Dean's Message

As dean of the College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences, I am proud of the many ways that our academic departments extend learning opportunities beyond the classroom. This newsletter shares information about some of the ways we are bringing our students to the world and bringing the world to our students.

Each semester our students, as well as members of the surrounding community, attend performances, lectures, panel discussions, and creative readings hosted by individuals acclaimed as experts in their areas of study.

Last semester journalist Mike Wallace discussed his career at “60 Minutes,” faculty members hosted panel discussions for students to express their concerns about Hurricane Katrina, and award-winning author and undertaker Tom Lynch amused audiences with his mix of humor and literature, to name a few.

In addition, CHSBS faculty members facilitated real-world learning opportunities for our students. This newsletter shares information about neuroscience professor Justin Oh-Lee, who traveled with several of his students to a national neuroscience conference in Washington D.C., and English professor Danny Patterson’s students who created a book about the Chippewa River watershed.

Projects such as these provide valuable learning experiences for our students that cannot be replicated in the classroom. These experiences, along with academic coursework, help prepare our students with the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in their professional and academic careers.

Another important way that we bring the world to our students is through maintaining connections with our alumni either by inviting them to campus to meet with current students or by establishing internship opportunities at their places of employment. We are always working to create new internship opportunities for our students, and we invite you to contact us with any ideas about internship opportunities that you might help us make available to our students.

As dean, it also is my responsibility to remind you that many of these class projects and guest speakers are funded through money donated to CMU by alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of the university. I extend my gratitude to those of you who have already made a gift to CMU and encourage all of you to consider making future gifts to CMU. Your efforts will have a direct benefit on our students and faculty.

For example, we recently received a commitment from a generous donor who has pledged $50,000 to support Justin Oh-Lee’s Parkinson’s research, providing we raise a matching $50,000 from other donors. By participating in this matching-gift campaign, not only will you help provide valuable research opportunities for our students and faculty, but you also have the potential to help countless individuals who will benefit from the results of their research.

If you would like more information about supporting any of the programs mentioned in this newsletter or if you would like help in determining which of our funding needs best match your giving interests, please contact Alison Miller, the CHSBS development director, at (989) 774-3354 or mille1as@cmich.edu.

Sincerely,

Dean

College of Humanities

and Social and Behavioral Sciences

 

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