Provost's Wednesday Briefing - September 23, 2020

Eastern’s National Association of Black Accountants Receives 2020 Student Chapter of the Year Award

On July 1, Walter J. Smith, president and CEO of the National Association of Black Accountants, Inc. (NABA), sent a letter to Ms. Brionna Bryant ’20 congratulating her on Eastern’s chapter having been named a recipient of the 2020 NABA Student Chapter Award.  Only four chapters from around the country receive this distinction, granted for outstanding campus engagement, conference involvement, reporting, and student leadership.  Brionna and Eastern’s chapter were recognized at the virtual 2020 National Convention and Expo on July 8 and 9.  Brionna heads to Columbus this fall to pursue a graduate degree at Ohio State.  This recognition is a wonderful and richly deserved tribute to the phenomenal work Brionna and Faculty Advisor Anthony Kurek have done to make our NABA chapter the best anywhere and to create unprecedented opportunity for its members. 

Constitution Day Speaker Series

In support of the federal designation of September 17th as Constitution Day, Eastern Michigan University is highlighting the connection between individual rights and law and order. A three part series entitled “Race, Policing, & Social Justice in 2020: Looking Back and Moving Forward” will be presented on September 24, October 8, and October 22. Please review the event flyer for more information on how to register for this virtual series.

According to series coordinator, presenter, and Associate Professor of Political Science Dr. Barbara Patrick, her first talk in the series is about the violation of citizens’ constitutional rights (namely Dent vs. Inkster, Acklin vs. Inkster, etc) by the police. Additionally, it more directly discusses state legislation and administrative policies/practices that allow “problem officers” with a track record of inappropriate actions to remain on the force and how legislative reforms might address these issues.

To better prepare for attendance and participation in the series, we invite you to read two articles that directly address the relationship between policing and the constitution:

The Problem of Policing

The Politics of Policing: Ensuring Stakeholder Collaboration in the Federal Reform of Local Law Enforcement Agencies

We hope you will take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about the U.S. Constitution and policing in America. 

Global Engagement Council Presents Post COVID19 – Global Economy and Business

According to the World Bank’s Global Economic Prospects, COVID-19 has triggered the deepest global recession in decades with the vast majority of emerging and developing economies contracting, along with the developed ones. Please join the Global Engagement Council at 9:00 AM EST, October 14 for a virtual discussion with Mr. Khawaja Aftab is the Global Head and Director, Investment and Credit Risk at International Financial Corporation (IFC).  More information is available by downloading the event flyer. 

Center for Digital Engagement’s Successful Summer Clinic 

The Center for Digital Engagement’s Summer Clinic, which was held virtually this year, shattered its records of prior years.  In its best recruiting year ever, the Center received 426 applications from 15 colleges and universities within and beyond Michigan, leading to 116 interviews and the selection of 48 interns.  On the client side, 36 companies applied, from which 24 were selected.  These outcomes highlight Eastern’s leadership in the dynamic field of digital marketing, which is particularly relevant in this time of pandemic.  

The Center's leadership extends beyond the services provided to client companies to include providing timely guidance to the marketplace through virtual workshops and on its website.  Recent themes, for example, include how to avoid Zoom bombing, lighting options for video conferences that don't break the bank, Zoom tips for beginners, and working remotely.  Congratulations to all who made this such a success!

Eastern’s ESports Team Places in Tournament

This summer, Eastern Michigan University placed in the top three at the ESports Tournament hosted by Wayne State University in June. Congratulations to our team who have worked so hard to bring these early successes. I appreciate how well they are representing themselves, the EMU Esports program, and our entire University.

Hot of the Presses!

The latest issue of the Global Advances in Business Communication (GABC) Journal has just been published. The GABC Journal, which is housed here at EMU, is co-hosted by EMU with three co-sponsoring institutions of the University of Antwerp, the Technological University of Malaysia and the Delhi College of Business in India.  The journal’s Editorial Review Board consists of 28 scholars from 12 countries, including Matthew Sauber of EMU's Department of Marketing, who joined the board this year.  We offer our special thanks to Professor David Victor, Editor-in-Chief of the GABC, for his leadership and commitment to advancing EMU in research and global reach. 

