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EASTERN tv11CHIGAN UNIVERSITY I FALL 2017 AROUND CAMPUS
EASTERN MAGAZINE
FALL 2017 VOL. 14 I ISSUE 2
EDITOR Darcy Gifford ART DIRECTOR Sue Shine
Eastern magazine (ISSN 2150-4679) is published twice a year by the Division of Communications at Eastern Michigan University, 1215 N. Huron River Drive, Ypsilanti, Ml 48197-2351. All rights reserved. The views presented ore not necessarily those of the editor or the official policies of the University.
CONTAC T THE EDITOR: 15 Welch Holl Ypsilanti, Ml 48197 734.487.5375 [email protected]
ADDRESS CHANGES: 234 McKenny Hall Ypsilanti, Ml 48197 734.487.0250 [email protected]
ALUMNI AS SOCIATION: PRESIDENT Matt Mortier(BS09 , MA12) PRESIDENT ELECT Nlklaus Schlllack (BBA98) PAST PRESIDENT vacant SECRETARY Jenita Moore (BS93) TRE ASURER vacant PARLIAMENTARIAN Ruth Halsey (BSOl, MBA12) DIRECTORS Tom Borg (BS79, MA09) Linda Edwards-Brown (MLS86, MSW95) Thomas Charoneau, Jr. (BBA76) Sarah Fall (BS07, MAlO) Mary Jane Fallott (BS80, MA86) John Godre (BS67) Michael Gomez (BBA82) Alex Landen (BS13, MA15) Lucas Langdon (BS03) Tina Lonski (BA64) Kevin McKay (BS91) Desmond Miller (BS15) EMU students took in Nino Monea (BS14) the Aug. 21 solar eclipse Paul Nucci (BS94) Jacqueline Page (BS95) outside of Welch Hall, Gabriela Salagean (BS15) thanks to special eclipse Ebony Walla (BSW14) glasses distributed by Allen Williama (BS04) President Jim Smith. Claudia Young (MBA02)
PHOTO BY COURTNEY CARROLL EMERITUS DIRECTORS William Malcolm (BS76) Vicki Reaume (BS91, MA96) W. Fred Roberta (BAS6, MA68) Harold (Bud) Schlmmelpfenneg (BS68) 4 I FALL 2017 I EASTERN MAGAZINE FEATURES INSIDE
6 From the President
8 10 Things You Didn't Know WRITING HER OWN 10 Meet AD Scott Wetherbee WAY 12 Professor Judy Davis pens book
By Chris Azzopardi 13 Professor Andrew Cornett and swim research
EMU alumna Ayanna 32 Bill Shepard will guide EMU through its next Floyd Davis proclaimed fundraising campaign herself a Hollywood writer. 33 Kenyatta Bynoe is one of the most powerful Then she became one. women in sports
34 Patrecia Ross leads Wounded Warrior Quilt 20 Project META'S GIFT 37 Late bloomer Jim Sargent now a prolific writer 38 Jodi McMoster creates innovative woy to teach By Jeff So moray long vowels How 45 acres of land in 40 Best and Brightest: EMU's Alumni Award northern California have Winners helped hundreds of EMU biology students. 4,. In Memoriam 46 From the Archives
EASTERN MAGAZINE I FALL 2017 I 5 FROM THE PRESIDENT
Welcome to a New Academic Year Highlights include large incoming class, strong focus on international initiatives
The start of fallclasses on a university campus is always exciting. Many alumni participated in move-in activities. fust as important as your strength in carrying boxes, small refrigerators and TVs, was the warmth of the smiles and the kind words that I witnessed. Thank you for making our new community members feel welcome. As we begin the new academic year, there are many exciting items to share as we continue to enhance our great university:
First-year student enrollment We are proud to report that this fall Eastern Michigan University has enrolled the third largest entering first-year class President Jim Smith's recent visit to China included a session at Shenyang Institute of in our 168-year history. The entering class Technology, where he observed an English class co-taught by an English native speaker in the classroom and a Chinese teacher who was in the U.S. and was teaching via online continues our momentum of recent years, learning technology. in which the University has grown in first year enrollment in the face of declining Honors College growth to China to build further ties with Chinese demographic trends for high school The Honors College, which accepts universities. All told, Eastern enrolls nearly seniors in the state of Michigan. Since fall students entering with typically at least a 1,000 international students from more than 20 l l, Eastern's entering class has grown by 25 ACT score and 3.5 high school GPA, 80 countries. Students from India, China 31 percent. continues to grow. Enrollment in the Honors and Saudi Arabia repre ent more than half The entering first-yearclass also College enrollment is nearly double fromsix of our internationalpopulation. displays solid academic preparation years ago. To meet this continui11g global with higher ACT scores and high school opportunity, Eastern will work to hire Increasing diversity GPAs, reflectsan increase in the number more faculty with a global focus, expand The entering class also underscores the of international students and spotlights collaborative research with universities continuing level of diversity at Eastern. the strong level of diversity to be found around the world, and identify more The number of newly enrolled African on Eastern's campus, with 30 percent of multinational partnerships to engage American, Hispanic, ative American and our new first-year students representing students and faculty. At the same time, we Asian American first-yearstudents, totaling diverse communities. are committed to expanding tudy abroad more than 800, makes up 30 percent of the opportunities for current students to create Higher GPAs and ACT scores entering first-year class. impactful internationalawareness that In addition to near record numbers, will benefit their futurecareer beyond More international and strong this year's incoming first-yearclass is well graduation. regional growth prepared academically, representing the As always, I welcome your comments highest average GPAs and ACT scores in International student enrollment in and suggestions at office.of.the.president@ recent history. The average GPA of the the entering freshman class showed a emich.edu. new incoming students is 3.29, an increase significant increase as well, rising more from 3.12 in 2011. Average ACT scores than 40 percent. The increase is attributed have increased to 22.4 from 21.06 six years to a variety of factors,including our ago. The largest number of new first-year #YouAreWelcomeHere can1paign, directed students fallinto the 3.5 to 4.0 high school at supporting international students, and a GPA category, increasing more than 7 strategic effortto recruit more international fames M. Smith, PhD percent fromlast year. students as evidenced by my trip last spring President, Eastern Michigan University
6 I FALL 2017 I EASTERN MAGAZINE CAMPUS NEWS
Eastern's Edison Connection Telescope used by scientists during 1878 solar eclipse came from Michigan State Normal School
If you watched the recent solar eclipse, estimate the temperature of remote you likely used special solar filterglasses. objects. Edison hoped to measure But to see this rare astronomical event the heat of the sun's corona as the as it passed over North America in 1878, photosphere was blocked by the moon. you needed some serious equipment. Edison's instrumc,nt failed,as it was Eastern'sSherzer Observatory has an too sensitive to handle the extreme example of one of these rare instruments, temperature changes during the made even more special by the man who eclipse. Thescientists also didn't find used it. Vulcan, since it doesn't exist. But the In the late 19th century, astronomers group, including Edison, did view the were puzzled by the strange orbit of eclipse through a brass Alvan Clark the planet Mercury. Today, we know it & Sons refractor tele cope borrowed odd oblong path is due to the curvature from Eastern (then called Michigan of gravity. But back then, scientists State ormal School). theorized that an undiscovered planet The telescope has remained with called Vulcan caused the aberration. Eastern as a proud po session in the To test the theory, a group of observatory officessince its return. prominent scientist traveled to Luckily, it survived a fireat the original Rawlins, Wyoming Territory, to see ob ervatory in Sherzer Hall in 1989. EMU's 4-inch Alvan Clark refractor telescope if they could spot Vulcan during a Alvan Clark instruments remain was a gift from the citizens of Ypsilanti. total solar eclipse. Thomas Edison, highly sought after by collectors and who had become nationally famous amateur astronomers. But there are for his recently patented phonograph, few with the famous provenance of accompanied the group. He wanted to Eastern's example. test his "tasimeter;· a new invention -JeffSamoray that could detect infrared light and
EASTERN MAGAZINE I FALL 2017 I 7 CAMPUS NEWS
10 things you didn't know... 1. Stuff that in your six-shooter The Wild West wasn't just about cattle rustlers and gunslingers, says Kathleen Chamberlain, EMU history professor emerita. "Women actually had far more opportunity in the west than they did the east," she says in Sex in the Old West, a recent American Movie Classics documentary. "There was the need to manage a ranch, or to manage a farm. A woman could set up a small business. In fact, women in the west got the vote way before women east of the Mississippi."
3. Food for thought In response to a student survey, Eastern has brought Chick-flt-A to Mc Kenny Hall (one of just a handful of locations in Michigan) and moved Starbucks to a larger location on the first ftoor of the Student Center. The new Starbucks features on expanded menu, Wi-Fi, an adjoining patio and garage-style doors to create a relaxed, open feel. Just don't dunk your chicken sandwich in your latte.
w a:: 0 T-REX LIVES ON V,J:: 2. < m w Extensive renovations to Strong ..J ..J Hall are underway. But don't worry w Eastern will preserve the early 1980s
murals depicting Earth's history J:: a.. from the Jurassic era to the Space Age. EMU will reproduce the work of student artists digitally as a wall protection product for a high-traffic All-inclusive area. Conference rooms will feature 4. vinyl wall coverings of the artwork. For her research on Algonquian language revitalization and So while dinosaurs are extinct, the commitment to creating on inclusive campus community iconic murals will dazzle well into for underrepresented students and scholars, Assistant the future. Professor of Women's and Gender Studies Ashley Falzetti was named one of 10 Nancy Weiss Malkiel Scholars for 2017 by the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation.
8 I FALL 2017 I EASTERN MAGAZINE 6. High hope 5. Open arms Acrophobians, have hope. Eastern is supporting the Overcoming a fear of heights (or any national #VouAreWelcomeHere phobia) is a matter of staying put and campaign welcoming slowly confronting your anxiety, says international students and EMU Professor of Psychology Ellen scholars with lightpost banners, Koch. In a live broadcast on ABC-TV's T- shirts, an informational Good Morning America last February, website and a promotional Koch demonstrated her expertise in video. We proudly host nearly treating anxiety disorders by helping 1,000 international students a 35-year-old woman climb a 25-foot from more than 80 countries. ladder, swing from a trapeze and banish her fear of heights.
Bright ideas 8. STRAIGHT OUT 7. OF THE JETSONS To conserve energy on - A team of EMU physics majors campus, Eastern has fi nished in the top five in a swapped outdated national University Student Design lighting for energy Challenge sponsored by NASA. efficient LEDs and The students designed an aerial retrofitted showerheads, based transit system for the city aerators and toilets of Atlanta. The project includes a with low-fiow fixtures. flying bus powered by electric fans. These and other energy conservation measures will save a whopping ,,.
$195,000 annually.
9. Look out, HGTV
A group of EMU furniture design students exhibited their work this past spring at the International Flying high Contemporary Furniture 1Q. Fair, one of North America's Following a national trend, there are most prestigious furniture now 10 female pilots pursuing an design events. Among Av iation Flight Te chnology degree the items displayed were at Eastern-the most in program a freeform bent wood history. More women are joining the davenport, a meticulously profession to relieve the worldwide crafted dining chair and a shortage of pilots. pair of children's stools. -JeffSamor ay
EASTERN MAGAZINE I FALL 2017 I 9 CAMPUS NEWS
SPORTS
GETTI NG TO KNOW SCOTT . ' WETHERBEE Vice President and Director of Athletics
cott Wetherbee was named vice president and director of athletics on June 26. The 42-year-old Wetherbee, a native of Kalamazoo, has more than 20 years' experience in collegiate athletic administration. He spent the past four years at Mississippi State University, including serving as interim director of athletics from October-November 2016.
