Awards

College of Business

Off

Mon, 09/23/2024 - 16:02

Among the accolades: No. 1 regional public university in the state and a top university for veterans and for students looking to move up the economic ladder.

Students work on a computer science project in Professor Bruce Maxim's class.

��-Dearborn earns nationwide recognition for exceptional mathematics program

stuxbury — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 16:40:46 +0000

��-Dearborn earns nationwide recognition for exceptional mathematics program stuxbury Mon, 06/10/2024 - 12:40

There is only one collegiate math program in the state that’s accredited by America's two leading actuarial societies — and it’s right here at ��-Dearborn.

The ��-Dearborn Actuarial Mathematics program — a campus major that has a core curriculum of mathematics, statistics, economics and finance courses — earned the seal of approval from the Casualty Actuarial Society and the Society of Actuaries, acknowledging it as a strategically designed program that actively guides students towards attaining the qualifications of an actuary associate.

Mathematics Associate Professor Mike Dabkowski

The campus’ actuarial mathematics major, which had SOA recognition for years, earned the CAS University Recognition Program honor in May, which evaluates universities around the world. Other institutions on the 2024 CAS list include Penn State, Temple University, University of New South Wales Sydney, Boston University, University of Toronto and Arizona State.

Mathematics Associate Professor Mike Dabkowski said this is an important milestone for the university. “There are two major career pathways in actuarial science and now we are officially recognized for having an exceptional program and being student-centered for both,” he said, noting the CAS path focuses exclusively on property and casualty risks; the SOA path focuses on life insurance, health insurance, pensions and retirement. “The mission of the university is to give our students the tools and skills they need to succeed after graduation. This is the seal of approval to say we are doing just that.”

The accolades sound great — but what does an actuary actually do? Dabkowski described the position as providing a safety net for an organization. Actuaries assess financial risks in various sectors, such as insurance, investments, pensions and environmental sustainability, and they develop models to predict and manage future events, even under uncertain circumstances. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, it’s a great job to have. The median pay for actuaries is $120,000 per year, and employment of actuaries is projected to grow 23% by the end of the decade, much faster than the average for all occupations.

This credential, which lists ��-Dearborn at the bronze tier, gives students access to CAS exam resources, provides avenues for actuarial conference attendance, shares job opportunities and more. Mathematics Associate Professor Mahesh Agarwal — who said the university was evaluated based on course topics, faculty involvement with CAS, student achievement and exam prep — said the university is already striving for silver.

Mathematics Associate Professor Mahesh Agarwal

“Our strength is that we are a small program with individualized attention that combines the resources of U-M,” said Agarwal, who mentioned that Dearborn Wolverines attend the ��-Ann Arbor Actuarial Career Expo, which attracts large companies from around the world. “It is wonderful to have organizations vouching for the quality of our program. But, for the CAS recognition, we are not stopping at bronze level. We are getting more alumni engaged and students are forming an actuarial society on campus. We are actively progressing and working towards fulfilling the criteria for the silver designation. We view achieving the bronze level as an initial milestone in our journey.”

Prep for actuarial exams in part of the evaluation. And exams are not easy, Agarwal said. On average, the effective pass rate for the first actuarial exam is 46%. ��-Dearborn's first exam pass rate is 20-plus percentage points higher at 67%.

Alum Autumn Tashman, Class of 2023, passed both the first exam (probability) and the second one (financial mathematics) on the first try while she was a student. “To help me understand the concepts, Professor Dabkowski and Professor Agarwal began twice weekly study sessions with me six months prior to taking the first exam,” said Tashman, who went the CAS route for her career. “They even reached out to me right before the exam to help me calm down — I was so stressed — and I think that helped me have better focus.”

Autumn Tashman

Tashman is now an associate actuarial analyst at Ally Financial in Detroit. She heard about Ally Financial job opportunities through the ��-Ann Arbor Actuarial Career Expo, which she learned about from her ��-Dearborn professors. She’s currently preparing for her next exam — and even though she is no longer a student, Dabkowski met with her over Zoom last week to do a material overview. “The professors I’ve had at ��-Dearborn are the best and I credit them for where I am today,” she said.

Have questions about the actuarial science career field or the program? Dabkowski and Agerwal said they look forward to talking with parents, prospective students and anyone who would like more information. You can reach them at mkagarwa@umich.edu and mgdabkow@umich.edu. Learn more about the CAS University Recognition Program.

Story by Sarah Tuxbury.

Academic Excellence

Student Success

Mathematics and Statistics

Off

Mon, 06/10/2024 - 16:40

The formula of active learning, dedicated professors and student success leads to a new actuarial science society honor.

Students in the actuarial math program brainstorm solutions together. Photo/Julianne Lindsey

Congrats to the CECS and CEHHS Medallion awardees

stuxbury — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 22:41:27 +0000

Congrats to the CECS and CEHHS Medallion awardees stuxbury Wed, 04/10/2024 - 18:41

This commencement season, 12 students are recognized with ��-Dearborn’s top honors.

Chosen by faculty from their respective colleges, graduates are recognized for their outstanding quality of character, intellect, integrity and academic record.

Three Dean’s Medallion awardees are chosen per college with one of those students selected to receive the Chancellor’s Medallion. This semester’s Chancellor’s Medallion winner comes from the College of Engineering and Computer Science. These students will be recognized during the April 27 commencement celebrations.

The College of Arts, Sciences and Letters and the College of Business recipients were featured in a Reporter article on Tuesday.

