Centralight, Central Mighigan University Alumni Magazine, Fall 2025

Centralight

FALL 2025

Features

On the cover

How long has it been since you visited CMU? Whether you graduated just a few years ago or you haven’t been to Mount Pleasant in decades, fall is always the perfect time to revisit your favorite spots, check out what’s new and soak up all the maroon and gold beauty our campus has to offer. We can’t wait to see you.

Photo by Lance Gascho, ’22

9

Fired Up to Give Back

If you’re wondering how to give back to CMU, give you. You’re really valuable. Five alumni talk about how they share their time to help students shine.

20

Big Picture

Centralight is published three times each year by the Central Michigan University Office of Alumni Relations. It is printed by Walsworth Printing, St. Joseph, MI, and entered at the Mount Pleasant Post Office under nonprofit mailing. CMU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and institution. CMU does not discriminate against persons based on age, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, height, marital status, national origin, political persuasion, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, race, religion, sex, sex-based stereotypes, sexual orientation, transgender status, veteran status, or weight. Copies of Centralight are distributed to alumni and friends of the university who are paid Gold Members or donors to CMU. A virtual edition of the magazine is available free online at go.cmualum.com/centralight UComm 11866–24,000+ (8/25)

Central Michigan University students dig in the mud of a Tittabawassee River watershed creek while looking for freshwater mussels.

Homecoming is a perfect time to return to CMU, relive your favorite memories and make new ones.

Executive Editor and Deputy Chief of Alumni Relations

Marcie Otteman, ’87

Editor

Betsy Miner-Swartz, ’86

Managing Editor

Robin Miner-Swartz

Creative Media Director

Amy White

Graphic Designer

Erin Rivard, ’07, MBA ’16

Photographer

Adam Sparkes

Michael Armistead, ’ 23

Maddi Hill, ’24

Lance Gascho, ’22

Jo Kenoshmeg

Writers

Aya Ahmed

Eric Baerren, ’93

Alisha Draper Toyzan, ’06

Kevin Essebaggers, ’98, M.A. ’01

Jason Fielder

Terri Finch Hamilton, ’83

Ari Harris

Greg Hotchkiss

Robin Miner-Swartz

Aaron Mills, ’02

Alexandria Rene

Andy Sneddon

Sarah Spohn

Greg Zimmerman, ’84, ’91 M.S.A.

Research Associate

Bryan Whitledge, M.A. ’19

Editorial Assistant

Alison Foster

Vice President for Advancement

Jennifer Cotter, ’01

Vice President for

University Communications and Chief Marketing Officer

Harlan Teller

For advertising information

Call Cindy Jacobs, ’93 989-774-3312

Send change of address information to:

Alumni Relations

Carlin Alumni House

Central Michigan University

Pleasant, MI 48859

Phone: (989) 774-3312 Email: alumni@cmich.edu

Look around: Our CMU Chippewas are everywhere Sporting maroon and gold on the road is a great way to find your people

Marcie Otteman, ’87, Deputy Chief / Alumni Relations and Constituent Engagement

In my role as alumni director, I travel quite a bit for CMU, and I’m fortunate to squeeze in some personal trips around the work ones. My daughter graduated from Central in May with her undergraduate degree — three months after she’d started her job with the Mount Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce. We took a planned postgraduation trip to the Netherlands and Belgium and spent eight glorious days exploring those countries.

When we returned, I hit the road to Traverse City, then Grand Rapids and North Carolina with President MacKinnon to close out June. July included visits to Detroit, Lansing, back up to Traverse City, and this fall I will make trips to Pittsburgh, Ann Arbor and Mackinac Island.

While on my travels, you’ll see me slinging my CMU backpack and wearing maroon and gold. I get quite a few “Fire Up Chips!” shoutouts in airports, train stations (both Amsterdam and Brussels) and on the streets. It’s great to connect near and far with our 250,000 alumni worldwide — and even better when I get to see them right back here on campus, whether that’s visiting their favorite spots or giving back to our students.

I hope wherever your travels take you, you’re proudly sporting CMU attire and getting a few “Fire Up Chips!” of your own.

See you at Homecoming,

Correction

On Page 32 of the summer 2025 issue of Centralight, Kasee Stratton-Gadke’s degree was incorrect. She earned a Ph.D. in 2006.

Stay FIRED UP

Connect with CMU alumni at upcoming Alumni Association events across the country! Find the complete schedule of in-person and virtual opportunities here: go.cmualum.com/alumni-events

Get SOCIAL

Follow our activities and updates on your favorite social channels: FACEBOOK facebook.com/cmualum X @cmualumni INSTAGRAM @cmichalumni YOUTUBE youtube.com/user/cmichalumni LINKEDIN Central Michigan University – Alumni

Homecoming bridges generations at CMU

Alumni enrich the student experience with their time and connections

As the leaves on our beautiful campus begin to turn shades of maroon and gold, we anticipate the return of our alumni for Homecoming! We eagerly await the familiar faces and enthusiasm of Central Michigan University alumni making their way back to Mount Pleasant.

CMU’s 101st Homecoming will be more than just a weekend of festivities. It will be a powerful reminder of the enduring bond that connects generations of CMU graduates. It’s a chance to relive cherished memories, reconnect with friends and faculty, and to meet current students who are Fired Up to carry on your favorite CMU traditions. Walking through campus, you will feel their energy and ambition — the future leaders and innovators following in your footsteps.

Financial contributions are always deeply needed, appreciated and directly support student initiatives. There are also other invaluable ways to invest in the future of CMU. Consider sharing your time, stories and connections. Our students are eager to learn from your experiences, to gain insights into possible career paths, and to build the professional networks that will help them thrive after graduation.

Consider offering your expertise through guest lectures, mentoring or casual informational interviews. Sharing your career journey, the challenges you’ve overcome and the lessons you’ve learned can profoundly impact a student navigating their own path. Your professional connections can also open doors to internships, real-world learning experiences and, ultimately, fulfilling careers. You have so much to offer!

This Homecoming, as you enjoy the parade, the game and seeing dear friends, I encourage you to think about how you might further engage with CMU and our students. Your legacy extends far beyond your time on campus, and your continued involvement is vital in shaping the future of Central Michigan University.

We are ready to welcome you home.

Fire Up Chips!

Neil MacKinnon, Ph.D. President, Central Michigan University

CMU TODAY

Reality check: USDA grant powers groundbreaking

AR/VR dual enrollment program

at CMU

BY GREG ZIMMERMAN, ’84, ’91 M.S.A.

CMU is taking dual enrollment to the next level with the launch of an innovative science course that uses immersive virtual reality to teach anatomy and physiology to high school students.

Funded by a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture — and thanks to the support of former Congressman Dan Kildee, U.S. Senator Gary Peters and former U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow — this new offering is part of CMU’s Fire Up! Forward initiative, debuting in four Michigan high schools this fall.

Through the grant, students at Beal City High School, Bullock Creek High School, Essexville High School and Freeland

CMU boosts research efforts with industry partnerships

Translational Accelerator advances innovation, student success and economy

BY KEVIN ESSEBAGGERS, ’98, M.A. ’01

CMU is launching an effort to use partnerships between researchers and industry to support scientific research. The initiative, called a Translational Accelerator, is designed to benefit faculty research, prepare students to be workforce-ready and advance economic growth.

Administered by the CMU Research Corporation, the accelerator aims to forge partnerships with industries to spawn innovation through research while creating a strong economic engine for the region.

The accelerator also helps address challenges resulting from shifts in federal

Community School District can earn college credit in HSC 211: Anatomy and Physiology while learning in a highly engaging virtual environment powered by Meta Quest 3 headsets.

As part of the dual enrollment course, students will engage in interactive 360-degree virtual dissections, manipulate anatomical models and explore systems of the human body using the latest in augmented reality and virtual reality (AR/VR) technology — specifically, AlensiaXR HoloAnatomy applications/software — all from their high school classrooms.

“With support from the USDA, we’re removing traditional barriers to college access by giving high school students an innovative head start to college and potentially unlocking their future career,” said Kaleb Patrick, interim vice president for Innovation and Online. “It’s not just about learning science in an immersive

funding that could limit student and faculty research.

By partnering with business leaders, CMU provides experiential learning opportunities while creating a new revenue stream through service contracts. These partnerships go beyond traditional internships or senior projects, offering students working in faculty labs problem-solving experience that prepares them for success.

“This initiative creates opportunities for researchers and businesses to work together on real-world challenges,” CMURC President and CEO Erin Strang said.

“By aligning academic capabilities with industry needs, we’re not only driving strategic research but also delivering real economic value to our region and preparing students for high-impact careers.”

CMU’s Translational Accelerator is the

way. It’s about reshaping what’s possible for the next generation of health care leaders.”

Students who successfully complete the program will earn transferrable CMU credit and be better positioned for degree pathways in health and science fields.

For more information about Fire Up! Forward and dual enrollment opportunities at CMU, visit www.cmich. edu/undergraduate/apply/dualenrollment/fire-up-forward •

result of the highly collaborative work of an action team that helped shape the initiative. It includes representatives from CMURC, the University Transformation Office, Innovation and Online, Government Relations and the Office of General Council.

Supporting the accelerator’s work is a group of Innovation Ambassadors consisting of faculty representing a wide variety of disciplines. The inaugural group of 18 ambassadors is charged with driving a mindset shift across campus to promote entrepreneurial thinking and real-world uses for research. •

CMU TODAY

Are you ready to retrain your brain?

Learn to notice opportunities like expert entrepreneurs

BY ALISHA DRAPER TOYZAN, ’06

Experienced entrepreneurs spot gaps in the market and launch businesses that meet customers’ needs because they “just had a feeling” about an idea. But according to CMU entrepreneurship faculty member Howard Haines, that feeling is often the result of skills they’ve built over time through experience — and those skills can be taught.

“Expertise happens when your brain automates all the steps needed to achieve a task,” Haines said. “It has kind of chunked together your experiences and condensed them into a few simple steps, so your brain doesn’t have to work so hard. But in reality, each of those steps is comprised of a bunch of smaller sub steps that depend on different contexts and cues to which you pay attention.”

To uncover those subtleties, Haines uses cognitive task analysis to interview successful entrepreneurs — not just about what they do, but how they think, react and decide. He asks them to walk through their decision points in detail, surfacing the mental models behind their choices. “When they say, ‘It depends,’ we just try to pull out a bunch of if-then statements of their experiences to find out exactly what it depends on,” he explained. “We start to uncover different kinds of ways people use skills that they’ve developed over time.”

