The College of Health and Human Services at WMU is home to exceptional undergraduate degrees and nationally respected graduate programs. US News & World Report ranks six of our programs in the top 100 of their kind and four of our programs in the top 50. From the top-ranking master's degree in occupational therapy to the brand new minor in Peace Corp health preparation, CHHS continues to grow and expand the academic reach of WMU.
On July 27, the college held a grand reopening ceremony to officially welcome the University community to the newly renovated space in the Ernest Wilbur Building. The space was primarily designed to accommodate classes in the new DPT program, but will also host classes from other disciplines in the college.
At the end of July, Dr. Earlie Washington stepped down as dean of the College of Health and Human Services and returned to the faculty of the School of Social Work. On July 27, the college hosted a celebration of her 12 years as dean.
The College of Health and Human Services recently received a major gift to establish the George Ishler Wellness Lab. During fall 2018, the lab will begin to assemble faculty partners from CHHS for interprofessional collaboration.
2018 marked the second year of the Health Careers Connection Program at CHHS. The summer bridge program for incoming first-year students grew by 40% in 2018. The college celebrated the completion of the three week on-campus session with all our HCCP students and their families.
The Empower Success program from the Bronson School of Nursing was recently featured on Raise the W, a podcast from the Office of Development and Alumni Relations. Dr. Mary Ann Stark and Empower Success scholar Austin Seavolt spoke about the program and the success of its first year.
A physician assistant class donated an enormous amount of food to the Invisible Need Project. This is a student-sponsored initiative undertaken by PA students every summer.
Human anatomy remains one of the key courses for students in the College of Health and Human Services. Student mastery is a reliable indicator for continued success at CHHS and beyond. To support and enhance anatomy education, the college has acquired an Anatomage Table.
President Edward Montgomery and his wife, Kari, joined CHHS and WMU Development and Alumni Relations for a special dinner at the Gilmore House to thank the Ishler family for their significant gift to name the new adult wellness laboratory in the soon-to-be remodeled Center for Disability Services Adult Wellness building.
Occupational therapy students and faculty worked with staff at the Unified Clinics to create a unique new space in the Occupational Therapy Clinic to be used for working with children who have sensory disorders. The space was constructed with large, plastic, interlocking bricks.
Nearly 1300 students walked across the stage of Miller Auditorium to receive diplomas on June 23. Among those graduates were 15 individuals from the first cohort of the Master of Public Health program, which officially launched in the fall of 2016.
