60th Annual Alumni Awards Celebration

May 15, 2021 at 6 p.m.

Right here on Saturday, May 15th, we will celebrate the 2021 Alumni Award recipients with a virtual celebration! Be sure to tune in and share your congratulations to this accomplished class of alumni.

Outstanding Young Alumni Award

This award is presented to alumni whose achievements have been signified by personal honors bestowed upon them by their peers and who have demonstrated the worth of their education through their post-college achievements. Generally, recipients have been graduates of Eastern Michigan University for less than ten years

  • Farah Harb (MBA12) Expand dropdown

    Farah Harb (MBA12)

    Global Education Analyst, Ford Motor Co. Fund & Community Services

    Farah Harb received her BBA degree from the University of Michigan-Dearborn and MBA from Eastern Michigan University. After undergrad, she worked in the Career Planning and Placement office at Wayne State University for four years as a Career Advisor and then was promoted to Assistant Director. Currently, she’s the Global Education Programs Analyst at Ford Motor Company Fund, overseeing education programs that provide scholarship opportunities for students to help them financially achieve academic success, as well as funding for student-led projects that address a social need or problem in communities around the world. Farah serves on EMU's Strategic Planning Committee and is heavily involved in EMU's Digital Divas STEM program.

  • Jasmine A. Lee (BS09) Expand dropdown

    Jasmine A. Lee (BS09) 

    Director of Inclusive Excellence and Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion & Belonging, University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC)

    In her professional capacity, Jasmine works with staff, faculty and students to create inclusive campus environments through direct programming and strategic student success initiatives. In addition to her work at UMBC, Jasmine is the Founder and Principal Consultant with J Lee Consulting, LLC. Over the past 5 years, Jasmine has spoken to 30,000 plus people through 30 organizations, conferences, and educational institutions, and has engaged long term with K-12 schools to implement anti-racist teaching and schooling practices. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Eastern Michigan University (EMU), a Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan, and a Doctor of Philosophy from Michigan State University. Jasmine served as the Young and Successful chair of the Eastern Michigan University’s Black Alumni Association, and was the Chapters Committee chair for the Eastern Michigan University Alumni Association Board of Directors.

     

  • Zach Wigal (BBA16) Expand dropdown

    Zach Wigal (BBA16)

    Founder, Gamers Outreach and Gamers for Giving Fundraiser

    Zach Wigal is the founder of Gamers Outreach, a charity organization that provides recreation to children in hospitals through the power of video games and the gaming community. To date, Gamers Outreach programs enable an estimated 1.5 - 2 million play sessions for patients across 200 healthcare facilities each year. The organization also hosts one of the largest local area network (LAN) parties in North America - Gamers for Giving - which brings together gamers and esports enthusiasts in support of hospitalized families. Wigal has been recognized as a 2019 CNN Hero, named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list (2017) for his work in the games for health space, and was selected as Los Angeles Children's Hospital's Emerging Leaders.

Alumni Achievement Award

This award is presented to alumni who have achieved distinction in their chosen field, clearly demonstrated the value of their college education, and maintained a continuing interest in Eastern Michigan University. Generally, recipients have been graduates of Eastern Michigan University for ten to twenty-five years.

  • Kevin N. Alschuler, Ph.D. (MS06, PHD10) Expand dropdown

    Kevin N. Alschuler, Ph.D. (MS06, PHD10)

    Associate Professor and Attending Psychologist, University of Washington School of Medicine

    Kevin N. Alschuler, Ph.D., is an experienced athlete, coach, and psychologist who helps sports organizations enhance their philosophy, training, and use of sport psychology skills, strategies, and techniques. Kevin currently serves as Associate Professor and Attending Psychologist at the University of Washington’s School of Medicine. Dr. Alschuler has made significant contributions to the area of rehabilitation psychology so much that he received the 2016 Rosenthal Early Career Research Award by the American Psychological Association Division 22, Rehabilitation Psychology.  This award is only given to persons who while in their first 10 years after receiving their doctorate have made significant contributions to research in the area of rehabilitation psychology. He also serves as an EMU ambassador by representing the university and doctoral program on the national level for clinical psychology.  

  • Dr. Derrick R. Coleman (BS96, MA01) Expand dropdown
     

    Dr. Derrick R. Coleman (BS96, MA01)

    Superintendent, River Rouge School District

    Dr. Derrick R. Coleman enjoys an extensive and personal relationship with his alma mater. Not only having earned two degrees from EMU, Derrick is consistently engaged with various aspects of campus and student life including the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration and the EMU Foundation Board of Trustees. He is also a longtime member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and the Black Alumni Association (EMUBA). Derrick received his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Gwynedd Mercy University (2017). Currently, Dr. Coleman serves as Superintendent of River Rouge School District where he was able to boost enrollment on the brink of insolvency by opening a new STEM focused school and school-based health center. These changes led to an academic standard that has resulted in higher college preparatory test scores.  