Cayuse Chooses Sonia Chawla as a Featured Speaker

Dr. Sonia Chawla, Research Compliance Officer, has been invited to be a featured speaker at the Cayuse users conference in September. The conference organizers requested she address the topic, Reopening Research Programs During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Congratulations to Sonia and thank you for all of your hard work to keep Eastern’s research programs moving during the pandemic!

Faculty in the News

Dr. Judy Foster Davis, whose research concerns the intersection of race, marketing, and advertising, was quoted on the subject of racism in branding by three significant publications over the summer: the Los Angeles Times on June 17, Consumer Goods Technology on June 19, and the Washington Post on June 23).  It is great to see the expertise of our faculty coming to light nationally under any circumstances, but particularly on a subject so germane to our mission and vital for our society at this time.

Eastern Faculty Receives Health Equity Award

Dr. Tsu-Yin Wu received the Health Equity Award from the National Civic League and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.  She was nominated by her colleagues on behalf of the EMU Center for Health Disparities Innovations and Studies.  Congratulations, Tsu-Yin on this well-deserved recognition!

Eastern Faculty Receives Major Music Award

We are thrilled to announce that Assistant Professor, Deborah Pae, a member of the Namirovsky-Lark-Pae Trio, was was awarded the German Record Critics' Award (Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik) in the category of Chamber Music for their debut album "Masterpieces Among Peers." Next to the GRAMMY Awards in the United States, the Echo Klassik, and the ICMA-International Classical Music Awards, we are told that the German Record Critics’ Award is one of the most notable honors in Europe. Congratulations to Deborah and her fellow musicians on this esteemed award!

Eastern Faculty Secures National Science Foundation Grant

Please join me in congratulating Matt Cook, Assistant Professor of Cultural Geography and Historic Preservation, on the award of a National Science Foundation  grant titled  "The Role of Museums in the Landscape of Minority Representation."  Matt serves as a co-Pi on this $508,380 multi-year grant. 

Eastern Staff Receives CMU’s 10 Within 10 Award

Dr. LaMarcus D. Howard, Associate Director of Eastern’s Disability Resource Center, was recently recognized by the Central Michigan University (CMU) Alumni Association as a recipient of the Class of 2020 10 Within 10 Award. This program recognizes young alumni who bring honor to CMU through work in their career or community. LaMarcus was nominated by many of his peers, faculty, and higher education administrators for this award.   

Criteria for this award consisted of excelling within the first 10 years post-graduation and have shown potential for continued success, receiving recognition for significant professional/personal achievements, discoveries, or creative work and serving as an outstanding young role model for current and future Central Michigan University students and alumni by exhibiting the values of integrity, respect, compassion, inclusiveness, social responsibility, excellence, and innovation.

LaMarcus is humbled to receive this award as he follows fellow CMU alumnus Dr. Eric Reed who was a Class of 2019 recipient of this prestigious award.

Please check out LaMarcus’ Class of 2020 10 Within 10 Award bio!

Personnel Updates

Faculty Hires

A special thank you to all who participated in the many search committees over the past academic year. Your hard work and dedication has resulted in successful searches for the following faculty and administrative positions.  As we begin this academic year, please join me in welcoming these colleagues to their new positions at Eastern:

• Peter Blackmer, Assistant Professor of Africology & African American Studies in the Department of Africology & African American Studies 
• Adam Bogedain, Instructor of Construction Management in the School of Visual & Built Environments
• Sarah Cox, Assistant Professor of Special Education in the Department of Special Education & Communication Sciences & Disorders
• Elizabeth Donovan, Assistant Professor of Paralegal Studies in the School of Technology & Professional Services Management 
• Imandeep Grewal, Assistant Professor of Teacher Education in the Department of Teacher Education
• Michael Koscielniak, Assistant Professor of Urban & Regional Planning in the Department of Geography & Geology
• Amanda Maher, Assistant Professor of Social Studies Methodology in the Department of History & Philosophy
• Uttara Manohar, Assistant Professor of Intercultural/Interracial Communication in the School of Communication, Media and Theatre Arts
• John Smith, Assistant Professor and Associate Director of Bands in the School of Music & Dance

