Faculty/Staff Spotlights

  1. February 10, 2025 Jennifer Hawkins
    “As competitive as I am, I was really happy that all three of us solved puzzles during the show, and we all won a nice amount of money.”

    — Jennifer Hawkins, division administrator for Infectious Diseases at Michigan Medicine who recently competed on “Wheel of Fortune” and won nearly $24,000 in cash and prizes

    Read more about Jennifer Hawkins
  2. February 3, 2025 Sandra Wiley
    “Being at Stamps helped me affirm the fact that I am a maker and an artist because I never would have described myself as an artist before.”

    — Sandra Wiley, director of international study programs at the Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design who has been knitting since she was a child and makes her own clothes

    Read more about Sandra Wiley
  3. January 27, 2025 Elliot Ratzman
    “Give me an hour and, no matter what body type or level of strength, I’ll make you the life of the party, wedding or bar mitzvah.”

    — Elliot Ratzman, a research fellow at the Raoul Wallenberg Institute and a lecturer in LSA who has been breakdancing since junior high school

    Read more about Elliot Ratzman
  4. January 20, 2025 Kathryn Lavender
    “Now that I have that stability, I can take some time for my art. I can just make it, enjoy the process and put it out there.”

    — Kathryn Lavender, a data project manager at the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research who turned her watercolor paintings of cats into calendars

    Read more about Kathryn Lavender
  5. January 13, 2025 Sandra Hunter
    “It’s really hard to just get out there and train when you haven’t got a goal, which is why I keep competing if I can.”

    — Sandra Hunter, the Francie Kraker Goodridge Collegiate Professor of Kinesiology and professor of kinesiology in the School of Kinesiology who competes in aquathlon

    Read more about Sandra Hunter
  6. December 9, 2024 Haley Perkins
    “I like that it’s accessible to children, but it also brings a childlike experience for me that I just get to play and see what happens.”

    — Haley Perkins, public programs and engagement officer at the Stamps Gallery who has been a lifelong artist and enjoys elevating the method of gel-plate printing beyond crafting

    Read more about Haley Perkins
  7. November 25, 2024 Linda Garcia
    “There was a lot of contemplation over what they’re viewing and the messages that are there for them to interpret.”

    — Linda Garcia, executive assistant in LSA’s Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology who uses her creativity with quilting and dioramas to celebrate scientists in EEB

    Read more about Linda Garcia
  8. November 18, 2024 Jennaye Wade
    “I felt like cheer helped me when I was a kid and becoming an adult because it helped me become more personable.”

    — Jennaye Wade, human resources generalist associate at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business who is a full-time volunteer varsity cheer coach and cheer director for the Washtenaw Junior Maize Football and Cheer League

    Read more about Jennaye Wade
  9. November 11, 2024 Chrysta Lienczewski
    “The joy that it brings them and the hope, I always get emotional talking about it, because it’s just so fantastic.”

    — Chrysta Lienczewski, a clinical research program manager with the Michigan Kidney Translational Medicine Center in Michigan Medicine who has been involved with Wish-A-Mile Bicycle Tour for 15 years

    Read more about Chrysta Lienczewski
  10. November 4, 2024 Olivia Deane
    “I feel like I’ve done my job if I’m helping kids grow and building their confidence every single day.”

    — Olivia Deane, financial specialist associate in the School of Music, Theatre & Dance who for the past several years has directed many children’s theater performances

    Read more about Olivia Deane