SPRING/SUMMER 2020 LEARNING THROUGH A LENS Faculty, students creatively adapt to distance learning READY TO SERVE Despite mounting uncertainty, nursing students say they’re ready to join the ranks of health care workers fighting COVID-19. READ MORE ONLINE 1 CONTENTS EXECUTIVE EDITOR Paula M. Davis 8. Uncharted Waters CONTRIBUTING EDITORIAL STAFF Joy Brown Erin Flynn 12. Unique Collection Megan Looker The University Libraries is offering students a glimpse Deanne Puca inside the minds of southwest Michigan authors David Small and Sarah Stewart through their working archive, ART DIRECTOR complete with drafts, original art, unpublished works Kim C. Nelson Given an inconceivable and journals. task and limited time to CREATIVE TEAM Mark Bugnaski accomplish it, the WMU 20. Dreamers of Tomorrow Madeleine Fojtik, M.A. ‘12 community is finding ways Students at the Richmond Institute for Design and Debbi Kreps, B.S. ‘88 to thrive while teaching and Innovation are developing modes of transportation and Shelli Osterhout learning from a distance. exploration for the future. PRODUCTION STAFF Bradley Horstman At the center of the 22. Something to Chirp About transition is WMUx, which An associate professor of biological sciences and doctoral QUESTIONS OR was recently charged student share basic birding tips to novices looking to get COMMENTS? with delivering next-level Contact Paula M. Davis at back to nature during quarantine. [email protected] learning opportunities on and off campus with UPDATES 26. Taking Flight emerging technology. For address changes, A new partnership with United Airlines is putting aviation please send updated students on the fast track for life in the sky, offering information to enhanced training even in spite of COVID-19. alumni-donor-update@ Patricia Villalobos wmich.edu. 28. Community Collaborations Echeverría, professor and area coordinator of In recognition of 1.34 million pubic service hours served on printmedia, records a campus and throughout the world, WMU has received the video for her ART 5000: W Magazine is owned 2020 Carnegie Community Engagement Classification. Machinations class. by Western Michigan University, 1903 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo, 30. Charging into the Future MI 49008-5433. Views The College of Engineering and Applied Sciences is expressed in the magazine receiving new funds to create more cost-effective, fast- are not necessarily those of the University. WMU charging and high-energy lithium-ion batteries in the name is an equal opportunity/ of environmental sustainability. affirmative action institution and a member 32. Figures of Speech of the Association of With his career on the brink, news anchor Andrew Public and Land-Grant Universities as well as the Dominianni turns to a longtime WMU master faculty Council for Advancement specialist to find his voice again. and Support of Education. 4. University News 14. Alumni Profiles 29. In Print 38. Expert Insights 40. Classnotes 42. In Memoriam 2 wmich.edu/magazine 3 University News WMU 3D printers producing face shields WMU Signature and masks for health care workers awarded for Western Michigan University’s 3D printers aren’t sitting idle during the pandemic. outstanding Instead, staff and professors from multiple campus departments are using them to innovation produce personal protective equipment— specifically face shields—for health care A unique program that highlights workers who desperately need them. The student experiences is garnering equipment goes to the Sindecuse Health acclaim. WMU Signature received Center as part of the ongoing WMU effort the Innovative Program award VIDEO to provide materials to help protect health at the NASPA Region IV-East workers and share WMU resources. annual conference. “WMU Signature is a way that we Sales win makes WMU most victorious validate what students have been doing outside the classroom,” university in national competition’s history says Dr. Evan Heiser, the program’s director. “They’re getting engaged, Dear Friends, they’re exploring their passions, and the really different thing is students have to do something unique to put their passion into action.” The world is a vastly different place than it was caring students who used their tools and talents when we issued the previous edition of the to help front-line workers in health care settings, Students who complete WMU magazine. Things have changed in ways that Broncos are showing the grit, determination and Signature receive a co-curricular most of us never expected. We’ve witnessed the adaptability that are most needed when the world designation on their diplomas signifying one of nine pathways frightening spread of a global pandemic that has doesn’t make sense. Sarah Obermeyer and Ryan Demas competed in the State Farm Marketing and Sales Competition. affected nations around the world and touched our they can choose to focus on: Rocked by calamity, tested by tragedy, through it all, A team of two sales three different rounds of the prospect into their