michigan University for was a recipient of the 2019 Michigan Chronicle 40 more than twenty-five years. Under 40. As a recognizable on-air personality and an accomplished journalist, Josh is often featured as a guest speaker at various engagements DR. JOHN W. PORTER DISTINGUISHED throughout Southeast Michigan. SERVICE AWARD Though Josh’s career can be demanding, he This award is presented to individuals who have continues to demonstrate his EMU pride and can made an outstanding contribution to Eastern be seen representing EMU on-air by wearing green Michigan University or the Alumni Association. and white and the Block E. As a proud alumnus, Recipients need not be graduates of Eastern he stays connected to EMU in various capacities Michigan University. including an appearance on EMU Today to talk about his career as well as serving as a mentor for students majoring in broadcasting, and as a journalism instructor. He regularly attends campus activities such as the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration and the annual Homecoming festivities. Josh is a member of the EMU Black Alumni Association, National Association of Black Journalists, and the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame Task Force. 2 Eastern Michigan University 60th Annual Alumni Awards 3 OUTSTANDING YOUNG OUTSTANDING YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD ALUMNI AWARD Farah Harb (MBA12) has Jasmine A. Lee (BS09) amassed a wealth of serves as the Director of experience in the field of Inclusive Excellence and human resources and career Initiatives for Identity, advising early in her career. Inclusion and Belonging at Currently, she’s the Global the University of Maryland Education Programs Analyst Baltimore County (UMBC). at Ford Motor Company In her professional capacity, Fund, overseeing education Jasmine works with staff, programs that provide faculty and students to scholarship opportunities create inclusive campus for students to help them environments through financially while they direct programming and achieve academic success, strategic student success as well as funding for student-led projects that initiatives. With her team of professional, graduate, address a social need or problem in communities and student staff, she works to provide a sense around the world. She also teaches BA300: Career of belonging for underserved students through Planning and Development at the University of three identity-based cultural centers, and provides Michigan-Dearborn, providing students with career consultation and training for racial climate advice and helping them achieve their career goals. concerns and broader diversity issues for faculty Farah completed her undergraduate studies and staff across campus. at the University of Michigan-Dearborn having In addition to her work at UMBC, Jasmine earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in is the Founder and Principal Consultant with 2010. She then went on to complete her Master of J. Lee Consulting, LLC. Over the past five Business Administration from Eastern Michigan years, Jasmine has spoken to 30,000+ people University (EMU) in 2012. Farah’s experience in through organizations, conferences, and human resources dates back to 2009 when she was educational institutions, and has engaged appointed Vice President of Human Resources for long term with K-12 schools to implement anti- the University of Michigan-Dearborn’s Students in racist teaching and schooling practices. Free Enterprise (SIFE). After finishing her degree she She holds a Bachelor of Science in Social went to work in the Career Planning and Placement Work from Eastern Michigan University (EMU), Office at Wayne State University for four years a Master of Social Work from the University of as a Career Advisor and then was promoted to Michigan, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Assistant Director. Education/Higher Education Administration At Ford, Farah has managed a number of from Michigan State University. Jasmine complex, community-centered projects including served as the Young and Successful Chair the installation of solar paneled smart benches of EMU’s Black Alumni Association, and was throughout Detroit which provides free Wi-Fi and the Chapters Committee Chair for EMU’s charging stations to members of the community. Alumni Association Board of Directors. She also manages education programs such as the Beyond work, Jasmine is an avid traveler, and an College Community Challenge (C3) and Community active member of the Baltimore Alumnae Chapter Corps which are programs that allow students of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. She from around the world to develop and implement seeks to find joy in everyday life, and values time solutions to local problems. with friends and family. Farah’s success was recognized by the University of Michigan-Dearborn when she was named the Young Alumnus of the Year in 2018. She has served on EMU’s Strategic Planning Committee, and was a keynote speaker at the 2019 Digital Divas conference in partnership with EMU. Farah’s commitment to education and success has been recognized throughout the state of Michigan— especially at EMU. 4 Eastern Michigan University 60th Annual Alumni Awards 5 OUTSTANDING YOUNG ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT ALUMNI AWARD AWARD Zach Wigal (BBA16) may Kevin N. Alschuler, Ph.D. not have set out to change (MS06, PhD10) is an the world when he founded experienced athlete, coach, Gamers Outreach in 2007 and psychologist who – but he has. Zach’s dream helps sports organizations started in the form of a enhance their philosophy, gaming event organized at training, and use of sport his high school that never psychology skills, strategies, took place. After registering and techniques. Kevin is 300 players, the event was currently an Associate to take place in the school’s Professor at the University cafeteria, but the event was of Washington School shut down by local police of Medicine and holds who worried about the effect several other teaching and of video games on youth. That inspired Zach, 30, to consulting positions. organize another gaming event, only this time they Alschuler earned his Master of Science in Clinical would raise money to donate to a charitable cause. Behavioral Psychology, and a few short years From that moment, Zach dedicated his time to the later, a Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology Gamers Outreach Foundation, a nonprofit that helps from Eastern Michigan University (EMU). As a children cope with long-term medical treatment by student, he participated in EMU’s Graduate providing gaming hardware and software to hospitals. Research Fair in 2013. He earned his Bachelor Starting in 2009, Zach and his growing team began of Arts in Psychology and Economics from the working with the University of Michigan’s C.S. Mott University of Michigan in 2004. He completed an Children’s Hospital to develop and, quite literally, roll APA-accredited Clinical Psychology Internship out its GOKart. The GOKart is a portable gaming at the Boston Consortium in Clinical Psychology kiosk that can be easily wheeled around to patient (VA Boston Healthcare System / Harvard Medical rooms and features a variety of video games. The School / Boston University School of Medicine), Gamers Outreach GOKarts are now in nearly 200 an APA-accredited Postdoctoral Fellowship at the health-care facilities nationally, and doctors have University of Washington Medical Center, and a found that playing video games can support positive fellowship sponsored by the National MS Society in health outcomes by reducing anxiety and stress.