September 2019 É«É«À² News

Dancing, art and cultural activities highlight É«É«À² China Festival

Admission to É«É«À²'s China Festival, parking and cultural activities are free, and for a nominal fee, attendees may sample traditional foods prepared by local restaurants.

Update: Aerial mosquito treatment canceled for É«É«À² campus area

9/30/19 Update: The Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services Department has announced that it will no longer conduct aerial insecticide treatments anywhere in the county. This is due to the number of opt-out requests that residents sent to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

É«É«À² secures NIH grant to use technology to battle opioid addiction

Research on the horizon at É«É«À² could lead to life-saving results for people struggling with opioid addiction. Addiction recovery technology company DynamiCare Health, in collaboration with É«É«À², has been awarded a $222,383 grant from the National Institutes of Health's Helping to End Addiction Long-term, or NIH HEAL, Initiative.

Confronting racism and creating justice take center stage at É«É«À² with book circles, play

A unique collaboration meant to catalyze conversation on racial biases will take place at É«É«À² Michigan University. The events involve book circles discussing bestselling author Ibram Kendi's book, "How to be an Antiracist," a visit and discussions with the author himself, as well as a É«É«À² Theatre production of "Gem of the Ocean," the first in playwright August Wilson's 10-play chronicle of the African American experience.

Native seed project helps É«É«À² get back to its roots

Hundreds of native plants are being raised at the University and used in ecological restoration projects all over campus.

New academic leadership highlights É«É«À² innovation, expertise

Showing us that our faculty are as fluent in change as our students, Dr. Irma Lopez and Dr. Steven Butt took  on new challenges this academic year as interim deans.

Technology creates new layer of safety for people with visual impairments

A project is underway at É«É«À², under the guidance of Dr. Pnina Ari-Gur, to create a vest that could alert people with visual impairments to obstacles in their path.

Montgomery delivers his third State of the University address

The president thanked faculty and staff for their dedication and challenged them to continue elevating É«É«À² as a school of choice for 21st century learners.

Open house to review findings of É«É«À² parking, transportation study

Recommendations for bus routes, walkability, bike usage and parking at É«É«À² Michigan University, as well as input on a future road as part of a new development project, are the focus of two public sessions Thursday, Sept. 26, on campus.

É«É«À² United Way launches 2019 campaign with a $200,000 goal, children's book drive

The event also marked the launch of a children's book drive to jump-start the collection of 2,500 new or gently used books throughout the University community for students in kindergarten through the third grade.

Autonomous vehicle research rolling onto É«É«À² campus

Research involving an autonomous electric shuttle officially kicked off Thursday, Sept. 19, on the É«É«À² campus. The $2.1 million project, funded through the Michigan Mobility Challenge announced by former Gov. Rick Snyder last year, focuses on improving transportation options for people with disabilities.

Health advisory: Safeguards against mosquito-borne virus recommended

Health officials have recommended avoiding outdoor activities after dusk due to local cases of the rare but serious mosquito-borne virus Eastern Equine Encephalitis. Officials also recommend using insect repellents that contain the active ingredient DEET. UPDATE: Insect repellent is being made available at academic buildings, residence halls, the Sindecuse Health Center, the Student Rec Center and other key areas.

Outstanding faculty, staff members awarded É«É«À²'s highest honors

At Fall Convocation, eleven É«É«À² faculty and staff members were recognized for their achievements and contributions to the University. The Distinguished Service, Distinguished Teaching, Distinguished Faculty Scholar, Emerging Scholar and Make a Difference awards were presented during a ceremony Friday, Sept. 20.

É«É«À² alumni create educational opportunities for Kalamazoo refugees

The Kalamazoo Refugee Resource Collaborative debuted a pilot program this summer to help middle- and high school-aged refugees get the tools they need to be successful in the American school system.

Award-winning singer, plane crash survivor to speak on resilience at É«É«À²

Kechi Okwuchi, who overcame unbelievable adversity after a plane crash nearly took her life, will deliver the annual Resilience Factor Lecture at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 23 in Dalton Recital Hall.