New certificate blends cultural appreciation with curriculum

Program helps new educators understand Indigenous experiences

BY AYA AHMED

Future teachers can start their careers with a better understanding of the language, culture and history of Indigenous communities.

The nine-credit Indigenous Studies for Social Studies Educators certificate introduces students to basic Ojibwe,

One foundational skill is noticing opportunity — the ability to spot potential where others see only obstacles and evaluating which ones to pursue. That became the focus of a new learning tool Haines created for his students. After piloting a paperbased version in class, where students retrained their brain so effectively that spotting opportunities became second nature, he began to develop a tool that students could use outside of class to get real-time feedback.

“We were working on training an algorithm, when suddenly OpenAI’s ChatGPT came out,” he said. “And we were like, ‘Oh wow, this is a lot easier now.’ ”

Howard Haines uses AI to help students sharpen theirs — starting with recognizing the opportunities around them. Illustration created by AI and provided by Haines

Haines created a custom-built GPT-powered chatbot to guide students through structured reflection and real-time feedback. The chatbot prompts them to analyze their daily experiences, submit observations, and refine their thinking using a model built from expert entrepreneurs’ decision-making patterns.

“The tool doesn’t generate ideas for them — it helps them refine their thinking,” he said. “It’s about guiding them through the process an expert would follow and helping them build their own judgment.” •

history of Indigenous people and cultural themes through films, current issues and archaeology.

Social studies as a field has too often either misrepresented or excluded Indigenous communities from the narrative, said Melissa Stanley, Ph.D., director of the secondary social studies education program. She said the program is a step in the right direction.

“I feel like this provides a way that students can gain more knowledge, so when they’re going out and teaching in classrooms, they have a better understanding,” Stanley said.

The certificate, available starting this semester, is a good step to achieving that, she said.

Future educators can fill missing holes in social studies about Indigenous history and better support student understanding of Indigenous cultures.

Stanley worked with Christi Brookes and Michelle Cassidy of the Department of History, World Languages and Cultures to develop the new certificate. It provides students with more opportunities to meet the Michigan Department of Education’s updated curriculum standards. •

Student

Food Pantry moves to a new, updated space

Robinson Hall location opened in June

BY AARON MILLS, ’02

The Central Michigan University Student Food Pantry made a much-needed move to a new, more recognizable location inside the first floor of Robinson Hall, on the northwest corner of campus.

“The overall goal is just accessibility,” said Symantha Dattilo, interim director of the Mary Ellen Brandell Volunteer Center. “We are really trying to liven the space up and make it feel like it’s a true part of campus life.”

Most recently housed in a more off-thebeaten-path location between Robinson and Calkins Halls, the pantry’s new location is larger and more front-facing. In addition to having space for more stock and reliable refrigeration systems, the new pantry features an improved checkout system and a lobby area allowing users to wait indoors, helping alleviate

some of the personal stigma sometimes associated with food insecurity.

The move also allows the pantry to keep up with the increasing need for its services.

Total visits to the food pantry have increased by 26% compared to a year ago, with more than 1,900 unique users accounting for those visits — up 10% from the year prior.

“These are people who receive scholarships, these are athletes, these are students who live in the halls and have meal plans, these are students who live off campus, these are international students,” Dattilo said of the pantry’s diverse user base.

“We know that [expenses] are increasing, and I believe that the food pantry helps students to fully realize their return on their investment in their education when they feel like the community cares about them. And to me, that’s what the pantry symbolizes.” •

CMU TODAY

CMU Health launches pilot food pantry initiative to support expectant mothers

BY ALEXANDRIA RENE

CMU Health launched a new food pantry initiative at its Women and Children’s Center in Saginaw to combat food insecurity among expectant mothers participating in its CenteringPregnancy® program. This project, developed

David R. McGhee appointed to CMU Board of Trustees

CMU alumnus tapped by Gov. Whitmer to serve through 2026

BY ARI HARRIS

This spring, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer appointed David R. McGhee of Grand Blanc to the Central Michigan University Board of Trustees.

McGhee, M.S.A. ’07, is executive vice president and chief operating officer at the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, overseeing strategic initiatives, human resources and financial activities. He leads efforts to address issues including environmental justice, educational equity and economic development in Genesee County.

“It is both a pleasure and an honor to join in partnership with this group of

in partnership with Eastern Michigan Food Bank, is funded by a $5,000 grant from Molina Healthcare, aimed at improving maternal and infant health outcomes.

“With the cost of essential items on the rise, this pantry aims to alleviate financial burden on patients, allowing them to focus on their well-being during pregnancy,” said Kelly Ellis, women’s health nurse practitioner at CMU Health and CenteringPregnancy® coordinator.

“By providing access to healthy food, we hope to reduce risks associated with poor maternal nutrition, such as low birth weight and other complications.”

The program responds to 2021 data from Feeding America, which reports that more than 13% or nearly 26,000 residents of Saginaw County cannot consistently afford or access enough food to live a healthy lifestyle.

Patients attending a CenteringPregnancy® session, located at 1000 Houghton Ave. in Saginaw, will receive a bag of healthy food items, designed to support their journey toward a healthier pregnancy and promote long-term health for their child. •

dedicated leaders who are committed to the advancement of higher education,” McGhee said. “As an alum, it is an exciting responsibility to seek the balance between the content of higher education and the context in which it exists — it is an opportunity to contribute to a future that our students, the next generation of leaders, will create.”

McGhee’s previous leadership roles include chief executive officer of The Steve Fund, a philanthropic organization supporting the mental health and well-being of young People of Color; chief strategy and program officer for the Schultz Family Foundation, a nonprofit focused on social mobility and opportunity; and vice president of organizational excellence and impact at The Skillman Foundation, a Detroit-based nonprofit organization focused on strengthening K-12 education, afterschool programming, youth and community leadership, and more.

CMU President Neil MacKinnon said the university is thrilled McGhee is returning to serve his alma mater.

“His extensive experience in fostering inclusive communities, empowering youth and strengthening partnerships will bring tremendous value to CMU as we work toward our strategic goals and priorities,” MacKinnon said.

McGhee earned a Master of Science in Administration with a concentration in leadership from CMU in 2007. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in public administration and public policy from Oakland University, where he is an instructor in the nonprofit management certificate program.

McGhee fills the seat previously held by Todd J. Anson, who stepped down from the board earlier this year. He will complete Anson’s term, which ends Dec. 31, 2026. •

Fired up to GIVE BACK

If you’re wondering how to give back to CMU, give you You’re really valuable.

Speak to a class about your career. Judge a campus competition. Staff a career fair. Mentor.

Five fired-up alumni talk about how they share their time to help students shine, driving in from Chicago, checking in virtually from the mountains of Colorado, mingling with students in Atlanta.

Jeff Lippert, ’97, happily squeezed in a campus bookstore visit to buy a CMU mug.

How can you give back?

You could use a new mug, right?

CMU alumni find meaningful ways to share their time, talent and stories — and help students shine

BY TERRI FINCH HAMILTON, ’83

A legacy four generations deep

It’s hard to resist a good raccoon story.

Jeff Lippert, ’97, couldn’t. He sat transfixed in his natural resources management class three decades ago listening to a guest speaker — a conservation officer with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The CMU grad told students how she rehabilitated a family of raccoons, bottle feeding the small, masked babies back to health.

“I thought, this is really cool — it’s somebody who’s working in the field that I want to work in,” Lippert recalled. “It sounded like a really fulfilling career, where you’d go home at night and feel really good about what you did that day.”

Lippert eventually landed his own dream job as a federal on-scene emergency coordinator with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, responding to oil spills and train derailments, assisting with the Flint water crisis, and driving the bumpy back roads of Puerto Rico after hurricane Maria to look for spilled hazardous waste.

After 16 years assisting with environmental emergencies all over the country, Lippert now supervises those on-scene responders, as an emergency response section supervisor with the EPA in Chicago.

Now he’s the guy with the cool job back in CMU classrooms, telling environmental science students how to follow their dream paths.

“I’m sharing my knowledge, helping kids navigate the job market, giving advice, sharing stories about working at the EPA, helping them succeed in a field that I’ve succeeded in,” he said. “It feels great.”

Mark Francek, professor of geography and environmental studies, loves the real-world insight Lippert brings to his students about solving ecological challenges, from climate change to microplastics. No raccoon stories, but still pretty captivating.

“He shares his knowledge not in the parlance of a technocrat,” Francek said, “but in terms that students can easily comprehend.”

Bonus for Lippert: nostalgic time at his old stomping grounds.

“I hadn’t been back to campus in a long time,” Lippert said. “I took pictures of the houses I used to live in and sent them to my college friends. I went to the bookstore and got a coffee mug. It was great being back in Dow Hall. Going back to campus was a great trip down memory lane.”

Lippert’s blood runs maroon. His grandfather, dad and nephew are all Central grads.

“That’s four generations,” Lippert said. “I’m pretty proud of that.”

He assures students they’re getting stellar preparation for the real world.

“I work with people who have a master’s degree from the University of Michigan, with people who are the best of the best at the EPA,” Lippert said. “The education I got at Central Michigan is right up there with everyone else’s.

“I tell students not to give up, to end up at a place where you go to work every day and it doesn’t feel like work,” Lippert said. “I’m really passionate about my job, so I’m pretty fired up when I talk to them. That’s what I’m expert in — my own story.”

From mentee to mentor

When Alyssa Stepter McKay, ’15, Ed.D. ’22, talks about her village, she doesn’t mean where she lives. It’s where she flourished.

McKay has spearheaded early childhood education programs, wrangled grants, boosted underrepresented students and directed multicultural education efforts. Now, she leads training for the state of Michigan.

Along the way, she earned a doctorate in education leadership from CMU, with support from her village.

“At no point in my CMU journey was I ever by myself,” said McKay, education and training specialist with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. “It takes a village. I heard that a lot in my life. Now it’s come full circle. I know the village I’ve had at CMU and now I see myself as part of that village.

“I feel a responsibility,” she said. “I didn’t get to where I am by myself.”

A key person who supported her along the way was Eric Buschlen, program director of the Doctorate in Educational Leadership.

“I met him my first week in the program,” McKay said. “I was a graduate assistant to him for two years. He helped me pick

all my classes. We wrote an article together. He even wrote a recommendation for me for the job I have now. He’s always been in my corner.

“Anytime he asks if I’ll be part of something,” she said, “I’ll pretty much always say yes.”

Back in 2020, Buschlen had a brainstorm: Why not invite current education doctoral students and alumni to join faculty in interviewing prospective new students for the doctoral program?

