John Carbone moved from Connecticut to the Ypsilanti area
two months ago and said he was anxious to get started as
a new faculty member at Eastern Michigan University. He
was happy when new faculty orientation finally arrived.
"I've been looking forward to to orientation to to
kick off everything for me," said Carbone, an assistant
professor in the School of Health Sciences during a new
faculty reception in the Student Center Sept. 2. "I
feel like this is where everything is becoming tangible."
 |
GETTING ACQUAINTED: (from left) Heather Brooke
Dagnan, a new assistant professor of
communication,
media and theatre arts, makes a
point to James Knapp, director of the Honors
College and associate professor of English,
and Anne
Casper, a new assistant professor of biology,
during
a reception for new faculty in the Student
Center
Sept. 2.
|
For not only Carbone, but 24 other new EMU faculty who
received a four-day orientation to help give them a running
start when they enter the classroom Sept. 9.
"You're in for the time of your lives," Provost Jack Kay
told the new faculty during the reception.
At the reception, Kay and Board of Regents Chair Roy
Wilbanks stressed to new faculty that they find ways to
become engaged in the community — both on campus
and off.
"Teaching, research and public service are all important,"
Wilbanks said. "Public service is something we look at
as a board. Are you participating? That's very important.
We want you to be woven into the fabric of this community."
"I hope your first year (at Eastern Michigan) is as enjoyable
as my first year was," EMU President Susan Martin told
new faculty during a meeting with them in Halle Library's
Carillon Room earlier in the day. "...I
know you'll make a great contribution to campus."
The Eastern Michigan University Board of Regents approved
the appointments of 25 new tenure-track faculty at its
regular meeting June 23.
Of the 25 new faculty appointments, 11 are male and 14
are female. Demographics show that 15 (60 percent) are
Caucasian, two (8 percent) are Asian, two are multi-racial
(8 percent) and one is African American (4 percent). Five
(20 percent) did not indicate their heritage. All new tenure-track
faculty appointments were effective Sept. 2.
New tenure-track faculty and their departments are:
 |
Bo |
Jin Bo, of Ann Arbor, assistant professor, psychology.
Before coming to EMU, Bo was a postdoctoral fellow at the
University of Michigan from 2006 to the present. Previously,
Bo was a trainee at the Kenny Krieger Institute's Motion
Analysis Lab at Johns Hopkins University from 2004-2006.
Bo received both her doctorate in neuroscience and cognitive
science, and her master's degree in kinesiology from the
University of Maryland. Bo received her bachelor's degree
in pediatrics from Shanghai Second Medical University in
Shanghai, China.
John Carbone, of Vernon, Conn., assistant
professor, School of Health Sciences. Before coming to
Eastern Michigan University, Carbone was a graduate research
assistant at the University of Connecticut from 2005 to
the present. Previously, Carbone was a research assistant
II at Harvard Medical School from 2002-2005. Carbone received
both his doctorate in nutritional sciences and his bachelor's
degree in biochemistry from Union College in Schenectady,
N.Y.
 |
Casper |
Anne Casper, of Durham, N.C., assistant
professor, biology. Prior to coming to EMU, Casper was
a postdoctoral research fellow at Duke University during
2008-2009. Prior to that, Casper was a postdoctoral fellow
at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Casper
received both her doctorate and master's degree in
genetics from the University of Michigan. Casper received
her bachelor's degree in biology from the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln.
Heather Brooke Dagnan, of Ypsilanti,
assistant professor, communication, media and theatre arts.
Dagnan was an adjunct lecturer in communication, media
and theatre arts at EMU during 2008-2009. Previously, Dagnan
was an editor and worked on production staff at Russell
Video Services in Ann Arbor from 2007-2008. Dagnan received
her master's degree in film from Ohio University; a bachelor's
degree in film, dramatic performance and American culture
from Eastern Michigan University; and another bachelor's
degree in studio art from Oberlin College.
 |
DeBello |
Marguerite DeBello, of West Bloomfield,
instructor, School of Nursing. Prior to coming to EMU,
DeBello was adjunct faculty at Oakland Community College
from 1998-2009 and worked as a clinical program coordinator
of neuro-oncology, oncology nurse case manager extender
and a staff nurse at Harper Hospital from 1985-1997. She
also has run Legal Nurse Consulting since 2001. DeBello
received her master's degree in nursing from Oakland University
and her bachelor's degree in nursing from the University
of Michigan.
