A Day in the Life... Mary Dettloff ’86 BS Deputy Press Secretary to Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm EDITOR’S NOTE
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
A Day in the Life... Mary Dettloff ’86 BS Deputy press secretary to Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm EDITOR’S NOTE Winter 2004 I Vol. 93, No. 2 As long as there’s snow on the ground… Publishers It’s not often that Horizons is Cindy Paavola ’84 BS, Director of Communications able to bring its readers breaking Martha Van Der Kamp, Executive news. In early January, it Director of Alumni and became clear that the search for Development Northern’s next president was Editor Karen Wallingford ’02 MA ahead of schedule and would News Director likely be concluded somewhere Kristi Evans between the winter and spring/summer issues. So when the Horizons Graphic Design staff decided to “stop the presses” on the winter issue in order to bring Cam Hadley ’82 BFA you the news of who had been selected as Northern’s 13th president, I Alumni Relations and Development figured that as long as there was snow on the ground, technically, it was Fund Staff still winter. Wendy Carlson Deanna Hemmila ’88 BS This has been my philosophy about Upper Peninsula winters ever Robyn Stille ’00 BS since I moved here. When I was a graduate student at Northern I had an LuAnne Thurston ’93 BS office in Gries Hall, and I remember watching a snowstorm from my Virginia Zinser office window just days before May commencement. It was the end of Contributing Writers Miriam Moeller ’00 BA, ’02 MA my first U.P. winter, and I was quickly gaining a new appreciation for the Patti Samar ’85 BS, ’89 MA words “snowfall total.” Just a few months earlier, I learned the hard way why people in Marquette who don’t have garages park their cars so far Horizons, the magazine for alumni and friends of back from their houses. Northern Michigan University, is published three times a year (winter, spring/summer, and fall) by the I had gone to visit my family in Colorado and left my car parked Office Communications and Marketing and the NMU Alumni Association. outside the house I was renting. When I returned two weeks later, I Funding is provided by Northern Michigan University, found that the hood of my car had been smashed in on one side. I’m NMU Alumni Association members, alumni, and kind of embarrassed to admit that it took me over a week to realize that friends. Subscriptions are available at $15 per year, $7.50 for NMU retirees. Views expressed are not nec- the damage had not been the work of a vandal but rather that of an essarily those of the NMU Alumni Association. icicle that had to give up its hold on the side of my house due to its Letters Policy: Unless noted as “not for publication,” communications to the editor are considered for pub- mammoth weight. lication. Letters will be printed as space permits and may be edited for space and clarity. Please limit your I’m not really that callous about U.P. winters. I think they’re quite comments to Horizons magazine or to topics men- beautiful. Every year, I’m awestruck by the way the ice covers the trees tioned in the magazine. Mail to: Editor, Horizons, Northern Michigan University, 1401 Presque Isle Ave., along the Lake Superior shoreline and the way every inch of every tree Marquette, MI 49855; fax: 906-227-2722; e-mail: [email protected]. sparkles after a snowstorm. It just took me a while to adjust to the fact Northern Michigan University is an affirmative that sometimes in the U.P., the calendar and the season simply don’t action/equal opportunity institution. match. As this issue goes to press, that fact holds doubly true. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Horizons, In all seriousness, though, we are pleased to be able to bring you the Office of Communications and Marketing, Northern Michigan University, 1401 Presque Isle Avenue, news that Northern’s Board of Trustees has selected Leslie “Les” Wong to Marquette, Michigan 49855. Third-class postage paid at Midland, Michigan 48642. lead the university just weeks after the formal announcement. And in anticipation of the next issue, we look forward to learning more about him and bringing his story to all of you. —KW ContentsWINTER 2004 DEPARTMENTS 2 Campus News 16 Alumni Association 18 Development Fund 20 Sports 22 Keeping Track FEATURES Waking up with NMU Crew 6 Crew is one of the newest club sports at Northern Michigan University, and its popularity is growing every year. Miriam Moeller ’00 BA, ’02 MA spent a morning working out with Northern’s crew team. She found out how the team got started and just what it takes to be competitive out on the water. A day in the life at NMU 8 While many NMU alumni get nostalgic for their