“Alyssa was my graduate assistant then, and it made sense that she would support the process,” Buschlen said.

“But guess what? She has continued to do that since 2020 — she volunteers every year. I’m not sure whether another student or alum has made this sort of impact in our department, period.”

McKay loves it, asking questions, calming students’ jittery nerves, working to winnow the field of prospective new education doctoral students.

“How can I be a resource, share what I know?” she said. “How can I help them grow and flourish?”

“The potential student sees in Alyssa the calmness, the leadership sparkle, and the tenacity needed to earn a terminal degree in a very busy time of life,” Buschlen said.

Buschlen also asked McKay to serve on the inaugural Doctor of Education alumni board, formed in the summer of 2024 as part of the program’s 25th anniversary celebration. The board has launched a new mentoring program that matches experienced alumni with current students in the education doctorate program.

“We’ll give them support from beginning to end, and share advice,” McKay said. “One thing Central gave me was a network of mentors and faculty members who still help me 10 years later. That support is so valuable.”

Now it’s her turn to help.

“I found a spot where I can pour from my cup but I’m also still being poured into, because people are still mentoring me,” she said. “There’s a lot of beauty in that.”

Leading by example

Leslie Vickrey, ’94, lives 1,322 miles from CMU, but you wouldn’t always know it. She mentors the College of Business Administration marketing team, engages students in mock interviews to boost their skills, lends her expertise to the CBA Executive Advisory Board, helps plan campus events and speaks to student groups. And she does it virtually, from Breckenridge, Colorado.

When she travels to campus for a meeting or event, she makes the most of her time, squeezing in breakfast with student groups to chat about career strategy.

“I’ve realized you do what you can do, meet the students and university from where you are and not use that as an excuse to say no,” said Vickrey, CEO of the marketing firm she founded, ClearEdge. “It’s easy to say, ‘I don’t live locally so what could I possibly do?’ or ‘What they really need is money so what can I do?’ Yes, they need money, but they need so much more.”

Now, you can do so much virtually, Vickrey said.

“You can do things from mentoring to hiring and everything in between. You can live in New York or Texas or Colorado, it doesn’t matter. Just contribute your life story and your lessons learned.”

After a 12-year career leading marketing efforts for nonprofits and billion-dollar organizations, Vickrey started her own firm in 2006. She leads a team of more than 50 who provide expertise in digital marketing, public relations and branding.

Her accomplishments were recognized in 2023 when Vickrey won the College of Business Administration Distinguished Alumni Award.

“Leslie is amazing,” said Christopher Moberg, dean of the College of Business Administration. He admires her leadership style, he said, based on authenticity, strength and vulnerability.

“She’s passionate about being the change in her communities and in mentoring and supporting women in

business and technology,” Moberg said. “She’s making a difference every day in the lives and careers of our students, faculty and staff.”

When Vickrey speaks to students, she has a couple of key messages: Build your network now so it’s there when you need it. Be your own best champion.

“A lot of women wait to be promoted,” Vickrey said. “Ask for the promotion. Ask for that seat on the board. If you don’t ask, you’ll never be told yes. If you’re not your own champion, who will be?”

Share your story, she said. It’s valuable.

“A lot of us are from the Midwest, and sometimes first-generation college students,” Vickrey said. “We can show students how our grit and determination have helped us succeed — how we use that in the workplace.”

She loves talking to entrepreneurship classes, encouraging students to believe in themselves and think big.

“That’s a ton of fun for me,” she said. “It’s fun to think about my own journey and how far I’ve come. Where was I at age 19? I was on academic probation. My GPA was horrible.”

She struggled a lot with confidence, she said. “A couple professors helped me with that. Now, I want to give back.”

Giving comes in all sizes and packages, she said. One easy way to contribute: talk up CMU.

“I mention CMU often in my writing and on LinkedIn because I want people to know about the university,” Vickrey said. “I truly owe so much of my success to CMU.”

Turning introductions into opportunities

When CMU students arrive in Atlanta for a whirlwind tour of Fortune 500 companies, Jenn and Brent Rau are waiting for them.

The Raus, 2013 alumni who met at Barnes Hall, are a power couple for student support.

They attend “Welcome to Atlanta” mixer events hosted by the College of Business Administration, offering smiles and career advice.

The next day, students see Brent again on a CMU alumni panel at Delta Air Lines, where he works as a specialist in transatlantic insights and analytics.

The annual visitors are first-generation college students, part of the Queller Leadership Scholars Program, started through a gift by alumni Dave and Penny

Queller to support CMU students who are the first in their family to attend college.

Jenn knows just how they feel.

“I was a first-generation college student from a small town,” she said.

“My first time on an airplane was at age 20, from Chicago to Madrid, when I did a study abroad semester my junior year at CMU. Being firstgeneration doesn’t make you less eligible, less intelligent, less capable.”

But it can make you less confident.

“I can see the fear in their eyes when I’m crossing the room at the mixer to talk to them,” said Jenn, associate director of university partnerships at Verto Education, which helps students launch their college education abroad.

She starts with a smile to ease their jitters.

“I tell them I know it’s a scary question when someone asks you what you want to do after college,” she said. “I talk to them and try to fish out any ways I can help them.”

One student studying tourism hospitality hoped to work at a luxury hotel abroad.

“I know CMU alumni who work in that industry,” Jenn said. She connected them on the spot. Sometimes all it takes is one moment, one introduction, to make a big difference.

“Giving back to these students is really important to me,” she said.

“I wouldn’t be able to do the work I do without my own CMU experiences. My study abroad semester is absolutely what inspired me to pursue this career. It was life changing.”

No Google Translate back then. No public transportation apps.

“It was just me and my brick phone and my paper map against the world,” she said, laughing. It was exhilarating.

Now, in her job at Verto Education, she helps connect students with study abroad experiences she calls transformational.

The morning after mingling with alumni at the mixer, the students visit Brent at Delta Air Lines, where he urges them to think creatively about their career paths.

“When I was at CMU studying economics, I thought my job title would be ‘economist,’ because that’s what my major was,” Brent said. The airlines job wasn’t even on his radar.

“There are all kinds of careers and avenues if you look beyond the job titles,” he said. “Delta Air Lines might not be looking for an accountant, but that doesn’t mean they can’t use people who have those skills.”

Brent wants to be a resource for students. “I tell them to get in touch if they ever want to talk about their career path.”

“We’ve loved our connection with the Raus,” said Amy McGinnis, ’14, director of student experience at the College of Business Administration.

“When Brent shared his career journey, I saw the light bulbs turn on with our students who realized that they, too, might be able to move to a big city and work for a Fortune 100 firm,” McGinnis said. “He’s opened their perspective to the possibilities of the future.”

Brent took it further, she said, helping students land interviews with Delta.

“The Queller program encourages students to get out of their comfort zone, broaden their horizons,” Brent said. “I love being a small part of that mission.”

Ditto for Jenn.

“I was them not that long ago — inexperienced and intimidated,” Jenn said, “and look at where I am now. I’m excited for them and how far they’ll go. I tell them, ‘I look at you and all I see is potential. People are out here rooting for you. Let’s help you get from A to Z.’”

Counting on YOU

CMU keeps track of every alumnus who steps up — and hopes to count you in next

BY TERRI FINCH HAMILTON, ’83

Alyson Smalley, ’21, counts the number of alumni who volunteer their time and talent to CMU, and she’s at 250 so far.

Luckily, she can count much higher.

“The more alumni we can get in front of students, the better,” said Smalley, associate director of alumni and donor engagement and membership at CMU.

A growing list of difference-makers

There’s a lot to track. Alumni travel back to campus to speak to classes, serve on advisory boards, judge competitions, mentor students and plan campus events. Some chip in virtually, with valuable screen-time connections.

“Alumni say they love giving back,” Smalley said. “They love the chance to interact with students who have their lives and careers ahead of them.

“Some alumni say, ‘Any time professor so-and-so asks, I’ll be there,’” she said. “They love helping a professor who made a huge impact on them.”

Smalley knows all this about alumni because she asks them. Twice a year she asks every department on campus to tell her which alumni have volunteered in some way. Then she asks those alumni if they’ll take a brief survey about it. (Bonus: if you take her survey, she’ll send you CMU swag.)

Smalley wants to know how alumni pitch in all over campus, but there’s a greater purpose to this info gathering. That’s where Jeremy Mishler comes in.

Mishler is CMU’s deputy chief of advancement and campaign strategies but he’s also the Great Lakes District chair for CASE, the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education. This international organization wants to learn more about how university alumni all over the world give back, so they created a system for universities to measure and share the details.

Connections beyond the classroom walls

Meanwhile, Mishler and his colleagues on the CMU Advancement and Alumni Engagement team have huge appreciation for alumni who stay in touch.

“Volunteering is so valuable to us, whether it’s speaking to a class, judging a competition, serving on a dean’s advisory board,” Mishler said.

It’s more important now than ever that CMU stays connected to alumni, he said.

“People don’t stay in the same job or even the same field for as many years as they used to. Careers evolve much more rapidly than they did decades ago. Alumni help us stay connected to the job market, and that benefits our students.”

He’s interested in this not just as a university administrator, but as a parent.

“I have a son coming here to CMU this fall,” Mishler said. “We were looking for the right fit and we were looking at programs, but we were also looking at the potential outcome beyond the degree. When you can show a richly engaged alumni base, families see the added value to the degree. Students are looking for internships and opportunities for employment. An engaged alumni network helps connect those students to the fields they want to work in.”

Central’s programs have to evolve at the speed of industry, Mishler said.

“Who better to help than our alumni working in those careers? They can bring their experience that’s relevant right now directly to our students.”

That’s huge, said Matt Liesch, professor and chair of the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies. He regularly invites alumni to speak to his classes.

“When alumni come back, they help students see how the ideas, the skills, the teamwork they’re learning here will pay off after they’ve left campus,” Liesch said. “Careers sometimes evolve in ways that aren’t easy to predict. Students see how alumni have been nimble and creative and smart as they’ve come to paths in the road. They see how to get from point A to point B in a creative way.”

Real talk, real jobs, real results

Other benefits abound, he said.

“A lot of job titles are murky and kind of mystifying,” Liesch said, “like ‘data analyst level 4.’ Students can look it up but still be confused. Alumni come in and explain that’s the job title they use for posting the job, but they reassure students they have the skills employers are looking for. That’s more valuable than your professors saying, ‘Trust us.’ ”

Visiting alumni are a low-stress networking opportunity, Liesch said.

“People learn networking by doing, but not every student is automatically wired for networking,” he said. “At the end of an alumni talk, that’s a networking opportunity. I tell students, ‘Make a good impression — you never know where this might lead.’”