Q: What attracted you to Eastern Michigan?
A: When I started to really look into EMU, 1 realized that in the past few years the momentum in the athletic department and the university was shifting in a very positive direction. That started to get me excited about this opportunity. The icing on the cake was the Championship Building Plan. Knowing that I could come in and help make that a reality and touch so many of our student-athletes, well, I been on the experience, whether it's a A: One of the biggest challenge is knew this was where I wanted to be. I student-athlete, a fan or an employee. I ourselves, and not just in athletics. We need learned about the challenges here, but I want student-athletes to love being on an to truly believe this place can be special and feel like I'm the right person to take them athletic team at Eastern, I want fansto successful. I want our entire department, on and roll up my sleeves with our staffto love coming to our athletic events, and entire student body, and the entire work through them. I want our staffto love to come to work univer ity to be excited about Eastern. Q: What strengths do you feel you every day. We are going to be as creative Obviously, resources are always one of the bring to the Eagle athletic program? as possible in making our game-day fan challenges. We need students, staff, fans, experience the best in the MAC and, and donors to believe in and support us
A: Every place I've been, we've had to eventually, the country. now more than ever. With some hard work outwork our peers. I started in the ticket and commitment, we can transform this officeand worked my way up through Q: What ore the biggest challenges athletic department and this university in marketing. My primary focus has always facing Eastern Michigan athletics? the next few years.
10 J FALL 2017 I EASTERN MAGAZINE RAPID-FIRE QUESTIONS
If you hadn't gone into athletics, what would you be doing? "Growing up, I always thought I would be a baseball coach or an accountant."
What was your firstjob? "Besides mowing lawns and delivering papers when I was young, I worked in a factory pleating the paper for air niters."
What is one song people would be surprised you know the words to? "My go-to karaoke song is 'The Gambler' by Kenny Rogers."
Which is worse, no Internet or no phone? "Phone."
Who is your personal hero? "My mom."
What show do you binge watch? "Criminal Minds."
If you're making dinner, what are we having? "Something on the grill. Probably ribs."
Q: How would you describe your great integrity and aggressively promote What is the best advice you leadership style? EasternMichigan Univer ity. ever got? "It's not about you, it's about them." A: Everything I try to do starts from my Q: What is something EMU fans heart. I truly care about all of my staff and alumni should know about What is your proudest and all of our 500-plus student athletes, you? accomplishment? and I want lo create a familyatmosp here "Professionally, seeing people that allows us to trust each other and A: That I am one of them. I grew up in I've hired move up and know that we have each other's back. Kalamazoo in a modest home and worked be successful; personally, I try to hire really talented people and extremely hard to earn thisopportuni ty. I watching who my kids are becoming." let them do their job. And our defining will give 100 percent to this university and principles must always be kept in mind: this department. focus on the student-athlete, possess -Greg Steiner
EASTERN MAGAZINE I FALL 2017 I 11 CAMPUS NEWS
FACULTY AUTHORS
� "lgotatipthatSecret ''You heard right. anti•penpirantis But it's made fo r strong�h a woman. foraman:' Sony, fe lla:'
Judy Davis' book traces the path .J.. of trailblazers like Carol H. Williams, who built her career on the line "Strong enough for a man, but made for a woman" for Procter & Gamble Co.'s Secret antiperspirant. Advertising Secrets, No More Professor Judy Foster Davis' new book celebrates the history of black women in the ad game
The hit AMC drama "Mad Men" told "These ad women's accomplishments a story of Madison Avenue in the 1960s, remind me of those women featured in the but according to Judy Foster Davis, movie 'Hidden Figures;" Davis says. "They, professor of marketing at EMU, it didn't too, were college-educated black women tell the whole story-not by a long shot. who entered professions in the 1960s that In her new book, "Pioneering African were not always welcoming, and they American Women in the Advertising went on to serve in ways that elevated the Business: Biographies of Mad Black profession and provided role models for Wo men" Davis tells the stories of future generations of professional women." trailblazing African-American women In February, Davis presented her who embarked on advertising careers research at Duke University as part of the during the 1960s, many of whom went on "' 25th anniversary celebration of Duke's to achieve industry prominence, in some :I:< Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising and cases establishing their own agencies. Marketing History, in connection with < One such woman was Carol H. their theme, Women in Advertising, and w Williams, who was recently inducted a, the occasion of Black History Month. into the Advertising Hall of Fame. As and vice president-the firstwoman and Davis earnedher bachelor's degree at a student at Northwestern University the firstAfrican American to hold those Howard University, then her master's and she attended an American Association titles. doctorate at Michigan State University. of Advertising Agencies' class, then Now president, CEO and chief creative She chairs the facultycommittee landed a summer job at Chicago's Leo officerof Carol H. Williams Advertising overseeing the online Integrated Burnett Company, now known as Leo in California,she remains one of most Marketing Communications (IMC) Burnett Wo rldwide. Her creation of respected figures in the business. master's program, and has taught course slogans including "Strong enough fora Davis chronicles the significanceof including advertising, promotional man, but made for a woman;' forSecret other black ad women, including the strategy, consumer behavior and integrated antiperspirant and "Say hello to Poppin' late Caroline R. Jones, and the way they marketing communication strategies. Fresh dough," forPil lsbury helped her coped with inequities common in the become the agency's creative director advertising profession. -GeoffLa rcom
12 I FALL 2017 I EASTERN MAGAZINE CAMPUS NEWS
FACULTY RESEARCH Current Concerns Lap-time data suggests the possibility of lane bias and unfair advantage at world-class swim events
Lane bias. No, it's not a trafficterm, but rather a label for swimming against the current in swimming competitions. According to Andrew Cornett,EM U professor of exercise science, lane bias creates favorable or unfavorable conditions depending on which direction a swimmer is going in the pool. Cornettand his research partners, Joel Stager and Chris Brammer of Indiana University, have concluded that lane bias can and does exist in elite-level swimming competitions, including the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio De Janeiro and the 2013 World Swimming Championships in Barcelona. Their extensive studies of swimmers' times in the events' pools determined that times were consistently slower when s,'fimmer were churning towards the finishingend of the pool in lanes 1-4, while those in lanes 5-8 were faster heading toward the finishing end EMU professor than away from it. Andrew Cornett and In a paper published in August, shortly researchers after the Olympics, the researchers called from Indiana on Fl A, the organization that oversees University international water sports competitions, to are using consider the evidence and implement rules statistical analysis to to eliminate lane bias. show lap Cornett gained his expertise in the discrepancies. subject while doing his post-graduate CARA JONES work under Stager at JU, home of the PHOTOGRAPHY NCAA's elite swimming program for many years. Legendary I U coach James "Doc" exercise physiology and applied statistics Stager and Brammer hope to see some Counsilman, who coached Olympians and a PhD in human performance at action on the problem. including nine-time gold medalist Mark Indiana. "Our goal all along has been to Spitz, established the Counsilman Center "That's where the nature of this project bring about awareness of lane bia es in for the Science of Swimming, where makes sense;' Cornett says of his extensive swimming in the hope that the problem Stager and Brammer serve as director and IU training. "There's the swimming, the would be addressed and then eliminated;' graduate instructor, re pectively. statistics and the performanceissues all they wrote last August. "While high At Eastern,Cornett teache statistics, coming together'.' ranking members of the swimming world human physiology, human anatomy Now, having made tl1e swimming seem to be taking note, our data suggest the and exercise physiology. He earned his world aware of lane bias, thanks in part to problem persists'.' bachelor's degree in kinesiology at DePauw extensive coverage including an article in University followed by master's degree in the Washington Post, the trio of Cornett, -GeoffLarcom
EASTERN MAGAZINE I FALL 2017 I 13 ..
EMU alumna Ayanna Floyd Davis proclaimed herself a Hollywood writer. Then she became one.
by CHRIS AZZOPARDI
few years ago, TV writer-producer Ayanna Floyd Davis (BS93) tried to read the script she wrote as a student at Eastern Michigan University and couldn't. Her play, "From the Heart;' was sparked by the alumna's deep dive into notable black wordsmiths while enrolled in an African-American lit class. But Davis wasn't merely captivated by their writing-there, in that class, she realized that as a black woman, "I can write about black culture and black life from my point of view:' Davis wrote "From the Heart" within a week in her Walton Putnam dorm. "It was just a whole new world;' she says, joyfully recalling her epiphany. "I said, 'That's what I'm gonna do-be a great American playwright:" Davis laughs like it wasn't possible, but even then, she was well on her way. Bent on getting the script into the hands of a fellow African American in the theater department-a tough feat, she says, considering "there were maybe one or two black people in that department"-her writing landed in the hands of Theatre Arts professor Wallace Bridges. Bridges immediately recognized Davis' passion for her craft and didn't just read her script-he wanted to direct it. "From the Heart" went into production and sold out two performancesat Quirk Theatre.
14 I FALL 2017 I EASTERN MAGAZINE
When she returnedto the script for in learningan ything that wasn't related to the fir t time in two decades, she say , "I her passions: film, writing and African couldn't get pa t page three. It was just that American lit. Her creative ambitions were awful:' Still, Bridges, at the time, "was in lost on most people, especially her father, it like he was producing a great American an engineer, and her mother, a factory play;' Davi fondly recalls. worker at General Motors. "It was less about the script and more "! wa a black girl talking about art and about Ayanna's commitment to writing it creativity and plays and TV shows and and wanting to see it produced;' Bridges writing;' she explains. " obody knew how says. "I believed in her and was glad to help to speak to that. obody knew what to do in any wa/' with me:· "I was a black girl Because of Davis' ambition, not only Davis convinced her mother she was did she play the lead in "From the Heart;' on the right track in a letter she wrote to talking about art but Bridges also cast her in the role of her while at EMU. In the manifesto, the Calpurnia in "To Kill a Mockingbird." then-21-year-old proclaimed, "I want to be and creativity Davis' mother, Nora Floyd, recalls her a filmmakerand this feels good. l want to daughter wanting to impress Bridges so be a filmmakerand I don't care if I'm black, and plays and TV badly that when he asked her if shea read a woman and they say I can't do it-! say the classic novel, "She lied, told him 'yes: to myself and to them, I am Ayanna Floyd. shows and writing. and read the book that night:' . .. (My family) raised a strong woman who sees what he wants and goes afterii no Nobody knew how matter who's done it, who's doing it and Tlt•l3 NHAILIL who couldn't get it done." Davis wa a persuasive young woman, to speak to that. IJNFttlLlt and her mother never doubted she was Minority representation on TV, bound for greatness. Writing was no Nobody knew including realistic portrayals of African exception-though Davis admits now, American life, was limited when Davis cracking up, "I didn't know what the hell l what to do with was growing up in Toledo, Ohio. Though was doing!" she didn't realize until much later that she It did occur to her that, if someone "let me." could harness the power to change that, me finda creative way to engage, I'm a she was already demonstrating that TV can superstar:· cross race and gender lines. At family gatherings Davis stole the As a teen, she got hooked on '90s drama spotlight, cracking jokes and flashing her Homicide: Life on the Street, which he dance moves. In her manifesto, she wrote, watched during weekly viewing parties "Ever since l was a little girl, my family with her girlfriends. said I deserve a place in Hollywood. I wa "It was such a strange show for all girls destined. But a kid from Toledo, Ohio? to be watching, and then all black girls, but Far fr om all the glitz and glamour of we were so totally in love with this show;' Hollywood." she remembers. Impressed by the series' At first, she figuredbroadcast storytelling approach, which was akin to journalism might be her ticket to a one-act play, Davis' interest in TY was Tinseltown, but during a journalism piqued. "I would be like, 'Oh, that's what I internshipat WTOL Toledo, "I realized l wanna do right there:" didn't have the guts forit. I just couldn't Davis says she was "just average" and pry the way I needed to pry, and l couldn't "never a super smart kid;' with little interest get the story."