college years and travel back to their alma mater to visit professors and see how the campus has changed, few actually venture inside a classroom to see how the academic experience has changed. So the Horizons staff signed up Steve Guzowski ’79 BS for a full day of classes and asked him to tell us if life as an NMU student is different than it was twenty-five years ago. Talking points: A conversation with Mary Dettloff 12 During her career, Mary Dettloff ’86 BS has seen former President Bill Clinton address Michigan legislators on the House floor. She has met Jesse Jackson, Hillary Clinton, and numerous Olympic athletes. Find out why she says her current job as deputy press secretary to Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm is the icing on the cake of an already solid career inside Michigan politics. ON THE COVER Mary Dettloff, deputy press secretary to Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm inside the rotunda of the Michigan State Capitol. Photograph by David Trumpie. ON THIS PAGE The Northern Michigan University crew team practicing on Lake Superior last fall. Photograph by Kim Marsh ’80 BS. CAMPUS NEWS NMU Board names new president es Wong is Northern Michigan of pride in where they live. I was University’s 13th president. intrigued by their spirit.” L The NMU Board of Trustees Les Wong holds a doctorate in unanimously voted to offer him the educational psychology from position at a special meeting on Washington State University, a mas- March 24, and he accepted. ter’s in experimental psychology Wong has served as vice presi- from Eastern Washington, and a dent for academic affairs at Valley bachelor’s in psychology from City State University in North Gonzaga University in Spokane, Dakota since 1999. VCSU is the state Wash. He describes his leadership system’s “model” campus for curricu- style as strategic and goal-oriented. lum innovation emphasizing technol- “I really have a deep respect for ogy. It was also the second university the inquiry process—listening, ques- in the nation to implement a 100 tioning, and seeking the opinions of percent laptop computer initiative. Les Wong others,” he said. “I think a president The things that really sold us on Northern were the spirit of the people, the university’s student-centered approach, and its reputation for quality academics. His previous administrative posi- people, the university’s student-cen- should help set goals and lead an tions include provost and academic tered approach, and its reputation institution down the desired path vice president, along with six months for quality academics. I really want but trust in the talents of people to as interim president, at the University to thank the board, the university, get there. I have never been disap- of Southern Colorado in Pueblo; and and the community for their confi- pointed in trusting people too academic dean at The Evergreen dence in offering me this opportu- much. From what I have gathered, State College in Olympia, Wash., nity. I also hope people appreciate the talent on this campus is excep- where he started as a faculty member. the incredible job that Mike Roy tional.... A president should be the Wong is expected to begin serv- has done as interim president. I catalyst for everyone’s dreams and ing as NMU president on or before look forward to working with him remove barriers so people can be July 1. He hopes to “exploit technol- and other members of the team.” creative and think outside the box.” ogy” to begin some advance prepara- Phyllis Wong, who serves as Karl Weber, vice chair of the tions before he arrives on campus. director of online learning at Valley NMU board, said he and Sam “We are thoroughly excited City State University, said she quickly Benedict, fellow trustee and chair of and look forward to joining became enamored with the university the presidential search advisory Northern Michigan University,” and surrounding area during their committee had an opportunity to said Wong during a telephone campus visit last month. visit VCSU and meet with Wong in interview from his office, with his “I had a chance to get out in mid-March. wife, Phyllis, by his side. “The the community and visit with local “I am optimistic that he could things that really sold us on residents,” she said. “They are very be one of Northern’s strongest presi- Northern were the spirit of the friendly and they have a great sense dents ever,” Weber said. “I have that 2 HORIZONS Northern dedicates Whitman Hall much confidence in him and his done,” said Mary Campbell, chair of ability to lead this university.” the board. Benedict added, “We had a mar- Wong will assume the post pre- velous visit there and received very viously occupied by Judi Bailey, who good feedback on Dr.