Leadership

Read Anaya's keynote address here.

College of Business

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Wed, 03/13/2024 - 12:38

College of Business Assistant Professor Helet Botha thinks one of the most relevant philosophical systems for navigating tricky moral situations is one that’s traditionally been left out of the business ethics canon.

Assistant Professor Helet Botha gives a lecture in her business ethics course. Photo by Julianne Lindsey

Celebrating diversity, mentorship and the Class of Fall 2023

stuxbury — Sat, 16 Dec 2023 21:51:57 +0000

Celebrating diversity, mentorship and the Class of Fall 2023 stuxbury Sat, 12/16/2023 - 16:51

��-Dearborn alum and Class of Fall 2023 keynote speaker Bill Anaya has 25-plus years of global government relations experience that’s given him the opportunity to travel the world, build relationships and grow his cultural knowledge.

The 1993 College of Arts, Sciences and Letters graduate worked in the White House, with the Alibaba Group and for Motorola. He’s currently the vice president of global government affairs for Coupang, a major e-commerce company that Fortune magazine called the “Amazon of Asia.”

Addressing the Fall ’23 graduates, Anaya says he credits this path to an alma mater they now share: ��-Dearborn. The university awarded 684 degrees to the newest Dearborn Wolverine alums during commencement ceremonies on Dec. 16. The morning ceremony recognized graduates of the College of Arts, Sciences and Letters and the College of Business. The afternoon ceremony celebrated graduates of the College of Education, Health and Human Services and the College of Engineering and Computer Science.

“This place bet on me 34-and-a-half years ago — a childhood janitor with Latino roots and limited resources,” said Anaya, who, as a high school student, was selected to receive the Chancellor’s Scholarship. He was able to share that news with family before his father’s passing from cancer.

“Because of ��-Dearborn’s decision to grant a full academic scholarship to me, I would be able to earn an otherwise unobtainable world-class education and so much more,” Anaya told the graduates.

Listening to Anaya share his experiences as a hard-working, first-generation student from an underrepresented community, some of the graduates nodded their heads in recognition. The ��-Dearborn student body, according to Fall 2023 data, is 47% first-generation and 46% Pell-eligible.

Anaya also spoke about the ways ��-Dearborn shaped his life through mentors, dedicated professors like Political Science Professor Emeritus Helen Graves, internships and overall support.

Chancellor Domenico Grasso praised Bill Anaya, a 1993 alum who delivered the keynote address, for his remarks to the Class of Fall 2023.

“These internships and caring leaders made all the difference in my life,” he said. “And Dearborn was at the heart of it all. Always training me, always propelling me, always encouraging me. Always making my life and circumstances different.”

Student speaker Nour Haj Salem, a Computer Engineering and Computer Science graduate student from Tunisia, said she’s thankful to have earned a ��-Dearborn degree and to learn from the opportunities that came with it.

“Inspired by my grandfather's wise words, ‘eli bela fi haja ydirha,’ which means, ‘if you truly desire something, you must do what it takes to achieve it,’ I became the first in my family to venture alone to the U.S. for graduate studies,” Haj Salem said. While at ��-Dearborn, she completed an internship at CBRE as a software engineer. She also worked as a research assistant studying machine learning with Assistant Professor of Computer and Information Science Foyzul Hassan.

“Let us take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to the professors, mentors and all the dedicated staff who have been our guiding lights,” she said. “Their support, patience and wisdom have been crucial to our success.”

Haj Salem also talked about the welcoming atmosphere she experienced at ��-Dearborn when she traveled 5,000 miles from Tunisia to attend grad school in the U.S. She said the diversity on campus, the halal food offered in the Renick University Center’s McKinley Cafe and volunteer-based public engagement opportunities reflect the community she chose to study within.

Student speaker Nour Haj Salem congratulated the Class of Fall 2023, while also welcoming her family to the U.S. They traveled from Tunisia to see her graduate.

“Being part of this university is a source of pride, as we embrace and celebrate our differences together,” she said. “Looking ahead, this experience will guide our future work. We'll carry teamwork, empathy and the appreciation of diversity into our careers.”

The university’s commitment to both inclusion and practice-based learning was on full display at the ceremony, with the debut of new name-reading software developed by Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Hafiz Malik and four of his CECS graduate students. The software allowed students – or, if they chose, partners, parents or even their kids – to record their names exactly how they should be pronounced. As each student walked across the stage, one of Malik’s students scanned a card featuring a QR code, which triggered the system to play the graduate’s audio recording and display their name on the big screen.

Professor Hafiz Malik, center and taking a bow, and his CECS graduate students debuted a new name-reading software at the Dec. 16 commencement ceremonies.

After the last name was announced, rows of students waited for the moment to turn the tassel and make it official. Chancellor Domenico Grasso then announced it was time to stand up, move it from the right to the left of their mortar boards and celebrate.

“I welcome you to the society of learned men and women and to the pantheon of distinguished Michigan alumni — more than 670,000 strong who have shaped and defined the world in which we live — now it is your turn,” Grasso said. “I wish you every good fortune and success.”

Earlier, as Anaya congratulated the graduates on this milestone, he said he’s looking forward to the difference they will make in their chosen fields and the world. He encouraged them to combine their education with the lessons gained through their challenges and perseverance.

