A smattering of e-mails sent to campus over the last few
weeks has signaled some major changes on the horizon in
the administrative ranks of Eastern Michigan University.
Don Loppnow, who has been with EMU for 35 years,
plans to step down as provost and executive vice president,
effective May 1, with an intent to eventually return to
the classroom.
Kathy Orscheln and Cynthia Van Pelt, who had served as
the interim director of admissions and interim director
of financial aid, respectively, were officially elevated
to the permanent posts nearly two weeks ago. Sarah Kersey
Otto, interim director of Career Services, added another
interim to her title: that of interim director of academic
advising. In addition, Ron Miller, associate vice president
for development, was named executive director of the EMU
Foundation Jan. 22.
And EMU President Susan Martin announced, via a Jan. 26
e-mail, that the Office of Marketing and Communications,
as well as WEMU 89.1 FM, will report directly to her until
she fills a newly created position of vice president for
communications.
"The vice president for advancement and communications
position has been vacant for some time," Martin said in
her e-mail. "I have combined two vice president positions
for student affairs and enrollment. I will be taking the
position, formerly enrollment management, and creating
a new vice president for communications, and posting that
position soon."
Until that new position is filled, Martin said Ted Coutilish,
assistant vice president for marketing and communications,
and Art Timko, general manager of WEMU, EMU's public radio
station, will report directly to her.
The former position of vice president for advancement
was left vacant after Daryl Szcepanski left EMU in April
2008 to become director of development for the Herbert
H. and Grace A. Dow College of Health Professions at Central
Michigan University.
Loppnow to step down
Loppnow, 63, has filled a number of roles at EMU during
his 35-plus-year career here. He has been permanent provost
since April 2006 (interim provost starting in September
2004), and served as EMU's interim leader twice during
the past five years.
 |
Loppnow |
After the EMU Board of Regents fired former president
John Fallon in July 2007, the regents appointed Loppnow
executive vice president July 16, 2007, essentially an
interim presidential post, until Susan Martin was hired
in May 2008. Loppnow had previously served as acting president
for approximately two weeks before Craig Willis was named
interim president in August 2004.
"Some time ago, I shared my career timeline with President
Martin and we have been discussing the specifics and options.
This is to communicate a professional career change that
I have decided to make," Loppnow said via a Jan. 27 e-mail
he sent to campus." Many of you know that my career plans
have been to eventually leave administration and return
to the faculty. I'd like to finish my career in the classroom,
where I began my journey in higher education. Interacting
with students is energizing and enjoyable.
"In consultation with President Martin, I intend to step
down as provost and executive vice president to pursue
a professional development leave with the goal of returning
to the classroom," Loppnow said. "This change will take
place at the end of winter semester (May 1). I appreciate
President Martin's support."
From 2002-2004, Loppnow was senior executive for strategic
planning and, from 1997-2001, he was the associate vice
president for extended learning. During his time at EMU,
Loppnow also has served as department head of social work,
interim director of the office of research development,
coordinator for the social work program and professor.
"During my years at EMU, I have been privileged to serve
in a number of leadership roles. This has been invigorating
for me," Loppnow said. "What I treasure most are the people
who make up our university community, and the alumni and
friends of the University, with whom I've had the opportunity
to work. Together, you create a rich intellectual and social
environment."
Loppnow received his doctorate in higher education administration
at the University of Michigan; his master's degree in social
work from Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., and
his bachelor's degree in social work and psychology from
the University of Wisconsin.
Orscheln, Van Pelt named to permanent posts
Orscheln and Van Pelt's promotions were announced in a
Jan. 22 e-mail from Bernice Lindke, vice president for
student affairs.
 |
Orscheln |
Orscheln had been interim director of admissions since
August 2006 and, prior to that, was associate director
of admissions at EMU since April 1999.
"I felt like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders," Orscheln
said of receiving the permanent appointment after a 2 1/2 -year
odyssey that included three separate searches to fill the
position.
"It never occurred to me to take my hat out of the ring.
I knew I was a strong candidate," she said. "I wanted the
best thing for Eastern. If they could find a better, stronger
candidate, I wanted them to do that. I thought,
with my track record, I'll persevere."