Join in the festivities for the annual Sustainability Celebration

The open house is designed to create new opportunities for advancing collaboration, making connections on campus and in the community and celebrating sustainability at É«É«À² and Kalamazoo.

Executive director of local nonprofit to present at first Mercantile Bank of Michigan Speaker Series

Luke Kujacznski will speak at 8 a.m. Friday, Sept. 27, in 1120 Schneider Hall as the  first speaker in the Mercantile Bank of Michigan Speaker Series at É«É«À² Michigan University's Haworth College of Business.

É«É«À² Study Abroad Fair open to campus and community

É«É«À² Michigan University's annual Study Abroad Fair on Wednesday, Sept. 25, will provide area students and the public with the information to make an overseas learning experience part of their college degree programs.

Three É«É«À² students receive prestigious scholarships

É«É«À² Michigan University students Jake DeJulio, Jake Frye and Samantha Mcgrath have received prestigious scholarships from the National Grocers Association Foundation. This is the second consecutive year that É«É«À² students have garnered the most scholarships out of all students nationally who received awards.

É«É«À²'s regional manufacturing lab installs new high-tech equipment

The first of three new machines for the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership Laboratory, or AMP Lab, in downtown Grand Rapids, weighs more than 20,000 pounds and required removal of one of the windows facing Cherry Street and two cranes in order to move into the building and to its final spot in the Showcase/Prototyping Lab.

Theoretical nuclear physicist to receive Emerging Scholar Award

Dr. Elena Litvinova, associate professor of physics, will receive the Emerging Scholar Award during É«É«À²'s Fall Convocation activities at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 20, in the Bernhard Center.

Three to receive É«É«À²'s Distinguished Service Award

Diana Hernández, director of the Division of Multicultural Affairs; Dr. Wei-Chiao Huang, professor of economics; and Dr. William Rantz, professor of aviation sciences, will receive É«É«À² Michigan University's Distinguished Service Award during É«É«À²'s annual Fall Convocation Friday, Sept. 20.

Hope in the darkness: É«É«À² music therapy alum finds calling in hospice

Kaitlin Ridgway, who earned her equivalency and master's degree in music therapy at É«É«À², is changing lives with her work at Hospice of Michigan.

É«É«À²'s Fall Convocation celebrates achievement, State of University

President Edward Montgomery's State of the University address is at 11:45 a.m. Friday, Sept. 20, in the North Ballroom of the Bernhard Center.

Two professors to be honored with Distinguished Teaching Awards

As Distinguished Teaching Award recipients, Drs. Matthew Mingus and Leah Omilion-Hodges join 31 other faculty members who have been honored since the start of the award program in 2006.

Comparative religion researcher to receive distinguished scholar award

Dr. Brian Wilson, É«É«À² professor comparative religion, will receive the Distinguished Faculty Scholar Award.

Donation helps É«É«À² foster entrepreneur success in Kalamazoo community

A $140,000 gift establishing the Monroe-Brown Foundation Entrepreneurship Fund aims to foster job-creation and engage Kalamazoo-area entrepreneurs like Dr. Khady Ndao-Brumblay, who hopes to turn her dream of increasing African representation in children's literature a reality.

É«É«À² alumna returns to develop University's community partnerships

Kara Wood, managing director of economic development services for the city of Grand Rapids, will join É«É«À² Michigan University as its new associate vice president for community partnerships.

É«É«À² trustees to consider sale of property, capital outlay requests

Meeting in formal session Wednesday, Sept. 11, É«É«À² Michigan University trustees will consider the sale of a parcel in the Business Technology and Research Park 2, among several other agenda items.

Four staffers bestowed É«É«À²'s top honor

Dr. Vun Doubblestein, Rebecca Huntley, Shari Rose and Dustin Skaggs will be honored for their exceptional contributions to É«É«À² Michigan University during Fall Convocation Friday, Sept. 20.