“For yourself and for someone you see around you during your career, get in the business of transport — from disadvantage to fulfillment. Be a center of gravity around that idea,” he said. “Make your approach contagious and part of the DNA of any organization where you are now or where you will be. Provide the special brand of care, the Dearborn brand of care.”

See more photos of the big day or watch the recorded ceremonies on YouTube and Facebook.

Article by Sarah Tuxbury.

College of Education, Health, and Human Services

College of Business

College of Engineering and Computer Science

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Sat, 12/16/2023 - 21:40

The university awarded 684 degrees to the newest Dearborn Wolverine alums during the commencement ceremonies on Dec. 16.

Class of Fall 2023 graduate Brianna Bryant, a first-generation college student, celebrates on the graduation stage. Photos by Shannon Schultz/Michigan Photography

HLC report: ��-Dearborn educates students to meet 21st-century challenges

stuxbury — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 16:59:28 +0000

HLC report: ��-Dearborn educates students to meet 21st-century challenges stuxbury Mon, 12/11/2023 - 11:59

For the first time in known university history, the Higher Learning Commission says ��-Dearborn met or exceeded all criteria for reaccreditation without any additional steps needed. HLC is a federally recognized agency that conducts a comprehensive evaluation of academic institutions.

The final report, which was shared with the ��-Dearborn HLC Core Committee in late November, is expected to be approved at a 2024 Institutional Actions Council meeting. ��-Dearborn will be up for reaccreditation again in 2033.

The review findings were based on extensive documentation, interviews with members of the university community, and in-person conversations with stakeholders across the campus.

“We’ve been accredited through HLC since 1970. If all goes well, there’s a 10-year period before an institution is reevaluated. To my knowledge, this full clean bill of health is the first time it has happened here,” says Associate Provost for Undergraduate Programs and Integrative Learning Mitchel Sollenberger, who led the university’s reaccreditation process. “We’ve always done great things, but much of the strategy or documentation HLC wanted on those earlier visits was non-existent. Looking back through the paper archive in the Provost’s office, we’ve always had additional steps to do. For example, in 1993, we needed to write yearly reports to HLC as a stipulation to maintain accreditation.”

So what changed? Sollenberger, who’s been on the HLC preparation team since the 2013 HLC visit, says faculty and staff have put systems and processes in place over the past decade to capture data, assess programs and document outcomes. “We’ve had many people make great efforts to improve processes even in the face of less-than-ideal circumstances like budgetary constraints, the pandemic and more. Their work helped us get to this point,” he says. “I want to say thank you.”

Also, the HLC reviewers noted that the university went through an intensive strategic planning process starting in 2018. The 60-page final HLC report notes that ��-Dearborn’s direction is guided by the GO BLUEprint for Success Strategic Plan, a university-wide initiative that began with a strength and weakness situational analysis.

While on campus this November, HLC reviewers noticed students building rockets and cars for competitions. They also saw faculty members, assisted by students, working on a variety of research projects. And they talked to students, staff and faculty about community-engaged courses. “The curriculum and co-curriculum at ��-Dearborn educate students to meet 21st-century challenges,” the report states.

HLC reviewers were also impressed by the dedication of faculty and staff to ��-Dearborn’s mission of excellence in teaching, learning, research and scholarship, as well as access, affordability and community impact.

Reviewers singled out the strong culture of community and mutual respect on campus as well. “Caring for everyone in the campus community is central to ��-Dearborn's mission and it was clear from meetings with administration, faculty, staff, and students that they take this very seriously.” One reviewer, when reflecting on the intentional work done to support underserved and underrepresented students, even told administrators that they would like to work at ��-Dearborn.

To demonstrate how ��-Dearborn outcomes match the mission, the HLC report includes these numbers:

Due to a financial aid model based on need rather than merit, 90% of students have their financial needs met with no more than $2,000 in loans or work study
The four-year completion rate has increased from 22% to 37% in the last four years
24% of faculty received external research funding, and from 2018 to 2022, ��-Dearborn's faculty research awards more than doubled with the federal component rising from 35% to 65%

Director of Academic Success Jess LaGrange, who was on ��-Dearborn’s HLC Core Committee, says she is grateful that an external accreditation agency sees how the campus community works tirelessly to do what’s best for ��-Dearborn students.

The work referenced in the report includes the SURE program, Wolverine Mentor Collective, PALS, Salesforce, transparent financial practices, Degree Works, Dearborn Discovery Core, the START office, career coaching, accessible study abroad opportunities, Dearborn Support, project-based learning courses, the Campus Climate Survey and more.

“We are doing so much that every day can feel like a sprint. We often don’t have the time to stop and take stock of the great things we are doing,” LaGrange says. “So it is nice to have HLC come in and say, ‘Wow, you are doing a lot of amazing work and here is the impact of these great things. Keep it up. What you are doing matters.’”

HLC Coordination Team members are Sollenberger, LaGrange, Assistant Dean for Assessment and Accreditation Susan Everett, Financial Services Director Noel Hornbacher, Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness Director Rick Michalski and History Professor Pam Pennock. For helping get the systems needed in place, Sollenberger also would like to thank retired provost Kate Davy and former CEHHS associate dean Laura Reynolds.

Article by Sarah Tuxbury

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Mon, 12/11/2023 - 16:58

For the first time in known university history, the Higher Learning Commission says ��-Dearborn met or exceeded all criteria for reaccreditation without any additional steps needed.