Then, he nabs alums for some curriculum brainstorming.

“We seek alumni advice on curriculum to make sure we stay current,” Liesch said. “After they’re done talking to my students, I’ll pick their brains for a bit.”

Plenty of ways to plug in

You don’t have to visit campus to make an impact, Liesch said.

“Alumni reach out to faculty to say they have an internship or a scholarship or there’s a competition where students can win a cash prize,” he said. “They send us great opportunities for students.”

You don’t even have to leave town to help. “Alumni can work for a cause in their own community,” Mishler said. Volunteer at a charity event, like the annual Grand Traverse alumni golf outing that raises scholarship money. Or be an Admissions Alumni Ambassador, representing CMU at nearby college fairs and receptions for new and prospective students.

You’re valuable. Why not help Smalley add to that 250?

“We don’t want this to be a secret,” Mishler said.

Ready to START?

Maybe alumni out there are asking, “So, what’s the first step?”

It’s right here. Visit go.cmualum. com/payitforward and ponder how to pay it forward.

MAROON AND GOLD CM U BOO K S T

HANDS-ON

RESEARCH

CMU students led by Midland native Aaron Vlasak (left) search a Tittabawassee River creek for freshwater mussels — nature’s water filters. Their hands-on fieldwork supports conservation efforts and has revealed surprising finds, including Slippershells living where they hadn’t been previously observed. Finding freshwater mussels someplace new may mean there are more of the threatened species than previously believed. Where mussels thrive, water quality follows. It’s just one way CMU research protects Michigan’s natural resources.

PHOTO BY JO KENOSHMEG

McGuirk family named grand marshals for

2025 CMU HOMECOMING

Three generations of commitment to Central and the Mount Pleasant community take center stage

BY ROBIN MINER-SWARTZ

Central Michigan University will honor the McGuirk family as the 2025 Homecoming grand marshals, celebrating a legacy of commitment that spans generations and continues to shape both the university and the Mount Pleasant community.

The McGuirk family’s connection to CMU began with the late Jim McGuirk, a lifelong Mount Pleasant resident and visionary entrepreneur who established United Apartments in 1963. For decades, his developments have provided housing for thousands of CMU students, and his philanthropic leadership was instrumental in the naming of McGuirk Arena in 2010.

That commitment has been embraced and expanded by the

second generation — Jim’s nephews, Rick and Chuck McGuirk, and his niece, Sandy Dean. Together, they’ve upheld the family’s dedication to CMU through their business expertise, philanthropic gifts and volunteer service. Their impact is evident across campus, from athletics to scholarships to support for student organizations.

“Our family’s businesses would not be where they are today without CMU and the community,” said Lexi McGuirk, daughter of Chuck and Jennifer McGuirk and grand-niece of Jim McGuirk. “Giving back to CMU is how our family says thank you for everything the university and community have done for us.”

Rick McGuirk and his wife, Julie — both 1994 CMU graduates — remain actively involved as alumni. Rick has served on CMU’s Advancement Board and the Fired Up for Excellence campaign’s national steering committee. Chuck McGuirk contributes in-kind expertise to major construction projects that enhance the fan experience, while Sandy Dean helps manage family gifts that benefit CMU Athletics, ROTC and student scholarships.

“The McGuirk family’s multi-generational commitment to Central Michigan University is truly remarkable,” said CMU President Neil MacKinnon. “The McGuirks’ impact is woven into the very fabric of our university. Their philanthropic spirit and unwavering

support for our students and programs exemplify the absolute best of the CMU community.”

In 2018, the family established the United Apartments McGuirk Family Scholarship to support CMU students, and the McGuirk Family of Companies continues to sponsor campus and community events in partnership with registered student organizations.

“The McGuirks’ commitment to CMU and the Mount Pleasant community extends beyond being business leaders,” said Jennifer Cotter, CMU vice president for advancement. “They support our students with a wide variety of living locales that create a vibrant living and learning environment. They help fund athletic equipment transportation for CMU teams, serve on boards and are active in community organizations. Their support of CMU and the Mount Pleasant community through their actions is true leadership by example.”

As the third generation begins to explore its own path of service and support, the McGuirk legacy at CMU continues to grow.

“Being named grand marshals is a real honor for our family,” Lexi McGuirk said. “It’s a testament to our shared belief in the power of education, community and giving back.”

HOMECOMING 2025

CMU Homecoming: Oct. 23-26

Homecoming is a perfect time to return to Central Michigan University, relive your favorite memories and make new ones. (Plus, there’s no better time on campus than the fall!) From the parade to the big game, Homecoming offers fun, connection and fired-up experiences for everyone.

Activities you know and love

Homecoming weekend brings a lot of activity across campus and around Mount Pleasant. The schedule includes college and alumni chapter events, Rock Rally, the cardboard boat races, alumni breakfast celebrating the class of 1975 and multiple CMU Chippewa athletic events. And that’s just for starters.

A detailed schedule for CMU’s 2025 homecoming celebration will be posted online at https://go.cmualum.com/cmichhomecoming and updated as needed.

We can’t wait to see you back on campus!

NEW ALUMNI CHAPTERS strengthen CMU connections

Affinity groups have personalized opportunities for engagement

BY JASON FIELDER

Two new alumni chapters at Central Michigan University are helping graduates stay connected and give back — each grounded in a deep sense of pride and purpose.

The Fraternity and Sorority Alumni Chapter (FSAC) and the Honors Alumni Chapter were both formally launched in 2024 under the CMU Alumni Association, creating new pathways for alumni to engage with campus communities that helped shape their CMU experience.

Building on a legacy of leadership

For more than a century, fraternity and sorority life has been a central part of CMU’s culture, beginning with Phi Delta Pi in 1901 and Alpha Sigma Tau’s Beta Chapter in 1904. The launch of the FSAC affinity group at 2024’s Homecoming marks a milestone in preserving and supporting this tradition.

“For more than a decade, we have recognized the need for a dedicated alumni chapter to support fraternity and sorority life at CMU,” said FSAC President Steve Latour, ’04, a 2004 initiate of Alpha Sigma Phi. “Fraternities and sororities have contributed to student success, retention and campus culture for generations. This alumni chapter brings together a community of alumni who share a passion for

strengthening these organizations and ensuring their future impact.”

The FSAC includes alumni from CMU’s four governing councils — the Interfraternity Council (IFC), National Panhellenic Conference (NPC), National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) and Multicultural Greek Council (MGC).

Backed by research showing that Greek life supports student success and retention, the FSAC launched efforts to deepen alumni engagement and plan strategically for the future.

To gather valuable insights from current members, CMU faculty and staff, and

the broader community, the FSAC is launching a strategic planning survey. This survey will explore the current state of fraternity and sorority life at Central Michigan University and help shape its future direction.

As part of this initiative, the FSAC is also focused on building membership and re-engaging as many alumni as possible to serve as delegates. The group’s goal is to foster a vibrant, active network of alumni who are meaningfully connected to and invested in the continued success of CMU’s Greek life organizations.

Honors Program alumni (from left) Rick Peake, ’14; Honors Director Patty Williamson, ’92; Ricardo Resio, ’95; Laura Bantle, ’06; and Megan Morris, ’13.

Honors alumni step forward

The Honors Alumni Chapter also became an official Alumni Association chapter in 2024, following over a year of planning and organizing by a dedicated board of alumni.

“I’m so grateful for the hard work Honors alumni put into establishing the new Honors Alumni Chapter,” said Patty Williamson, ’92, CMU Honors Program director. “It creates a great platform for mutual support, community-building and reconnection with old friends.”

Led by President Rick Peake, ’14, Vice President Megan Morris, ’13, and a board including past president Laura Bantle, ’06, the Honors alumni chapter is focused on scholarship support, mentorship and growing a strong alumni network.

“Joining the CMU Alumni Association is more than a milestone — it’s a launchpad,” Peake said. “With their partnership, we’re crafting a vision and building programs that will empower generations of alumni to connect, grow and lead.”

“Many Honors Program alumni credit the Honors Program with creating transformational academic and social experiences,” Bantle said. “They are very passionate about giving back to the program and ensuring that current and future students have those same opportunities.”

Momentum is already building. At Homecoming 2024, the chapter hosted its first in-person open house at Powers Hall, and a subsequent social media call for scholarship application reviewers filled all available slots within 24 hours.

Opportunities to engage

Both chapters are inviting alumni to get involved.

The FSAC encourages each fraternity and sorority — active or inactive — to nominate two people for its Delegate Council and offers opportunities for nondelegate participation through events and committees. Delegate nominations and interest forms are available on the chapter’s website.

Honors Program alumni can engage by joining social media groups, attending events like the 2025 Homecoming gathering and the 2026 Honors Program anniversary celebration, or applying for board positions. Alumni are encouraged to stay tuned for upcoming event details shared through the website and social media. Additionally, you can submit an online interest form to engage in specific focus areas with the board and chapter.

Together, these new chapters reflect the power of CMU’s alumni community, rooted in shared experiences and driven to make a difference for the next generation.

Get INVOLVED

FRATERNITY AND SORORITY ALUMNI CHAPTER: go.cmualum.com/FSAC HONORS ALUMNI CHAPTER: go.cmualum.com/honorsalumni

New era,

Three head coaches join the CMU Chippewa family

BY GREG HOTCHKISS

Central Michigan University has welcomed three dynamic new head coaches to Mount Pleasant, each bringing a distinct blend of experience, energy and leadership to CMU Athletics.

With deep Midwestern roots, championship pedigrees, and a commitment to student-athlete development, Central’s newest coaches are poised to lead the CMU Chippewas into a new era of excellence.

Matt Drinkall: Football

Named head football coach in December 2024, Matt Drinkall takes the reins after six successful seasons at Army West Point, where he most recently served as co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. In 2024, Drinkall helped guide Army to an 11-1 record,

an American Athletic Conference title, and a No. 22 national ranking. His offensive line unit won the Joe Moore Award as the best offensive line in the country, and Army led the nation in rushing and time of possession.

Drinkall brings more than two decades of coaching experience to CMU, including five seasons as head coach at Kansas Wesleyan University, where he orchestrated one of the most prolific offenses in NAIA history and led the team

to a national semifinal appearance. Known for his innovation and player-first mentality, Drinkall is equally committed to academic and athletic excellence.

“We are so excited to get back to our Midwest roots and to be a part of this passionate community,” Drinkall said.

“We cannot wait to build meaningful relationships and help contribute to the success of this storied program.”