Here are the awardees from the College of Education, Health and Human Services and CECS.

Chancellor’s Medallion

Zoie Mink
College of Engineering and Computer Science

Zoie Mink is receiving a dual Bachelor of Science in Engineering in mechanical engineering and bioengineering. She is also receiving an undergraduate certificate in engineering mechanics.

Mink’s outstanding leadership was recognized with the Alan Mulally Leadership in Engineering Scholarship in 2022. This competitive scholarship recognizes students from universities around the globe that “have demonstrated leadership skills in academic or community-based settings.”

Mink was a researcher in the Human Factors Lab under Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering Amanda Esquivel. She studied female lacrosse athlete head impacts, as well as dancer and soccer player landing kinematics and kinetics. Mink was also a research intern at Wake Forest School of Medicine during summer 2022 and 2023. During her first summer, she researched soccer athletes performing headers and the kinematic and neurocognitive effects. During her second summer, she worked with NASCAR to investigate rear crashes and the effect of head surround foam on driver head kinematics. Mink published and presented her research results at annual meetings of the Biomedical Engineering Society.

Mink, a supplemental instructor in the Mechanical Engineering Department, is president of the Society of Women Engineers, vice president of Pi Tau Sigma, corresponding secretary of Tau Beta Pi and professional development chair for the Biomedical Engineering Society at ��-Dearborn. As SWE president, she led the organization of the 2024 POWER (Professional Opportunities for Women and Engineering and Research) conference. Mink also is passionate about K-12 outreach and encouraging young girls to pursue majors and careers in STEM. Mink has initiated and helped lead middle school outreach programs, a big sister/little sister mentorship program and a rocketry event for Girl Scouts.

Mink will work at Ford Motor Company in the crash safety labs for the summer. She will then start a biomedical engineering graduate program in August to work toward her master’s and doctoral degrees.

Dean’s Medallion

Eejoy Lim
College of Engineering and Computer Science

Eejoy Lim is receiving a Bachelor of Science in software engineering.

Lim is involved in research. She’s worked with Assistant Professor of Computer and Information Science Zheng Song on detecting bias and discrimination in web services. Lim also worked with Assistant Professor of Computer and Information Science Probir Roy to fine tune transformer models for detecting performance bugs in high performance computing applications.

She secured an internship position in summer 2023 with Petronas, a Fortune Global 500 oil and gas company, where she developed and designed a website to facilitate and streamline the handover process across teams for more than 1,100 gas stations. Her contribution led to a 30% reduction in processing time, significantly improving efficiency.

Aiming to contribute to the academic success of her peers, Lim worked as a supplemental instruction leader, where she led boot camps and study sessions for core computer and information science courses. Additionally, she aimed to introduce different perspectives and enhance the breadth of student learning. She revived TEDx��Dearborn, which had been discontinued during the pandemic, and is a core team member of Hack Dearborn events. And, as president of the Student Activities Board, Lim organized some of the biggest events on campus, including the Homecoming Carnival, the Cedar Point trip and the Thanksgiving dinner. Lim also helped bring the campus friend, Bruce the Goose, to life.

Lim has applied to several graduate programs in computer science.

Michael Mackiewicz
College of Engineering and Computer Science

Michael Mackiewicz is receiving a dual Bachelor of Science in Engineering in electrical engineering and engineering mathematics.

Mackiewicz is a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success and is highly regarded by faculty in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department as well as the Mathematics Department. Mackiewicz had an internship with Consumers Energy in the summer of 2023, working as a low voltage distribution planning engineer. He worked on many projects that focused on increasing the safety and reliability of power lines. Mackiewicz continued to work for Consumers Energy part time during his final year of college.

Mackiewicz’s outstanding college experience has not been without challenges. In his senior high school year, Mackiewicz was diagnosed with lupus, an autoimmune disease. His treatment carried into college, which included a kidney biopsy, hip and ankle surgery, and a full hip replacement along with many sessions of physical therapy totaling around two years. With the help of the Office of Disability Services, Mackiewicz was able to attend college throughout his medical treatment.

On top of managing his health and studies, he has been an active member of the United States Powerlifting Association for more than two years. Through his engagement in powerlifting, Mackiewicz strives to inspire others not to be confined by their disabilities.

Following his graduation, Mackiewicz has accepted a position as electrical engineer at Wade Trim, an energy utility company.

Mary Bradshaw
College of Education, Health and Human Services

Mary Bradshaw is receiving her Bachelor of Science in health and human services with a focus on human services.

Bradshaw is a leader on the field and in the classroom. She was named captain of the women's cross country team from Fall 2022, participated on the Student-Athlete Advisory Council and served as the Team Representative on the Council since Fall 2023. She’s earned multiple WHAC Champions of Character awards and the Chancellor's Award for exemplary leadership and community engagement through athletics. In addition, Bradshaw has worked as a supplemental instruction leader and has been a student associate in the Graduate Studies/Admissions office.

Working as an undergraduate research assistant alongside Associate Professor of Sociology Carmel Price and Associate Professor of Public Health Natalie Sampson, Bradshaw delved into the complexities of using plain language in public notices pertaining to the Clean Air Act — an initiative resonating with environmental justice concerns. Their collective efforts culminated in a publication featured in the journal Environmental Science and Policy. Bradshaw played an active role in presenting the findings at the American Public Health Association annual conference and the Environmental Health Research to Action Academy.

