While there was the usual shuffling of the deck in the
administrative ranks at Eastern Michigan University this
summer, the best news was that EMU now has a president.
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Martin |
Susan Martin, of Ypsilanti, became EMU's
22nd president — and
its first female president — June 7.
Most recently, Martin was provost and vice-chancellor
of academic affairs at the University of Michigan-Dearborn
since July 2006. The majority of Martin's higher education
career was at Grand Valley State University, where she
taught and published as a professor of accounting and taxation.
While at GVSU, Martin served as director of the master
of taxation program, director of international business
programs, and chair of the accounting and taxation department.
In June 2001, Martin joined the GVSU provost's office and
served in roles as assistant, associate and executive associate
vice president of academic affairs.
Before GVSU, Martin
was deputy state treasurer for the Bureau of Local Government
Services for Michigan from June 1981 to June 1984. She
also was the commissioner of revenue for the state of
Michigan from 1985-88. Martin received her doctorate and
master's degree in accounting, both from Michigan State
University; and her bachelor's degree in public speaking
from Central Michigan University.
 |
| Lindke |
As of May 28, the Division of Enrollment Management began
reporting to Bernice Lindke, interim vice president for
student affairs. Lindke previously served as interim vice
president for enrollment management during 2006-2007. Admissions
also reports to Lindke. This development occurred after Tom
Green, vice president for enrollment since June
1, 2007, resigned, effective Aug. 31. There are currently
no plans to fill the vice president for enrollment management
position.
"Bernice has previously provided effective leadership
in enrollment management and will lead both the Division
of Student Affairs and the Division of Enrollment Management
during this transition," said Don Loppnow, EMU's provost
and executive vice president. "This change is intended
to provide direction and support for the final phases of
recruitment of students for fall semester, and will provide
the opportunity to explore the advisability of merging
or reorganizing the two divisions."
Daryl Szcepanski, vice president of
advancement and executive director of the EMU Foundation,
since April 2006, left the University in April 2008 to
become director of development for the Herbert H. and Grace
A. Dow College of Health Professions at Central Michigan
University. No replacement has been named.
Glenna Frank Miller was named assistant
VP of student affairs May 7. Miller's former title was
executive director of the Student Center, which she has
been since the building opened in November 2006. In addition
to the Student Center, Miller oversees Campus Life, Diversity
and Community Involvement, Office of International Students
and Students with Disabilities (formerly Access Services).
 |
Brackette |
Caroline Brackette was named director
of the Students with Disabilities Office (formerly Access
Services) and started July 14. Before coming to EMU, Brackette
was an assistant professor in the department of counseling,
educational psychology and research at the University of
Memphis from 2007-2008. Previously, Brackette was a school
counselor/administrator with Libbey High School in Toledo
and was a disability specialist in the office of accessibility
at the University of Toledo from 2001-2005. She received
her doctorate in counselor education and supervision, and
her master's degree in guidance and counseling, both from
the University of Toledo. She also received two bachelor's
degrees, one in psychology and the other in journalism.
Brackette replaces Don Anderson, who was director of Access
Services from June 2002 to December 2007. Anderson passed
away Dec. 25, 2007.
 |
Jackson |
Mark Jackson, of Detroit, was named
director of Holman Learning Center June 30. Before coming
to EMU, Jackson was dean of student affairs at Marygrove
College in Detroit from 2005-2007. Previously, he was superviser
for research and evaluation for the school district of
the City of Pontiac from 1998-2005. Jackson received his
doctorate of philosophy, his master's degree in clinical
psychology/educational systems analysis; and his bachelor's
degree in science, all from Western Michigan University.
Jackson replaces Margaret Carter, who left the University
in May. Carter had served as interim director of Holman
Learning Center during 2004-2005 before returning to assistant
director for a year. In 2006, Carter was again elevated
to interim director status.
Darcy Gifford, of Adrian, director of
publications in the Office of Marketing and Communications,
began June 7. She replaces Kevin Merrill,
who had been senior publications editor since December
2002. Merrill left EMU in February to become director of
communications at the University of Michigan's School of
Natural Resources and Environment. Gifford formerly was
director of communications and marketing at Maumee Valley
Country Day School in Toledo, Ohio, from 2004-2008. Prior
to that, Gifford was director of public relations and editor
of the alumni magazine at Adrian College from 2000-2003.
Gifford received her master's degree in organizational
communication from Western Michigan University and her
bachelor's degree in English/journalism from Adrian College.
College of Arts and Sciences
 |
Venner |
Tom Venner, head of the department of
art since 1998, was named dean of the College of Arts and
Sciences, effective July 1. From 1987-1998, Venner was
the head of the art department at Siena Heights College
in Adrian, Mich. He also served as professor of art and
chair of the visual and performing arts and education division
while at Siena Heights College (now Sienna Heights University).
Venner received his master of fine arts degree from Eastern
Michigan University and his bachelor's degree from Alma
College.
"Tom brings outstanding experience to this important academic
leadership role and we believe he will provide a vision
to advance the college," Loppnow said.