16 f FALL 2017 I EASTERN MAGAZINE TVwriter producer Ayanna Floyd Davis is making a name for herself with hit shows like "Empire," but her first script called "Fro m the Heart" was written in her EMU residence hall and performed at Quirk Theatre. Davis played the lead; Toya Brazell (BBA94) was one of her co-stars.
Furthermore, merely rewriting the world better;' Davis says. ''And it Fellowship Program, which provides national stories with a local angle in informspeople. And I'm black." access to employment opportunities for the newsroom suffo cated her yearning Aftergraduating with a writers from diverse backgrounds. She to be creative. But her career began to telecommunications major and was the first-everTV drama writing flourish while telling original stories marketing minor from EMU and fellow that year. for the Eastern Echo, the university's earninga master's in Film and Video In 2000, she scored her first TV student newspaper. For the Echo, she from Columbia College in Chicago, writing gig with ABC's medical wrote about a local Def Jam Comedy Davis set out for Los Angeles in May drama "Gideon's Crossing'.' She then show, and insisted there be more 1998, just days after receiving her MFA. wrote and produced fora variety of stories from an African-American Her parents, trusting but still unsure other series, many of them medical point of view. of where her future was headed, drove dramas (Davis had wanted to be a "! can tell stories from any point her to LA. nurse but couldn't stomach looking at of view because I'm a human being, The following year, Davis was among cadavers, says her mother): Lifetime's but I do want to push stories that are eight writers selected from more than "Strong Medicine;' "Private Practice;' culturally relevant, because I think we 2,000 candidates to participate in Walt "Medical Investigation:' "Hit the Floor;' need more of them and that makes Disney Studios / ABC Writers' coveted "Hannibal" and Fox's hit show, "Empire'.'
EASTERN MAGAZINE I FALL 2017 I 17 Davis' TV producing and writing credits include "Empire," "Private Practice" and "Hannibal." In 20 l 6, The Onions pop-culture "Then, he called mine out and named me. Ll,'ING HEIi platform, The A.V.Club, praised Davis' It was so crazy. Really sweet of him. I wa "' T writing for the episode "Time Shall Unfold," like, 'Thank you! ltESTIN, which aired during the second season of Davis' instincts about her career goals Since her professional producing "Empire.""Credit is due to Ayanna Floyd were astute. Broadcast journalism (and and writing career took off, Davis has Davis, the former "Hannibal" writer, who behind the camera, as a filmmaker, an witnessed the changing tide of TY-and gets her script credit since joining "Empire'' early pursuit that didn't pan out because has been a part of that change. Though forseason two. She has a strong grasp on "all that carrying of the equipment- oh, "Gideon's Crossing" featured black what the tone of "Empire'' should be;' critic god; no way") wasn't where she belonged, characters, it wa n't their story. "You Joshua Alston said. and she knew that. sprinkled black upporting characters in Davis, once unsure of where her future "But I will sit in my pajamas at a there, but the show wasn't from their point would lead her, was ecstatic. computer or with a paper and pen and of view;' Davis notes about the lack of "I couldn't believe it, because he hated write all day-I'll do that!" she says, black representation. every single "Empire" episode!" she says. laughing. Black-centric shows existed, but not
18 I FALL 2017 I EASTERN MAGAZINE quite like "Empire;· which was a game met while they were visiting EMU-shot changer for black visibility on network TV it. Their efforts resulted in a IO-minute when it premiered in 2015. Davis served as documentary. co-executive producer the second season. "Easternjust allowed me the freedom to "It opened the door;' she says, referring come explore;' Davis says. " o one would to a series with a black point of view. "It's tell me 'no.' If I asked for (use of) Quirk evolved, as has the world." Theatre, it was, 'Yeah, sure.' (Or I'd) ask That evolution has afforded Davis Wallace, 'Would you read this?' 'Yeah, sure. more opportunities to tell the stories she And I'll direct it.' When you're in college, demanded be told while at the Echo: stories you need people to just say 'yes' to you." about the black community. "If you tell her "It all started at Eastern;' she continues. the door is closed;' her mother says, "she'll Consciously, yes. But, in fact, Davis was a 11 1 can tell stories find a way to open it.'' writer before even she knew it, according In the hopper: two projects steeped in to her mother. ora has a photograph of from any point of African-American history. Davis, age 2, stretched, tummy-down, on Davis is writing a limited serie for the floor. She was lost "in her own little view because I'm Fox on ew York City's Cotton Club, a world;' writing, her mother recalls. 1920 -era, mobster-run nightclub infamous "When I look at it, I say, 'Oh my god, for fe aturing black performers who she's doing it;" Nora beams. "Sometimes we a human being, performed for all-white audiences. It's a have these giftsand we never get to tap into major undertaking, featuring a "pretty big it. It was just a gift. It was buried deep and but I do want to power team.''Her co-producers are Craig nobody knew it." Zadan and eil Meron, the Oscar-winning When Davis visited EMU again in push stories that duo behind live-action TV musicals such the early 2000s, it was becau e she was as "Hairspray Live!" and "The Wiz Live!"; mentoring a young woman, Brittany are culturally Broadway vet Kenny Leon, and L.A. Reid, Cheers, a fellow ToLedo native, who "had the legendary mu ic mogul. a rough life."She gave Cheers a liftto the rel evant, beca use In addition, she's written two scripts for campus, bought her books and hoped she Freeform, formally ABC Family, centered might findher way if Davis gave her a head I think we need on the Freedom Riders, civil rights activists start like Bridges gave her. (She did-in of the 1960s. R&B superstar Alicia Keys is 2014, Cheers received her bachelor's degree set to produce. in psychology.) more of them and "J look for tories that in pire me;' Davis "Time is oxygen;' Davis wrote to her explains. "If there's something I want to mother in her manifesto more than that makes the write, it may come from something in real 20 years ago, two decades before the life that inspires me or it ma)' be an article I Hollywood scribe returnedhome to Toledo world better." read or a person that I met." with her "Hannibal" earnings to buy her For instance, when she met a fellow mother a brand new Chevy Malibu. "Use it student, Frank Stovall (BS94), at EMU, now before it's gone.'' El the two bonded about film and writing. As Stovall opened up to Davis about his Chris Azzopardi, a 2006 EMU graduate, is a hard hips while growing up in Detroit, freelance writer wlwse work has appeared in Davis envisioned a filmabout his life. She Va nity Fair, US We ekly and USA Today. He produced it, and two Detroit cameramen, also co11trib11fes to E11fertainnre11f To night's Rodney "Hot Rod" Ferguson and Wendell ET011/i11e.com. "Wink" Burke-"great mentors to a few of us black students at EMU" that she
EASTERN MAGAZINE I FALL 2017 I 19 Meta's Gift How 45 acres of land in northern California have helped hundreds of EMU biology students
by JEFF SAMO RAY any of us remember a teacher who r had a particular influence on our careers or lives. But how many continue leaving an imprint on students 30 years afterdying, more than 80 years after retiring, more than 100 years after earning a college degree? Meta Hellwig was one of those teachers. Afterreceiving a biology degree in 1913 from Eastern (then called Michigan Normal College), she brought her love of the natural world to Southern Californiaclassrooms. She gained her knowledge first-handby hiking local foothills, carefully studying plants and animals, and exploring the grand vistas of America's recently created national park system. ln retirement, Meta became one with the land, living among the hills and continuing to widen young eyes at the wonders of nature. Today, her legacy lives on through Meta HeLlwig Biology Scholarships at Eastern.The awards fuel the aspirations of students-a new generation of teachers, researchers and entrepreneurs who fell under nature's spell, just as Meta did a century ago.
EASTERN MAGAZINE I FALL 2017 I 21 eta (pronounced ME-tah) was born in February l892 in Arbela Township, Michigan, aboutM 25 miles north of Flint. She was the second of two daughters born to William Daniel (a Canadian immigrant) and his wife Elizabeth. Meta grew up in nearby Millington, where she likely spent countless hours observing plants and animals on her father's farm. Aftercompleting high school, Meta enrolled at Michigan Normal College, then an institution primarily devoted to training teachers. She remained in Ypsilanti afterearning her degree through at least 1916, working at the college as a teaching assistant. By 1918, Meta had moved to Santa Ana, California,where she began her long career teaching biology, botany and science at Santa Ana High School. The school was known for its progressive Meta communes with nature during a hike at Yosemite National Park, across from the famous Half Dome rock formation. method of handling student conduct. A 1922 Santa Ana Daily Register article hand and arm-until venom fellfrom its Angeles chapter. In l 928, she co-led a survey notes parents were upset with the school's mouth. Afterfurther examination at a safe of rare tree in Santa Ana's Birch Park. The "student self-government" system. Perhaps followingyear, Meta traveled with Sierra to appease the parents, the school offered distance, she identified it forthe class as a Club members to Yo semite National Park. tours of its science departments, including small rattlesnake. The group hiked about 200 miles, camping Meta's biological laboratory displaying numerous student exhibits. Outdoor Aclven tures at various sites including Huntington Lake. Meta went beyond textbooks to engage In l 930, Meta hiked Trabuco Canyon in Meta devoted many hours to hiking and her students, encouraging them to bring the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains; other outdoor activities at a time when biological specimens to class for study. delivered a lecture about birds, using According to a 1927 Santa Ana Daily yow,g women were starting to abandon mounted specimens, at a local YMCA; and Register article, a student caught an the Victorian era's constricting traditions. hosted a IS-minute radio progran, called eight-inch snake and proudly presented In I 926, she joined the Sierra Club, visited "Local Bird Life" on station KREG. it to Meta and the class in a tin can. She Yellowstone National Park and delivered Th roughout this busy period of her life, removed the snake and let it crawl on her a lecture about her trip to the club's Los Meta maintained strong connections with
22 J FALL 2017 I EASTERN MAGAZINE the Santa Ana community. She was very active in the First Presbyterian Church and hosted church gatherings in her marigold filledapart1 11ent. At one point, Meta interrupted her career to pursue additional studies at StanfordUniversity beforeretu rning to Santa Ana. She continued teaching at the high school through 1935. Afterretir ing, Meta moved north to Los Gatos, a small town near San Jose, 50 Friends often miles south of San Francisco. She married accompanied Meta (second Harold Hellwig, who managed and later from the owned a prosperous ironworks in San Jose. right) on Thecouple lived in a small one-bedroom hikes through cottage outside Los Gatos on just over 45 national parks and California acres of hilly, undeveloped land originally foothills. part of an 1840 Mexican land grant. They had no children. had no other playmates but discovered a Meta led a quiet existence for the next Always a Teacher funopportun ity close by. fourdecades, tending to a small garden and "My family moved to Los Gatos "We saw Mrs. Hellwig about three apricot orchard, observing native plants " times a week during the school year and and animals, and hiking her property with when I was in the third grade;· says one almost every day in the summer. She was her dog Skipper. Although her hu band of them, Geri Sorich-Teese, now 72. a was distant and oftenaway from home, retired registered nurse who now lives very welcoming and spent a lot of time Meta didn't join social groups or entertain in Cameron Park, California."We lived teaching us about plants and taking us on many visitors-except for three lonely, about two miles fr om town up in the hills, little hikes on her property. She taught us impressionable young siblings. across the road from Mrs. Hellwig. We about different animals like rattlesnakes