What makes Bradshaw’s academic journey unique has been her commitment to the 4+1 HHS to MSW program where — through her academics, research, athletics and work experience — she has had the opportunity to engage with her various passions, such as mental health, public health, the environment, communities and social work, to generate a vision for change that she wants to see in the world.

Following graduation, Bradshaw will finish her Master of Social Work at ��-Ann Arbor.

Britney Chungag
College of Education, Health and Human Services

Britney Chungag is receiving a Bachelor of Science in health and human services with a focus on public health. Additionally, she has earned an undergraduate certificate in health communications from the College of Arts, Sciences and Letters.

A nontraditional student, Chungag transferred to ��-Dearborn from Oakland Community College. Though faced with challenges and delays in her educational timeline, she attributes her success to the unwavering support of friends and family as she juggled studies, work and personal aspirations.

In her research efforts, guided by Assistant Professor of Human Services Finn Bell, Chungag developed a logic model for the nonprofit Foster Love to evaluate and improve their Family Fellowship Scholarship. This project was pivotal in helping former foster youth with the college process, focusing on nondiscrimination and enhancing student success rates. Chungag also completed a research project dissecting the fashion industry's history and environmental impact. This sustainability-focused research project highlights the effects of fast fashion on society, environmental repercussions and potential legislative solutions. Under Lecturer Michael Montgomery’s mentorship, Chungag developed a fundraising portfolio for Code.org, showcasing effective strategies for individual and corporate fundraising efforts.

Chungag’s extracurricular activities include memberships in the African Student Union, Black Student Union, Criminology and Criminal Justice Collective, Pre-Law Association and Public Health Society, as well as the Phi Theta Kappa honor society and the National Society of Leadership and Success.

Following graduation, Chungag plans to take the LSAT and pursue law school. Envisioning a Fall 2025 entry into a JD/master's program, she is considering specializations in either public health or health informatics.

Hannah Funk
College of Education, Health and Human Services

Hannah Funk is completing her Bachelor of Arts in mathematics, with a vision to transition into elementary education.

Funk participated in multiple field-based learning experiences throughout her academic journey. At Salina Elementary School, Funk not only observed first-grade math lessons, but also delivered an addition lesson. At Thorne Elementary, she assisted in sixth-grade ELA instruction and taught a class, further sharpening her pedagogical skills. As a student teacher at Allen Elementary, Funk was immersed in a kindergarten setting, balancing the instruction of various subjects with the development of classroom management techniques and nurturing educational connections.

Her professional portfolio is further enriched by her undergraduate research experience. During her capstone courses, Funk created educational action plans that utilized researched-based practices to fill gaps in understanding for students. These targeted multiple content areas like science, ELA and math. Within the action plans, Funk reviewed studies that utilized best practices and then used the findings to support students. She also wrote lesson plans that required the use of researched-based practices in order to tailor instruction to support students. During her current semester of student teaching, she continues to research best practices to ensure the success of her students.

Funk has balanced full-time work, achievements and rigorous course loads, while experiencing challenges, including losing a family member. Through it all, she continues to look for ways to help others.

After graduation, Funk plans to teach elementary education and is eager to enter the classroom as an in-service teacher. She intends to begin a master’s degree in special education.

College of Education, Health, and Human Services

Commencement

Student Success

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Wed, 04/10/2024 - 22:40

��-Dearborn honors a select group of soon-to-be grads each semester for outstanding achievement.

Honoring 1,022 years of service — and more

stuxbury — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 19:00:40 +0000

Honoring 1,022 years of service — and more stuxbury Mon, 11/27/2023 - 14:00

The Chancellor’s Staff Recognition Awards honors the work staff members do on ��-Dearborn’s campus every day like advising students, prepping labs, mowing lawns, advancing technology and more.

Welcoming the audience of more than 150 to the Nov. 8 staff award breakfast, Chancellor Domenico Grasso applauded the dedication of campus’ employees. “Our staff serves as the backbone of our great university,” he said. “You are central to our operations and make our campus work, not just for our students, but for faculty, as well. We could not create the excellent learning and teaching environment we have without you.”

Grasso said the average number of years of service for ��-Dearborn staff attending the event was 10 years. To show how impressive this number is, he compared it to The Bureau of Labor Statistics 2022 report that said the median number of years wage and salary workers stay with their current employer is 4.1 years.

Grasso also said the 2023 ��-Dearborn milestone anniversaries totaled 1,022 years, with individuals celebrating up to four decades on campus. “What you do helps to transform the lives of our students, and all of our staff should be proud of the support they provide, empowering those attending ��-Dearborn to make the most from their time here,” he said.

Counseling and Psychological Services Director Sara Byczek, who was a featured speaker at the event, echoed Grasso's message about the staff's dedication to students when she shared information about mental health services available on campus. "CAPS is here to help staff and faculty in their endeavors to support students' mental health," Byczek said to the audience. "We appreciate the work you do."

In addition to the milestones — which are listed below — five awards honored people or teams that went above and beyond ��-Dearborn’s mission. Chancellor’s Staff Recognition Awards co-chair Linda Jacoby, Institutional Advancement business director, said the selection committee received 24 nominations.

“It is always extremely difficult for the committee to select the award recipient from such strong candidates,” Jacoby said. “Congratulations to all of our nominees and thank you to their nominators.”

Here are the 2023 award winners.

Chancellor Grasso, far right, stands with the 2023 award winners. They are, from left, Robin Wagner, Jocelyn Young Huinder, Kelsey Parker, Ryan Neloms, Tahnee Prokopow and Noel Hornbacher. Dawn Roult is not pictured.