In a related move, Hartmut Hoft, dean of the College of
Arts and Sciences since Aug. 6, 2005, returned to the faculty
as a computer science professor July 1.
Colin Blakely, an associate professor
of art, was named interim head of the department of art,
July 1. Blakely, who has been with the department since
2001, received his M.F.A. from the University of New Mexico.
 |
Sipe |
Rebecca Sipe, interim department head
of English language and literature since Sept. 1, 2007,
was named permanent department head of English language
and literature July 1. Sipe, an associate professor, received
her educational doctorate from Boston University; her
master's degree in English education from the University
of Alaska; and her bachelor's degree in English from the
University of North Carolina-Charlotte.
Marianne Laporte, of Ann Arbor, was
named department head of biology, effective May 1. Laporte
came to EMU in August 2001 at the rank of assistant professor
of biology. She was promoted to associate professor of
biology and received tenure in August 2006. Laporte received
her doctorate in botany from the University of Wisconsin-Madison;
her master's degree in biology from Indiana University;
and her bachelor's degree in biology from the University
of Michigan.
Rosemary Weston-Gil, of Amherst, Mass,
was named department head of foreign languages,
effective Aug. 1. Her position also includes tenure at
the rank of associate professor. Before coming to EMU,
Weston-Gil was chair of the department of modern languages
and an associate professor of applied linguistics at Rhode
Island College. She received her doctorate, master's degree
and bachelor's degree, all from the University of Massachusetts.
Peter Wood, of Chicago, Ill., was named
department head of sociology, anthropology and criminology,
effective Aug. 1. His position also includes tenure at
the rank of professor. Previously, Wood was interim department
head of sociology, anthropology and social work at Mississippi
State University from 2007-2008. He had been at Mississippi
State University since 1996, where he was a professor of
sociology, criminology and social work; director of the
program in criminal justice and corrections since 1998;
and an inaugural faculty member of the African-American
Studies program there since 2007. Wood received both his
doctorate and master's degree in sociology from Vanderbilt
University; and his bachelor's degree in sociology/English
from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pa.
College of Business
 |
Balazs |
Anne Balazs, of Starkville, Miss., was
named department head of marketing, effective Aug. 1. Her
position also includes tenure at the rank of professor.
Previously, Balazs was a marketing professor at Mississippi
University for Women from 2005-2008 and interim dean there
from 2005-2007. Balazs received her doctorate in business
administration from the University of Massachusetts and
her bachelor's degree in economics from Smith College in
Northampton, Mass.
David Mielke, dean of the College of
Business, assumed the department head of accounting in
an interim role July 1. Susan Kattelus, head of the department
of accounting since 2002, returned to the faculty June
30 before retiring Aug. 1.
College of Education
Michael Bretting, associate dean of the
College of Education, was named interim department
head of special education July 1. He will retain his
associate dean duties. Bretting came to EMU in 1993 as
head of its then-department of health, physical education,
recreation and dance. Bretting received his doctorate in
administration, curriculum and supervision of physical
education from the University of Maryland; and his master's
and bachelor's degrees, both in physical education, from
East Carolina University.
College of Health and Human Services
 |
deLaski-Smith |
Deb deLaski-Smith, interim dean of EMU's
Graduate School, was named interim dean of the College
of Health and Human Services, effective Aug. 1. DeLaski-Smith
replaces Jeanne Thomas, dean of the CHHS since July 1,
2004. Thomas resigned May 16 and returned to the faculty
as a professor of social work.
In addition to her new responsibilities,
deLaski-Smith will continue to oversee some of the activities
of the Graduate School. A resident of Brighton, deLaski-Smith
joined EMU in 1978 as an associate professor in interior
design, with an emphasis in environments for aging and
disabled populations. deLaski-Smith received her doctorate
in housing issues and master's degree in housing, both
from Michigan State University; and her bachelor's degree
in interior design and general home economics from Adrian
College.
Murali Nair, an assistant professor in
the School of Health Promotion and Human Performance, took
over as interim associate dean of the CHHS, effective Sept.
1. Nair came to EMU in 2000 as an assistant professor in
the then-department of physical education, recreation and
dance. Nair served as interim director of the School of
Health Promotion during 2005-2006 and has served as director
of the School of Health Promotion and Human Performance
since June 1, 2006. Nair received his doctorate in motor
learning from the University of Virginia; and his master's
degree in physical education and bachelor's degree in geography,
both from the University of Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Mary Sue Marz, a professor of nursing
in the College of Health and Human Services, was named
interim functional director of the School of Nursing
Aug. 1-Sept. 3. Marz came to EMU in 2001
as interim department head of nursing. From 2004-2007,
Marz first served as associate vice president for extended
programs and then as interim dean for Continuing Education
before returning to the faculty as a professor
of nursing. Marz received her doctorate in philosophy from
Wayne State University; her master's degree in nursing
from DePaul University; and her bachelor's degree in nursing
from Michigan State University.