EASTERN MAGAZINE I FALL 2017 I 23 and the importance of appreciating teacher. She treated us as equals and made and not bothering them. She'dgive us us feelvery important:' quizzes about what we learned the day Meta also gave the kids lessons in off before. She was pleased when we asked tackles and forward passes. questions and showed how much we "She oftentalked about Stanford,which learned. I still remember many of the made it a special school for us;' Sorich Latin names forthe plants. She had a Teese says. "She loved Stanford football. great sense of humor and always made During the season, sheo set her TV near us laugh'.' her bed and had us climb up with her to Meta, who was in her 60s, took the watch the Stanford game. She taught us solitary children under her wing, sharing about the sport and made the games fun, her love fornature as well as stories and offering popcornand little glass bottles photographs of her life in Michigan. of Coca-Cola. My family wasn't sports "I was fascinatedby the clothing oriented, so footballwas a fascinating new she and her friends wore in the old thing for us:' photographs;' Sorich-Teese says. "She told ln those days, Meta mostly wore us about the history of our area and how gardener's clothes and heavy boots and important it is. When I had a homework used a hoe as a walking stick. But once problem, I always felt I could go to her for a week, she transformed herself into a help. She was good at making life more vision of a highly cultivated woman. special, learning about botany, biology "Each Wednesday, Mrs. Hellwig even formal etiquette and how to properly would take the train fromLos Gatos to set a dinner table. It was more than most San Francisco for a spa day at Elizabeth kids our age ever had. Everything was an Arden;' Sorich-Teese says. "She would educational experience with Mrs. Hellwig, wear a beautiful suit and lovely jewelry on but we never felt like we were visiting a her special day. The change was amazing
When she wasn't teaching, Meta took every opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors with friends. to us kids. The next day, shecl be back in her beat-up gardening clothes. She was fascinating-not like any other adult we knew'.' The deep appreciation of the natural world Meta instilled in the young children remains today. "I took an interest in science and loved biology in school;' Sorich-Teese says. "I got a nursing degree at San Jose State and spent most of my career as a cardiac nurse at Stanford. I oftenthought of Mrs. Hellwig while I was there. My sister has many memories of her and can recall plant names. And for the longest time, my brother kept pots fullof plants. Today, he's a super gardener." Meta continued to live on her property afterher husband's death from cancer in 1962 at age 65. She became increasingly frail in the early 1980s and moved to a skilled nursing home in San Jose. She For Meta, lived there for fiveyears until her death in the natural October 1987 at age 95. world always "Visiting Mrs. Hellwig in the nursing presented home was sad;' Sorich-Teese says. "The educational opportunities. home was lovely and well-furnished, but she didn't have her outdoors anymore. It just wasn't her. I wish she could have lived Fron1 A ricots says. "Our agent called right afterwe out her life in her little cottage. p returnedand said we'd better look at this "Nature was the strongest focusof to Vineya1·ds important property that had just come on Mrs. Hellwig's life. She didn't care much the market. We drove up a dirt road and With no heirs, Meta's estate was put for elegant social life, even though she saw a tiny cabin offa dirt driveway. We into probate. Many of her belongings could well afford that lifestyle. She was continued making our way up the path furniture,notebooks, letters, photo also ahead of her time. There are many and reached a terrain at the top. What we albums and other ephemera-remained in environmentali t today, but back then saw was breathtaking-it looked just like there was no strong drive to preserve her small cottage and a larger unfinished Assisi. We didn't know exactly what we nature. She instilled in three lonely children home near a creek on the property. would do with the land, but we wanted to something to care about, something of By 1988, Meta's estate had fallen into buy it." beauty that we might not have picked up decay when San Jose natives Marilyn and Struck by the beauty of Meta's property, on otherwise. I never forgotthe things she Frank Dorsa were seeking land in the hills the Dorsas made the purchase for just taught me. When I take a walk and look fora getaway home. Afterseven years of over $1million. Theterms of Meta's at plants, shrubs and other natural things, searching, they had just about given up will stipulated that funds from the she comes right to mind. I think of Mrs. when their real estate agent called with sale be divided equally. Half went to Hellwig every day and can't look at a plant some news. EMU forbiology student scholarships; without thinking of her. She wa always a "We had just visited our son, who was the other half went to the California teacher-she never got tired ofit'.' studying art in A sisi, Italy;' Marilyn Institute of Technology (which Harold
EASTERN MAGAZINE I FALL 2017 I 25 rJellwig attended in the 1920s) for structural Vineyards. In addition to the main home, "We tried to engineering student scholarships. Meta's the proper!)' includes an art studio, a second 11equest of nearly $565,000 to Easternwas the smaller residence, a barnand a waterwheel. honor Meta's l�rgest giftthe university had ever received at Visitors to the site today experience what rllat time. the San Jose Mercury News described as a "40- respect for The Dorsas, whoown a chain of car washes acre Tuscan technicolor dream." The terraced i/1 Silicon Valley, visited the property every landscape features statues and ponds, grassy nature by 1eekend fora year, basking in the beauty of areas and gardens, cypress trees and eating rile land and discussing how to use it. They areas within hidden bowers. The vineyard keeping land �Jso began learning more about Meta as produces wine for the gift shop. A lower area tl1ey combed through the belongings she left of the property remains undeveloped. development to behind, mainly in the unfinished home she "We tried to honor Meta's respect for nature . " �nd her husband never occupied. by keeping land development to a minimum," am1n1mum. "We found old photographs from her Marilyn says. "Besides the vineyard, we travels, notebooks filled with plant sketches, planted more than 250 olive trees for the olive and many love letters between Meta and oil we sell. We also host cooking classes and [-{arold;'Marilyn says. "In letters to her sister, painting workshops, so the purpose of the land Meta expressed her love of the land and saw it remains agricultural and educational." as nature's expression oflove. By all accounts In homage to Meta, the Dorsas saved and she was an extremely kind and intelligent lady. restored the fu rnitureshe leftbehi nd. A photo And someone way ahead of her time:' portrait of Meta remains on display. As the Dorsas planned to build a new "Meta's photo will always be in this house;· 2,100-square-foothome on the foundation Marilyn says. "She's very much a part of this of the larger, unfinished structure, the 1989 property. I wish l had met her-she was such a Loma Prieta earthquake that hit San Francisco special woman:' Ell also knocked Meta's cottage offits foundation. TheDorsas cleared away the cottage remains, JeffSamor ay is a Metro Detroit-based removed the overgrown brush and renovated freelance writer. the property into La Rusticana d'Orsa
26 I FALL 2017 I EASTERN MAGAZH•I& Meet Some of Meta's Scholars by JEFF SAMORAY
eta Hellwig's gift to Eastern to support biology scholarships has benefitted hundreds of undergraduate and graduate _ _ students over nearly three decades. The ongmal bequest is now worth more than $850,000 and it awards $34,000 annually. It remains one of the largest scholarships at EMU. MThree past Hellwig award recipients share details about their current activities, which mirror Meta's passion forscience and the natural world:
STEFAN SCHNITZER CMS95) Schnitzer is Mellon Distinguished and climate change. X:::) Dw Professor of BiologicaJ Sciences at Schnitzer's Hellwig scholarship allowed Marquette University in Wisconsin. him to purchase equipment to perform w::. ;:: . Between four and fivemonths each year, fieldwork in wetland areas and complete "' he's in Panama with his graduate students his master's research on plant decay. investigating the ecology of tropical "Meta Hellwig lefta great legacy;' he z forests. says. "Jo like to see more people follow w "Were testing theoriesabout what her lead and donate funds to support allows various plant species to co-exist student research. Thosepro jects could z without one becoming dominant and ultimately lead to some of the most 0u ai displacing others;' says Schnitzer, 53, important things we discover about how Dw whose work relates to carbon dynamics the world works:· "'u.
PAIVA GOGOi CMS09) "A ll sciences have some relation to Plymouth-based developer of products biology;· says Gogoi, 34. "I also love in the emerging fieldof liquid biopsy. biology because it's a perfect mixture of "About 90 of cancers are detected by 11 science and art'.' performing a tissue biopsy;· Gogoi says. I Afteremigr ating with her familyfrom "We're creating a new biopsy method wu India in 2005 and earning her master's that traps cancer cells in filteredblood z 0 degree in cell and molecular biology, from patients. [t can be applied to all CD ::. Gogoi worked for several months at a carcinomas, not just blood cancers. We cardiovascular drug manufacturer. Then want to achieve our goal of making a u \!) she leveraged her entrepreneurial skills difference in the lives of cancer patients'.' :::) by co-founding Celsee Diagnostics, a
QUENTIN TURNER CBS14) As a native Detroiter who didn't making them accessible." go camping or summer at a northern Turner is one of 24 Creative Michigan cottage, Turner'sexposure to Community Fellows for20 17-18, biological diversity was limited. Now, a program organized by National w u he's seeking to bring nature to Detroit's Arts Strategies. His proposed project wu zw underserved. involves launching a native plant "My passions lie in outreach and nursery in a low-income Detroit education;' ays Turner, 28, who neighborhood. r u works for Vanguard Community "The goal is to expose people to Development and asan educator at the ecological diversity and supply plants Michigan Science Center. "I want to to reduce tormwater runoff;' Tu rner excite people in urban environments says. "It's a great way to make biology 0u about complex biology topics by part of community consciousness."
EASTERN MAGAZINE I FALL 2017 I 2 7 But Emeritus Professor Reinhard Wittke's fi rst tour was nearly his last
by JEFF MORTIMER
einhard Wittke remembers the firsttime he broached the idea of an overseas program at Easternto the head of the graduate school. "He ignored me;' the emeritus professorof hiRstory says. "Two years later, in 1959, he came to me and said, 'Prepare your itinerary: I said, 'You mean I'm fired?' He said, 'No, we want to start an overseas program: "
Reinhard Wittke, 93, has saved dozens of passports from his travels.
28 I FALL 2017 I EASTERN MAGAZINE Wittke liked to spurn the classroom for what he called "history on the spot." he firstedition of Wittke's European Travel Study Program (which later became the InternationalStudies Program) attracted 35 graduate students and teachers; the number of participants varied over the years from as few as 12 to Tas many as 55. In the 1970s, he conducted classes in Munich that were so highly regarded that they regularly attracted teacher employed by the U.S. Department of Defense from as far away as Belgium and Italy. Eastern'sthen President Harold Sponberg and his wife, Grace, twice visited the lour group in Munich. Thatfirst tour was nearly the last. "When we got to Genoa, there was a Communist uprising and we couldn't get into the hotel for three hours;· Wittke recalls. "When we finally got there, the central square was torn up, there was tear gas in the air, and all of us cried at dinner. When we got to Rome, we couldn't get into the hotel that we had booked because the group that was there already couldn't get out." That was just the beginning: "Bologna was like a morgue; five people had been killed in a disturbance the day before we arrived. In Venice, all the porters were on strike and St. Mark's Square was flooded,so we had to carry our own bags across a makeshift plank walkway to our hotel. With the things that happened, you wonder why you did it a second time."
University Archives has more than 80 boxes of maps, pamphlets, photos and ephemera from tours that Reinhard Wittke led. A few samples are included in this story. Clockwise from top: at the Mont Saint Michel Abbey in Lower Normandy, 1983; in Detroit, before flying overseas in 1968; at a school in Munich.