Bringing together perspectives, expertise and experiences

stuxbury — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 16:55:40 +0000

Bringing together perspectives, expertise and experiences stuxbury Mon, 10/02/2023 - 12:55

For sociology professor Paul Draus, networking is more than just making professional connections. It represents bringing together a variety of perspectives, expertise and lived experience to work toward a common goal.

"People represent opportunities, people represent ideas, people represent visions," Draus says. "So anytime you meet a new person and they have a new vision, and they add something to what you see, and then it expands what you're able to do."

This perspective and skill at working with communities recently led to Draus' appointment as faculty director of the University of Michigan’s Detroit Center, a position he began on June 19. He will continue his teaching and research at ��-Dearborn as well. "The projects and the work that I'm engaged in on the Dearborn campus mesh very well with all the things I'll be doing with the Detroit Center," Draus says. “Philosophically, I see the urban environments of Detroit and Dearborn as inextricably intertwined, so it makes sense for me to be working at both simultaneously.”

Draus' current research involves projects related to environmental justice and criminal justice with a focus on racism and on finding alternatives to incarceration. Though these subject areas may appear disparate, they both grew out of his earlier research on substance abuse and the communities most afflicted. "A lot of pathways to substance use and incarceration really start in these kinds of environments if you listen to people's life history," he says.

Draus eventually shifted his emphasis from individuals to the environments themselves, and reoriented his research to focus on people and organizations working on solutions. "Who are the people that are working on healing? Who are the people that are working on cultivating the land or cultivating community or building things?" he says. "When you start looking at it that way in Detroit, instead of looking around and seeing problems everywhere, you look around, you see leaders everywhere."

Draus sees his new Detroit Center role as more than just adding an official stamp to work he's already doing. At the Detroit Center he is joining a knowledgeable team that is already deeply engaged with both Detroit and U-M communities. He now has the opportunity to further their work by fostering more collaborative and mutualistic projects across the board. "In this position, I have the ability and the license to reach out to anybody within U-M who's working on a project or who has a skill set," he says. In other words, making connections within and between University of Michigan and Detroit communities is now literally his job.

One consideration, Draus says, is being mindful that the university's initiatives in Detroit are mutually beneficial. Two guiding questions, he says, are, "How do we enter into Detroit communities?" and "How do we do what we do as a university?" In the latter case, he says it's crucial that the university is not simply doing research for its own benefit but is working toward co-creation.

Draus invites members of the ��-Dearborn community to explore events and programs at the center. And he actively seeks them out: He recently invited two Summer Undergraduate Research Experience students to participate in a presentation on U-M summer projects in the city, for instance, and several ��-Dearborn students, faculty and staff participated in the inaugural “Art & Agency: Taking It To The Streets” community workshop at the center last month. The project is an extension of a project Draus launched on campus last year in collaboration with history professor Anna Müller.

"The Detroit Center is a resource for them as well," he says of the ��-Dearborn community. "If they ever need to use a space, if they want to attend an event, we welcome having them there. And if we can make it easier for them to get there, we'll try and find ways to do that, too."

Article by Shaun Manning

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Mon, 10/02/2023 - 16:55

Professor Paul Draus sees his new role as faculty director of the Detroit Center as an opportunity to grow connections between U-M and Detroit communities.

Sociology professor Paul Draus recently joined U-M Detroit Center as faculty director. Photo/Shaylynn Jones

Get to Know Dave Hawkins, ��-Dearborn chief of police

stuxbury — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 16:49:52 +0000

Get to Know Dave Hawkins, ��-Dearborn chief of police stuxbury Wed, 09/20/2023 - 12:49

If you are on campus, odds are that you’ve seen Chief of Police Dave Hawkins walking the university grounds — that’s something he does on a nearly daily basis. Maybe you ran into him as he helped students move into the Union this fall. He also stops in to cheer at sporting events and takes time to meet with student groups, office staff and faculty departments.

In short: He’s everywhere. And, more importantly, he’s accessible.

In a conversation with Reporter, Hawkins, who assumed his role as campus’s new police chief on Aug. 5, agreed to answer some police pop culture prompts. He said his favorite doughnut is Boston cream because it reminds him of childhood treats his dad would bring home from The Custard Hut in Dearborn Heights. His favorite police shows include Adam-12, because of the cool action figures, and T.J. Hooker because of William Shatner.

When asked about a memorable on-the-job moment, the conversation became more serious.

Hawkins said he took part in a statewide “Pancakes & Politics” discussion several years ago. As an officer, he volunteered to attend the forum to listen to and learn from people of color in the community. During the event, Black men spoke about the fear they felt during routine traffic stops. Participants shared stories of racial profiling, verbal and physical abuse, and other reasons why there was a lack of trust between officers and community members of color.

“It was absolutely unforgettable. There was so much pain and raw emotion. People shared how they were policed based on their appearance and how poorly they’ve been treated. I thought I had an understanding, but, as the event went on, it became more and more apparent how unaware I really was,” Hawkins said. “Even if I saw myself as one of the good guys and I knew of the great work the officers were doing in our department, the people with these lived experiences didn’t see me as a good guy. Listening to negative encounter after negative encounter, I understood why. We may not have done these things, but we represented the people who had.”

