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New Walker Institute director begins duties

Jan. 9, 2008

KALAMAZOO--The former director of the University of Notre Dame's Institute of Latino studies and research director for Inter-University Program for Latino Research at the university has been tapped to head Western Michigan University's Walker Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnic Relations.

Dr. Timothy Ready began his new position Jan. 1, replacing interim director Dr. Lewis Walker, the WMU professor emeritus of sociology for whom the institute was named in 2000. Ready was also appointed to a tenure-track faculty position as an associate professor of anthropology.

"I look forward to doing all that I can to coalesce the talent and energy of this great University to support the institute's mission of teaching and research on issues related to race and ethnicity in our community, our state and around the world," says Ready. "While the institute's work will be grounded in solid scholarship, its agenda will be informed by an ethic of community service in support of a more just, equitable and prosperous society for all."

A teacher and author, Ready oversaw research, reviewed manuscripts, directed the Census Information Center of the Inter-University Program for Latino Research and organized workshops. He was chief designer and director of Project 3000 by 2000, a national diversity campaign of the Association of American Medical Colleges during the late 1990s.

He also was the administrator for an $11 million grants program that was co-sponsored by the W.K. Kellogg and Robert Wood Johnson foundations that supported educational partnerships to enable more African American, Latino and Native American students to progress through high school and college into various health professions. He earned his bachelor's degree in sociology from Notre Dame and his doctoral degree in anthropology from Michigan State University.

Ready also was senior program officer at the National Research Council of the National Academies in Washington where he directed three studies related to the education of minority and economically disadvantaged students. All three studies resulted in books published by National Academies Press.

The Walker Institute was established in 1989 to advance interracial and interethnic understanding through its threefold mission of promoting interdisciplinary research, teaching and service. It is located in Room 1104 Welborn Hall and open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, visit www.wmich.edu/isrer, or contact walker-institute@wmich.edu or call (269) 387-2141.

Media contact: Deanne Molinari, (269) 387-8400, deanne.molinari@wmich.edu

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