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Associate professor Barbara Frazier, Ph.D., received a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture Cooperative National Research Initiative. Dr. Frazier is co-principal investigator on the project with researchers from Iowa State University and Ohio State University. The 3 year, $500,000 project will investigate the social and economic impacts of local retailers on rural communities. The project will identify ways that the retail sector in rural communities contributes to and enhances economic development. The research team will use results of community research to develop experiential learning projects that engage college students with rural community leaders and business owners in order to expose college students to rural entrepreneurship opportunities, and help communities understand how to attract and retain younger residents.
Lateshia Agnew was one of 66 students nationwide to receive the American Humanics award. The award identifies its recipients as future leaders in nonprofit work and philanthropy. Agnew will receive a $4,500 scholarship through the Next Generation Nonprofit Leaders Program to cover expenses while completing an internship with a nonprofit organization.
Dr. Linda Dannison, chair, has been invited by the Council for the International Exchange of Scholars to serve as a reviewer on the 2008-09 Sociology and Social Work Peer Review Committee for the Fulbright Senior Specialist Program.
A high level multi-sector delegation from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands met with researchers from Western Michigan University to discuss on-going projects directed at the childhood obesity epidemic that has captured the attention of governments around the world. A multidisciplinary team of College of Education faculty have teamed up with the CNMI public school system to offer a program to primary caregivers that has the potential to impact childhood obesity through household behavioral changes. These faculty are Mozhdeh Bruss, Joseph Morris, Linda Dannison, Tim Michael, Brooks Applegate, Andrea Smith, and Judy McGowan representing dietetics, adult education, psychology, exercise science, early childhood, parent education, program development and evaluation, research methodology, and teacher education. Other faculty members including Lonnie Duncan, Suzan Ayers, and James Lewis from the College of Education and Amy Curtis from the College of Health and Human Services will participate in upcoming meetings discussing multifaceted and multilevel aspects of childhood obesity in the CNMI and exploring strategies for its reduction and prevention. The project is supported by the Larry L. Hillblom Foundation, CNMI Public School System, and Western Michigan University.
The Capital Area Higher Education Network recognized Mary Beth Tygielski, master’s student at the WMU-Lansing Campus, in an award ceremony April 9. Karen Pohja, instructor, nominated Tygielski for her resolve in pursuing her degree. Tygielski works as a Clinical Audit Coordinator of Medical Management at Priority Health-Farmington Hills. CAHEN is a group of twelve area colleges and universities working collaboratively to promote life-long learning in the Lansing metropolitan area, foster discussion of higher education issues, and encourage employers to support professional development of their employees. CAHEN’s target audience consists of adult learners who need to earn an undergraduate or graduate degree in order to advance professionally, want to remain competitive in the work force, and wish to conduct their studies in the Lansing area.