Hawkins said unchecked power due to a lack of accountability and transparency can be dangerous. He contends it's a good thing that body cameras and microphones are now standard, and it's important for people to continue speaking out when they see injustice. “It’s our responsibility as officers to be accountable and to hold each other accountable. The more that happens, the more opportunities there will be to rebuild trust,” he said.

Hawkins said the officers he knows are dedicated to their mission “to protect and to serve.” “We got into this line of service for a reason, and that reason is to serve the people in our communities,” he said. “Most officers do the right things for the right reasons every day. And we’ve got some great officers at U-M.”

Hawkins would know. He has a proven track record in law enforcement with leadership roles as the University of Michigan Division of Public Safety and Security’s deputy chief, lieutenant and sergeant. During his 22 years with DPSS, Hawkins has made it a point to skillfully balance police operations and community well-being. He transferred to ��-Dearborn in May 2022 to serve as deputy chief of police for former ��-Dearborn Police Chief Gary Gorski, who relocated to the west side of the state.

Hawkins and his ��-Dearborn officers make it a priority to get out in the community and talk to people about everyday life like families, pets, sports and hobbies. They are on staff kickball teams, participate in scavenger hunts, greet students at Wolverine Welcome Day and more.

Hawkins said it's important to be out and about on campus so officers learn what people want and need — and then, when possible, work to make it happen. For example, ��-Dearborn community members have shared there’s a need for a campus-based trainer who can teach first-aid classes. In response, Public Safety is in the process of hiring someone to fill that role.

Hawkins said the community aspect is why he worked so hard to become an officer in the first place and that police role models in his metro Detroit community left a positive impression on him. “I looked up to them and the work they did,” he said.” I knew I wanted to be an officer too.”

After high school, Hawkins joined the U.S. Army Military Police Corps. After he completed his service, he was offered an opportunity to work as a private investigator. The role included detective work, but it wasn’t the community-minded position Hawkins had dreamed about. After doing some career research, Hawkins realized that a police officer position required a post-secondary education. To support his growing family and education, he enrolled at Eastern Michigan University. He worked the night shift as a custodian so he could take criminal justice classes during the day.

“There was little sleep and a lot of hustle, but you do what you need to do to make things work,” he said. “I ended up graduating with a 3.98 GPA in three years. My son Josh was born right after that. Everything worked out.” Through the custodian position, Hawkins made a connection to ��-Ann Arbor’s Department of Public Safety, leading to his first role as an officer in April 2001.

That was more than two decades ago. Since that time, he’s continued to look for opportunities for personal and professional growth. Josh is now a young adult and a ��-Dearborn student. Hawkins is only a few credits shy of a master's degree in technology with a concentration in public safety and emergency management. He said is proud to be the police chief for a university that values community.

“We have a good group of folks in our department and all across our university. They work hard, but still have time for a little fun too,” Hawkins said. “I’m glad to be part of such a close-knit community that prioritizes people and I look forward to building even stronger relationships between students, faculty and staff and our officers.”

Article by Sarah Tuxbury.

University-wide

Public Safety (Police)

Staff Senate

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Wed, 09/20/2023 - 16:49

Hawkins brings 20-plus years of U-M police experience and a love of the community to his ��-Dearborn Public Safety leadership role.

Police Chief Dave Hawkins Photo/Julianne Lindsey

Meet Jessica Johnson, our new emergency management and infrastructure security coordinator

lblouin — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 17:07:10 +0000

Meet Jessica Johnson, our new emergency management and infrastructure security coordinator lblouin Mon, 07/24/2023 - 13:07

In 2018, Jessica Johnson was just getting settled into her role on the emergency management team in the Division of Public Safety and Security at the ��-Ann Arbor campus. Her specialty was “continuity of operations,” an area that focuses on maintaining core functions of the university in the event of a catastrophic event. It’s something Johnson says people outside the emergency management world tend to not think much about. A little more than a year later, we'd of course all be thinking about continuity of operations. When COVID hit the U.S. in early 2020, universities were scrambling to figure out how to continue classes online, work remotely, make residence halls safe and ensure researchers could continue their work. “I went from having a pretty normal schedule to often working until 10 p.m. or midnight because we had to have 24/7 emergency support coverage,” Johnson says. “Every day, it was our responsibility to put together a big report with all the latest data about positivity rates, hospital bed utilization, cases on campus, the whole nine yards. That was our life, seven days a week for about a year.”

Thankfully, that intense pandemic experience didn’t burn Johnson out on preparedness work. She’s now bringing her expertise to the ��-Dearborn campus as the new emergency management and infrastructure security coordinator. Johnson, who holds a degree in homeland security from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, says it’s actually a fascinating time to be working in this space. For starters, she’s observed that the collective pandemic experience has made it easier to get community buy-in on preparedness planning, which could sometimes feel like pulling teeth before. In addition, there are some unique circumstances reshaping the preparedness landscape. The normalization of remote work and education has changed how we occupy and use our buildings, and with that comes the need for new strategies. Further, the prevalence of mass shootings, including the Feb. 13 incident on the Michigan State campus, has created a more visceral concern about physical security among students, faculty and staff.