office campus in the worst way, but at the same civic engagement, diversity and the Western Michigan University family continues to students competed in competition, including: A to review options. time, we’ve also beheld humanity and decency inclusion, entrepreneurship, display true humanity and courage. I hope that the global engagement, health and the State Farm Marketing marketing presentation at their best. A customer service role-play stories you’ll read throughout this issue will remind wellness, leadership, social justice, and Sales Competition at answering the question, based on the scenario of a I’m writing this message at a moment that can you of what’s best and most enduring about our sustainability or teaching and the University of Central “How might a State Farm current customer coming only be described in one word: uncertainty. Our beloved University—its people. student success. WMU is the Missouri, during the fall agent educate and promote state’s residents are currently sheltering in place, to their agent’s office to Thank you for continuing to stand strong with us, only university in the nation semester, with one student a futuristic vision of mobile businesses are closed, K-12 schools continue online pay their six-month auto for being part of our worldwide community and offering the high-level student taking top honors in the telematics technology and we hold our collective breath as we monitor the insurance premium in full. joining us in proving that no matter the obstacle, engagement endorsement. customer service role-play while ensuring customer data and watch the viral spread. There’s no denying The goal was for the agent to Broncos are prepared to go the distance. category. This victory brings data privacy?” that this is a troublesome time for all of us. “The idea is to help students stand WMU’s student winnings start a conversation about out when they’re applying for jobs A sales role-play, focused renters’ insurance while But at the same time, I’m heartened by the things to over $40,000 in the past or graduate school,” Heiser says. on how a State Farm agent processing the transaction. that I see taking place across our University. eight years of competition, “Getting engaged on campus helps could develop a relationship From the response of our faculty members, who making it the most Obermeyer clinched the to make students more successful. with a new client from an quickly shifted 5,000 course sections to distance Edward Montgomery, Ph.D. successful university in the win in the customer Helping students focus and find internet lead. The role-play education platforms this spring, to the creative and President event’s history. service role-play portion something they’re passionate about began with an appointment- of the competition. will help them be more successful.” Ryan Demas and Sarah setting phone call where the Obermeyer competed in agent’s objective was to get 4 wmich.edu/magazine News 5 UniversityUniversity NewsNews WMU professor unites health care Business Grants awarded for COVID-19 heroes, Broadway stars to raise spirits professor research projects and funds during pandemic earns second The University's Office of Research and Innovation has awarded five grants for research related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The projects Broadway stars are bringing dramatic flair to honor frontline medical Fulbright cover health, politics, religion, education and language support. workers risking their lives to care for others during the pandemic. "Our guiding principle was to advance excellence in the pursuit of The Resilient Project, spearheaded by Jay Berkow, director of music award knowledge and ideas to help tackle COVID-19-related issues," says theatre performance, unites a star-studded company of more than For an Dr. Terri Goss Kinzy, vice president for research and innovation. "We 60 performers with doctors and nurses from across the country. impressive think it's going to be a major contribution from Western Michigan Participating from emergency rooms, critical care units and even second time, Dr. University to the nation's response." their own living rooms, they join together to sing "Resilient," a song Kuanchin "KC" from a rock-opera he’s been working on with composer/lyricist Dave Totaling $31,620, the grants are funded by the Meader Presidential Chen, professor Ogrin called “Mata Hari.” Endowment—a fund specifically designated for promoting of business WMU launches excellence at WMU. A committee selected the winning projects, Dr. Kuanchin "Given the unprecedented impact of this crisis, which is still information looking for those that had a broad impact, were collaborative in unfolding, our goal was to salute the true heroes who are at the systems, co-director of the online cybersecurity nature and could begin immediately in a remote capacity. forefront of the battle for human lives. The tireless health care Center for Business Analytics professionals—doctors, nurses, hospital personnel—who are literally and John W.