BAC KGROUND PHOTO BRIELLE BASHORE
Aak ,JoN!on
;.!,.// l ,... UN'-
.5 7'() ( /(1.11l t.l TOURS: IRE LAND UNITED KINGDOM NETHERLANDS BELGIUM LUXUMBURG FRANCE SPAIN PORTUGAL GERMANY SWITZERLAND ITALY SAN MARINO FORMER YUGOSLAVIA AUSTRIA HUNGARY TURKEY ot only did he do it a second time, but he eventually led 47 tours, GREECE DENMARK mostly in Europe, but there were also ventures to Australia, China and EGYPT New Zealand. In 2014, after his wife had passed away, he established MOROCCO the Reinhard and Bert Wittke Scholarship for InternationalStudies to NORWAY supportN participation in international travel and study abroad. SWEDEN Sometimes, when the classrooms he normally used were unavailable or some FINLAND government or other preferred he not teach about certain topics, he would lecture RUSSIA on the bus, in restaurants or, on one memorable occasion, in the beer garden in BELARUS the Munich marketplace. "Therewere at least a hundred Germans listening to that LICHTENSTEIN lecture;' Wittke recalls. ESTONIA Thatwas one of the times when he purposely spurned the classroom, in favor LATVIA of what he liked to call "history on the spot." In Munich, forexample, he would LITHUANIA UKRAINE take the group on the "Hitler walk;' visiting restaurants that Hitler frequented or POLAND the place where the Munich police crushed the azi Party's failed coup attempt CRIMEA known as the Beer Hall Putsch in 1923. BULGARIA "I used to give a short lecture on all of this, standing in that square:' says Wittke. AUSTRALIA Wittke ran the program under Eastern'sauspices until his retirement in 1990, then NEW ZEALAND continued it on his own until 2007, when he was 86. The lasting friendships he made THAILAND helped incentivize him-"! still have a great extended familytoday"-but "I quit SINGAPORE because I couldn't see very well;' he says. "Magoo wasn't a good tour leader." Ell JAPAN CHINA Jeff Mortimer is a A1111 Arbor-based freelance writer. HONG KONG INDONESIA
REUNION TRIPS: CARIBBEAN HAWAII MEXICO ADVANCEMENT NEWS
Building for Success Bill Shepard will help guide EMU through its next fundra ising campaign
uch of Bill Shepard's life has been definedby Wright State University. He earned a degree there, and worked there M in Student Affairs and Advancement-for30 years. His wife Cyndi and all three of their children are WSU graduates, too. So imagine his family's surprise when Shepard leftthose comfortable surroundings to join Eastern Michigan University as the new vice president of advancement and executive director of the EMU Foundation. ToSh epard, though, the transition makes perfect sense. In EMU, Shepard has found a like-minded university-one with vision and strong academic programs. In his first week on the job, the EMU Board of Regents gave the go-ahead forpl anning a multi-year, comprehensive fundraising campaign. We sat down with Shepard to hear more about what to expect. Here's what we learned:
COMPREHENSIVE FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGNS aren't CAMPAIGNS TA KE TIME. Now that the process is officially just about capital. Strong campaigns include academic and underway, there will be a lot of planning in order to discover and programmatic initiatives as well. Eastern will go through a process articulate key priorities. A so-called quiet or leadership phase may to determine the priorities, and that will involve discussions with take several years to complete. academic and administrative leaders across campus. According to the Board recommendation, the EMU comprehensive campaign PHILANTHROPIC INVESTMENTS at Eastern truly impact the will support, an1ong other areas, scholarships, academic programs student experience. "The fact that we're an opportunity school means and facilities. that a dollar invested in a scholarship program goes mucl1 farther here. With more private investment, we can really begin to transform ACADEMIC PROGRAMS will get a significantboost from the experiences our students have. There's also a huge opportunity to a successfulcampaign. "I love what I hear when I interact with really transform the programs and facilities here:· faculty,staff , and emeritus faculty and staff. I've learned a great deal about the strength of our academic programs; I could go college by STUDENTS ARE ALWAYS TOP OF MIND for Shepard, who college and identifyprograms that I think we're doing at a world started his career in student affairs. "] had a mentor once tell me that class level." as long as my decision-making focusedon what was best for students, Ia be fine'.' THE CHAMPIONSHIP BUILDING PLAN is just one piece of the puzzle. In fact,the bold athletics plan has already generated $9 DONOR NEEDS are important, too, though. "Most people think million in pledges during a silent period. "I believe that the athletics we're out there twisting arms. Were not. We're genuine in finding project is going to be a very positive part of the campaign, along opportunities fordonors that are good forthem and that produce with many academic projects that cut across all of our colleges:' great results forour students. That's what I love about this work." -Darcy Gifford
3 2 I FALL 2017 I EASTERN MAGAZINE ALUMNI NEWS
CLASS NOTES
TRUE to the Game Kenyatta Bynoe named one of the 35 most powe�ul women in sports
Kenyatta Bynoe (MS14) knows Spalding balls are hand inspected and laser engraved one by one. Weight, bounce, appearance, circumference, air retention, rebound-alJ are painstakingly reviewed for discrepancies. Balls that meet the strict manufacturer specificationsof Spalding, the company where Bynoe serves as vice pre ident of marketing, will be sold in retail stores and to teams around the world. Spalding sells baseballs, footballs, soccer balls, softballs and volleyballs worldwide, but is best known forits full-grain Horween leather year launched its #TrueBelievers marketing is constantly evolving:· she said. "It's grown basketballs. can1paign, centered around the inner into a dominating part of the overall "People are surprised when they learn confidencethat drives athletes to play their marketing mix and is a lot easier to measure. of our quality-control process:· said Bynoe, best gan1e ( visit truebelievers.spalding.com That's where our consumers are livingand who earned her master's degree from for details). consuming content. A a marketer, my Eastern Michigan University's Integrated Throughouther 16-year marketing career, eye has to be on the pulse of where tlie Marketing Communication program in the Bynoe has developed advertising campaigns consumers are." College of Business. "We pay a high level of ranked in the Top Five on the USA To day In recognition of he.efforts, AdWeek attention to the detail '.' Super Bowl Ad Meter and received Effie named Bynoe among the 35 Most Powerful Basketball is big business for Spalding. Awards formarketing effectiveness. She Women in Sports. In 20 15, Spalding sold more than five was also named to the Event Marketer "There's no worse fate in marketing million in the U.S. alone. What's more, the "Dream Tean1" in recognition of innovative tl1an being leftout of the conversation, company has been the officialbasketball experiential marketing programs. Before and Spalding was in such a spot when and backboard of the National Basketball joining Spalding, Bynoe served in Bynoe joined the iconic sporting good Association for32 years, providing every progressively more responsible marketing brand;' AdWeek ·wrote. "In only two years, NBA team with 72 basketballs before the roles for global brands such as Jeep, he changed everytliing, jump-starting its start of every season. As a re ult, Spalding's Microsoftand Vo lkswagen. con umer advertising, hiring an agency, profitscontinue to grow. Bynoe cliampions ideas that stretch building an internal marketing team, In her role, Bynoe leads management conventional boundaries. She consistently redesigning tlie brand ID and launching of the strategic partnership with the 1BA. deploys creative thinking and brand ecommerce, along witli overhauling This includes contract negotiations, product storytelling-developing compel.ling Spalding.com and exploding social fulfillment,and sales at arena retail stores. marketing and campaigns that build brand engagement. The global ad campaign, 'True She is also responsible formarketin g health while delivering sound return on Believers: celebrating athletes' hard work, strategy; advertising production, media investment. She credit her EMU graduate went hand in hand with her revamped planning, experiential marketing, social business education with improving her NBA endorsement roster. Bynoe, a 20-year media, e-commerce and public relations. career, citing the advantages of learning marketing vet, delivered on her goal of "I manage the consumer touch points:· practical knowledge and techniques from taking the brand 'from a position of passive said Bynoe, who is a big fanof the NBA'sLos professors who are practitioners and looking respect in tlie minds of consumers' to 'active Angeles Clippers. at marketing from a more global perspective. love in tlieir hearts."' Under Bynoe's leadership, Spalding this "The entire digital and social landscape -Ted Coutilish
EASTERN MAGAZINE I FALL 2017 I 33 ALUMNI NEWS
CLASS NOTES
Made with Love Wounded Wa rrior Quilt Project has produced hundreds of quilts for wounded soldiers
Physically, the twin-sized quilt with in 2005, Patrecia Ross (BS66, MA70) irons-and taught each woman how to do an alternatinglight and dark patternis had worked tirelessly with some fellow an individual task, from cutting to tying, just 120 pieces of fabric, each of them 6.5 members of her local chapter of the Blue ironing and sewing. They didn't need to square inches. Thereare also, to be sure, Star Mothers of America (BSMA) to make learn to quilt, just to do one job. stitches, backing, batting between the quilts for wounded American soldiers and For one woman, that job is to produce layers ... and the four squares that bear ship them to Landstuhl. Now that group the four special patches that go on each special messages. As craftprojects go, was disbanding, and Ross wondered if it quilt. 111eir messages are "Love to you, though, it's pretty simple. was time to hang up her thimble. wounded warrior, from Estero, Florida;' But to a young soldier waking at But aftershe read the young oldier's "God bless America;' "Peace from God Germany's Landstuhl Regional Medical story in a letter from a nurse who had been be unto you;· and Ross' favorite, "In Center to the reality of life with one leg there, quitting was out of the question. memory of Joseph L. Ross, WWII B- 17 instead of two, it became so much more. "'Can I take my quilt?' 1l10sefive words bombardier:· He began to sob when he reached down kept me working;' says Ross. So far, WWQP has produced 799 quilts, after his amputation to where his other leg Ross had sewn since her mother taught ending them to the VA hospital in Tampa, had been. That'swhen an attendant slipped her how, but it wasn't until after she retired Fla., as well as Landstuhl. the quilt around his shoulders. It brought that she came up with the idea of quilting Her perseverance reflects a lifetime him so much comfortthat he asked to take for wounded oldier . The first )'ear, she of meeting and overcoming challenges. it with him when he transferred stateside. worked with her mother over the winter Ross' husband survived being shot down Since the death of her husband, a World and they produced 20 quilts between them. twice over the PacificOcean, then came War II fighterpilot named Joseph L. Ross, Afterher mother and her husband passed home to a job as a teacher in a small town away, she became a snowbird, keeping a (Marlette). lliat's where he met Patrecia, a summer home in Marlette and travelling to high school student who was 12 years his Estero, Fla., forthe winter months, where junior. she connected with the BSMA to continue "People said it wouldn't last becau e of her growing passion. the age difference:' Ross chuckles. "We It was seven years ago that Ross received were married 52 and a half years. He was that fateful letter, just as the BSMA group 90 when he pa sed and l took good care was breaking up. So she foundedher of him." own, the Wounded Warrior Quilt Project She and her husband raised three (WWQP), which is still going strong and children and, with his encouragement, has grown to a contingent of50 retired she received her bachelor's in education women who live in Corkscrew Woodlands, in 1966 at Eastern, then returned to earn the neighborhood Ross calls home from her ma ter's in l970. An accompli hed fall to spring. pianist in addition to her other talents, "I founda lot of ladies who weren't Ross gave piano lessons to help pay for her quilters but they had had careers, taught coursework en route to a PhD from the or did this or that;' says Ross, who University of Michigan in 1981. > I taught language arts in Trenton for 40 "EMU made me who I am today. I've a. <( a: years. "Theyhad time on their hands in lived a good life;' says Ross. retirement and this project gave them a Now her life is still dedicated to making