Heidi Deininger, of Ann Arbor, associate professor, School
of Nursing. Before coming to Eastern Michigan University,
Deininger was adjunct faculty in the School of Nursing
at Duquesne University from 2005-2007. Previously, she
was an assistant professor and program director in the
School of Nursing/Clinical Research Management at the University
of Maryland from 2004-2006. Deininger received her doctorate
in nursing from the University of Tennessee, her master's
degree in nursing from the University of Pennsylvania and
her bachelor's degree in nursing from the University of
Michigan.
 |
Dove Smoak |
Natalie Dove Smoak, of Bloomington, Ill.,
assistant professor, psychology. Prior to coming to EMU,
Dove Smoak was an assistant professor of psychology at
Illinois Wesleyan University from 2006-2009 and a postdoctoral
research fellow at the University of Connecticut from 2004-2006.
Dove Smoak received both her doctorate and master's degree
in social psychology from Purdue University and her bachelor's
degree in psychological science from Ball State University.
Jessica Elton, of St. Joseph, Mo., assistant professor,
communication, media and theatre arts. Before coming to
EMU, Elton was an instructor of communication studies and
theatre at Missouri Western State University from 2008
to the present, an adjunct professor at Indiana University-South
Bend during 2008 and a research and development associate
at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta,
Ga., from 2006-2008. Elton received her master's degree
in intercultural communication from the University of Denver
and her bachelor's degree in literature from the University
of Nevada-Reno.
 |
Fisher |
Janet Fisher, of DeWitt, Mich., assistant
professor, special education. Before coming to EMU, Fisher
was director of special education in Linden Community Schools
in Linden from 2006 to the present, executive director
of special services in Rockford Public Schools from 2004-2006
and a supervisor of special education at Reeths-Puffer
Public Schools in Muskegon County from 2002-2004. Fisher
received her doctorate in education from Eastern Michigan
University; two master's degrees, one in school administration
and one in elementary administration from Central Michigan
University; and her bachelor's degree in education, also
from Central Michigan University.
 |
Graves |
Chiron Graves, of New Orleans, La., assistant
professor, biology. Prior to coming to EMU, Graves was
at Champaign Centennial High School from 2004-2005 and
at Jefferson Middle School from 2002-2004. Graves received
both his master's degree and bachelor's degree from Xavier
University.
Jeffrey Guthrie, of Windsor, Ontario,
assistant professor, chemistry. Before coming to EMU, Guthrie
was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Windsor's
Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research in Windsor,
Ontario, from 2008 to the present. He also was a postdoctoral
fellow at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta,
from 2004-2007. Guthrie received his doctorate in analytical/environmental
chemistry from Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario,
and his bachelor's degree in chemistry from Thompson Rivers
University in Kamloops, British Columbia.
 |
Higgins |
Peter Higgins, of Charlotte, N.C., assistant
professor, history and philosophy. Prior to coming to EMU,
Higgins was a lecturer of philosophy at the University
of North Carolina-Charlotte from 2008 to the present. Previously,
he was a graduate instructor and teaching assistant
at the University of Colorado at Boulder from 2000-2008.
Higgins received both his doctorate and master's degree
in philosophy from the University of Colorado-Boulder and
his bachelor's degree in philosophy from the University
of Kansas.
 |
Janisse |
Heather Janisse, of Windsor, Ontario, assistant professor,
psychology. Before coming to EMU, Janisse was adjunct faculty
at Wayne State University from 1997-2009. She also was
an assistant professor in Wayne State's Pediatric Prevention
Research Center from 2008-2009. Janisse received both her
doctorate and master's degree in developmental psychology
from Wayne State University and her bachelor's degree in
psychology and communication from Eastern Michigan University.
William Koolage, of Vancouver, British Columbia, assistant
professor, history and philosophy. Prior to coming to EMU,
Koolage was a postdoctoral teaching fellow at the University
of British Columbia from 2008 to the present and a lecturer
at the University of Wisconsin during 2008. Previously,
he was a teaching assistant training instructor at University
House Communities of Madison from 2001-2006. Koolage received
his doctorate and master's degree in philosophy from the
University of Wisconsin-Madison, another master's degree
in philosophy from the University of Manitoba, and two
bachelor's degrees, in psychology/philosophy and finance,
both from the University of Manitoba.
 |
Millan |
Monica Millan, of Urbana, Ill., assistant
professor, world languages. Before coming to EMU, Millan
was a graduate teaching assistant at the University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign from 2002 to the present.
She also was a Study Abroad instructor in Cuba and the
Dominican Republic during the summers of 2004, 2006 and
2007. Millan received her master's degree in Spanish literature
from Tulane University and her bachelor's degree in modern
languages from Los Andes University in Bogota, Columbia.