Being an interim for that long, Orscheln said she realized,
after she was named permanently to the post, that she had
been in what she termed a "limbo place."
"You have all of these great ideas, but I wasn't really
given the go-ahead to go forward with my ideas. I just
kind of felt I was just keeping all of these balls in the
air. Finally, I can stop treading water and get going," she
said.
Orscheln credited her staff with hanging tough and working
hard through the extended interim period. At the
beginning of her interim tenure, Orscheln said she met
individually with each staff member. She asked each
what they felt they were capable of and could they step
up and do more.
"They learned new things and did more. It was a huge team
effort," Orscheln said. "We knew we were going to be down
a person. We didn't know it was going to be for more than
two years. This is the most energetic, loyal team of colleagues
anyone can ask for."
Admissions' initial goal is to push enrollment numbers
back up to those the University experienced during fall
2007, she said. Orscheln is confident the University is
headed in that direction. She said a strategy of combining
high-tech and "high touch" recruiting tools is producing
dividends with upticks in the number of applications and
admits.
"In recruitment, the one thing that has to happen before
you can recruit them is they have to have that favorable
image of your university first," Orscheln said. "Once they
have that, they'll open the stuff we send them or go to
our Web site."
Orscheln received her master's of education degree in
counseling and personnel services, and her bachelor's degree
in political science, both from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
 |
Van Pelt |
Van Pelt had been interim director of financial aid since
May 1, 2008. Prior to that, she was associate director
of financial aid since April 1991.
"It was kind of a natural progression, in my mind, to
think about applying for the permanent position," said
Van Pelt. "My staff seemed happy about it. They had nice
reactions. They gave me a potluck and sent me flowers."
As the permanent financial aid director, Van Pelt said
she has plans to reorganize the office structure, revamp
some reporting structures and fill vacant positions of
associate director and a clerical as soon as she can.
But, at the heart of what financial aid does, Van Pelt
said this: "From our side, I want consistent training and
retraining for our employees. From the student side, we
want to provide financial literacy; getting more information
out to them, and let them know how quickly they need to
respond to notices we send them. If we can accomplish both
sides — keep our staff trained and train students
to know to get applications completed and check on it,
we'll do well."
Van Pelt, who will have been with Eastern Michigan 33
years in April, received her bachelor's degree in sociology
from EMU.
Otto heading Academic Advising on an interim basis
Sarah Kersey-Otto, interim or acting director of Career
Services since January 2006, was named interim director
of academic advising, effective Jan. 12. Otto
replaces Pat Williams, who left the University, according
to Human Resources.
 |
Kersey-Otto |
"I am very excited about working with the very capable
and dedicated staff in the Academic Advising Center," said
Kersey-Otto. "Working with both the Career and Academic
Advising centers offers a wonderful opportunity to explore
ways we can collaborate and coordinate our services and
programs in order to enhance our overall customer service."
In addition to overseeing the Academic Advising Center
in 301 Pierce Hall, Kersey-Otto also will be closely involved
with the Coordinated Student Advising Team. The team, a
result of a recommendation made last fall by the University
Retention Council, is essentially a group of faculty and
graduate assistants charged with working with EMU's at-risk
student population.
An example of these at-risk students would be freshmen
that completed their first semester with a GPA below 2.0,
resulting in Probation 1 status, said Kersey-Otto. Team
members meet with these students to develop strategies
to help the students return to good academic standing.
Other groups assisted are students with 115 or more credit
hours who have not declared a major or students who have
indicated they are an "intent" for a second admission program.
Miller receives promotion
 |
| Miller |
Miller, who has been associate vice president for development
at the EMU Foundation since December 2008, was recently
elevated to executive director of the EMU Foundation, effective
Jan. 22.
"I am now executive director of the EMU Foundation (all
fundraising aspects) and with direct responsibility for
alumni," Miller said. "The position of vice president of
advancement is not going to be filled. Instead, the operation
of the Foundation will be on the Foundation side as opposed
to the University side."
Miller added that his former position was eliminated.
Miller received his bachelor's degree in business from
EMU.