Dearborn Victors Award
Winner: Ryan Neloms

New this year, the Dearborn Victor Award recognizes actions that personify diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and who positively impacts the lives of others on campus.

Here’s what a nominator had to say:
“His compassionate approach has helped calm many students who are struggling with a host of different issues. He is always willing to go the extra mile to help students receive the resources and support they need to be successful and does so with respect and awareness of the different backgrounds of our students. Engaging with students who are often distressed can easily take a toll on anyone. Still, Ryan's positive attitude and commitment to students' success are evident, as he never backs away from being fully present and going the extra mile.”

Advancing the Mission
Winner: The Financial Services Leadership team members Noel Hornbacher, Dawn Roult, and Robin Wagner

Here’s an excerpt from the nomination:
“With a decentralized financial model, it is a challenging task to find strategies that work for all colleges and units. And yet, Noel, Dawn, and Robin continually look for ways to guide decisions in light of our campus strategic priorities. More than that, ‘the three’ really care about the campus culture and understand that while we have to budget responsibly, we must also think about the human beings impacted by financial decisions.”

Innovation
Winner: Kelsey Parker, Experience+ project manager for experiential learning

To quote excerpts from the nomination:
“Kelsey devised engaging and innovative ideas for the Graduate Summer Writing Camp, having us host it in the EIC, making trail maps and supplying s’mores and camp T-shirts to the primarily international students who had yet to have a camping experience. She was vital in proposing and convening the first ‘Student Employment Advisory Council,’ comprised of unit leaders who employ many student employees. It’s typical of Kelsey, taking what is established and time-honored and rethinking it to make it more accessible, inclusive and fun.”

Staff Development
Winner: Jocelyn Young Huinder, software training and documentation coordinator

Here’s what a nominator said:
“She was proactive in her approach…and instead of waiting until staff were struggling with technology, she went ahead unprompted and coordinated an hour-long recorded training session for users to attend. Her ability to facilitate collaboration and communication among different teams has been instrumental in streamlining the process, ensuring that software is effectively utilized to support student success.”

Student Success
Winner: Tahnee Prokopow, health professions advising director

To quote an excerpt from her nomination:
“Tahnee has a unique ability to challenge students to become the best versions of themselves so that when they apply to health professional schools, they are prepared and at an advanced level compared to other applicants.”

Here are the staff service milestone honorees.

5-year milestone anniversary

Louis Blouin, Andy Dean, Michael DeVoe, Karen Dimanche Davis, Chancellor Domenico Grasso, Brian Hoang, Christine Homan, Jessica Johnson Jackie Kortes, Brian LaGoe, Francisco Lopez, McKenna Maurino, Andrea McDaniel, Aijalon McLittle, Rick Morrone, Blythe Murphy, Faith Olson, Latresa Rice, Celia Robinson, Ethan Savage, Shawn Simone, Homer Stone, Kyle Sutherland, Paul Tadajewski, Kamal Turner, Nathan Wallace, Charles Wang and Jerrard Wheeler

10-year milestone anniversary

Marc Brigolin, Danielle Camardese, Elizabeth Clark, Jason Crofton, Kaitlin Deslatte, Cris Frendo, Christopher Haltinner, Nina Loveberry, Molly Manley, Dawn Roult, Brittnie Smith, Matthew Speck, Jesse Stanghini, Thomas Stockwell and Nikki Wasilius

15-year milestone anniversary

Deidra Berry, Sarah Dorchak, Susanne Gassel, Ellen Judge-Gonzalez, Barbara McLaughlin, Lisa Miller, Kelly Schester, Howard Williams, Steve Williams and Joey Woods

20-year milestone anniversary

Kenneth Byrd, Terry Ebenhoeh, Michael Kamen, Wonsuk Kim, Corey Lambert, Larry Papin and Judith Walker

25-year milestone anniversary

Madeline Snipes Derrick, Caryn Finkelstein, Susan Flannery, Noel Hornbacher and Scott Howard

30-year milestone anniversary

Sherri Frost and Giannina Wilson

35-year milestone anniversary

Julie Dunckel and Soraya Jeffries Patton

40-year milestone anniversary

Marlene Dupre, Geoffrey Hosker, Robert St. Clair, Greg Taylor and Melisa Wilson

Event co-chairs were Linda Jacoby, Shari Marshall and Rachel Buzzeo. Additional committee members included Nada Bachir, Mary Jones, Kari Kowalski, Nina Loveberry, Molly McCutchan, Kelsey Parker, Celia Robinson, Erin Vickey, event consultant Sheryl Kubiak and chancellor liaison Jackie Kortes.

Staff Senate

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Mon, 11/27/2023 - 18:59

At the Chancellor’s Staff Recognition Awards ceremony, the campus community shared a meal, camaraderie and thanks for a job well done.

��-Dearborn takes top spots in U.S. News & World Report “best colleges” rankings

stuxbury — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 08:29:45 +0000

��-Dearborn takes top spots in U.S. News & World Report “best colleges” rankings stuxbury Mon, 09/18/2023 - 04:29

U.S. News & World Report’s annual guide to American colleges and universities ranks ��-Dearborn as the No. 1 regional public university in the state and No. 3 in the Midwest.

It’s 17th — moving up the list 13 places from last year — among all regional universities, public and private, in the Midwest. The 2024 rankings were released on Monday. This marks the 21st consecutive year the university is rated as one of the region’s best.