Johnson says conversations about how to prepare for such an event are ongoing and evolving, stressing there is no easy, one-size-fits-all solution. “Every community has a different culture and it’s important to build your security strategies around things that the community feels comfortable with,” Johnson says. “Some people might feel safer with a more visible police or security presence, but we need to be mindful that other parts of our community might actually feel less safe in that environment, which is the opposite of what we want to achieve.” New infrastructure and technology will also likely be part of the path forward. But Johnson again stressed that whatever decisions are made have to reflect the community’s desires — and be well thought out. For example, she says institutions and businesses sometimes rush to equip themselves with elaborate camera systems, forgetting that they might not have the staff to actively monitor them.

In the more immediate future, Johnson is focused on ��-Dearborn’s Building Incident Response Team program. BIRT faculty and staff volunteers help coordinate emergency responses in particular buildings, and serve both as points of contact for building occupants in emergency situations and liaisons to first responders, who may need pertinent information upon arrival. Johnson says the growth of remote work and the fact that the university, like other workplaces, has experienced quite a bit of turnover since the pandemic mean that many BIRT units need new members. Thankfully, since her arrival on campus, she’s seen a lot of interest in participating in BIRT, as well as tabletop exercises, which can help leaders review and revise emergency plans.

“Continuous improvement is just the nature of the ever-evolving environment that is preparedness, safety and security,” Johnson says. “So we’re excited to dig in, talk with people and make updates to our plans so everyone feels safe and comfortable coming to work and learn on our campus.”

###

Have a specific question for our new DPSS Emergency Management and Infrastructure Security Coordinator Jessica Johnson? She’d love to hear from you. You can email her at jbjohns@umich.edu.

University-wide

Public Safety (Police)

Staff Senate

Off

Mon, 07/24/2023 - 17:06

Johnson brings years of experience on the Ann Arbor campus and a background in homeland security to ��-Dearborn.

Photo by Kathryn Bourlier

Get to know CASL Dean Dagmar Budikova

stuxbury — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 14:47:54 +0000

Get to know CASL Dean Dagmar Budikova stuxbury Mon, 07/24/2023 - 10:47

College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters Dean Dagmar Budikova is highly regarded as a teacher and scholar. She received her B.S. in environmental science from the University of Toronto and her Ph.D. from the University of Calgary, focusing in physical geography and climatology. She comes to ��-Dearborn from Illinois State University where she taught as a faculty member for nearly 25 years, and also served as chair of the Department of Geography, Geology, and the Environment, and associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

But who is the person behind the accomplishments and accolades? Budikova — who goes by Dean Dagmar — has been passionate about education as far back as she can remember. She understands the challenges of navigating new cultural experiences; as an adolescent, she moved to multiple countries to escape oppression and each move came with a new language and social norms. And she believes higher education holds a key to improving outcomes both at an individual and a community level.

Budikova recently shared why ��-Dearborn’s community and our mission resonate with her and how much she’s looking forward to her new CASL leadership role.

She enjoys creating campus-community partnerships.

Talking about professional moments of pride, there are many. But Budikova said one in particular stands out: when she founded and directed the Institute for Geospatial Analysis & Mapping (GEOMAP) at Illinois State University. At the institute, she supported faculty-led research, connected students with real world educational opportunities and conducted community outreach activities to enhance the understanding of environmental and social challenges in an effort to create a sustainable future.

“It was a powerful testament to the relevance of higher education in our society. We were creating positive change for the people in the community, bringing in research grants that advanced our work, and connecting students to good-paying and meaningful work opportunities,” said Budikova. For example, the institute’s faculty and students worked with the East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging to map and model senior citizen populations in the region to give the government organization the data they needed to best direct their resources and services. And the students she worked with went on to careers like city planners and geospatial analysts from the local to federal level.

Budikova said engaged learning resonates with her and that ��-Dearborn’s practice-based learning approach attracted her to the CASL leadership role. “It’s a powerful way to educate,” she said.

She relates to the ��-Dearborn student experience.

��-Dearborn is known for its hard-working students who commute to campus, have family responsibilities and are often navigating a way of life that is different than their families experienced. And Budikova empathizes. As an undergraduate, she lived at home and balanced obligations at work, home and school.

Like many ��-Dearborn students, she knows what it’s like to experience adversity and come through it. Budikova and her family moved to Canada from the Czech Republic when she was 12 to flee human rights infringements. Leaving everything behind, they first stayed at a refugee camp in Italy and then she helped her family when they settled into their new North American home. “When I hear stories about our students, they can adapt quickly to new situations, keep going in the face of adversity, and appreciate the value of diversity — in culture or opinion — because of their life experiences,” she said.

“Helping students realize their potential has always been my driving force. I wish I had the type of support I see at ��-Dearborn when I was a student. That support is so important when you are in or coming from challenging situations. I want students to know that I am here to continue the work faculty and staff are doing to help you discover your potential and connect you to what you want to do and be. If you are struggling, reach out for help. Don’t give up. Keep going.”

She knows the value of the arts and the sciences.

Budikova appreciates the richness that art and creativity brings into the world. When thinking about growing up in the Czech Republic, Budikova recalls the smell of paint. Her father sculpted using granite and marble and restored historic European artifacts and buildings. Her brothers played music and painted — and continue to have art-based careers. Admiring their artistic inclination, she drew, painted and even tried her hand at playing the guitar. “I wasn’t good. I’d even call my guitar playing a disaster,” she said.“But it helped me better appreciate what it takes to create. There are lessons in everything.”