Arielle Wilson: Volleyball

Named head volleyball coach in January, Arielle Wilson brings championship experience and a player-centered approach to CMU’s highachieving program. A four-time NCAA champion and three-time AVCA

All-American at Penn State, Wilson has also coached at top programs including Missouri and Georgia Tech, helping guide five teams to NCAA tournament appearances.

Sweet Sixteen run. A former U.S. National Team member and six-year professional player overseas, Wilson’s credentials speak volumes.

“CMU is extremely proud of our studentathletes and their hard work, and we know they will thrive under Coach Wilson’s proven leadership,” said CMU President Neil MacKinnon.

Wilson, a Chicagoland native, brings both elite-level expertise and an unwavering commitment to mentoring young women through athletics.

“I am Fired Up about the opportunity to lead exceptional student-athletes who will leave this program to be exceptional women in the world,” she said.

Most recently, Wilson was defensive and recruiting coordinator at Missouri, where she helped lead the Tigers to back-toback NCAA appearances and a 2024

Andy Bronkema: Men’s Basketball

On April 14, CMU introduced Andy Bronkema as its new head men’s basketball coach. Bronkema comes to Mount Pleasant after a standout 12-year tenure at Ferris State University, where he compiled a 278-105 record and led the Bulldogs to the 2018 NCAA Division II national championship.

A McBain, Michigan, native with family ties to CMU, Bronkema is known for his ability to build sustainable success. At Ferris State, he earned National Coach of the Year honors and guided the program to nine NCAA tournament appearances, 10 20-win seasons, and multiple conference titles.

“Andy’s ability to raise a program to excellence and sustain it at the highest level is impressive,” said CMU Athletics Director Amy Folan. “He is the perfect fit for what we need at Central Michigan.”

Bronkema’s coaching philosophy focuses on culture, consistency and community — values that resonate deeply with the CMU Chippewa spirit.

With these three leaders at the helm, the future of CMU athletics is bright. Each coach brings a record of success, a heart for student development, and a passion for the Maroon and Gold. Fire Up Chips!

ALUMNI NEWS

Central Michigan University Alumni Association Board of Directors

President

Erica (Lagos) Romac, ’13, Carmel, Indiana

Vice president

Jonathan Eadie, ’93, Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan

Past president

Scott Nadeau, ’89, Dexter, Michigan

Directors

Brooke Adams, ’11, Detroit, Michigan

Kevin Bautista-Mancilla, ’22, Ferndale, Michigan

Lester Booker Jr., ’08, M.S.A. ’10, Canton, Michigan

Lisa (Laitinen) Bottomley, ’97, Kentwood, Michigan

Chris Cantrell, ’99, Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Catherine (Bomber) Claes, ’90, Gladstone, Michigan

Melissa DeJesus, ’01, M.A. ’09, Dexter, Michigan

Elizabeth Dilg, ’22, Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Megan Doyle, ’03, Chicago, Illinois

Norma Eppinger, ’91, Lansing, Michigan

Matthew Franklin, ’04, Grand Blanc, Michigan

Griffith Gatewood, ’14, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Jonathan Glenn, ’06, M.A. ’11, Ed.D. ’23, Alma, Michigan

Spencer Haworth, ’12, M.P.A. ‘22 Kalamazoo, Michigan

Sean Hickey, ’88, M.A. ’90, Traverse City, Michigan

Dr. LaMarcus Howard, ’09, M.A. ’12, Flint, Michigan

Bret Hyble, ’82, M.A. ’86, Mount Pleasant, Michigan

J.J. Lewis, ’06, Howell, Michigan

Jennifer Peacock, ’18, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Karenia Randle, ’08, M.S.A. ’13, Lansing, Michigan

Kandra (Kerridge) Robbins, ’90, Jena, Louisiana

Abby M. (Hagland) Watteny, ’02, Berkley, Michigan

For a full listing including emeritus board members please see go.cmualum.com/ alumni-board

Central Michigan University Board of Trustees

Regine Beauboeuf

Sharon Heath, ’96

Ashok Kondur

Denise Williams Mallett

Edward J. Plawecki Jr., ’75

David R. McGhee, M.S.A. ’07

Todd Regis

Jeff Stoutenburg, ’10, ’13 M.P.A.

For a full listing of Board of Trustees meeting schedules please see https://www.cmich.edu/bot/Pages/default.aspx

ALUMNI NEWS

CMU coaching legend

Margo Jonker receives MAC Trailblazer Award

BY ANDY SNEDDON

Margo Jonker, an icon in Central Michigan Athletics history, received the 2025 Mid-American Conference Trailblazer Award at the MAC Honors Dinner in Cleveland in May.

The award, bestowed annually by the league, honors an individual who has demonstrated support of equal opportunities and the student-athlete experience.

“Coach Jonker’s exemplary career on the field set a clear and high standard for all future softball coaches at CMU and, quite frankly, across the MAC,” Zyzlewski Family Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics Amy Folan said. “Her legacy, both on and off the field, reflects her dedication to the support of equal opportunities and to the student-athlete experience.”

Jonker began her career at CMU as a graduate assistant working with both the softball and volleyball teams in 1979. She became the head coach of Central’s softball program in 1980 and retired after the 2019 season as one of the most decorated coaches in NCAA softball history.

She led the CMU Chippewas to a 1,268-808-7 mark. She is the all-time winningest softball coach in MAC history and ranks ninth in NCAA Division I history. She led the team to 10 MAC regular season championships and 13 NCAA Tournament berths.

Her 1982 team went 4-2 in the AIAW National Division I Softball Championship in Norman, Oklahoma. Her ‘87 squad finished tied for fifth in the NCAA Women’s College World Series, while she was named the NCAA Mideast Region Coach of the Year and the NCSA National

Coach of the Year. Jonker earned the MAC Coach of the Year a record 10 times and twice earned the Great Lakes Regional Coach of the Year Award.

She is a member of eight halls of fame, represented CMU and the MAC on the international stage, including as an assistant coach for the gold medalwinning U.S. teams at the 2000 Olympics in Australia and at the 1998 World Championships in Japan.

In 2008, CMU honored her by naming the team’s home park Margo Jonker Stadium.

“At a time when opportunities for women in athletics were still emerging, Coach Jonker became a national leader and role model,” Folan said.

“She created a legacy of access and excellence, advancing gender equity in tangible ways and helping to build Central Michigan University into a national leader in women’s athletics. Her leadership helped ensure that female student-athletes had the same opportunities, support and visibility as their male counterparts.” •

Michigan Teacher of the Year laid a foundation of success at Central Michigan

CMU’s right size and fit helped educator discover his identity

BY ERIC BAERREN, ’93

Corey Rosser came to CMU thinking about a career in business. What he found was the foundation of a career that led him to being named Michigan’s Teacher of the Year.

Rosser, ’04, came to CMU from rural Marlette, Michigan, in the Thumb. CMU and Mount Pleasant were the perfect size for him to grow and shift into a successful teaching career.

“Attending Central Michigan University helped me discover the teacher that I wanted to be in the classroom,” said Rosser, a social studies teacher in North Branch Area Schools’ Quest High School. “CMU was the ‘right-size, right-fit’ school for me that played a large role in my journey to becoming Michigan Teacher of the Year.”

Wernette bids farewell after 23 years of alumni leadership

Legacy includes community, growth and impact in Arizona

BY JASON FIELDER

Dale Wernette, ’67, MBA ’71, the longtime president of the CMU Alumni group in Phoenix, Arizona, is stepping down after more than 20 years of leadership.

“I love Central Michigan University, and CMU alumni are like family,” Wernette said. “My commitment and love for this chapter hasn’t changed, but I just felt that it’s time to turn the reins over to someone else with new ideas to help with attendance at events.”

The 2012 CMU Alumni Service Recognition Award winner’s hard work and networking skills over the past two decades helped expand the list of active and involved alumni in the Phoenix area. His efforts in planning social events, networking events and opportunities for alumni to attend professional sporting events in the area helped make the

CMU was big enough to give him room to grow, he said, but enrollment was also the right size to provide him ample opportunities for individual attention.

Rosser — whose father, Steve Rosser, ’74, is also a CMU alumnus who taught for 30 years — was named Michigan’s 2025 Teacher of the Year by the Michigan Department of Education. He has worked in the small Lapeer County school of approximately 40 students since it opened in 2004, the year he graduated from CMU.

Five hundred teachers statewide were initially nominated for the title last fall. Rosser was one of 10 teachers named Regional Teachers of the Year in February. •

Dale Wernette (pictured

with

Phoenix area one of CMU’s most active alumni regions.

“Phoenix is so spread out, but I just felt that us CMU alumni in the area needed to get together more often,” he said. “I wanted us all to have meaningful interactions with fellow CMU alumni. I love hearing their stories.”

As a student at CMU, Wernette was a member of Alpha Kappa Psi, Tau Kappa

Epsilon and the Vets Club, and he was a resident assistant in Robinson Hall.

Wernette is the founder of SHERPA & Associates and Sales Leadership Forums, providing sales leadership seminars, coaching and keynotes to sales organizations throughout North America. •

ALUMNI NEWS

Alumni board member named notable leader in philanthropy

Crain’s Detroit Business honors residential camp CEO Lewis

J.J. Lewis, ’06, was named one of the Crain’s Detroit Business 2025 Notable Leaders in Philanthropy for his work as CEO of North Star Reach.

The organization is the ninth U.S. residential camp in the SeriousFun Children’s Network founded by actor and philanthropist Paul Newman. This annual recognition honors leaders across Southeast Michigan who are making a transformative impact through strategic innovation, service, and a deep commitment to advancing equity and strengthening communities.

CMU alumnae receive Fulbright awards

Neidenbach will teach in Germany; Seybert heads to Bulgaria

Two recent CMU grads are headed overseas to teach English, thanks to distinguished Fulbright awards.

Cara Neidenbach

Moving from a small town to a large Chicago suburb during elementary school was a big transition for Cara Neidenbach, ’24. She became friends with first- and secondgeneration immigrants and was introduced to many different cultures.

“The diverse perspectives I was exposed to as I grew up made me more curious and helped me see myself in relation to the many communities around me,” she said. “I began to intentionally interact with those who came from other

Lewis stepped into his role in 2024, leading a relaunch of North Star Reach’s programming and philanthropic efforts.

In collaboration with the board of directors and staff, he helped restore Family Camp Weekends and laid the groundwork for launching the OutReach Program, which extends North Star Reach’s impact into hospitals and communities across Michigan.

“This recognition is a testament to the tireless work of our team, board, volunteers and campily — our camp family — who believe in the healing power of connection,” Lewis said.