I new purpose:· the lives of others better, even if it's just in a. 0 providing the comfort of a quilt to those ...J To accommodate their skill level, Ross w U: employed a method made famous back who are hurt and far from home. I 0 a: home in Michigan. She designed a quilting - Sherry Owens iii z assembly line-complete with five sewing 0 0 machines, four ironing boards and five
34 I FALL 2017 I EASTERN MAGAZINE ALUMNI NEWS
CLASS NOTES
commencement speaker will be Upstate. He previously served as 1940s responsible for the club's social, the vice president for university recreational and philanthropic advancement at the University of Shirley Spork (BS49), one of the 13 programs. Recognized as the force West Florida. founders of the ladies Professional behind EMU's Holman Success Golf Association (LGPA), donated Center, he assisted thousands of $15,000 in proceeds from the students with counseling and other 1990s second annual Shirley Spork Pro resources to foster happy and Alaina Campbell (BS90) has been Am to the EMU women's golf team. productive lives during and after named president of the Rochester, college. Mich., Regional Chamber of 1950s DottieDavis (BS78, MA88) was Commerce. Previously, she served awarded the Michigan High School as the Orion Area Chamber of Delores Hartman (BA57) has Athletic Association's Women In Commerce Executive Director, retired and sold her business, Sports leadership Award at the and as the Director of Business Caseville Books and Gifts. The Michigan Interscholastic Athletic Development for the Legacy store was a fixture in downtown Administrators Association Center and Urban Air Trampoline Caseville for 45 years. Conference in Traverse City. Davis Park in Oxford. hos served as a teacher, coach and administrator for 39 years, and is a Penny A. Pasque (BS90) has been 1970s member of EMU's Athletic Hall of named head of the Department David A. Sam (BA71, MA84) Fame. of Educational Leadership, Policy, retired as president of and Human Development at Germanna Community College, NorthCar olina State University's Fredericksburg, Va., after 10 years 1980s College of Education. Formerly of the University of Oklahoma, she with the institution. A published Edward Freysinger (BBA83) is also senior associate editor of poet, author and grand prize was named the new chief winner of the GFT Press Chapbook administrative officer at the Journal of Higher Education. Contest, Sam has placed work in PeaceHeolth Ketchikan Medical Pasque's most recent book is 60 journals and publications. Center in Ketchikan, Alaska. "Qualitative lnqui'-y in Higher Education Organization and Policy Silverenia Q. Kanoyton, EdD Previously, Freysinger served Research." (MA72) has been chosen, from a as chief executive officer at field of more than 700 nominees, Providence Hood River Memorial Michael O'Connor (BS94) as a 2017 Woman of Excellence by Hospital, a critical access hospital has received the Brain Injury the Michigan Chronicle, Michigan's in Hood River, Ore. Association of Michigan's oldest African-American Bill Hendry (BBA83, MS89) was 2017 Chairman's Award for his newspaper. Ka noyton is an recently hired as director of human volunteerism with the association's assistant professor of research in resources for Grand Traverse Capital Area Chapter Support the College of Education at Wayne County. His appointment is the first Group. His private practice, State University. step in the county's plan to rebuild O'Connor's Occupational Therapy its HR department, as directed by Milton L Mack, .Jr. (BS72) was Services, PLLC, provides services named the Michigan Guardianship the county commissioners. primarily to those with neurologica l Association's 2017 Judge of the .Jamie Foster (BS84, MA91) hos impairments due to catastrophic Ye ar for his work on behalf of come out of retirement to serve as brain, spinal cord or orthopedic vulnerable adults and people with the city-wide athletic director for injuries. mental illness. Northwestern and Southwestern Dr. .JohnSelmon (MA97, EDD05), High Schools in Flint He retired in Bob Holman (BBA74, HBA13), has been promoted to executive 2015 after more than 30 years as retired executive vice president vice president and provost at a teacher and athletic director for and CFO of Discount Tire Muskegon Community College. the Flint City School District Company, has been named He previously served as the president of Pinetop Country Club Brendan Kelly (BS88, MAOO) has institution's vice president in White Mountains, Ariz. The EMU been named the sixth chancellor for student services and honorary degree holder and 2013 of the University of South Carolina administration.
EASTERN MAGAZINE I FALL 2017 I 3 5 ALUMNI NEWS
CLASS NOTES
2000s Deniece Dortch (BA02) has been named director of the African American Doctoral Scholars Initiative, a community-building program that supports African American PhD students at the University of Utah. Nhu Do (MA06), principal of Wa shtenaw International High School (WIHI), traveled with an educational exchange group to Finland, where she participated in professional development activities, including tours of Finnish schools, to gain insight into the country's educational culture. R.J. Cronkhite (BAO?) has joined the law firm of Maddin, Hauser, Roth & Heller, P.C. in Southfield EMU Wherever We Are as an associate attorney in its Andrea Cappa (BBAl2) was meet Gray and spend time with him. litigation and risk advisory practice enjoying the sights and sounds of Cappa was spending a fe w days group. Cronkhite attended the Mamutik Island (a small island in in the country before heading to University of Chicago Law School, Malaysia) recently when James Thailand,where he will be teaching interned for New Mexico's Supreme Gray (BS04, MA06) walked by fourth grade English, math and Court and was elected to the State and saw her drinking from her science. The water bottle that sparked Bar of Michigan's Litigation Section EMU water bottle. The two proud the unlikely meeting was only a recent Governing Council in 2016. EMU alumni were pleased to find acquisition. "A friend (and EMU Alison Roscoe (BS07, MS09) has each other so far from home (the alumnus) had given me the water joined the Columbus Crew SC, moment is captured in this picture bottle as a giftbefore I left the United Columbus, Ohio's, major league between the two Eagles) and struck States to teach in Thailand;'said soccer team, as vice pres ident of up a friendly conversation. Andrea Cappa. "He told me to be proud to corporate sponsorships. has posted the encounter and photo represent EMU all over the world. Dr. Alex Ofili (MA09, SPA12) has on her Facebook page, stating I am and always will be." been named principal of the Novi "What? I foundan EMU Alum in -Paul Nucci Community School District's Village Malaysia!!!!" and was delighted to Oaks Elementary School.
2010s business practice law firm. Ta bry KIMT in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was Kari Smith (MSll), director is a member of the State Bar of awarded first place in the small of development and senior Michigan and the Transportation market in-depth series category architectural historian for Arte Lawyers Association. of the 2016 Iowa Broadcast News Association News Contest for Express and the Packard Plant Robert Chapin (BS13), a pilot his story, "Combating Veteran Project, will lead the Packard Plant for Republic Airline, has been Suicide." As a student, he was a redevelopment project in Detroit. transferred to the company's reporter for The Eastern Echo and The $500 million project is slated Miami base and is now a first worked with the campus television to take more than 10 years. officer ftying American Eagle station, E-TV. Abraham G. Ta bry (BSll) has Embraer 175 jets. joined the Detroit office of Casey "Walsh" Blinckenstaff Compiled by /vfio /vii/ton, E/v1U Office for Gallagher Sharp LLP, a trial and (BS15), on-air TV reporter for Alumni Relations.
36 I FALL 2017 I EASTERN MAGAZINE ALUMNI NEWS
CLASS NOTES
Why Not Write? While Jim Sargent mostly writes about baseball history, one of his novels was set at Michigan Normal College
.Jim Sargent (BS64) was a late ever. Since then, he's had more than 200 bloomer when it came to EMU sports articles published, all but about academics, and an even later one when 50 on baseball. He also collaborated it came to a literary career, but his with long-time Michigan State baseball bouquet of achievements just keeps coach and former major leaguer Danny growing. Litwhiler on his autobiography, and has After two years at Mott Community authored 44 player biographies forthe College in his native Flint, he Society fo r American Baseball Research's transferred to Eastern in the fa ll of 1961, Bio Project. went back home after one semester to He published two books last year-a work for more than a year, and finally nonfictionaccount of a memorable graduated in 1964. ''I've always believed pennant race, and season, entitled "The in community colleges as places to get Tigers and Yankees in '6L;' and "Curve a second chance:' Sargent says. "[ had a Ball:' a novel about a young big leaguer mediocre high school record, but I got a and his familyin the mid-1950s. Another second chance and ended up with a PhD novel, "TheFi nal Secret," which unfolds and 40 years of teaching at the college in Pearl Harbor during the months level. I think that's pretty good." leading up to the Japanese attack in 1941, Sargent's PhD in U.S. history came is slated forrelease this fall. from Michigan State University. The But his quiver is farfrom empty. He's ,,. teaching was at Clemson, Ball State and, fi nished three more novels that have yet history to score more than 2,000 points from 1977 until his retirement in 2010, to find publishers, the first of which, in a season, and all-time National at Virginia WesternCommunity College "The Long Pursuit:· is set at Eastern in Hockey League great Gordie Howe. in Roanoke, Va ., where he served as 1943, when it was still Michigan Normal "The most down-to-earth guy you'd chair of the social science division for College. In it, Mickey Mathews, also the meet in your entire life;' Sargent says of the last 16 of those years. hero of "The Final Secret," returnsto his Howe. "No wonder the fans loved him." ''I've been writing ever since I got alma mater (class of '33) to investigate Sargent is pretty fond of Eastern, out of Michigan State," he says. "It's an attempt to blackmail ormal's too. "I can only say good things about just that my focu changed over the president, in the course of which he EasternMichi gan:' he says. 'Tm really years." That focus, naturally enough, uncovers Nazi espionage at the Willow plea ed I went there, and I'm proud of was initially scholarly. His dissertation Run bomber plant. While Mathews the class ring I wear. That and a little on the first 100 days of President is sleuthing, he lives "in a bungalow I letter opener, that I got for the spring Franklin Roosevelt's administration was created on Emmet Street," says Sargent. dance in 1964, are two of my favorite published in 1981, followed by dozens 'Tm all the time writing, five or six possessions. of journal article and a role in editing hours a day," he says. 'Tm still a Tiger "I fe el blessed, really. I got paid for 40 the memoirs of Raymond Moley, one of fan, but what they're doing today is not years to talk about American history. I FDR's closest advisers. as important to me as what they did in thank EasternMichi gan for launching Then one day in the early 1990s, the 'SOs and '60 . I'm mostly a history my teaching career, and teaching led to he came across a magazine called Old guy. My ball game is history:' writing. That's the bottom line." Tyme Baseball 1ews that was chock Although he hasn't written much full of historical articles. "I said, 'Hell, I about other sports, he did interview - Jeff Mortimer can do this,"' Sargent recalls. Could he George Yardley, the first player in NBA
EASTERN MAGAZINE I FALL 2017 I 37 ALUMNI NEWS
CLASS NOTES
"Beginning readers just need one thing to grasp onto something concrete."