When it comes to being veteran friendly and helping people move up the economic ladder, ��-Dearborn also earned top honors.

The university is No. 1 in the state on the “Best College for Veterans” list among regional public universities. When ranked among regional campuses in the Midwest, ��-Dearborn placed fifth overall. Criteria for the designation include being GI Bill-certified and participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program. In addition, ��-Dearborn has veterans-based programming and provides structure for incoming Dearborn Wolverines who have served.

On the list of “Top Performers on Social Mobility,” ��-Dearborn is the No. 1 regional public university in Michigan. The list includes colleges that are successful at advancing social mobility by enrolling and graduating large proportions of Pell Grant eligible students. The campus ranked 13th overall among regional universities in the Midwest.

In college-specific listings, U.S. News again recognized ��-Dearborn’s undergraduate business and engineering programs.

The College of Business’ undergraduate business program is ranked fourth in the state. This is the 15th consecutive year it’s appeared on the list. The College of Engineering and Computer Science has multiple ranked programs: they have the fifth best ABET-accredited undergraduate engineering program in Michigan and the computer science undergraduate degree program ranks in the state’s top five.

According to the magazine, rankings are based on data on indicators of academic excellence, including first-year retention rate, graduation rate and strength of faculty.

The complete 2024 rankings appear in the magazine’s annual guidebook to “America’s Best Colleges.”

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Mon, 09/18/2023 - 08:28

Among the accolades: No. 1 regional public university in the state, a top university for veterans, and outstanding undergraduate programs in business and engineering.

How a campus educator is helping create a sustainable future

stuxbury — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 18:49:23 +0000

How a campus educator is helping create a sustainable future stuxbury Mon, 06/26/2023 - 14:49

Let me tell you about the birds and the bees and the flowers and the trees. Or rather, you should hear about these and the unique importance each plays in the world from ��-Dearborn’s Interpretive Naturalist Dorothy McLeer.

Not only does McLeer have 30 years experience, she was also recently honored for her teaching talent by the National Association for Interpretation. McLeer is the NAI 2023 Distinguished Professional Interpreter for the Great Lakes region. The professional award is presented to a respected interpreter who has demonstrated an impact in the field.

Taking groups on guided tours around ��-Dearborn’s trails, McLeer pulls out all the creative stops to help people retain information. She sings songs. She’s got jokes. She makes word associations. McLeer does whatever it takes to connect people with new information.

For example, here’s how she helps learners know what a radula is: “A radula is like a tongue. Mollusks use it to help them get food, like algae, by scraping things. When snails use theirs, they are like the vacuum cleaners of the pond — and that’s pretty rad.”

Dorothy McLeer

McLeer also has participants touch tree bark and make observations. They search for wildlife tracks and guess what animal may have made them. They listen and look for birds. Interpretive techniques are based on revelation. “Brain-based research shows that If you are able to use your senses and connect new knowledge to things you already know, it helps you make connections in a way that ties in experience and emotion,” McLeer said. “Relating information to students’ lives so there is meaning to the new information, makes it relevant to their lives. Emotional connections are stored in the brain’s long-term memory.”

McLeer’s such a natural (pun intended) that it seems like she always knew this was the right path for her. But she said she didn’t discover the environmental education field until she was an adult in her 30s. Working in retail and studying at Oakland Community College to be a teacher, she attended a Detroit Audubon awards event — fate would have it that she unknowingly sat at the same table as awardee William B. Stapp, the ��-Ann Arbor professor emeritus who is considered the founder of environmental education.

“I told him that I was studying to be a teacher and hoped I could teach science. Then he put two words together that I never heard in a sentence: environmental education. He explained to me what it was. It was a light that went on for me,” said McLeer, who said the field places an importance on educating all ages about their environment in an effort to develop a respect for nature and preservation. “That conversation was on a Saturday night. On Monday, I was in my school counselor's office changing my plans.”

McLeer learned about the ��-Dearborn environmental studies program started by Professor Orin Gelderloos and transferred. She first worked as a student naturalist and then became a full-time staff member after graduation. McLeer has since earned her graduate degree, along with publishing chapters in books, giving public lectures, teaching college classes and leading educational programs around the campus’ 120-acre Environmental Study Area.

During 2023 alone, more than 4500 K-12 school children have attended programs McLeer helped run. After a tour on May 22, third grader Joey from St. Pius Catholic School drew a picture of cattails, thanked McLeer for the fun walk and even pledged to become a future Wolverine. He wrote, “I already wanted to go to ��-Dearborn and now I will definitely go.”

McLeer said helping kids explore the outdoors is a highlight in her role. With climate concerns and species extinction, McLeer said it’s important that the next generation see how their actions can impact the world around them. To help do that, McLeer also inspires minds in her ��-Dearborn college classroom to find entertaining and efficient methods that blend science and education so that future educators can bring forth that awareness.

Alum Griffin Bray is part of the upcoming generation of professional naturalist educators. He met McLeer when he was nine years old as a participant in the EIC’s Young Naturalist Program in the mid-2000s. McLeer led many of his adventure-filled sessions.

He’s the one who nominated McLeer for the Distinguished Professional Interpreter Award.