“Together, we’re building a more inclusive, joyful and equitable future for children and families navigating serious medical journeys.”

Beyond his role at North Star Reach, Lewis serves on several nonprofit boards, including the CMU Alumni Association Board of Directors (and as chair of the scholarship committee), the Association of Fundraising Professionals – West Michigan Chapter (as president-elect and chair of the National Philanthropy Day planning committee) and the Rotary Club of Howell (as president nominee and secretary-elect). •

countries and had distinct cultures different from my own.”

Neidenbach earned her bachelor’s degree in education in 2024 and is taking her teaching skills to Germany this fall with a prestigious Fulbright English Teaching Assistant grant.

“While I majored in social studies education, it is my hope to become an English language specialist who primarily works with multilingual students. This grant gives me the opportunity to practice effective teaching strategies and develop relationships with students that will influence my future career,” she said.

Amyah Seybert

Amyah Seybert, ’25, who recently earned her degree in elementary education, is another recent recipient of the Fulbright Award. With this award, she will travel to Bulgaria to teach English at a

school in the capital city, Sofia, where she will be teaching grades 5-9.

“My time with the college of education has been amazing” Seybert said. “From studying abroad and then completing my honors capstone, I feel truly blessed to be graduating from this program.”

Both Neidenbach and Seybert were supported by the CMU National Scholarship Program throughout the application process.

Approximately 2,000 U.S. students, artists and young professionals receive Fulbright U.S. Student Grants annually to pursue graduate study, conduct research and teach English abroad in more than 140 countries worldwide. Students are selected based on their academic and professional record, host countryspecific preferences, cultural competency, and the applicant’s potential to further the Fulbright goal of building mutual understanding between people of the U.S. and other countries. •

The Gaming Cantina revives the art of face-to-face fun

CMU Online alumnus’ store is a playful addition to downtown Mount Pleasant

BY SARAH SPOHN

In a world full of digital entertainment, some folks still appreciate the nostalgic feeling of playing cards and board games. Coming together with friends, family or even strangers around a table to play a game can feel like somewhat of a pastime, but at The Gaming Cantina, it’s nearly an everyday occurrence.

The downtown Mount Pleasant gaming store opened in January at 217 S. Main St.

Owner Brian “Bossman” Dempsey, M.S.A. ’01, has been in the industry for over a decade, sharing his passion for gaming with Michigan residents at his other Gaming Cantina location in East Lansing, a seasonal spot in Jackson, and his previous storefront in Charlotte (which he moved to Mount Pleasant).

The store sells a wide variety of games including playing cards, collectible card games such as Pokemon and Magic: The Gathering, role-playing games like

Dungeons & Dragons, miniature painting supplies, miscellaneous gaming accessories and a wide variety of board games — totaling thousands in stock.

“The general goal is to provide a fun space where people can come in, hang out, socialize and play,” Dempsey said. “We plan on hosting tournaments as we get more settled in, and to have events going on almost every day.”

Dempsey says the favorite part about his job is the joy he gets from seeing people connect.

“So many times, people get disconnected — both family and friends — because of digital media and video games,” he said. “To be able to have people sit down at the same table in the same room, bond over games, and talk face-to-face, I almost feel like it’s a lost art.”

This is an abridged version of a story that originally appeared in Second Wave Media’s Epicenter Mt. Pleasant publication. Read the full story here: https://go.cmualum.com/ EpicenterTheGamingCantina

ALUMNI NEWS

Honors for CMU Chippewas

NANCY BROWN, ’85, was named one of the top 50 Leaders in Wellness and Fitness for 2025 by Women We Admire. Brown is the CEO of the American Heart Association. Under her leadership as CEO since 2008, the AHA has become a global authority on cardiovascular and brain health, as well as overall health and well-being. Women We Admire provides news and information on today’s women leaders in business, entertainment, sports, medicine, law and many other fields.

JIM CEDERNA, ’73, was inducted into the West Iron County Wall of Fame. Cederna was an All-U.P. football player from West Iron County High School who went on to letter in football all four years as a linebacker for CMU. He will be inducted in October at a ceremony and dinner at Young’s Recreation Complex in Iron County.

ANN MARIE CREED, M.H.A. ’92, has been named president of University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Lansing. She was most recently vice president of Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, and she was involved in folding Ascension hospitals into the Henry Ford Health system. Creed was selected by a search committee that included hospital board members, doctors and nurses.

KEVIN DOUGLAS, ’09, was named director of philanthropy for The Floating Hospital, a New York City-based nonprofit

that has been providing health care services to homeless families and families living below the poverty line since 1866. Douglas is a veteran fundraising and marketing executive with more than 15 years of experience in driving multimillion-dollar revenue growth through corporate, philanthropic and government partnerships.

SAAD EHTISHAM, D.H.A. ’22, was named president and CEO of the Atlantic Health System, one of New Jersey’s largest health care networks. Ehtisham previously was senior vice president and president of acute care operations for Novant Health, a network of 19 hospitals and 900 sites across North Carolina and South Carolina.

PAUL L. GABA, ’88, was named president of the Florida Forensic League, the state’s high school speech and debate association. Gaba has been coaching high school debate in southeast Florida since 2000 and has served in various FFL officer positions since 2004. He was recognized as FFL Coach of the Year in 2012 and was named a George Mason University Patriot Games Classic Invitational Debate Tournament “Mason Mentor” in 2013.

COURTNEY LORENZ, ’14, is the founder of Cultured Kombucha Co., which was recognized as a 2025 awardee for the Michigan 50 Companies to Watch Award presented by Michigan Celebrates Small Business. Cultured Kombucha Co. was founded in 2015 as the first microbrewery of kombucha tea in Northern Michigan.

KRISTEN MCCAULIFF, ’02, was appointed as dean of the College of Communication, Information and Media for Ball State University. A member of the Ball State faculty since 2009, McCauliff is a respected scholar and experienced academic leader. She previously served as associate provost for faculty affairs and professional development, where she led campuswide initiatives that advanced faculty success and student learning.

WILLIAM BUPP, M.A. ’65, was reappointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to serve another term on the Commission on Services to the Aging. Bupp is a retired high school principal and docent at the Michigan Hall of Justice Learning Center. His new term ends July 28, 2028.

SHERYL MITCHELL THERIOT, M.S. ’96, was appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to serve a term on the executive committee of the Michigan Municipal Services Authority Board. Theriot is the director of external affairs for the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments and a former policy analyst for the Detroit City Council. Her term expires May 10, 2027.

In Memory

Robert E. Barnes, ’50, Willowbrook, Ill. , died Dec. 7, 2024, age 96

Don L. Edwards, ’52, Dearborn, Mich. , died Apr. 11, 2025, age 93

Chester E. Swarthout, ’53, Freeland, Mich. , died May 14, 2025, age 99

Doris J. (Poling) Bicknell, ’53, Clare, Mich. , died May 17, 2025, age 96

Arch V. Wright, ’55, Boyne City, Mich. , died May 20, 2025, age 92

Nancy A. (Cowles) Clark, ’55, Howell, Mich. , died May 16, 2025, age 91

Donald R. Wallace, ’57, Farwell, Mich. , died Apr. 18, 2025, age 92

Lynn (Oberliesen) Hensen, ’57, East Lansing, Mich. , died June 15, 2025, age 89

Ruby A. (Gremel) Nordrum, ’57, Choteau, Mont. , died Apr. 25, 2025, age 89

Dorothy M. (Baker) Fetting, ’58, Grand Rapids, Mich. , died July 3, 2025, age 90

Betty M. (Rakosi) Perkins, ’58, Coldwater, Mich. , died Oct. 3, 2024, age 87

Jo A. (Smith) Snyder, ’58, Sterling Heights, Mich. , died May 20, 2025, age 89

Ruth A. Sowle, ’58, ’63 MA, Linden, Mich. , died Sep. 28, 2024, age 88

William M. Greig, ’58, ’62 MA, Grand Rapids, Mich. , died Mar. 21, 2025, age 89

Marykae (Powers) Clayton, ’59, Traverse City, Mich. , died May 10, 2025, age 88

David F. Reeg, ’59, Grand Rapids, Mich. , died Mar 29, 2025, age 93

Mary J. Joslin-Feldman, ’59, Marquette, Mich. , died Apr. 28, 2025, age 87

Sandy E. (Howard) Wood, ’59, ’88 MA, Mount Pleasant, Mich. , died May 9, 2025, age 87

Thomas D. Nichols, ’59, ’64 MA, Caro, Mich. , died May 5, 2025, age 93

Iva D. (Schaibly) Blood, ’59, Oberlin, Ohio, died May 12, 2025, age 88

Kathryn O. Wilcox, ’60, Owosso, Mich. , died Sep. 1, 2024, age 78

Melvin F. Pospiech, ’60, Grand Rapids, Mich. , died Apr. 4, 2025, age 90

Richard W. Anspach, ’60, Livonia, Mich. , died June 22, 2025, age 87

Robert E. Warren, ’60, Lincoln Park, Mich. , died July 3, 2025, age 87

Mary A. (Feller) Barker, ’61, Traverse City, Mich. , died Mar. 27, 2025, age 85

Irene M. (Moreno) Seahawk, ’61, ’73 MA, Grand Rapids, Mich. , died May 7, 2025, age 85