Naturally inclined to understand numbers and formulas, Budikova gravitated toward STEM subjects — like her mother, who had a career as an engineer — and thrived in ecology, biology and mathematics. Budikova was even on the pre-med track prior to switching to environmental science and climatology. “I took an elective intro class in environmental science and was interested in the conversations we were having about how one seemingly tiny change locally can lead to a major change somewhere down the line,” she said. “I found, and still find, it fascinating how interconnected every living thing is.”

Budikova said the arts and sciences — merging the creative, qualitative, and quantitative sides of thought - are needed when addressing any challenge, but especially those facing our world and societies in the 21st century. And she’s looking forward to working at a college with faculty who have expertise in both. “I am here to help navigate the next chapter of CASL’s history,” she said, “The faculty are amazing here. They are dedicated and talented to students and the university. I saw commitment and it attracted me to ��-Dearborn. This university has all the right ingredients needed to move us forward.”

Article by Sarah Tuxbury.

Off

Mon, 07/24/2023 - 14:46

Dean Dagmar Budikova shares why the ��-Dearborn community and our mission resonate with her and how much she’s looking forward to her new College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters leadership role.

Dean Dagmar Budikova is looking forward to her new College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters leadership role. Photo by Sarah Tuxbury

Dearborn Wolverines welcome President Ono

stuxbury — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 19:24:54 +0000

Dearborn Wolverines welcome President Ono stuxbury Mon, 12/12/2022 - 14:24

A large crowd of Dearborn Wolverines shouted, “U M Dearborn!” It echoed across the building. And, after a pause, the amped-up spectators said it again.

This wasn’t a sporting event — it was a town hall during the first campus visit with new U-M President Santa J. Ono.

“I like to have fun. You have a lot of spirit here at ��-Dearborn,” he said. “This is a magnificent place, a very important part of the University of Michigan, and I want to thank you for welcoming me here.”

President Santa Ono leads a ��-Dearborn chant

Throughout the event, Ono lived up to his reputation as an accessible, personable leader. He even took a few selfies with students and encouraged people to continue reaching out to him on Instagram and Twitter.

He dropped his handles, @umichprezono on Instagram and @santajono on Twitter, in hopes people will connect with him.

Amidst all the fun, Ono addressed university business too — he wanted the audience to know a few plans that will take place within the next year and ��-Dearborn’s role. Then, he answered a few questions from the campus community.

Here are a few highlights.

A U-M strategic planning process will begin in 2023.
Ono, who took his presidential leadership role on Oct. 14, said he’s sifted through the suggestions and comments faculty, staff and constituents shared with him. Something that stood out: It has been nearly eight years since the U-M campuses had a comprehensive strategic plan. And people want one.

To start the process, virtual town hall meetings will take place in 2023 to hear from each campus community about their dreams and hopes for the campus and for U-M as a whole. And by December 2023, Ono plans to roll out a strategic plan that the three campuses create together.

“Each campus has a unique ethos and identity that I respect. The visioning process is not meant to homogenize those different cultures and ethos, which I think are one of the great assets of the University of Michigan system. The visioning process is to gather that information, to understand the unique strengths of each of the campuses, to support that distinctiveness.”

He also said U-M is gearing up for their next capital campaign and he wants to integrate needs of the three campuses— identified through the strategic planning process — into the fundraising efforts.

Aware that ��-Dearborn recently created a strategic plan, Ono said it gives the Dearborn campus a head start. But, like any strategic plan, it can grow and change.

“It’s forward looking and things are changing at a rapid pace. We’ve just recovered from a pandemic. So I’m sure you, like (people at) any other institution, are thinking, ‘what will the future look like? We need your ideas — no matter how mature they might be — to feed into the university vision,” he said. “Even though you have this head start, it is always healthy (to go through this process) because strategic plans are living documents.”

He said more information about U-M strategic planning efforts will be shared in early 2023.

He looks forward to seeing interdisciplinary/intercampus research projects.
Ono gave a shout out to ��-Dearborn researchers and Chancellor Domenico Grasso — he said research at ��-Dearborn has grown exponentially since 2018.

“It’s exciting to me that research has grown 100 percent since the chancellor arrived at this institution. Let’s hear it for the chancellor and for you for accomplishing that,” he said.

Collaborative research is a priority of Ono’s. He talked about a recent initiative that he launched called Amplify Research and Scholarship, which will support collaborative scholarship and research on the three U-M campuses.

“It’s something I committed to at the very beginning. There is great research happening on all three campuses. There will likely be investments to really catalyze, enhance and support interdisciplinary research between faculty members on all three campuses.”

Needed research and education goes beyond science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, Ono said. Responding to a question about bridging the divisiveness in the world, he said promoting and supporting liberals arts research and education is essential too. “Academic institutions are central not only to the education of the mind, but also to the heart. You can be a brilliant person in any field and use that knowledge for bad ends, self-serving ends,” he said. “Having this education of the heart, having this historical perspective and appreciation of the importance of the arts, broadly defined, is what keeps us going, right? That’s what brings joy and raison d'etre to our lives.”

The University of Michigan Innovation Center is on his radar.
Ono was asked to give an update on the University of Michigan Innovation Center at Detroit (or ��IC at Detroit for short, and previously known as the Detroit Innovation Center) — a research and education center planned to be built between the city’s downtown and Midtown. It was first announced in December 2021. But due to transitions at the university, little movement had been made on making it a reality.