Faculty Tenure and Promotions

Congratulations to the following faculty who recently achieved tenure:

• Jennifer Avery, School of Nursing
• Meriam Caboral-Stevens, School of Nursing
• Jihung Choi, Marketing
• Karen Ann Craig, Accounting & Finance
• Claudia Drossel, Psychology
• Jennifer Farley, School of Social Work
• Audrey Farrugia, Special Education
• Brendan Fay, School of Art & Design
• Tricia Finger, School of Health Sciences
• Christopher Gellasch, Geography & Geology
• Charles Graham, School of Social Work
• Naomi Hashimoto, Special Education
• Holly Hopkins, School of Nursing
• Qin Hu, School of Engineering
• Khairul Islam, Mathematics and Statistics
• Maria Keelon, Physician Assistant Program (HPHP)
• You Li, School of Communication, Media & Theatre Arts
• Angie Mann-Williams, School of Social Work
• Laxmikant Manroop, Management
• Dorothy McAllen, School of Tech Prof Serv Mgt
• Carmen McCallum, Leadership & Counseling
• Rodney McCurdy, School of Health Sciences
• Laura McMahon, History & Philosophy
• Christina Mirtes, Teacher Education
• Hakil Moon, Marketing
• Eric Paradis, Physics & Astronomy
• Caren PutzuSchool of Social Work
• Chalice Randazzo, English Language and Literature
• Rema Reynolds, Leadership & Counseling
• Rita Shah, Sociology, Anthropology & Criminology
• Perigrine Silverschanz, School of Social Work
• John Sonnega. School of Health Promotion & Human Performance
• Tucker Staley, Political Science
• Angela Staples, Psychology
• Erica Zonder, School of Health Promotion & Human Performance

Congratulations to the following faculty who recently received promotions:

• Amanda Allen, Professor, English Language & Literature
• Jennifer Avery, Associate Professor, School of Nursing
• Joseph Badics, Associate Professor, University Library
• Zenia Bahorski, Professor, Computer Science
• Stephen Blair, Professor, Mathematics and Statistics
• Laurie Blondy, Professor, School of Nursing
• Meriam Caboral-Stevens, Associate Professor, School of Nursing
• Howard Cass, Professor, School of Communication, Media & Theatre Arts
• Jihung Choi, Associate Professor, Marketing
• Karen Craig, Associate Professor, Accounting & Finance
• Claudia Drossel, Associate Professor, Psychology
• Jennifer Farley, Associate Professor, School of Social Work
• Audrey Farrugia, Associate Professor, Special Education
• Brendan Fay, Associate Professor, School of Art & Design
• Frank Fedel, Professor, School of Health Promotion & Human Performance
• Tricia Finger, Associate Professor, School of Health Sciences
• Ronald Flowers, Professor, Leadership & Counseling
• Christopher Gellasch, Associate Professor, Geography & Geology
• Charles, Graham, Associate Professor, School of Social Work
• Katherine Greenwald, Professor, Biology
• Naomi Hashimoto, Associate Professor, Special Education
• Holly Hopkins, Associate Professor, School of Nursing
• Qin Hu, Associate Professor, School of Engineering
• Khairul Islam, Associate Professor, Mathematics and Statistics
• Jesse Kauffman, Professor, History & Philosophy
• Maria Keelon , Associate Professor , Physician Assistant Program (HPHP)
• Raul Leon, Professor, Leadership & Counseling
• You Li, Associate Professor, School of Communication, Media & Theatre Arts
• Angela Lukomski, Professor, School of Nursing
• Angie Mann-Williams, Associate Professor, School of Social Work
• Laxmikant Manroop, Associate Professor, Management
• Dorothy McAllen, Associate Professor, School of Tech Prof Serv Mgt
• Carmen McCallum Associate Professor, Leadership & Counseling
• Rodney McCurdy, Associate Professor, School of Health Sciences
• Laura McMahon, Associate Professor, History & Philosophy
• Christina Mirtes, Associate Professor, Teacher Education
• Hakil Moon, Associate Professor, Marketing
• Eric Paradis, Associate Professor, Physics & Astronomy
• David  Pawlowski, Professor, Physics & Astronomy
• Caren Putzu, Associate Professor, School of Social Work
• Shawn Quilter, Professor, Teacher Education
• Kim Rescorla , Professor, Mathematics and Statistics
• Rema Reynolds, Associate Professor, Leadership & Counseling
• Jodi Schumacher, Associate Professor, School of Health Promotion & Human Performance
• Rita Shah, Associate Professor, Sociology, Anthropology & Criminology
• Perigrine Silverschanz, Associate Professor, School of Social Work
• John Sonnega, Associate Professor, School of Health Promotion & Human Performance
• Tucker Staley, Associate Professor, Political Science
• Angela Staples, Associate Professor, Psychology
• David  Wozniak, Professor, Accounting & Finance
• Yu Zhang, Professor, Accounting & Finance
• Erica Zonder, Associate Professor, School of Health Promotion & Human Performance 