Griffin Bray leading an EIC tour in a 2019 file photo

As a child, Bray didn’t recall her name exactly, but he held on to the lessons learned from McLeer and a love of ��-Dearborn’s campus trails stayed with him. The 2020 ��-Dearborn graduate earned his NAI-certified interpretive guide credential through McLeer’s Environmental Interpretation course as an undergrad and is now a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

Inspired by his former teacher, Bray said, “She’s helped shape who I am today. As an environmental interpreter, I am able to work not only with the natural environment, but also with the community to engage people with their surroundings, provoke a deeper connection to the place, and provide them with a way to understand the natural world on their own terms.”

Joining an EIC team meeting via Zoom in the spring, Bray shared the award news. McLeer said she was shocked and delighted — both to see Bray and to learn about the award.

Three decades into her career, McLeer said having one of her students going into the field nominate her was a “full-circle moment” that told her that she’s on the right path — a path filled with birds, bees, flowers and trees. And one that is educating people to take a moment and notice what’s happening right outside of their doors.

“I have been so fortunate to have colleagues who are also friends, and are dedicated and passionate about what we do. For the last 30 years I’ve done something that has meaning — not just for me or the people that I am lucky to encounter, but meaning for where we live. It’s something that I take very seriously, but I have a heck of a good time doing it.”

Text by Sarah Tuxbury.

Faculty and Staff

Nature or Environment

Environmental Interpretive Center

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Mon, 06/26/2023 - 18:48

Environmental Interpretive Naturalist Dorothy McLeer, who’s taught on campus for 30 years, is honored by the National Association for Interpretation for her environmental education efforts.

Photo of ��-Dearborn's Interpretive Naturalist Dorothy McLeer, right, with student naturalist Valerie Osowski in campus' rain garden. Photos/Sarah Tuxbury

Graduate programs from each of ��-Dearborn’s four colleges included in national rankings

stuxbury — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 16:58:37 +0000

Graduate programs from each of ��-Dearborn’s four colleges included in national rankings stuxbury Mon, 04/24/2023 - 12:58

U.S. News & World Report named several University of Michigan-Dearborn graduate programs as among the best in the nation in its annual rankings released today. U.S. News annually ranks professional school programs and specialties in the areas of business, education, engineering, health, nursing, public affairs and science.

The College of Business’ part-time MBA program was the second program in Michigan to appear on the list, only behind the program at U-M Ross. This marks the 14th consecutive year COB’s part-time MBA program has been included in the publication.

College of Engineering and Computer Science programs in biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, industrial engineering and mechanical engineering were included in the publication’s specialties rankings. The college was also included on the best computer science schools list.

The master’s in public administration and policy in the College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters was identified as a ranked public affairs program and the College of Education, Health, and Human Services was included on the best education schools list.

About the rankings

Part-time MBA rankings are based on five factors: average peer assessment score, average GMAT or GRE score for incoming students, average undergraduate GPA, work experience, and the percentage of the business school's MBA enrollment that is part-time.

The best education and engineering school lists look at research activity, the academic excellence of their entering students, their faculty resources, and opinions on program quality from school deans and school hiring professionals. The public affairs and specialty engineering program rankings are developed solely on peer assessment.

Learn more about the methodology and view additional rankings at the U.S. News site.

Article by Sarah Tuxbury.

University-wide

College of Education, Health, and Human Services

College of Business

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Undergraduate Admissions

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Mon, 04/24/2023 - 16:57

U.S. News & World Report recognized several of the university’s graduate programs as among the best.

Students studying in the ELB Atrium

Honored for Excellence

stuxbury — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 16:49:21 +0000

Honored for Excellence stuxbury Mon, 04/17/2023 - 12:49

Each semester, ��-Dearborn honors a very select group of students with a Medallion Award. Chosen by faculty from their respective colleges, graduates are recognized for their outstanding quality of character, intellect, integrity and academic record.

Three Medallion awards are given per college — with one of those students selected to receive the Chancellor’s Medallion. These students will be recognized during the April 30 commencement celebrations.

Here are the College of Arts, Sciences, & Letters and the College of Education, Health, & Human Services recipients.

The awardees from the College of Business and College of Engineering & Computer Sciences — a CECS grad earned the Chancellor’s Medallion this semester — are listed here.

Diana Nichols, College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters

Diana Nichols is receiving her Bachelor of Science in chemistry and received university honors in Fall 2019. During her time at ��-Dearborn, she had an exceptional presence in the classroom and on campus, where she actively pursued various undergraduate research opportunities.

Diana received the 2022 SURE Best Poster award for her research on the synthesis and characterization of B2 vitamin derivatives with applications in vitamin deficiency detection. Diana worked with Chemistry Associate Professor Simona Marincean on the project and presented the results of this research at the Spring 2022 American Chemical Society National Meeting and at the 2022 Central American Chemical Society Regional Meeting. She is currently working on a first-authored manuscript from the research and plans to submit it for peer review.

Diana’s engagement on campus extends beyond the classroom. As a nontraditional student who transferred to the university in 2019, Diana subsequently became the president of ��-Dearborn’s Chemistry Club. In this role, Diana coordinated numerous activities for Dearborn Wolverines.

Diana was accepted into multiple graduate schools for chemistry and will enter the University of Michigan’s organic chemistry doctorate program in the fall.

Elizabeth O’Hotzke, College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters

Elizabeth O’Hotzke is receiving a Bachelor of Science in behavioral and biological sciences with a minor in psychology and a certificate in writing. She received university honors four times and was named to the Dean’s List from Fall 2019 through Fall 2022. In addition, Elizabeth is a two-time James B. Angell Scholar, was awarded the William J. Branstrom Prize in 2020, and is this year’s behavioral and biological sciences Honors Scholar.