Ono said he’s “taking this off of ice” and the ��IC at Detroit will move forward.

��-Ann Arbor graduate and donor Stephen Ross pledged $100 million, and the State of Michigan will contribute another $100 million if construction begins by December 2023. He said U-M also needs to fundraise an additional $50 to $100 million for the project.

“We think it will cost $300 million to do it right, to build a state-of-the-art building, to support faculty and students, to launch graduate programs and also stackable degrees and certificates that will be a part of unscaling and rescaling so that individuals who have been unemployed can be rescaled and reenter the workforce.” The center also will have an incubator space so that companies will be attracted to Detroit and to Michigan.

He said after the construction plans begin to move, he wants to solidify the work done at the location. “We’ll have about two years after everything is signed to think intensively about what will be happening in the building. We anticipate there will be at least five masters programs that can emanate from the Detroit Innovation Center.”

Ono said he’s aware that ��-Dearborn has a strong connection with the Detroit community — and he’ll ensure that the new location will be collaborative, not competitive.

“I am very sensitive to any situation where the offerings from the Detroit Innovation Center might interfere or complete with your offerings here. So, as we stand up this neo-innovation center, I will be in constant conversations with your chancellor and the chancellor will be in constant contact with me to make sure that we are very thoughtful and mindful so everyone will benefit from what happens in that building.”

President Ono wants to hear from you.
Ono encouraged direct feedback. He said Twitter and Instagram are the best ways to reach him and he reads what he’s tagged in.

He asked student leaders of ��-Dearborn signature events, especially those that celebrate multiculturalism, to reach out. He also mentioned seeing ��-Dearborn’s Lacrosse team invite him to a game on Twitter — Ono said he’s determined to make it to a campus sporting event — and encouraged others to get his attention via social media too.

“It really lifts my spirits and gets me to understand what is really happening on each of the campuses of the university,” Ono said. “Direct message me on Instagram or Twitter. Many of you have already done so. Please keep it coming. I want to be able to connect with each and every one of you in a very transparent and easy way. And I want to shine a light on all the wonderful things happening here at ��-Dearborn.”

Article by Sarah Tuxbury.

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Mon, 12/12/2022 - 19:23

U-M President Santa J. Ono made his first visit to ��-Dearborn to meet with faculty, staff, students and leadership on Friday. During a town hall, he shared a few plans that will take place within the next year and ��-Dearborn’s role.

U-M President Santa J. Ono, far right, takes a selfie with ��-Dearborn community members on Dec. 9. Photo by Rudra Mehta

Campus building debuts new name: the James C. Renick University Center

stuxbury — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 18:13:10 +0000

Campus building debuts new name: the James C. Renick University Center stuxbury Mon, 11/21/2022 - 13:13

There’s a name across the top of the wall when you walk into ��-Dearborn’s most frequented building: James C. Renick University Center.

Chancellor Domenico Grasso recommended this honor for the university’s fourth chancellor, James C. Renick, and his lasting impact on campus as a way to outwardly celebrate Renick’s legacy. Renick, who passed away at age 72 in 2021, served ��-Dearborn from 1993 through 1999.

“This is the first honorific named building on our campus. It’s fitting for it to be named for James C. Renick because he lived up to our moniker of ‘Leaders and Best.’ He was committed to helping people gain access to earning a quality education like a Michigan degree,” Grasso said during a Nov. 17 naming ceremony, which was attended by Renick’s wife of 43 years, Peggy, daughter Karinda, son-in-law Nicholas and grandchildren Kasch, 11, and Kruz, 8.

Under Renick’s guidance, Grasso said the university experienced record enrollment growth and completed its first capital campaign. The Management, Engineering and the Center for Corporate and Professional Development buildings were completed. And construction on the Environmental Interpretive Center, the Wellness Center, and the new College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters buildings were started.

But, most importantly, Renick laid important groundwork to be inclusive in practice and responsive to community needs. There is already a nearly 30-year tribute in the UC to Renick’s contributions to campus — although his name isn’t on it — the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service T-shirt display, which is prominently visible on the wall near the Bookstore.

With a focus on building relationships with business, political leaders, local schools and social communities, Renick initiated a Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service at the university. Now an annual campus tradition, students, faculty, staff and alumni work together to make an impact in Detroit, Dearborn and other Southeastern Michigan communities in positive ways.

“Chancellor Renick held a strong commitment to student success while positioning the campus to be more responsive to the cultural, social, economic and intellectual issues of southeast Michigan,” Grasso said.

Humanities Professor Deborah Smith Pollard, an internationally renowned researcher on the origins and evolution of Gospel music, said Renick’s time on campus profoundly impacted her career. She said his support of Black artists — sculptor Elizabeth Catlett, poet Nikki Giovanni, artist Jacob Lawrence and novelist Margaret Walker came to campus — and inclusive practices lifted the ��-Dearborn community up and provided an environment where people could thrive.

After I applied to be an assistant professor of English and Humanities and then was offered the position here at University of Michigan-Dearborn (in 1995), a friend of mine told me not to take the job because she did not think it would be a safe city to work in for someone who looks like me," Smith Pollard said. "Well, things have worked out fairly well for this full professor in part because an African American chancellor was in charge when I came in, and he had several things in place that made me feel welcomed and seen."