Amanda (Hicks) Lawton, ’61, East Lansing, Mich. , died Aug. 23, 2024, age 84

David H. Myers, ’61, ’65 MA, ’74 MA, Weidman, Mich. , died Sep. 5, 2024, age 87

Linda K. (Mirgon) Koehne, ’61, Syracuse, N.Y., died May 16, 2025, age 85

Thomas A. Moulton, ’62, Los Altos Hills, Calif. , died Aug. 24, 2024, age 85

Harold W. Franke, ’62, Weidman, Mich. , died July 12, 2025, age 88

Margaret J. (Cathcart) Beck, ’62, Southfield, Mich. , died Mar. 3, 2025, age 87

Eugene J. Campbell, ’62, ’67 MA, Ludington, Mich. , died Feb. 5, 2025, age 86

G.J. Wainwright, ’62, ’67 MA, Oscoda, Mich. , died Apr. 16, 2025, age 91

Judith A. (Springer) Davis, ’62, Fernley, Nev. , died Sep. 18, 2024, age 84

Daniel R. Stenberg, ’63, ’66 MA, Buchanan, Mich. , died Aug. 30, 2024, age 83

Hugh G. Riley, ’63, ’65 MA, Remus, Mich. , died Sep. 13, 2024, age 90

Larry W. Chambers, ’63, ’70 MA, Linwood, Mich. , died Sep. 18, 2024, age 86

William E. Magill, ’63, ’69 MA, Gladwin, Mich. , died Sep. 12, 2024, age 82

Gary R. McLean, ’64, Chandler, Ariz. , died Apr. 8, 2025, age 83

Eugenia A. (Higgins) Stone, ’64, DeWitt, Mich. , died Mar. 29, 2025, age 82

William L. Bedford, ’64, ’69 MA, Whitehall, Mich. , died July 13, 2024, age 83

Daniel L. Diedrich, ’64, ’66 MA, Royal Oak, Mich. , died Nov. 5, 2024, age 86

Albert T. Quick, ’64 MA, Traverse City, Mich. , died Aug. 20, 2024, age 85

Gary H. Strieter, ’64, ’66 MA, Pittsburgh, Pa. , died July 25, 2024, age 81

Robert A. Balslev, ’65, Menifee, Calif. , died May 20, 2025, age 82

Thomas J. Ivan, ’65, ’68 MA, Johns Creek, Ga. , died Apr. 22, 2025, age 81

Nancy K. (Sicalo) Kortes, ’65, Eastport, Mich. , died Apr. 16, 2025, age 82

Bruce R. Wyman, ’65, Three Rivers, Mich. , died July 5, 2025, age 82

Jerry P. Timm, ’65, ’69 MA, Hubbard Lake, Mich. , died Aug. 7, 2024, age 81

Frank W. Lukowski, ’65, ’66 MA, Grand Blanc, Mich. , died May 14, 2025, age 82

Delbert J. Ringquist, ’65, Stanwood, Mich. , died July 13, 2025, age 82

Ruth Ann (Schank) Esseltine, 65, Nashville, Tenn, died Apr. 14, 2025, age 82

Joyce A. (Breese) Batty, ’65, New Braunfels, Texas, died July 14, 2024, age 81

William J. Hertenstein, ’66, Rochester, Mich. , died Apr. 2, 2025, age 82

Larry Johnson, ’66, ’75 MA, Lake City, Mich. , died Dec. 31, 2024, age 83

Frederick J. Manning, ’66, East Tawas, Mich. , died May 13, 2025, age 82

Glenn C. Swartzlander, ’66, Lewisville, Texas, died May 19, 2025, age 81

Ralph L. Steward, ’67, ’68 MM, Fenton, Mich. , died Sep. 11, 2024, age 86

John J. Rochow, ’67, Horton, Mich. , died Sep. 27, 2024, age 85

Mike Supernault, ’67, ’73, Indian River, Mich. , died Mar. 17, 2025, age 80

Raymond J. LeViere, ’67, ’69, Shepherd, Mich. , died June 16, 2025, age 81

Sylvia Mulka, ’68, ’76 MA, Tucson, Ariz. , died July 7, 2024, age 79

Karen K. (Fegan) Mielock, ’68, ’72 MA, Fishers, Ind. , died Sep. 22, 2024, age 77

Bonnie L. (Skeels) Giammarco, ’68, Holly, Mich. , died Sep. 27, 2024, age 78

Joanne R. (Taubert) Lukowski, ’68, Grand Blanc, Mich. , died July 7, 2025, age 79

Sharon M. (Stangle) Tilmann, ’68, ’82 MA, ’96 MA, Mount Pleasant, Mich. , died July 5, 2024, age 77

Sylvia J. (Miller) Meyers, ’68, ’73 MA, Saginaw, Mich. , died Sep. 26, 2024, age 78

Ann R. (Raven) Hyde, ’68, ’72 MA, Lansing, Mich. , died Apr. 6, 2025, age 92

Gordon R. Schaaf, ’68, ’79 MA, Cadillac, Mich. , died Apr. 27, 2025, age 79

Melanie V. Roberts-Yount, ’69, Naples, Fla. , died Sep. 22, 2024, age 79

Mary E. (Olinger) Hughey, ’69, ’74 MA, Elsie, Mich. , died Aug. 14, 2024, age 77

Darryl D. McCallum, ’69, ’73 MA, Evart, Mich. , died Sep. 20, 2024, age 78

Raleigh G. Smith, ’69, ’89 MA, Rockford, Mich. , died June 19, 2025, age 82

Lee D. Sandy, ’69, ’71 MA, Alpena, Mich. , died May 17, 2025, age 80

Sandra J. Cobaugh, ’69, ’88 MA, Leavenworth, Wash. , died Apr. 23, 2025, age 78

Dolan A. Sievert, ’70, Lady Lake, Fla. , died May 12, 2025, age 78

Thomas T. Lapinski, ’70, Muskegon, Mich. , died Dec. 18, 2024, age 77

Sandra L. (Race) Clark, ’70, Ferrysburg, Mich. , died Apr. 5, 2025, age 77

Barbara (Babcock) Wendland, ’70 MA, Bay City, Mich. , died June 9, 2025, age 97

Patrick T. Darby, ’70, Sanford, Mich. , died June 3, 2025, age 80

Ruth A. (Wissmueller) Windle, ’70, Brooklyn, Mich. , died July 21, 2024, age 80

Dale R. Hinton, ’70, ’76 MA, Higgins Lake, Mich. , died Aug. 16, 2024, age 83

Gary S. Szalka, ’70, Flat Rock, Mich. , died Aug. 28, 2024, age 77

David C. Pentkowski, ’70, Bay City, Mich. , died Apr. 14, 2025, age 78

Karen J. (Eggleston) Ivan, ’71, Lakeview, Mich. , died Oct. 3, 2024, age 75

Marilyn J. (Osborn) Peters, ’71, Cass City, Mich. , died Feb. 6, 2025, age 89

Kathryn A. Bremer, ’71, ’74 MA, Essexville, Mich. , died July 2, 2024, age 74

John W. Ujlaky, ’71, Lansing, Mich. , died Apr. 13, 2025, age 75

Charles L. Filibeck, ’72, Benton Harbor, Mich. , died Apr. 16, 2025, age 74

Thomas L. Chappelle, ’72 MA, Hartland, Mich. , died June 6, 2025, age 88

James M. Diloreto, ’72, Greenbush, Mich. , died June 24, 2025, age 75

Joyce A. (Choate) Betz, ’72, Springport, Mich. , died Mar. 29, 2025, age 76

Michael J. Forbes, ’72, Rodney, Mich. , died Apr. 8, 2025, age 75

Roger P. Huber, ’72, Au Gres, Mich. , died Apr. 23, 2025, age 77

Mike L. Cooper, ’72, ’77 MA, Bay City, Mich. , died Sep. 12, 2024, age 77

William R. Juhnke, ’72, ’76 MA, Okemos, Mich. , died June 29, 2025, age 74

James L. Tripp, ’72 MA, Ashtabula, Ohio, died July 1, 2024, age 79

Lawrence C. Williams, ’73, Decatur, Ala. , died Sep. 17, 2024, age 75

Jill D. (Taft) Mathews, ’73, Wheat Ridge, Colo. , died Sep. 26, 2024, age 73

Jane C. (Baer) Leighton, ’73, ’75, Hadley, Mass. , died Apr. 11, 2025, age 74

Thomas A. Gillette, ’73, Union City, Mich. , died Dec. 17, 2024, age 74

Patricia A. Ryan, ’73, Grawn, Mich. , died Mar. 29, 2025, age 74

Suzanne M. (McCauley) Rekuc, ’73, Troy, Mich. , died Sep. 3, 2024, age 73

Raymond F. Jones, ’73, ’80 MA, Carrollton, Mich. , died May 20, 2025, age 83

Andrew J. Warber, ’73, ’74 MA, Grandville, Mich. , died June 20, 2025, age 74

Jane M. Wylie, ’73, ’79 MA, Owosso, Mich. , died May 5, 2025, age 74

Kay A. (Hurley) Groulx, ’73, ’87 MA, Saginaw, Mich. , died July 7, 2025, age 73

Terry M. DuPuis, ’74, Blanchard, Mich. , died Sep. 22, 2024, age 73

Thomas W. Baray, ’74, Caro, Mich. , died May 15, 2025, age 78

James H. Bennington, ’74 MA, Abilene, Texas, died Oct. 1, 2024, age 91

Charles Z. Ridgway, ’75 MA, Fairfield, Calif. , died Jan. 14, 2025, age 86

Gary L. Shepard, ’75, Ocala, Fla. , died May 19, 2025, age 85

Steven C. Harris, ’75, Rogers City, Mich. , died Apr. 5, 2025, age 76

Connie L. (Bersuder) Huston, ’75, Harrietta, Mich. , died June 8, 2025, age 72

Ollie M. Irvin, ’75, Sturgis, Mich. , died Sep. 27, 2024, age 72

Janet S. (Lentz) Redder, ’75, Petoskey, Mich. , died Apr. 22, 2025, age 72

Douglas E. Stites, ’75, Potterville, Mich. , died May 25, 2025, age 74

Bart McKinley, ’75 MA, Erie, Pa. , died June 23, 2025, age 85

Robert W. Nygaard, ’75, Niagara, Wis. , died Apr. 17, 2025, age 71

Esther (Fugl) Frost, ’76 MA, Sun City West, Ariz. , died June 29, 2025, age 100

Linda L. (Myers) Meid, ’76, Indianapolis, Ind. , died Apr. 22, 2025, age 71

Kenneth M. Bell, ’76, Hemlock, Mich. , died Mar. 29, 2025, age 70

Patricia J. Long, ’76, Mount Pleasant, Mich. , died Oct. 3, 2024, age 72

George J. Drozd, ’76 MA, Mount Pleasant, Mich. , died May 4, 2025, age 76

Catherine Sias, ’76, Bellaire, Mich. , died May 7, 2025, age 70

David L. Roodvoets, ’76, Muskegon, Mich. , died Feb. 2, 2025, age 86

Jeffrey A. Haas, ’76, Minneapolis, Minn. , died Apr. 24, 2025, age 71

Patricia A. McGuire, ’76, Bordentown, N. J., died Aug. 6, 2024, age 70

Hugh B. Batson, ’76 MA, Greer, S.C., died Oct. 4, 2024, age 87

Robert L. Jenks, ’76 MA, Fairfax, Va. , died Apr. 26, 2025, age 88

Laurie L. Kenny, ’77, Boynton Beach, Fla. , died May 22, 2025, age 71

Pamela E. (Nichol) Perryman, ’77 MA, Grand Blanc, Mich. , died June 29, 2025, age 78

