New director appointed for UM-Dearborn Office of International Affairs
Francisco Javier López has been appointed as the new director of the Office of International Affairs for UM-Dearborn. He started his position Aug. 27. After earning his Master of Arts degree in art history, López worked at the Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection in Washington, D.C., an affiliate of Harvard University. Its research library, museum and program in Byzantine studies attracted him to the institution. However, it was the expert faculty and advanced students from all over the world that became his focus. In the fellowship program coordinator role, part of his responsibilities included helping international students and scholars from around the world become connected and comfortable. He most recently served as the international student services director at Detroit’s College for Creative Studies.
New additions and upgrades at UM-Flint
UM-Flint conducted several renovation projects across its campus this summer. The escalator has been removed from the University Pavilion, and the elevator is scheduled to be refurbished in the coming months. The roof of the pavilion has also been refurbished. University Tower and the Riverfront Center are being upgraded with energy control systems, and the university added its second lactation room, with the new room located on the fourth floor of the William S. White building. Within the White building, the nursing offices are being reconfigured, with new carpeting and rooms. On the first floor, the university’s new food service provider Picasso Restaurant Group has opened Blue Bistro. Large portions of the Hamilton Dam, including the crumbling concrete structure and failing gates, were removed this summer by Genesee County Parks to make way for future river restoration activities upstream and downstream of the UM-Flint campus.
Nominations sought for Candace J. Johnson staff award
The Candace J. Johnson Award for Staff Excellence recognizes U-M staff members whose commitment to excellence, teamwork and a supportive environment make the university a great place to work. Candy Johnson, a longtime staff member in the Office of the Provost, was dedicated to U-M and the people who support and further its mission. When Candy died in 2003, the provost’s office chose to honor her contributions to U-M by establishing this award in her memory. The Candace J. Johnson Staff Award for Excellence recognizes staff members who, like Candy, are a positive influence in the workplace. All regular staff members on the Ann Arbor campus are eligible and may be nominated by colleagues or supervisors or a combination of the two. To submit a nomination, visit myumi.ch/6kNbb.
International Institute announces interdisciplinary master’s program
The International Institute will offer the Masters in International and Regional Studies beginning fall of 2019. MIRS combines an interdisciplinary curriculum, deep regional or thematic knowledge, and rigorous methodological training to prepare students for current and future international career opportunities both inside and outside of academia. The new degree provides students with the unique option of pursuing either a regional or thematic track with multiple subplans anchored in the institute’s centers and programs. Qualified students can also combine a MIRS degree with another U-M graduate or professional degree to create a self-initiated dual degree program. The curriculum consists of 36 credit hours across subplans. Applications to the MIRS degree program will be accepted starting in September 2018. The application deadline is Dec. 15. To learn more about the new master’s program or to apply, go to ii.umich.edu/mirs.
— Compiled by Safiya Merchant, The University Record