As well-connected as Renick was — even President Bill Clinton made a stop on campus while Renick was here — his family shared another side of the chancellor with people gathered at the celebration: the polished professional let loose a bit when it came to his grandsons. He took them golfing and “spoiled them,” said Peggy Renick.

As a tribute video played, grandson Kruz laid his head on his dad’s shoulder. Daughter Karinda Renick took photos of Kasch — who said he misses his “Chacho” — next to her father’s engraved image, which is prominently displayed in the Renick UC hall.

At the conclusion of the naming ceremony, Peggy Renick gave hugs and thanks to people in attendance who she hasn’t seen in years, including Smith Pollard, Custodian Vanessa Maxwell, Renick’s former Administrative Assistant Adele Henry and retired Athletics and Recreation Director Peggy Foss.

"Dr. Renick was one of a kind. He made a difference in the campus atmosphere,” Foss said in video-recorded comments. “Knowing him, he would have been very humbled. It’s well deserved. I’m so excited that this is happening for him.”

Peggy Renick said the time spent at ��-Dearborn and in the Dearborn community felt like a return home. "It’s been so wonderful seeing everyone. It’s like we never left,” she said. “I’m so thankful to the Board of Regents and Chancellor Grasso for honoring Jim in this way. I can’t even express how much I wish he was here to see it.”

Grasso said the Renick UC is the heart of the campus. And it's a fitting tribute for a leader who made such a strong impact — still felt decades later — in the university community.

Article by Sarah Tuxbury.

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Mon, 11/21/2022 - 18:12

The fourth chancellor’s legacy of campus growth, inclusive strides and community partnerships is recognized through naming the “heart of campus” in his honor.

Staff Spotlight: Brad Walvort

stuxbury — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 18:56:17 +0000

Staff Spotlight: Brad Walvort stuxbury Wed, 10/05/2022 - 14:56

Brad Walvort has experienced some once-in-a-lifetime events during his career that included three presidential inaugurations and a U.S. visit by Pope Francis.

Walvort, ��-Dearborn’s new associate director of Emergency Management, said he’s enjoyed working in emergency management and he credits finding his right career path to his alma mater — the University of Michigan.

Emergency Management Associate Director Brad Wolvart

Get to know more about ��-Dearborn’s new Emergency Management associate director, his career highlights, love of U-M sports, and his appreciation for campus' BIRT program — which he plans to continue strengthening.

Michigan sports were a staple of his undergrad — and, at work, he’s still hanging at the Big House.

“I was at U-M from 2006 to 2010. There were a lot of fun games that I went to with my dorm mates. With football, we started off with Lloyd Carr and then went into the Rich Rodriguez years. Even though we didn’t always win, it helped me appreciate wins more when we got them. For basketball — that’s my favorite sport — I was there when Michigan made it to the NCAA tournament in 2009 after a long drought. I even went to Kansas City to watch them play Clemson.

I still go to the games, but now I support the team in a different way. On the emergency operations side, we make sure there is a response for any situation that could arise. If there is someone having a reaction to a hot day, we get them water. If there is an unruly fan, we handle that situation. It’s not something that I thought much about when I was a student — but that’s a good thing. If you don’t think about it, it means the people in emergency operations are doing their jobs.”

This career fits with how his brain works.

“I’ve always been the person who thinks ahead and wants to know what I can expect, anticipate or predict. My mind creates possible scenarios and responses — so I want to be prepared…just in case. It drives my wife a little crazy. Lucky for me, I found a career where I can funnel that into a productive outlet.”

While in Washington, D.C., he saw three different presidential transitions.

“An internship I had while at Michigan got me out to Washington, D.C., eventually leading to a full time opportunity. I later worked in emergency operations for the House of Representatives, with the sergeant-at-arms in the Emergency Management Division.

While I was in Washington, D.C., I was part of three inaugurations — President Obama’s second one, President Trump’s inauguration and President Biden’s inauguration. These are major events and people were there to remember the moment. But when you are working, you’re trying to get through the next task on the list. You aren’t there as a spectator. You still absorb the experience, but it often only hits later when you think about all you saw and all you did.

Even if it’s not for a major event, try to get to Washington, D.C. if you haven’t been. Go to take a look at the Capitol lit up at night. It really is quite the sight.”

He’s a fan of the campus’ Building Incident Response Team (BIRT) program.

“I want people on campus to know that the Department of Public Safety and the Office of Emergency Management are here to help and that we have training to help you be prepared in case of an emergency. One of the best ways we can do that is to continue to build the BIRT program, which was created to promote a more coordinated emergency response for campus. But between managing the pandemic response and staff turnover, we can continue to grow. We want to help get re-trained for key responsibilities in leading emergency response actions. The faculty and staff on campus know their buildings and who is in them on a particular day more than anyone else — and we want to help team members be prepared and supported."

There’s no place like home.

“I like when people walk by and say, ‘hello’ or ‘good morning.’ I took that for granted until I left the state. People are really friendly here and I appreciate it more now. But, with that said, sometimes I am guilty of mentally being in emergency management mode and moving fast. Even if I appear to be walking with a purpose, please say hello. I want to get to know people on campus and I am grateful for this opportunity. This state and this university are my home — and I really couldn’t be happier to be here."

Staff Spotlight by Sarah Tuxbury.