In Memory

Joyce E. (Miller) Phillips, ’77, Midland, Mich. , died May 17, 2025, age 69

Jeanne M. (Burke) Lake, ’77, Battle Creek, Mich. , died May 29, 2025, age 69

Donald O. Graham, ’77, Pentwater, Mich. , died June 11, 2025, age 80

Jane F. Sanderson, ’77, ’86 MA, Oscoda, Mich. , died Aug. 27, 2024, age 69

William V. Carnes, ’78 MA, Gainesville, Fla. , died June 7, 2025, age 81

Rosaline Galler, ’78, Clare, Mich. , died May 7, 2025, age 90

Michael P. Centala, ’78, Dundee, Mich. , died Sep. 19, 2024, age 68

Ludwig W. Schultz, ’78, Birch Run, Mich. , died Apr. 25, 2025, age 70

Joseph J. Myslivec, ’78, ’79 MA, ’83 MBA, Mount Pleasant, Mich. , died July 22, 2024, age 69

Jamie (Angus) Miller, ’78 MA, Claremont, N. H., died Sep. 28, 2024, age 78

Debra M. (Parker) Momany, ’78, Findlay, Ohio, died Mar. 22, 2025, age 68

Uri S. French, ’78 MA, Annandale, Va. , died May 6, 2025, age 87

Debra E. (Himmel) Sherwood, ’79, Annapolis, Md. , died Sep. 21, 2024, age 67

Roger H. Klahn, ’79, Lansing, Mich. , died Apr. 27, 2025, age 68

Margaret A. Lee, ’79 MA, Midland, Mich. , died May 4, 2025, age 76

Brenda (Holcomb) Bernardi, ’80, Essex, Conn. , died Mar. 31, 2025, age 67

Marcia K. (Russell) Brooks, ’80, ’82 MA, Mount Pleasant, Mich. , died Apr. 10, 2025, age 75

Irene C. (Haas) Mason, ’81, Naples, Fla. , died Apr. 1, 2025, age 66

Mary B. Wojcik, ’81, ’88 MS, Saint Ignace, Mich. , died July 15, 2024, age 65

Tanya M. Fox, ’81, ’02 MA, Coleman, Mich. , died Sep. 12, 2024, age 65

Joseph M. Rainey, ’81 MA, Frankenmuth, Mich. , died May 3, 2025, age 83

Wayne J. Osborne, ’82 MA, Escondido, Calif, died June 12, 2025, age 81

Edward H. Gossling, ’82 MA, Lithia, Fla. , died May 18, 2025, age 79

Herbert W. Goad, ’82 MA, Shreveport, La. , died Oct. 5, 2024, age 86

John R. Bradshaw, ’82 MA, Odenton, Md. , died June 22, 2025, age 70

Thomas Jeffery, ’82 MA, Frederic, Mich. , died July 28, 2024, age 74

Gary N. Neil, ’82 MA, Herndon, Va. , died Apr. 1, 2025, age 82

Denise M. (Cameron) Brooks, ’83 MA, Fort Gratiot, Mich. , died Apr. 27, 2025, age 64

Robert W. Kennedy, ’83, Grand Rapids, Mich. , died Apr. 13, 2025, age 63

Roger W. Delorey, ’84 MA, Lake Hamilton, Fla. , died Feb. 1, 2025, age 88

Craig S. Boulier, ’84, ’92 MA, Mount Pleasant, Mich. , died Apr. 13, 2025, age 65

Robert M. Gehlken, ’85 MSA, Melbourne, Fla. , died July 2, 2025, age 87

Licerio G. Butacan, ’85 MA, Jacksonville, Fla. , died July 31, 2024, age 81

Sharon L. Macri, 85 MA, Saint Clair, Mich. , died Apr. 12, 2025, age 83

Alice M. (Rummel) Kunze, ’85, Sault Sainte Marie, Mich. , died May 27, 2025, age 64

Karen M. (Radomski) Stark, ’86, Holland, Mich. , died Mar. 20, 2025, age 62

Tonya D. Wood-Olin, ’86, MSA, Clio, Mich. , died Apr. 25, 2025, age 60

Claudia M. (Palarski) Nowak, ’88 MA, Commerce Township, Mich. , died Sep. 29, 2024, age 78

Carole A. (North) Heydenburg, ’88 MA, Rockford, Mich. , died May 25, 2025, age 84

Ernest E. Varner, ’89 MSA, Acworth, Ga. , died Oct. 3, 2024, age 74

Kevin M. Lee, ’89 MS, Lincoln, Neb. , died Apr. 14, 2025, age 62

Helen B. Colyer, ’90, Kenai, Alaska, died Apr. 24, 2025, age 71

Howard D. Hatt, ’90, Manchester, Mich. , died Apr. 23, 2025, age 71

Jeffery J. Ford, ’90, Caro, Mich. , died Apr. 25, 2025, age 59

Betty D. Seltzer, ’91 MSA, Glenn Dale, Md. , died June 19, 2025, age 64

Shirley M. Gramby, ’91 MA, Reynoldsburg, Ohio, died May 18, 2025, age 70

William R. Posey, ’91 MSA, Columbia, S.C., died May 2, 2025, age 90

Janice R. Kuebler, ’91 MA, Garland, Texas, died Apr. 27, 2025, age 85

Kellie A. Dora, ’92 MA, Linwood, Mich. , died May 9, 2025, age 65

Mary J. (Jankowiak) Asadorian, ’92, Grand Haven, Mich. , died May 14, 2025, age 84

Mike Alley, ’92, West Branch, Mich. , died May 22, 2025, age 55

Bernadine (Perry) Lasher, ’92 MA, Lake, Mich. , died Oct. 1, 2024, age 80

Dominic V. Roberts, ’93, ’95 MSA, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died July 23, 2024, age 54

Phyllis M. Hope, ’93 MSA, Moncton, Neb. , died Apr. 23, 2025, age 71

Robert L. Pitts, ’94 MSA, Cabot, Ark. , died Apr. 5, 2025, age 77

Ronald D. DeMoss, ’94 MSA, Ocala, Fla. , died Oct. 5, 2024, age 66

Jason M. Cook, ’96, Portage, Mich. , died Apr. 30, 2025, age 52

Mildred M. Gillies, ’97 MA, Big Rapids, Mich. , died June 21, 2025, age 85

Lawrence W. Barker, ’98, West Lafayette, Ind. , died June 7, 2025, age 67

Gerilyn M. (Maida) Mastroeni, ’98, Howell, Mich. , died May 24, 2025, age 63

John E. Lynn, ’98 MSA, New Freedom, Pa. , died May 3, 2025, age 86

Cortney J. (Munger) Nowak, ’00, ’06 MA, DeWitt, Mich. , died July 23, 2024, age 47

Christine L. (Verzatt) Bottiglieri, ’00 MSA, Mullica Hill, N. J., died Oct. 1, 2024, age 72

Thomas S. Berlin, ’01, Midland, Mich. , died Apr. 20, 2025, age 63

Keith M. O’Laughlin, ’02, ’06 MA, Saginaw, Mich. , died July 8, 2024, age 45

Ann P. Robinson, ’03, Roanoke, Va. , died Apr. 29, 2025, age 76

Harold F. Simon, ’05, Augusta, Ga. , died Mar. 14, 2025, age 77

Jessica A. Maier, ’05, Palms, Mich. , died May 6, 2025, age 44

Deborah A. (Kelly) Cioffi, ’08 MSA, Manalapan, N. J., died Apr. 2, 2025, age 68

Fabian M. Torres, ’09 MA, Lapeer, Mich. , died Sep. 30, 2024, age 55

Erina V. (Barber) Calin, ’14, ’21 MS, Hollywood, Fla. , died Aug. 7, 2024, age 42

FACULTY/STAFF

W.A. Hakala, East Lansing, Mich. , died Jan. 5, 2025, age 99

Edward J. Fisher, Mount Pleasant, Mich. , died Mar. 23, 2025, age 91

Ernest H. Lloyd, Holland, Mich. , died Apr. 14, 2025, age 93

Joanne M. Taylor, Imlay City, Mich. , died Apr. 15, 2025, age 84

Rebecca L. Hovey, Glen Arbor, Mich. , died Apr. 27, 2025, age 74

Linda L. Bailey, Harrison, Mich. , died Apr. 5, 2025, age 72

Ernestine Pohl, Mount Pleasant, Mich. , died May 27, 2025, age 97

Edward L. McDonald, Remus, Mich. , died June 1, 2025, age 65

Ernest L. Yoder, Royal Oak, Mich. , died June 20, 2025, age 73

Donald E. Holland, Mount Pleasant, Mich. , died June 23, 2025, age 93

Amy L. Motz, Lansing, Mich. , died June 23, 2025, age 59

Betty Langlois, Alma, Mich. , died July 27, 2025, age 91

Robert E. Hoffman, Mount Pleasant, Mich. , died Aug. 17, 2024, age 89

Fred E. DuBois, Mount Pleasant, Mich. , died Aug. 23, 2024, age 76

Melvyn D. Remus, Vancouver, Wash. , died Aug. 3, 2024, age 92

Frederick M. Phelps, Holland, Mich. , died Sep. 24, 2024, age 91

Christine M. Bailey, Burton, Mich. , died Sep. 25, 2024, age 69

Elliott S. Parker, Mount Pleasant, Mich. , died Sep. 27, 2024, age 84

DO YOU REMEMBER

Look it up!

Before social media, students relied on a paper directory to find friends, roommates — and maybe a crush.

The campus directory was once a must-have for every student — a slim, phone book-style guide packed with names, campus addresses and phone numbers. The first bound and printed student directory appeared in 1948-49, just after World War II brought a surge of new students and telephones to campus. Some covers from the 1980s were student-designed through campus contests. By the early 1990s, covers popped with teal, hot pink and lemonyellow shapes straight out of a Trapper Keeper or Capri Sun ad.

Inside, you’d find your friends — and maybe your crush — listed with their residence hall, campus phone extension and hometown.

By the late 2010s, the paper directory had faded away, replaced by digital search tools and social media. But for generations of CMU Chippewas, flipping through those pages was a rite of passage.

Carlin

Life is full of twists and turns — events that can threaten a student’s college education At CMU, our Student Emergency Fund is there when our CMU Chippewas need a boost, often allowing them to stay in school through difficult circumstances. igni t e . cmich . edu /se f

$1,438,259 dollars have been awarded 1,132 Students awarded dollars $158,800 Dollars raised for the 24-25 fiscal year 1,602 Donors for the 24-25 fiscal year

“ This award allows students to pursue their dreams. Personally, I am working three jobs and going to school full time. Awards like this help students like me.”