Biological Sciences
Bridges Program Staff
The Michigan Bridges Program Staff coordinates all the activities of the Bridges Program that have not been assigned to individual Community Colleges. After each name below, the major responsibilities of that individual are stated.
Sherine Obare Ph.D.
Program Director and Associate Professor of Chemistry
Whose responsibilities include:
- Establish a calendar for the program and ensures that all program events indicated are prepared for and are performed in a creative and professional manner
- Identify and engage research mentors at WMU for Research Assistants from KCC, KVCC and LMC
- At GRCC and HFCC assists Program Coordinators to identify and engage research mentors at Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) and WSU, respectively
- Available to counsel Bridges Research Assistants (RAs)
- Approves invoices from Community Colleges
- Prepares Annual and final Progress Reports to NIGMS
Dr. Obare's contact information
Office: 3150 Wood Hall, Office Phone: 387-2923
Email: sherine.obare@wmich.edu
Leonard Ginsberg, Ph.D.
Co-Program Director
and Professor of Biological Sciences
Whose responsibilities include:
- Available to mentor RAs, especially with problems that are administrative in nature
- Help with transfer issues to a four year college or university
- Help with making and producing effective posters
Dr. Ginsberg's contact information
Please make an appointment by calling (269) 387-5869
Olivia Smith
Associate of Science, former Bridges RA and Assistant Program Director
Whose responsibilities include:
- As a biochemistry major at WMU she can provide student to student counseling
- Helps with filling out appointment forms for RAs at WMU
- Handles time report cards (the basis of the RAs biweekly pay)
- Handles all travel reimbursements (travel is reimbursed for all program participants from the Kalamazoo Office)
- Handles ordering of research supplies for all research labs involved