  • Christina (Tina) Miller (MS02) Expand dropdown

    Christina (Tina) Miller (MS02)

    Nutrition Outreach Manager, United Dairy Industry of Michigan 

    Alumna Christina Miller (MS02) is a nutritionist with a long history at Eastern Michigan University. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics and Human Nutrition from Madonna University, Christina came to EMU to pursue and complete her master’s degree in Human Nutrition. Since graduation, Christina has been a Dietetics program lecturer at EMU. In 2018, she accepted a position as the Nutrition Outreach Manager at United Dairy Industry of Michigan. Christina has received numerous honors throughout her career such as: Outstanding Registered Dietitian of the Year, Outstanding Graduate Alumni from Eastern Michigan University, and Registered Young Dietitian of the Year. 

  • Chad Newton (BS97, MS11) Expand dropdown
     

    Chad Newton (BS97, MS11)

    Chief Executive Officer, Wayne County Airport Authority

    Chad Newton serves as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Wayne County Airport Authority (WCAA). In this role, he is responsible for overseeing the independent governmental entity tasked with management and operation of Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport and Willow Run Airport, Michigan’s busiest airport system and one of the world’s leading air transportation hubs. Chad is the first-ever WCAA CEO to become certified as an Accredited Airport Executive, the highest accreditation granted to aviation professionals among many other certifications. Chad graduated from EMU's School of Police Staff and Command (2014) as well as in the 262nd class of the FBI (2015) in addition to many other accolades through his military and public service career. Chad also is a former member of the EMU Alumni Association Board of Directors. 

     

Distinguished Alumni Award 

This award is given to alumni who have achieved extraordinary distinction in their chosen field, demonstrated unusual service to others, and maintained a continuing interest in Eastern Michigan University. Generally, recipients have been graduates of EMU for more than 25 years.

  • Carrie J. Clark (BS89) Expand dropdown
     

    Carrie J. Clark (BS89)

    Director of IT Project Management Office, IT Service Management, and EPIC Testing, Henry Ford Health System

    Since 1995 Carrie J. Clark has served as an adjunct professor at local universities teaching in the areas of information technology and project management. Carrie achieved her bachelor’s degree in Office Automation & Admin Management from Eastern Michigan University (EMU), holds a Master of Science in Administration degree in Business Administration from Central Michigan University (CMU), and currently is working on her second Master of Science in Health Administration from Davenport University. She received the DRIVEN Award, the PMO of the Year Finalist Award, and she was named a Woman of Excellence by the Michigan Chronicle in 2015. Since 2018, Carrie has served as the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated Great Lakes regional director. She is a proud life member and a “Silver Star” with 34 years of committed service to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. In addition, her dedication and service to the student body at EMU resulted in her being a 2018 recipient of the EMUBA Eastern Elite Award.

     

  • Bynarozell (Byna) Elliott (BS92) Expand dropdown
     

    Bynarozell (Byna) Elliott (BS92)

    Head of Advancing Black Pathways, J.P. Morgan Chase and Company

    Byna Elliott serves as the Head of Advancing Black Pathways for J.P. Morgan Chase and Company beginning this new role in December of 2020. Previously she served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Enterprise Responsibility Officer for Fifth Third Bank overseeing Corporate Social Responsibility functions which include environmental sustainability initiatives, direct philanthropic giving, ethical business practices and economic responsibility. Byna also has many years of service to EMU supporting a variety of initiatives and organizations through giving, advocating, and serving on the EMU Foundation Board of Trustees. She is a proud supporter of many academic programs for students such as the Undergraduate Symposium and many scholarships, as well as service to her sorority Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

     

John W. Porter Distinguished Service Award

This award is presented to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to Eastern Michigan University or the Alumni Association of EMU. Recipients need not be graduates of Eastern Michigan University.

  • Gregory A. Peoples Expand dropdown
     

    Gregory A. Peoples

    Emeritus Dean of Students and University Ombudsman, Eastern Michigan University

    Gregory A. Peoples is a student affairs professional with over 40 years of experience as a university administrator. He graduated from Allegheny College in Meadville, Penn., with a BA in speech and communication. He has a M.Ed. from Kent State University in Higher Education Administration. Gregory has been a resident of the Ypsilanti community for over 37 years. He has been an active leader in the community serving on many local boards including Hope Medical Clinic, a board that provides free medical care to indigent families in the Ypsilanti area, The Dispute Resolution Center Board, providing mediation services to residents in Washtenaw County and the Ypsilanti Area Community Foundation. 

     

  • Bette Warren Expand dropdown

    Bette Warren

    Emeritus Faculty, Eastern Michigan University

    Bette Warren is an academic professional of over 30 years with a long history at Eastern Michigan University (EMU). She graduated from Washington University, St. Louis with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and holds a doctorate in mathematics from Indiana University. In 1984, Bette began her EMU career as an assistant professor. She served as the Department Head for the Mathematics department, Interim Associate Vice President for Academic Programming, and eventually became the Associate Vice President for Academic Programming in 2010. Bette has received multiple honors from EMU, including the Division of Marketing and Student Affairs Faculty Appreciation Award, the EMU Distinguished Faculty Award for Service to the University, and the Student Athlete Academic Support Faculty of the Year. Bette was also the recipient of the Michigan Association of Governing Boards Distinguished Faculty Award and the Distinguished Service Award from the Michigan Section.