3 8 I FALL 2017 I EASTERN MAGAZINE A Pinch for
AlumnGoa createsod innovat ivRee way adfor beginniningg reader s to learn long vowels
Imagine how hard it must be for a strategy-although she coaches her students to beginning reader to learn and understand give more of a squeeze than a pinch. when vowels are pronounced differently. Why Consonants in McMaster's story are mom and is the "a" in the word "fat" differentfrom the dad, but kids can still reach around one of them "a" in the word "fate"? and give a pinch. It's only when mom and dad Long vowels, that's why. But first grade are both in between the kids tl1at the pinching teacher Jodi McMaster (BS02, MA08) knew stops. her young readers were struggling to learnthem, What was McMaster's inspiration? All she had and she was struggling to teach them. to do was think about going to church with her "I'd see students get confused and frustrated mom and sister as a kid. and want to give up;' she says. "A nd l thought, "I would sit next to my sister, and I would 'This is crazy. I have to think of a concrete kind of egg her on-pinch her or play with her reading strategy that goes with all of the long hair;' she says with a laugh. "My mom would get vowels-something that kids can know and use really mad, and would come and sit between us, when they get stuck on a word: " but I'd stlll reach around my mom and pinch my That's how "Circus Vowels: The Long and sister anyway:' Short of It" was born.McMaster created her McMaster, who teaches at Saline Area own strategy to help students understand long Schools, has found so much success with this vowels-the sounds they made and how they strategy that she's written a �o ok, "Circus interacted with other letter . And she did it in Vowels: The Long and Short of It;' and has a fun, colorful and innovative way, all set at a created an interactive long vowel reading circus. strategy kit that includes vests, posters, word It's a story that most parents and families can lists, worksheets and lesson plan ideas. She's readily grasp. presented at conferences across the country and As McMaster tells it, A, E, I, 0 and U are was featured on WXYZ-TV as part of ational iblings and, like most children, it's easier for Reading Month 20 17. them to behave when they're by themselves. Her success has turnedMc Master into an Add a sibling to the mi.x, and things change. author and entrepreneur as well as a teacher, but The letter "e" in the word "pen" is pronounced teaching is stLll paramount for her. She cherishes differently from the letter "e" in the word "seal" helping young readers. because, in "seal;' the two kids were sitting next "Beginning readers just need one thing to to each other, and the second vowel kid pinched grasp onto, and tl1is story and this strategy make the firstone. Thi always happens. And the it really concrete forthem;' she says. "J know this first vowelkid yeUs his own name aftergetting works because when l'm working with a mild, pinched. And the second vowel kid stays quiet, all I have to say is 'Look at your vowels' and they because he doesn't want to get in trouble. instantly know. Imagine the "a" pinching the "e" in "seal" "The beauty of th is is that it works for every and you see how easy this can be for young type of learner: visual, auditory and kinesthetic. reader to remember. To reinforce tl1e concept, My students beg to put those vests on. It's so cool McMaster has created vests for each vowel for to watch, because they're engaged:'
PHOTO BENAJMIN HARRIS the children to wear, so they can act out the -Darcy Gifford
EASTERN MAGAZINE I FALL 2017 I 3 9 The 2017 Alumni Award winners, from left, Jomes Grinios, Stocey Chamberlin, Charles Kettles, --
CARA JONES PHOTOGRAPHY
Donna Inch, Bert Greene, Lisa Moore and N.J. Akbar gathered at the Student Center to celebrate their achievements.
EASTERN MAGAZINE I FALL 2017 I 41 .. N.J. AKBAR MEET THE 56th ANNUAL OUTSTANDING YOUNG ALUMNUS ALUMNI AWARD WINNERS
CHARLES S. KETTLES DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS
Since receiving his master's degree in educational leadership, N . .J. Akbar (BS07, MA09) has become a leading authority on diversity in higher education. He is the assistant dean of academic diversity success at Kent State University, leading recruitment and retention effo rts for all lO of its colleges. N.J. was named Akron's Harold K. Stubb Humanitarian of 2016 for his efforts in education, and in 2017 he was dubbed a Significant African-American Male by the Ohio Black Women's Leadership Caucus of Akron.
DR. JAMES GRINIAS OUTSTANDING YOUNG ALUMNUS
Charles S. Kettles (MS79) earned his master's degree in c.ommercial construction, then went on to develop the EMU Aviation Management Program at the College of Or. James Grinias (BS09) earned his doctorate in analytical Technology. Charles graduated from the Army Aviation chemistry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His School in 1953 beforeserving in Korea, Japan and passion forhis work earned him a National Science Foundation Thailand, and again in 1963 as a pilot in Vietnam. He Predoctoral Graduate Research Fellowship and an Individual received the Medal of Honor from President Obama in Postdoctoral Fellowship from the National Science Foundation. 2016, forsaving the lives of 44 soldiers on May 15, 1967, Now an assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry at during fierce fightingnear Due Pho, Vietnam. Rowan University in Glassboro, N.J., James has returned to Eastern to sit on the Presidential Scholarship Committee, and to serve as a guest lecturer.
42 I FALL 2017 I EASTERN MAGAZINE STACEY NICOLE CHAMBERLIN BERT GREENE ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT DR. JOHN W. PORTER DISTINGUISHED SERVICE
Stacey Nicole Chamberlin (BSOl) earnedher EMU Bert Greene (BSSS) joined the ranks of the EMU faculty bachelor's degree in political science, then went on to earna in 1963, serving as a professor of teacher education for 34 master's in political management from George Washington years. Among the classes he taught were the first EMU course University the following year. Since then, she has risen through on using the internet,and one of the first on line courses the ranks as a key player in the world ofD.C. politics. She offered by the University. He has served as acting head of currently serves as the vice president of the DC l Group, the Department of Teacher Education and president of the which provides communications and advocacy services to emeritus faculty, and remains a valued mentor, cheerleader corporations, trade associations, non-profits and governmental and all-around supporter of EMU. organizations.
DONNA M. INCH LISA MOORE DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT
Donna M. Inch (BBA78, MBA84) used her two degrees in Lisa Moore (BS11) earned a bachelor of science in interior business administration as a springboard to a distinguished design in the CoUege of Technology, afterwhich she rose in her career at Ford Motor Company. Starting out as an industrial new profession to become a senior designer and team leader at relations analyst, she rose in the company through a series of dPOP, a leading interior design firm in Detroit. As an original positions in customer service, marketing and sales, and product member of the firm,Lisa has seen it grow from fivedesigners to development. She recently retired from her position as chairman 32, and has maintained ties with Easternby providing internship and CEO of the Ford Motor Land Development Corporation, and employment opportunities to EMU students and grads. the real estate arm of the company.
EASTERN MAGAZINE I FALL 2017 I 43 IN MEMORIAM
Robert M. McCrea (BBA57) Onolee L. Matthes (BS64) Jock E. Allon (SPA69) 1940s Southgate, Morch 17 Monroe, Feb. 5 Riverview, Feb. 15 Juanita M. Cory (BS40) Mox T. McKinney II (BAS7) Frances. E. (Douglas) Cranmer Linda J. Bailey (BS69, MA87) Davenport, Iowa, June 21 Farmington, Dec. 27 (BA65) Bronx N.Y., Feb. 22 To ledo, Ohio, April 27 Mory L. (Boyden) Forester Gerold E. Albright (BS58) Ann M. (Carr) Derleth (BA65) J. Douglas Birchmeier (MA69) (BA40) Royal Ook, June 16 Whippany, N.J., Feb. 28 Seattle, Wosh .. Moy 19 Longmont, Colo., Morch 26 Eunice A. Bendall (BS42) Son Nancy R. (Pinkerton) Gray Alon F. Esper (BA65) Monroe, Kathleen C. (Riley) Endress Diego, Colif., Nov. 7 (BS58) Northville, Morch 25 Moy 17 (MA69) Mason City, lowo, June 19 Margaret C. Devoll (BS42) Charlene M. (Cook) Wright Pauline R. (Smith) Kelley Ann Arbor, Nov. 11 (BA58, MA63) Holly, April 2 (MA65) Hudson, Feb. 9 Peter W. Jones (BS69, MA71) Washington, D.C, Jon. 10 Delmor E. Crisp (BS43) Rodger J. Clifton (BBA59) Diane V. (Heger) Kva mme Stuart, Flo., Morch 13 Phoenix, Ariz., Jon. 5 (MA65) Decorah, Iowa, Moy 12 Donald J. Piskor (BBA69) Port Austin, June 3 Ida J. (Woodbury) Kingston Simon P. Eaglin (BS59) Ann Dennis J. Mokulski (MA65) (BS44) Ypsilanti, Jon. 20 Arbor, Moy ? Detroit, Morch 29 Horry Slywiok (BA69) Auburn, N.Y., April 12 Fred H. Matthews (BS46) Wo lter J. Ferguson (MA59) Roy M. Smith (BS65) Grosse Jackson, Feb. 10 Pickerel, Wis., April 2 Pointe, Jon. 28 David B. Smith (BS69) Bonito Springs, Flo., Morch 24 Mary J. (Golden) Peters Frederick Kessler (BS59, Madeline C. (McGraw) (BS46) Lincoln, Moy 13 MA63, SPA77) Macomb, Nov. Worzniok (BS65) Ann Arbor, Robert E. Yo unt (BS69) Lo 25 Feb. 19 Solle, Morch 8 James K. Kelley (BS47) Monroe, Nov. 26 Carol F. (Lindsay) Fraser Edna F. (Blair) Boll (BA66) (BA59, MA67) Highland Pork, Avon, Conn., Morch 26 Beverley J. (Thomas) Ill., June 13 Snidecor (BS47) Te mpe, Ariz., Frederick A. DeNault (MA66) 1970s Bertha M. (Harrod) Booker Morch 2 Vina R. (Bivens) Krins (BS59, Sterling Heights, Nov. 12 (MA70) Saline, Jon. 10 MA67) Wheaton, Ill., April 15 William F. Dent JoAnne V. Cortwright (BS48) (BBA66) Marie E. (Wing) Crouch Petoskey, April 8 Lawrence E. Rickfelder (BS59, Traverse City, Moy 13 BA59) Elk Rapids, Jon. 12 William R. Hahn (MA70) Jackson, Feb. 8 Richard D. Helppie (BS49) (BS66, MS72) Carol J. (Stark) Sovia Wa rren, June 17 Charles A. Grace Dallas, Texas, Morch 8 (BS59) (MA70) Ypsilanti, April 24 Brent Hall Shoron, Po., Morch 25 Phyllis A. (Bond) Pingel L (MS66) Kalispell, Mo., Morch 3 (BS49, MA77) Ann Arbor, Darlene R. (Clor) House (BS70) Dec. 20 Lawrence R. Hawkins (BS66) Metamora, Jon. 10 1960s Miami, Flo., Dec. 29 Richard P. Jedele (BAE70) Opal M. (pfeiffer) Graichen Burlington, N.C., Morch 1 (BS60) Ann Arbor, Morch 21 Richard R. Pearsall (BS66) 1950s Traverse City, Jon. 11 Ronald D. Karoub (BS70) Marjorie E. Power (BS60, Virginia R (Burley) Day (BSSO) Gaylord, Dec. 11 MA66) Traverse City, Jon. 21 Dava E. (James) Szuch (BS66, Perkasie, Po., April 26 MA72) Berkley, April 26 William E. Ribich (SPA70) Judith A. (Swab) Bennett Doniel Eskin (BASO) Armada, Ironwood, Morch 5 (BS61) Newhall, Calif., June 17 Sondra J. (Wahl) Ahleman Jon. 8 (BS66, MA71) Ottawa Lake, Linda M. (Schrock) Reinhart Gene D. Sale (MA61) Ontario, Lucie C. Gelill (BSSO) Flushing, Feb. 28 (BS70) Detroit, June 1 Canada, Morch 17 Nov. 14 Jacqueline A. (Mainville) Avery AlvettoJ. Timmons (MA70) Virginia L. McClelland (BS61, Mary L (Wagar) Gundrum (BS67) Windsor, Vt., Feb. 24 Flint, Jon. 15 MA67) Port Huron, April 20 (BSSO) Annandale, Vo., Jon. 28 Linda J. (Kammer) Holladay Robert D. Wagner (MA70) Paul R. Richmond Jr. (MA61) Patricio A. Bracewell (BASl) (BS67) Monroe, Morch 5 Tecumseh, Morch 1 Jackson, Dec. 12 Rochester, Dec. 27 DortheaJ. (Hamilton) Hoyt John H. Sturmfels (SPA71) Linda M. (Faust) Ingram Theresa A. Hamilton (BS51, (BS67) Mount Morris, Moy 25 Minnetonka, Minn., Morch 27 (BS62, MA67) Saint Clair, Feb. MAS?, SPA 68) Ypsilanti, Nov. 26 James E. Lee (BS67, MA72) Fern L To lan (MA72) Morion, 30 Ypsilanti, Jon. 24 Ind., April 13 Richard W. Tu rnquist (BS62, Corl K. Krause (BA51) MA68) Farmington, Jon. 6 Nila J. Oxender (MA67) Ann Maurice L To lan (MA72) Westwood, Moine, April 16 Arbor, Nov. 22 Morion, Ind., April 18 John M. Gruden (MA63) Elaine R. (Kniebes) Peters Alpena, Jon. 31 Cuma J. Bryant (BS68) Paul Wurster (BS70, MA76) (BS52) Tucson, Ariz., Feb. 3 Cleveland, Te nn., July 23 Mary Kay (Harbron) Evergreen, Colo., Moy 19 Vivian (Voorhorst) Hoogland Townsend (BS63) Lapeer, Janet M. (Cummings) Coxon Arlene A. (Takacs) Higgins (BSS.3) Zeeland, Morch 9 Moy 6 (MA68) Harrisburg, Po., Jon. 12 (BS71) West Bloomfield, Chrissie M. Donzeisen (BS54, Carol A. (Campbell) Wildman Ivon L Eggemeyer (BS68) Allen Moy lS MA58) Sylvania, Ohio, Dec. 7 (BS63) Bod Axe, Jon. 28 Pork, Morch 22 Barbara A (Trombly) Holguin Julian L Gooch (BS54) Royal Jane M. (Bennett) Yo ung Arlene (Weinlonder) Eklund (BS71) Los Cruces, N.M., Moy 17 Ook, Moy 25 (BS63) Lansing, Morch 4 (MA68) Adrion, April 17 Vo nda G. (Anderson) RobertV. Wasco (BSSS) Douglas B. Foster (BS64) Anthony J. Kilyonek (BS68, Lichtenfelt (BS71) Lexington, Folsom, Calif., Feb. 10 Hastings, New Zealand, Oct. MA70) Colstrip, Mont., Feb. 13 Ky., Morch 8 Basil C. Babcock (BS56) Ann 29 Floyd Mcclendon (MA68) Marcia C. Peters (MS71) Arbor, Moy 31 Catherine C. (Marsh) Locke Birmingham, Alo., Nov. 25 Detroit, June 17 Francis J. Monmeld (BAS7) (BS64, MA68) Fort Gratiot, Carroll C. Nadig (MA68) Lewis W. Slusher (MA71) Pontiac, April 10 Moy 27 Saline, Jon. 29 Adrion, Morch 29
44 I FALL 2017 I EASTERN MAGAZINE IN MEMORIAM
Bernard J. Wolf (MA71) Hulett, James M. locca (MBA78) James A. Dailey, who worked Wyo., Moy 30 Jackson, June 13 at EMU for 28 years (shipping 1990s and receiving), passed away Theodore M. Demeyer (BS72) Thomas J. Mackenzie (BS78) James D. Day (BBA90) Port Jon. 25 in Ypsilanti. Linden, Feb. 18 Homburg, Jon. 29 Charlotte, Flo., Feb. 2 Diane L. (Stevens) Purnell Kelley P. (Howarth) Reska Robert M. Clough (BS91) Bernard C. Decker Jr., emeritus (BS72) Indianapolis, Ind., (BS7fl, MA83) Washington, Plymouth, Morch 25 faculty (journalism), passed Moy 25 Po., Morch 17 away Morch 16 in Hanover, James R. Lang (MBA91) Saline, Hew Hampshire. LouAnn (Wyllys) Sadik Mary E. Loewen (BS79) Ann June 13 (BS72) Livonia, Feb. 1 Arbor, Nov. 18 Nancy E. (Richter) Lashbrook We rner J. Einstodter, emeritus Donald L. D. Hunt (BS73) William J. Meadowcroft (MA93) Springfield, Ill., Feb. 12 faculty who taught for 25 Grand Blanc, Moy 9 (MBA79) Jackson, April 23 years in the deportment of Pamela K. (Stephen) Welsh sociology, anthropology and Patricia A. (Miller) Johnson Betty J. (Arey) Roussey (BS93) Keezletown, Vo., Nov. 6 criminology, passed away on (BS73) Richland, April 28 (MA79) Te mperance, Feb. 20 Barbara A. (Dailey) Jon. 7 in Walnut Creek, Calif. Gerald R. Laskey (MA73) Kearschner (BS94) Te rre Cedar, Dec. 11 Haute, Ind., Feb. 28 John W. Etsweiler, secretory at EMU for 32 yeors, passed away Thomas D. Leroy (BBA73) Son 1980s Michael N. Kelly (BS95) Dec. 5 in Ann Arbor. Antonio, Texas,April 14 Ann (Davison) Boone (MASO) Brighton, Morch 1 Lee M. Hancock (BBA77), Robert E. Morris (BBE73, Ypsilanti, Jon. 30 Barbara K. Wise-McCallahan MA77) Ypsilanti, Dec. 5 (BS95) Brighton, Moy 26 former director of IT, Thomas M. Stewart (BSBO) Operations, passed away in William Ray Jr. (BBA73) Ann Arbor, Junel Shantell L (Walker) Cook Winter Hoven, Flo. on Jon. 9. Ypsilanti, June 7 (BS96) Grandville, Dec. 7 Robert G. Clone (BBA81) Sandra A. Hazlett, lecturer Ted R. Stiger (BS73) Ossineke, Christine C. Maxey-Reeves Eaton Rapids, Nov. 29 for aviation low courses and April 25 (BA96) Frankfort, Feb. 7 Eunice R. (Wygocki) Maley member of EMU's aviation Cathie A. (Rinaldi) Strand (MA81) Fernandina Beach, Brod A. Haskell (BS97, MA02) advisory board, passed away (BS73) East Lansing, Jon. 8 Flo., Feb. 5 Lake Orion, April 23 in Ann Arbor on Nov. 16. Lenore T. Croudy (MA74) Jamesenna Tillman (BBA99, Susan H. Ganote (MA82) Margherita (Marge) Mustazza, Flint, Jon. 19 MBA06) Ypsilanti, Morch 1 Louisville, Ky., Jon. 28 former baker in dining services, Gloria J. (Klepser) Downing passed away in Northfield, Sarah M. (Moore) Hemdal (MA74) Brighton, Dec. 16 Minn. On Nov. 28. (MA82) To ledo, Ohio, April 2 Peter B. Klein (BBA74) 2000s Phillip L Parisian, Patricia A. (Hickey) King former Ypsilanti, Jon. 6 Brenda G. Plakmeyer (MSOO) (BS82) Albion, Morch 27 facilities maintenance director JoAnn M. (Fredericks) Grant, Moy 27 at the Physical Plant, passed Alexanders (BS75, MA79) Josephine C. Moore (HSC82) Virlena C. Reed (BSOO) Ann away in Ann Arbor on Nov. 24. Chelsea, April 25 Vermillion, S.D., Nov. 11 Arbor, Nov. 27 Dr. Jay A. Weinstein, Patrick A. Beck (BS75) Priest Duward Strong (BS84) Michael T. Wolfe (BBAOO) emeritus faculty (sociology, River, Idaho, April 10 Wyoming, Feb. 12 Detroit, Moy 14 onthropologf and criminology) Patrick E. Dustin (BBA75) Marilyn R. (Warren) Wagner Anna M. Hess (BS06) Lo Solle, and former deportment head Vero Beach, Flo., Dec. 12 (BBA84) Lincolnwood, 111., Nov. 28 (1986-2000), passed away Susan R. (Stephens) Barbe Nov. 25 Matthew J. Wronikowski in St. Simons Island, Go. on Morch 8. (BAE76) Marysville, June 1 Catharine A. Trumbatore (BS07) Livonia, Feb. 14 Kerrin K. Buckley (BS76) (MS85) Mount Clemens, Patty H. (Hegwood) Shiffer Harold W. Robbins Jr., who Burlington. N.C., Feb. 10 Moy 23 (MA09) Waxahachie, Texas, retired ofter 30 years as Nov. 23 plumbing, heating and cooling Caroline M. (Bowsman) Steve Busick (MA86) formon at the Physical Plant, Gosun (BS76) Brighton, Otisville, Moy 27 Morch 1 passed away Dec. 2 in Willis. Garry M. Harris (BS86) STAFF: Antoinette L "Toni" Ta ylor, Christine L. (Holtz) Merritt Indianapolis, Ind., Morch 24 (BS76) Romulus, Nov. 20 Kevin J. Abbasse, manager of odministrotive secretory for Jeanne M. Pritchard (BS86) Academic Advising and Career Stephen H. Sorrell (BBA76) structural life safety systems Cheboygan, Nov. 29 Development, passed away West Bloomfield, Dec. 16 at the Physical Plant, passed Richard C. Gardner (BBA87) away Jon. 26 in Grand Rapids. Nov. 29 in Gross Lake. Toni hod John J. Dellos (MBA77) Pinckney, Moy 4 worked for the university for Jackson, Moy 26 Marcus K. Adams (BS81, 41 years. Todd D. Harrison (BBA88) BS04, MLSOB, MA14) emeritus Glenn G. Oepine (BME77) Lawrence, Kon., Jon. 10 staff from Holle Library, Ranjit Tirtha emeritus focult Elkhorn, Wis., April 28 passed away Morch 9. Marcus (geography), passed away Jon. Krista F. (Walters) Duncan Rand J. O'leary (MA88) was working at the American 26 in Ann Arbor. (BBA77) Pinehurst, N.C., Orleans, Dec. 9 University Libraries and Digital James E. "J imbo" Wolter, who Nov. 29 Barbara-Ann (Kirchoff) Tec hnologies in Coiro. retired ofter 37 years of service White (BS88) Charlottesville, Rick 0. Feick (MA77) Monroe, Marjorie K. Chamberlain, as a chef, passed away in Vo., Dec. 12 Dec. 13 emeritus faculty (speech and Ypsilanti on Jon. 15 language pathology) and Richard R. Setzer (BS77) Bear Donald 0. Foster (BBA89) former coordinator of the Lake, Morch 9 North Port, Flo., April 22 Speech and Hearing Clinic, Compiled by Patricia Frank L. Sulfaro (BBA77) Patricia M. (Rix) Patton passed way in North Fort Cartwright, EMU Officefor Monroe, April 24 (SPA89) Ann Arbor, Morch 1 Myers, Flo., on April 4. Alumni Relations.
EASTERN MAGAZINE I FALL 2017 I 45 FROM THE ARCHIVES
SUNNY SKIES Drum majors ore often the most visible members of the marching bond, and Oliver Peltonen (BME62) was no exception. Called "Sunny Skies" in the 1960 "Aurora" yearbook, Peltonen and majorettes Dexo Colemon (BS62), Ruth Rezek (BS61), Judy Down and Margaret White (MS68) led EMU's marching bond, the Pride of the Peninsula, onto the field each game in what the yearbook authors coiled "their snappy green and white uniforms."
46 I FALL 2017 I EASTERN MAGAZINE
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