Larry Morton II, of St. Louis, Mo., assistant professor,
School of Social Work. Prior to coming to EMU, Morton was
adjunct faculty at St. Louis University from 2007 to the
present. Morton also was a principal investigator at Washington
University in St. Louis during 2007 and a research assistant
there in 2006. Morton received his master's degree in social
work from St. Louis University and his master's degree
in political science and bachelor's degree in psychology,
both from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
 |
Mueller |
Derek Mueller, of Syracuse, N.Y., assistant professor,
English language and literature. Before coming to EMU,
Mueller was a graduate teaching associate for The Writing
Program at Syracuse University from 2004 to the present
and at Park University from 1997 to the present. He also
has been a senior part-time instructor of English and humanities
at Park University from 2000 to the present. Mueller received
his doctorate in composition and cultural rhetoric from
Syracuse University, his master's degree in English from
the University of Missouri-Kansas City and his bachelor's
degree in English from Park University.
MeeAe Nam, of Denver, Colo., assistant
professor, music and dance. Prior to coming to EMU, Nam
was an assistant to the music director at the Cathedral
of the Immaculate Conception from 2001-2008. She also was
an assistant professor of music, lecturer in voice and
a voice instructor at the Metropolitan State College of
Denver from 1999 to the present. Nam received both her
doctorate of musical arts in vocal performance and pedagogy,
and master's degree of music in vocal performance from
the University of Colorado-Boulder. She received her bachelor's
degree of music in voice from Sook-Myung University in
Seoul, Korea.
 |
Peavler |
Robert Peavler, of Greensburg, Pa., assistant professor,
music and dance. Before coming to EMU, Peavler was an assistant
professor of voice at Indiana University of Pennsylvania
from 2005 to the present and an assistant professor of
voice at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point from
2000-2005. Peavler received both his doctorate and master's
degrees in voice performance from Florida State University
and his bachelor's degree in music education from Central
Michigan University.
 |
Saucier |
Sandra Saucier, of Allen Park, assistant professor, School
of Nursing. Prior to coming to EMU, Saucier was a clinical
leader to a team of nurse practitioners in the cardiothoracic
intensive care unit at Henry Ford Hospital from 2003-2009
and a registered nurse in labor and delivery at Oakwood
Hospital from 1997-2003. Saucier received her master's
degree in community health nursing from the University
of Michigan and her bachelor's degree in nursing from Eastern
Michigan University.
Brian Spolans, of Fort Worth, Texas, assistant professor,
art. Before coming to EMU, Spolans was an assistant adjunct
instructor at the University of Texas-Arlington from 2008
to the present. Previously, he was an adjunct instructor
at the University of North Texas from 2006-2008. Spolans
received his master's degree in studio art from the University
of North Texas and his bachelor's degree in studio art
from the University of Texas-Austin.
 |
Strasma |
Mary Strasma, of Hagerstown, Md., assistant professor,
history and philosophy. Prior to coming to EMU, Strasma
was a visiting assistant professor at Shepherd University
in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, from 2007 to the present
and adjunct faculty at St. John's University-Collegeville
from 2006-2007. Strasma received both her doctorate and
master's degree in Latin American History from the University
of Minnesota and her bachelor's degree in history and international
studies from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn.
Samir Tout, of Ypsilanti, associate professor, School
of Technology Studies. Tout previously was a part-time
adjunct professor at EMU from 2006 to the present. Since
2000, Tout has been a full- or part-time consultant for
GMAC Financial Services-Keane. Tout received his doctorate
from Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.,
and both his master's degree and bachelor's degree from
the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario.
 |
Vivek |
Shiri Vivek, of Tuscaloosa, Ala., assistant
professor, marketing. Prior to coming to EMU, Vivek was
an instructor at the University of Alabama from 2007-2008.
Previously, Vivek was an associate professor of management
at the Institute for Integrated Learning in Management
in New Delhi, India, from 2004-2007 and an assistant professor
of management there from 2000-2004. Vivek received her
doctorate in marketing from the University of Alabama.
She received a second doctorate in management from the
Indian Institute of Technology in New Delhi, India. She
received an MBA from Mohanlal Sukhadia University in Udaipur,
India, and a master's degree in psychology from Jai Narain
Vyas University in Jodhpur, India. Vivek received her bachelor's
degree in psychology from Jodhpur University in India.
Mehmet Yaya, of Tuscaloosa, Ala., assistant
professor, economics. Before coming to EMU, Yaya was an
instructor at the University of Alabama from 2006-2008.
Yaya received separate master's degrees in finance and
economics, both from the University of Alabama. Yaya received
his MBA from Auburn University and his bachelor's degree
in international trade from Bogazici University in Istanbul,
Turkey.