Elizabeth excelled in challenging courses ranging from organic chemistry and microbiology to cognitive psychology, ethics in research and medical anthropology. She has served as a consultant with ��-Dearborn’s Writing Center and as a supplemental instruction leader for several courses.

Complementing her academic achievements, Elizabeth is actively engaged in student life and volunteer work, both on and off campus. A participant in Alternative Spring Break since her first year on campus, Elizabeth has served as the ASB executive board education and training coordinator since Fall 2021. She has been on two community service trips, where she helped address literacy needs and food insecurity. Elizabeth is an active member of Detroit Catholic Campus Ministry, serving as organization president since 2021. Over the past three years, Elizabeth has participated in numerous tutoring and educational outreach opportunities in Dearborn and Detroit, including volunteering as a middle school math tutor. She is also a volunteer assistant junior varsity softball coach at Manchester High School, her former school.

Elizabeth has been described as an exceptional student and has been praised as being at the top of her class by numerous professors. Upon graduation, Elizabeth plans to pursue a career in the health professions.

Richard Tharrett, College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters

Richard Tharrett is receiving his Bachelor of Arts with a double major in political science and journalism and media. He was awarded the Maxwell Gray Film Fellowship through the University of Michigan Eisenberg Family Depression Center, where he directed original videos and worked alongside therapists and other professionals in the field to promote mental health.

Last year, Richard won first place in ��-Dearborn’s writing awards for his documentary film “Second Chance,” which shares the experience of a formerly incarcerated man who served nearly 40 years in prison. Richard also works for ��-Dearborn as a production assistant, producing campus videos and advising journalism students.

Currently, Richard is an intern in Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s communications department, where he works closely with the governor’s speechwriter to draft speeches, facilitate interviews and craft messages to address key problems facing the state of Michigan. Outside of school, Richard is a competitive unicyclist, a hobby and sport that has taken him across the world, most recently to France to serve as the director and chief judge of a competition at the world championships for unicycling in 2022.

After he graduates, Richard plans to pursue a career in multimedia journalism or communications in the public sector.

Katrina M. Chester, College of Education, Health, and Human Services

Katrina M. Chester is receiving her Bachelor of Arts in special education. She received university honors in 2023 and was named to the Dean’s List for five semesters.

For her elementary certification, Katrina student-taught in a second-grade general education classroom, an upper-elementary resource room, and a middle school special education classroom.

To help local students ages six through 11 who needed additional support in mathematics and language arts, Katrina was a volunteer tutor from December 2020 to June 2022. During student teaching, she also participated in the school’s Parent Teacher Association, assisting with Scholastic Book Fairs, holiday events and fundraisers.

Following graduation, Katrina plans to work in an elementary school resource room or a lower elementary general education classroom while pursuing her master’s in special education with an endorsement in autism.

Her hope is to one day work in a self-contained autism classroom, where she can advocate for students who can have such a wide range of abilities, and help others gain knowledge about inclusion efforts with neurodiverse students.

Yasmina Elmeligi, College of Education, Health, and Human Services

Yasmina Elmeligi is receiving her Bachelor of Arts in language arts. She received university honors in 2021 and 2023 and was named to the Dean’s List every semester since Winter 2019. She is a James B. Angell Scholar, a member of the national French honors society Pi Delta Phi and the recipient of a Spanish Honors award. During her ��-Dearborn career, she was awarded a Dean’s Scholarship, a Dearborn Dependent Scholarship and the James and MayBell Loeb Scholarship.

Through her studies, Yasmina participated in an action research capstone project where she tested two different best practices — graphic organizers and PowerPoint presentations — to determine which one is more equipped to increase student understanding and progress. She also completed training through the GLOBE program, which helped her obtain the background needed to lead a class in performing field and lab protocols.

On campus, she served as a tutor in French, Arabic and Spanish, and a lab assistant at the Kochoff Foreign Language Lab. In addition, she has provided tutoring at the language lab since 2019 and she worked as an office assistant in the Department of Language, Culture and the Arts from 2019 to 2022.

Yasmina has also been very active in campus groups. She has served as president of the French Club, the event coordinator of La Mezcla, and a member of the UNICEF Club, Active Minds, buildOn and the Arabic Club. As a member of the French Club, she helped in the co-sponsorship of buildOn’s first annual fundraising dinner.

Yasmina plans to pursue a master’s degree in educational leadership.Once she earns her graduate degree, she plans on working as an ESL coordinator or a classroom teacher.

Bianca Freeman, College of Education, Health, and Human Services

Bianca Freeman is receiving a Bachelor of Science in health and human services with a concentration in public health. She received university honors in 2022 and was named to the Dean’s List for eight semesters. She is the recipient of an Impact Opportunity Scholarship, the Go Blue Guarantee and a DTE E-Challenge Scholarship.

Bianca completed an internship with professors Natalie Sampson and Carmel Price on their research project, “U.S. Clean Air Act Title V Public Notices as Barriers to Environmental Justice: Lessons from a Plain Language Analysis,” for the Environmental Research-to-Action program. She presented the team’s preliminary findings at the 2022 American Public Health Association Conference.

In addition, Bianca is currently working on the DTE E-Challenge, helping to craft an energy savings plan for the ��-Dearborn campus. She also works on the All of Us study — a National Institutes of Health initiative that aims to build a diverse health database — at Henry Ford Health as a research recruitment specialist. In her role, Bianca informs people about Henry Ford Health’s ongoing research and why it is important.