Honoring our Emeritus Faculty

We are proud to announce that the EMU Board of Regents approved the awarding of emeritus status to twelve faculty and one lecturer at the February and June meetings.  Please join us in honoring each of them for the contributions they made during their careers here at EMU. 

Emeritus Faculty Status Approved February 2020

• Elizabeth Broughton, Department of Leadership and Counseling from 1997 to 2019 who retired after 22 years
• Nancy Copeland, Department of Teacher Education from 1990 to 2019 who retired after 29 years
• Sam Fullerton, Department of Marketing from 1982 to 2019 who retired after 37 years
• Susan Gregory, School of Technology and Professional Services Management from 2002 to 2019 who retired after 17 years
• William Moylan, School of Visual and built Environments from 2002 to 2019 who retired after 17 years
• David Pierce, School of Music and Dance from 1990 to 2019 who retired after 29 years
• Rebecca Sipe, Department of English Language and Literature from 1997 to 2019 who retired after 22 years
• Toni Stokes Jones, Department of Teacher Education from 1999 to 2019 who retired after 20 years
• Darcelle White, School of Technology and Professional Services Management from 1995 to 2019 who retired after 24 years
• Diane Winder, School of Music and Dance from 1988 to 2020 who retired after 31 years. 
• Rick Rogers,Lecturer, Department of History and Philosophy from 1992 to 2019 who retired after 28 years. 

Emeritus Faculty Status Approved June 2020

• Marcia Bombyk, School of Social Work from 1996 to 2019 who retired after 23 years.
• Susan Moeller, Department of Accounting and Finance from 1990 to 2019 who retired after 29 years.

 Compliance with COVID-19 Rules and Regulations

As we continue our safe return to campus, my sincere hope that we can all hold one another accountable for keeping our community safe. I strongly believe that most community members will adhere to the new COVID-19 new rules and regulations. At the same time, as a University we are well positioned to address the behavior of any community members who choose not to.  Here is some guidance for faculty on dealing with issues of non-compliance that may arise in the classroom. 

• Instructors should immediately end any class session if students are non-compliant.
• Instructors should report all violations to the OWCR.
• Incident reports should be filed using our online reporting system.
• Students will be charged under existing Code violations.
• Instructors may use the Classroom Removal procedure to prevent the students' return pending a resolution. 
• Students may receive both probation and deferred suspension as part of this resolution.
• Future incidents may result in a separation from the University.