Three finalists for associate provost make public presentations

Contact: Deanne Puca

KALAMAZOO--Public presentations by three final candidates for the post of Western Michigan University associate provost for institutional effectiveness begin Tuesday, Jan. 31.

The candidates will speak on the topic "Regional and program accreditation."

Presentation schedule

  • Dr. Nancy Schullery, WMU professor of business information systems, 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31, in Room 1040 of the Fetzer Center
  • Dr. Barbara Liggett, director of WMU's School of Public Affairs and Administration, 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1, in the Fetzer Center's Putney Auditorium; and
  • Dr. Jody Brylinsky, WMU professor of sport studies, 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3, in the Fetzer Center's Putney Auditorium.

The associate provost reports directly to the provost and is responsible for institutional accreditation, overseeing specialized program accreditation, instructional evaluation and planning. The administrator is responsible for monitoring and measuring how the University successfully plans and meets targeted outcomes.

For more information, visit wmich.edu/provost/searches.

Dr. Jody Brylinsky joined WMU in 1991 as an assistant professor, rising to associate professor in 1995 and then professor in 2003. She previously taught as an assistant professor at the University of South Dakota, and was a graduate assistant at both the University of Minnesota and Slippery Rock State College in Pennsylvania. She began her teaching career as a teacher and coach for Ambridge School District in Pennsylvania and also was an athletic director at the University of

Wisconsin-Superior. Brylinsky is a contributing author to numerous books and journals relating to coaching and sports education. She earned her doctoral degree in philosophy from the University of Minnesota in 1987, her master's in education from Slippery Rock in 1979 and a bachelor's in physical education and health education in 1977, also from Slippery Rock.

Dr. Barbara Liggett has been director of WMU's School of Public Affairs and Administration since May 2010 and before that, had held the position as interim director since February 2009. Previously, she was an assistant and then associate professor for that school. She joined WMU in 1980 as associate director for personnel and employee relations. She also has served as associate vice president for business and finance, associate vice president for human resources, associate vice president and executive advisor for quality in the Office of the President, as well as director of nonprofit leadership graduate programs. Outside of the University, she has worked for the Genesee County controller's office, City National Bank of Detroit, the Woodhaven School District, Hope College and Kal-Die Casting Corp. She earned a doctoral degree in educational leadership in 1986 and a master's in higher education administration in 1983, both from WMU. She earned a bachelor's in sociology, English and education from Hope College in 1972.

Dr. Nancy Schullery has worked in WMU's Haworth College of Business since joining the University faculty in the Department of Business Information Systems in 1997. She was an associate professor in 2001 and professor in 2008 while also serving as director of undergraduate programs from 2007 to 2011. Prior to coming to WMU, she was an adjunct professor and lecturer at Wayne State University, the University of Michigan-Dearborn and Eastern Michigan University. Her prior work includes serving in a variety of communication and business positions for such companies as Comshare Inc., Ford Motor Co., U.S. Council for Automotive Research, UNISYS/Burroughs Corp. and Howard Johnson Motor Lodge. She also was a business department instructor at Washtenaw Community College, a graduate assistant and advisor at Eastern Michigan University and a substitute teacher for Ann Arbor and Belleville public schools. She earned a doctoral degree in communication from Wayne State University, a master's in management and marketing from Eastern Michigan University and a bachelor's in education from the State University of New York, Cortland.