Bianca volunteered in the Student Food Pantry for the Fall 2022 semester. Also, for one of her courses, she assisted with grant writing for the Concerned Residents of South Dearborn, a neighborhood association that focuses on social, economic and environmental concerns.

Bianca plans on pursuing a Master of Public Health degree. Before that, she will take a gap year to explore different public health career paths.

College of Education, Health, and Human Services

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Mon, 04/17/2023 - 16:47

Medallion awards are given to a select group of ��-Dearborn's top graduates — with one of those students receiving the Chancellor's Medallion. Here are the CASL and CEHHS recipients.

Professor Marilee Benore receives honor from American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

stuxbury — Mon, 27 Mar 2023 13:44:30 +0000

Professor Marilee Benore receives honor from American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology stuxbury Mon, 03/27/2023 - 09:44

In Biochemistry Professor Marilee Benore’s office, there are custom printed 3D models of protein structures and copper pipes shaped and painted to look like DNA strands. Near these science sculptures, there are several whimsical pictures featuring the characters of Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.”

It seems like juxtaposition, but Benore says what they represent complements each other.

“Things are not always as they seem. When you look at me, you don’t see chromosomes, genes and proteins. But they are all there,” she said. “You can’t see anything in biochemistry with a naked eye. You have to believe it and be open to learning. That’s where these models come in. They introduce us to this world that’s under the surface.”

Listening to Benore talk with students about biochemistry substances and processes, it’s obvious that she values labs, practice-based learning, research work and those 3D models.

As she snaps a vitamin into an alpha ribbon niche on the protein model, Benore says many of her students go into medicine. She wants them to understand how things work so they can pass information along to others.

“I tell them, ‘Let’s pretend you are a physician and you have to tell a parent about a genetic disease. I want you to show me where the mutation might be on the chromosome and explain it to me,” she says. “When you are looking someone in the eyes and giving them news about something they cannot see, you need to be more than a doctor. You need to be a trusted source and educator.”

Benore has taught at ��-Dearborn since 1989, and she explores different ways to educate her students. That has built trust. Just a few examples, among many: Benore mentors scores of students in her lab, and she is organizing a study abroad experience to Italy for students to learn from an ancient medicinal garden, and she created custom take-home lab kits for students during the pandemic.

For her work, Benore was named a 2023 Fellow by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. The honorific program recognizes 20 scientists annually who’ve made outstanding contributions to the field through their research, teaching, mentoring or other forms of service. She was named along with faculty from institutions that include U-M Medical School, Yale, UC-Berkley and Rutgers.

“Because biochemistry is considered challenging to teach, biochem educators have ways — like the ASBMB — to collaborate with leaders in the field and make sure that our lessons remain relevant and student-centered,” said Benore, who’s been a member of the society for 20-plus years. “A recognition like this means my work is appreciated, has value and it opens doors.”

Benore said the ASBMB supports innovative science education and promotes the diversity of individuals entering the scientific workforce — something she’s passionate about.

As a young chemical lab researcher in industry, Benore experienced harassment and discrimination from male colleagues. And when she graduated with an advanced degree in chemistry at the University of Delaware, she was in a class with only four females. “In my journey, I’ve learned that opportunity doesn't exist for everyone. I wanted to ensure that girls and women had access to STEM careers.”

Before Benore was a professor, she was a girls’ basketball coach, a feminist newsletter editor and a domestic violence shelter advocate. As a professor, Benore organized and ran a Girl Scouts STEM summer camp, advised the ��-Dearborn chapter of Women in Leadership and Learning and team-taught with colleagues in the Women and Gender Studies program.

Students use copper alembic stills in Benore's biochem lab.

Benore said female representation in biochemistry has made huge strides in the 30-plus years since she entered the field (2022 data shows that 44% of U.S. biochemists are women). But she says there are still gaps in representation that need to be addressed, specifically for people of color. Looking at 2022 biochemist demographics, 9.9% identify as Hispanic/Latinx and 6.6% identify as Black.

“Everyone likes to talk about DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) and I’m glad we do. But there needs to be more action, more movement,” said Benore, who teaches a biology-oriented diversity in healthcare course at ��-Dearborn. “And this lack of diversity goes beyond biochemist professionals. It’s in our drug discovery process and in healthcare policies too.”

With ASBMB colleagues, Benore helps run workshops that focus on anti-racism practices in biochem labs and courses, gives advice during panels on how to respond to harassment, shares practices that help eliminate bias from hiring (like screening out applicant names and locations), and conducts research reviews to support biochem researchers. On campus, Benore is part of the team that landed a $1.44M National Science Foundation grant to start the STEM Scholars program, which is in its first year. The program tailors impactful education practices — like research, cohorts and professional development — to connect underserved and underrepresented populations to STEM futures.

Benore is at a point in her career where she could retire. But she’s not ready for that yet. She says there’s still work to do.

In her office, Benore shows a student how to set up a copper alembic still. She uses a computer program for a colleague to see how a prescription drug they are taking impacts complex molecules in the body. Still using visuals to explain the unseeable, Benore gestures to her Alice in Wonderland art and back to the biochemistry papers and books around the room.

“We are all a little mad around here,” she says with a smile. “But there is a method in this madness. We, as faculty, want our students to learn about how things affect them, even if it’s something that can’t be seen. Because once you know it’s there, you can learn about the impact that it has. Awareness is always a good first step.”

Article by Sarah Tuxbury.

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