Ceremony set for Shirley Verrett Award recipient Daniel Washington
The University of Michigan Women of Color in the Academy Project has scheduled a virtual award ceremony for May 12 to present its ninth annual Shirley Verrett Award to Daniel Washington, a bass-baritone and professor of music (voice) at the School of Music, Theatre & Dance, and an honorary professor (humanities) at the University of Cape Town South African College of Music. Washington will be recognized for his exemplary leadership and advocacy on behalf of diverse students and faculty artists. In addition, the award celebrates his innovation and impact on advancing diversity and inclusion at U-M and beyond through his performances and service. Washington is an expert on African American classical music and spirituals and has received national and international awards for artistry. The ceremony in honor of Verrett and Washington begins at 5 p.m. May 12, followed by a toast. Marcia Porter, associate professor of voice at Florida State University, and a cousin and former student of Verrett, will be a special guest performer. The event is free and open to the public. Registration is requested. Register for the May 12 event.
Towsley Foundation grant expands Ford School Leadership Initiative
A $750,000 grant from the Harry A. and Margaret D. Towsley Foundation will allow the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy to grow its innovative Leadership Initiative. Launched as a pilot in the 2019-20 academic year, the initiative offers courses, programming and coaching that complement the school’s academic rigor and emphasis on analytic training, as well as writing and communication skills. The new Towsley funding will strengthen and expand the Leadership Initiative by providing all Master of Public Policy students with access to leadership coaching during their required summer internships; increasing assessment opportunities for all master’s and bachelor’s students; and offering new coursework, skills workshops and opportunities to interact with policy leaders. The Ford School’s innovative model for leadership development integrates critical leadership skills into core competencies and coursework, as well as provides opportunities for assessments and coaching for all master’s students. For more on the grant.
Ross announces loan repayment program for full-time MBA grads pursuing social impact careers
With growing interest in students looking to make an impact in their careers, the Stephen M. Ross School of Business has created a new program to provide educational loan repayment assistance to full-time MBA graduates who obtain jobs at nonprofit, education and public sector organizations. Through the Impact Advantage Program, alumni of the Michigan Ross Full-Time MBA Program who pursue a career in the public or nonprofit sectors — and earn below the median base salary of the most recent graduating class — can apply for student loan repayment assistance. For those graduates accepted into the program, Impact Advantage will cover a portion of their Ross-related loan obligations — $7,500 per year for five years — while they are employed full-time at a social impact organization. For more on the program.
UM-Dearborn launching master’s degree in materials science engineering
As long as there has been engineering there has been an interest in new materials. But UM-Dearborn Professor Oleg Zikanov and Associate Professor German Reyes-Villanueva say unique forces shaping today’s economy are supercharging the drive for innovation. Things like climate change, the pivot away from fossil fuels, resource scarcity, and the desire to have materials that are environmentally friendly throughout their life cycle mean that materials science engineers are now in high demand across just about any industry you can think of. This fall, UM-Dearborn is launching a new master’s in materials science and engineering to help meet that growing demand. Reyes-Villanueva and Zikanov said they expect the new program to draw a wide range of students, including international students and working engineers who are looking to take the next step in their careers. Learn more about the new program.
CECS at UM-Dearborn debuting six certificate programs this fall
Certificate programs aren’t new to UM-Dearborn’s College of Engineering and Computer Science, but Wencong Su, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, says this latest generation of certificates will definitely have a new feel for students. All six programs debuting this fall have been developed closely with industry partners — meaning the skills and subjects students will focus on are relevant in today’s economy. Su says the Electrical System Planning certificate, which he has been developing with Michigan utilities since 2019, is a good example of how they’re trying to make the new certificates more practical for students and employers alike. Three additional certificates — Electrical System Analytics, Electrical System Equipment and Electrical System Protection and Control — are also designed for those interested in the utility industry. Two others, Industrial Mechatronics and Engineering of Electrified Vehicular Systems, will focus on leading edge areas in manufacturing. For more on the new certificates, visit umdearborn.edu/cecs/graduate-programs/certificates.
— Compiled by Jeff Bleiler and James Iseler, The University Record
