FCS
2007 News
The 2007 Student Design Exhibition was co-curated by students Andrea Abernathy, Ashley Mania and Kelsi Riggio.
Each garment was designed, created and sewn by each student.
Western students could enter up to five originally designed garments judged on construction and creativity.
Mozhdeh Bruss, associate professor in Family and Consumer Sciences and Dr. Linda Dannison chair of Family and Consumer Sciences, Dr. Joseph Morris, professor in Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology, Dr. Timothy Michael, associate professor in Health, Physical Education and Recreation, along with Jackie Quitugua and Rosa Palacios of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands co-authored a book chapter on "Childhood Obesity: Caregivers' Perceptions, Attitudes and Behaviors Related to Physical Activity and Inactivity" published by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. in 2007.
The Merchandising Opportunities Design Association fashion production "Luxe" was held on Nov. 9 and 10 at Cityscape in downtown Kalamazoo. "Luxe", a runway fashion show showcasing over 25 student designers, was part of Fusion, an annual event to benefit MODA and the Southwest Michigan Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. MODA will also produce a spring, 2008 show.
Caroline Webber and Mary Jo Peterson participate in WMU's second annual "Major Excitement" academic fair on Thursday, Sept. 20. The event helped undecided undergraduate students and incoming freshman comprehend the extensive variety of majors available.
Tiffany Hill, graduate student, just completed her practicum
(FCS 6220) in South Korea. She was teaching English at a summer camp on
the campus of Kyeimyung University in Daegu City. Here's what she had to say about her experience:
"I discovered early on that when I decided to teach outside the United States during the summer that I probably could not have picked a country that with more cultural differences than South Korea. It was both an adventure and learning experience from beginning to end. I taught English using all subjects at a summer camp on the campus of Kyeimyung University in the city of Daegu City. I lived in an apartment building not far from campus. The apartments there were different than what I am used to, my room made dorm rooms seem huge! The only thing that fit in the room was a bed. There was a shared common area, kitchen on the top floor and a shared bathroom. South Koreans make very good use of their space; all the buildings are multi-level. Shops and restaurants were underground as well as on upper floors in buildings."
The students were between 6 and 17 and I really enjoyed working with them. The most notable difference between them and the students I teach in Detroit was how hard they work when class is in session and how wild they become on a break. I did not expect such a vast difference between their classroom and play behavior. I learned a lot while I was gone, the experience was enriching and enjoyable."
Congratulations to Andrea Abernathy, an undergratuate student in Textiles and Apparel Studies, who has received a scholarship from The International Textile and Apparel Association in
cooperation with the American Interncontinental University to study fashion design and fashion
marketing at the AIU London campus. The scholarship covers tuition
for three courses and shared, university-sponsored housing fees for
one regular term. Andrea was selected based on her statement of purpose,
leadership and community activities, letters of
recommendation and design project. Andrea plans to go to AIU in spring 2008.
Larry G. Higdon, Mrs. Leta Schoenhals, Karl Shafer and Kevin Rynbrandt enjoy visiting together. Mrs. Schoenhals husband, Neil, was a professor in the College of Education for 30 years. After Mr. Schoenhal's death in 1975, his wife and children established an annual scholarship that has financially assisted many students.
Students of Judy McGowen and Eileen Buckly throw a surprise retirement party for the two faculty members. (summer 2007)
The Council for the International Exchange of Scholars has invited Dr. Linda Dannison, chair, to serve on the 2007-08 Sociology and Social Work Peer Review ommittee for the Fulbright Senior Specialists Program. She will review applications for the Fulbright Senior Specialists Program during the next year.
The "Alta Moda"
runway fashion show featuring the designs of WMU students was held on Apr. 21, 2007, at the Radisson Hotel. 
The audience of 700 people enjoyed the spring show made possible by 100 volunteers including 40 members of the Merchandising Opportunities Design Association. MODA members worked hard since January planning, fundraising, and producing the event. Ten hair and makeup volunteers from the Panopolous salon, 40 models, videographers, photographers, the DJ and many more participated to make this an exciting event. More...
Congratulations to Casey Peavey, a sophomore in interior design in The Department of Family and Consumer Sciences and honorable mention winner of the 2007 Student Creative Space Competition sponsored by Ghiordes Knot at the Michigan Design Center in Troy.
Dr. Linda Dannison, chair of Department of Family and Consumer Sciences and Dr. Andrea Smith, professor in Teaching, Learning and Educational Studies, recently completed a Fulbright Senior Specialist program in northern Norway. They collaborated with Dr. Amy Holtan, faculty of medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine at the University of Tromsoe. During their two-week stay, they presented a two-day workshop and two classes related to their research on kinship care and visited several pre-schools, elementary schools and orphanages. Further collaboration will include adapting the kinship care materials for use in Norway, that Dannison and Smith have written. Jointly authored articles on kinship care will be forthcoming.
Congratulations to Caroline F. DeWick for being selected as a WMU Presidential Scholar. The Presidential Scholar is the highest academic award the WMU can bestow to an undergraduate. Selection is based on the students' general academic excellence, academic and/or artistic excellence in their major and intellectual and/or artistic promise.
The annual interior design senior comprehensive project exhibition and reception was held in the gallery on Apr. 28, 2007.
Fulbright Senior Specialists Selected: Dr. Linda Dannison, chair of the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences and Dr. Andrea Smith, professor of Early Childhood in the Department of Teaching, Learning and Educational Studies, were selected to go to the University of Tromso, Norway as Fulbright Senior Specialists in March, 2007. They will lecture at the University and hold a series of in-service meetings for community-based professionals focused on kinship care and developing effective services for grandparent-headed family members. Researchers at the University of Tromso have been studying this issue in Scandinavia and other areas of western Europe so there is the potential for future partnerships and collaboration!
Congratulations to Dr. Linda Dannison who received the 2007 College of Education Esprit de Corps Award.
The Designing Women show included the interior design works of Melissa Crapo, Michelle Phillips, Kelly Slowen, Lindsey Turner and Sydney Vollmer.
Interior Design Senior Show and Reception - Designers Katie Hall, Caroline DeWick, Erin Stiemsma, Jessica Sebright, Kristin Wishchow and Erin Komasinski shared their work in the Design Gallery, 2002 Kohrman Hall, Jan. 22-Feb. 2.
Interior design students ended their senior show Feb. 23. Karen Algie, Abigail Boeheim, Sam Eagan, Kimberly Luce, Katie Joyce and Megan Nye presented eMErge featuring their design projects.
Dr. Marlene Breu, professor, visited the American InterContinental University campus in London, Jan. 27-31. She was invited to visit the campus to meet faculty and staff, see the facilities, visit with students, and observe classes in session. Dr. Breu also visited with Kelly Conlan, one of ten WMU students currently studying at the AIU London campus. Students have opportunities for internships in fashion houses, top retail establishments and other fashion business venues. The program prepares WMU textile and apparel students for a future in the global apparel business within a study abroad program and provides courses necessary for WMU fashion design students to complete curriculum requirements.