Michael G. Morris Endowed Chair

A photo of Dr. Audrey Farrugia
Dr. Audrey Farrugia: 2023-2024 Morris Chair
A photo of Dr. Audrey Farrugia

Dr. Audrey Farrugia: 2023-2024 Morris Chair

Dr. Audrey Farrugia (Special Education and Communication Sciences and Disorders) will serve as the Michael G. Morris Endowed Chair for 2023-2024. Her project entitled, Research, Response, Results: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Belonging (DEIJB) Preparation in the College of Education, sets out to gain an understanding of the current climate and experiences around DEIJB in the College of Education and then use that knowledge to better prepare faculty to cultivate DEIJB in the classroom and community.

There are three components to this project:

  1. Administration of a college climate research survey and focused listening sessions to give voice to student, staff, faculty, and lecturer DEIJB perspectives and experiences in the College of Education.
  2. Development sessions will be crafted to explore topics and situations raised in the research. National experts will be brought in to facilitate this work.
  3. A follow-up seminar where College of Education members can reflect on what have they learned and strategize to become proactive and purposeful about including DEIJB in their teaching and practice.

This dynamic project facilitates active participation and learning about DEIJB within our community to transform our classrooms and community and continue our legacy as leaders in the field of education.

  • College Climate Survey Expand dropdown

    College Climate Survey

    The college climate survey is now live until December 1st 2023. If you are a College of Education student, staff, or faculty member please consider completing it today.

    Complete Survey

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    Call for Proposals

    Proposals for the 2024 Morris Endowed Chair are due to the COE Dean on March 12, 2024 by 11:59 p.m. EST.

    Morris Chair Info Program Guidelines and Proposal Instructions [PDF]

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    Recipients

    Brigid Beaubien and Amanda Maher | 2022-2023

    Brigid Beaubien, Professor and Amanda Maher, Part-Time Lecturer, both from the Department of Teacher Education, serve as the 2022-2023 Michael G. Morris Endowed Chair.

    Read Brigid Beaubien's bio page.

    Read Amanda Maher's bio page.

    Phillip Caldwell, II | 2020-2021

    Phillip Caldwell, II, Assistant Professor from the Department of Leadership & Counseling, serves as the 2020-2021 Michael G. Morris Endowed Chair.

    Read Phillip Caldwell, II's bio page.

    Rema Reynolds | 2018-19 & 2019-2020

    Rema Reynolds, Assistant Professor from the Department of Leadership & Counseling, serves as the 2018-2019 & 2019-2020 Michael G. Morris Endowed Chair.

    Read Rema Reynolds' bio page.

    Devika Dibya Choudhuri | 2017-18

    Devika Dibya Choudhuri, Associate Professor from the Department of Leadership & Counseling, serves as the 2017-2018 Michael G. Morris Endowed Chair, with Carmen McCallum, Assistant Professor from the Department of Leadership & Counseling, serving as the Project Coordinator.

    Read Devika Choudhuri's bio page.

    Read Carmen's McCallum's bio page.

    Co-Chairs: David Anderson and James Berry | 2016-2017

    David Anderson & James Berry are both Professors from the Department of Leadership & Counseling. They serve as Co-Chairs for the 2016-2017 Michael G. Morris Endowed Chair.

    Phillip J. Bowman | 2015-16

    Phillip J. Bowman, Ph.D. (Professor of Higher Education at the University of Michigan) will serve as the 2015-16 Michael G. Morris Endowed Chair. Raul A. Leon, Ph.D. (Assistant Professor, Eastern Michigan University) will serve as project coordinator while Reginald Barnes (Director, EMU Office of Diversity & Community Involvement) will serve as project collaborator. Their project is titled, "Building Sustainable Communities: Fostering Student Success at EMU". It seeks to help students, faculty, and staff develop the knowledge and capacity needed to enhance and transform education. Through research, networking, and program planning, with a particular focus on black males attending EMU, there will be targeted meetings, seminars, and a speaker series to fulfill the varying needs of students of color enrolled.

    Jerlando F. L. Jackson | 2014-15

    Jerlando F. L. Jackson, Ph.D. (Vilas Distinguished Professor of Higher Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison) will serve as the 2014-15 Michael Morris G. Endowed Chair. Raul A. Leon, Ph.D. (Assistant Professor, Eastern Michigan University) will serve as project coordinator while LaVar J. Charleston, Ph.D. (Assistant Director and Senior Research Associate at the University of Wisconsin's Equity and Inclusion Laboratory) will serve as project collaborator. Their project is titled, "Enhancing Institutional Capacity: Transforming EMU into a Thought Leading Center".

    Downloads

    Feb. 18, 2015 - "Understanding Key Challenges of African American Men in the Academic Workforce"

    Sylvia Nassar-McMillan | 2013-14

    Sylvia Nassar-McMillan Ph.D. (Professor and Program Coordinator of Counselor Education at North Carolina State University) served as the 2013-14 Michael G. Morris Endowed Chair. Her project was entitled, "Emergent Voices of MENA (Middle Eastern/North African) American Youth: What They are Saying".

    Downloads

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    History

    Michael G. Morris graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a bachelor's degree and master's degree in biology and he served as an ROTC brigade commander during his graduate school years. Morris also earned a law degree from the Detroit College of Law and is a member of the Michigan Bar Association. This two-time graduate of EMU also served on the EMU Board of Regents from 1997-2004 and is currently vice chair of the EMU Board of Regents, serving a term from 2011-2018.

    Morris retired from American Electric Power (AEP), one of the nation's largest generators of electricity, after serving as AEP's chairman, president and chief executive officer. To honor Morris, the American Electric Power Foundation donated funds to EMU in 2011 to establish an endowed chair within the College of Education.

    Before joining AEP, Morris was chairman, president and CEO of Northeast Utilities System from 1997 to 2003. Prior to that, he was president and CEO of Consumers Energy, a principal subsidiary of CMS Energy, and president of CMS Marketing, Services and Trading.

    Established in 2011, the Michael G. Morris Endowed Chair provides funds for "outstanding faculty members or visiting faculty performing in the top echelons in their disciplines or professional fields" to assist the Eastern Michigan University (EMU) College of Education in achieving its vision of playing a leadership role in transforming education. The Michael G. Morris Endowed Chair will facilitate learning and leadership experiences to support the EMU faculty, staff and students in developing the knowledge, research, and capacity needed to enhance and/or transform education.

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    Contact Us

    Ryan Evely Gildersleeve
    Dean, College of Education
    310 Porter Building
    734.487.1414
    [email protected]

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