The purpose of the academy is to give honor and recognition to a select group of our outstanding graduate and undergraduate alumni. It is with great pride and enthusiasm that we honor them – and thank them for their willingness to give back to our school.

School of Communication
2003 Alumni Academy Inductee

Kyle Caldwell

Kyle Caldwell completed both his undergraduate degree in Communication in 1991 and a Masters in Organizational Communication in 1993 from Western Michigan University. Shortly after graduation, Kyle applied to be a Governor’s Management Intern with the Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC)—a state agency that promotes volunteerism. After three years as a program officer, Kyle decided to return to the classroom simultaneously teaching Interpersonal Communication at WMU part-time and teaching photography full-time to high school students in Van Buren County. Kyle served as a develpment officer at Olivet College, where he created the Leadership Awards Program. In May of 1998, Kyle was selected by Governor Engler to serve as Executive Director of the Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC). Kyle’s public service career started out with the MCSC in 1993 as a Governor’s Management Intern (GMI). This program reached out to graduate colleges in the state to provide their students with learning opportunities in public service. Part of Kyle’s internship involved serving as the first Program Director of Michigan CARES (Communities Accessing Resources to Engage in Service). Kyle worked with five Michigan communities (Alpena, Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, and Muskegon) to help develop local comprehensive plans for volunteerism. Over the years, Kyle has focused the organization on building sustainable programs and partnerships for service and volunteerism. During his tenure, he has helped to build a team that has strengthened the organization’s budget to $7.5 million in federal and $2 million in state support, developed a comprehensive statewide partnership—the Connect Michigan Alliance, and moved the organization in the direction of grant making and partnership building. He and his wife, Juliann, have two children—Emma and Zachary. The Caldwells live in Augusta, Michigan.