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Jeanette Schumacher, '69 CASL
Distinguished Alumnus of the Year
As her nominator wrote, "What more can an alumna of the University of Michigan-Dearborn do than give her professional and volunteer life to her alma mater? For Jeanette Schumacher, the answer was by working for the university she loves for many years and building the Alumni Relations Department into an important part of the institution." After earning her degree in 1969, Jeanette first served as a volunteer member at the dawn of the UM-Dearborn Alumni Society Board of Governors. Having shown her enthusiasm for bringing alumni together, then Chancellor William Jenkins and U-M Alumni Association Executive Director Robert Forman asked Jeanette to serve in a volunteer capacity as the first full-time Alumni Relations Director. She worked with the various alumni affiliates through their formative years, helping to guide the many different personalities and perspectives toward a common goal of doing what was best for the University.
Jeanette continued to fill this role on a volunteer basis while raising four children (Jennifer '91 CASL, Aaron '92 CASL, Martha '98 SOE, and Amanda '05 CASL) and keeping a household running. Her efforts were recognized as she eventually was hired first in a part-time capacity, and eventually, with a permanent full-time position as Alumni Relations Director in 1987. Jeanette's telephone calls and handwritten notes were the tools she used to cultivate hundreds of volunteers for the campus. For her, living the "Michigan Spirit" meant that the alumni were constructively engaged in the mission of the campus and having fun together while doing it. She was an expert at dovetailing alumni involvement with other events, including football, travel and civic activities. No one was a better "friend raiser" for the Dearborn campus, and Jeanette's many friends and contacts became much more likely to financially support the University because of her personal contact and energy. Jeanette's career accomplishments include becoming the first woman President of the UM Club of Greater (the University's oldest alumni club) and after many years of service, she received that club's Distinguished Alumni Service Award for 2008. She has served as vice president and treasurer of the Michigan Advancement Council, as a member of Exchange Club of Dearborn, and Michigan Jaycees and was awarded Congresswoman of the U.S. Jaycee Women. Jeanette recently retired as Alumni Relations and Annual Fund Director, and the legacy of all of her hard work will live on. It lives on through the work of the many alumni she recruited over the years who continue to be involved in raising money for scholarships and generally working on behalf of their alma mater-just as she did.
Anthony Allegrina, '82 CASL
Jeanette Schumacher Alumni Service Award
Anthony Allegrina earned his bachelor of arts degree in history from UM-Dearborn in 1982, and earned a master of arts in the same field from Wayne State University in 1986. He has been employed at Bodman LLP in Detroit since 1980. Tony held several positions, including that of Computer Systems Manager, before being named Director of Business Development in 1998. As Bodman LLP's first business development professional, he established the marketing department for this 145-attorney law firm. He serves as a member of the firm's Marketing and Long Range Planning committees. Anthony has been an extremely active volunteer for UM-Dearborn, serving in numerous capacities for the CASL Alumni Affiliate's Board of Governors for the past 15 years (including one of it's founding members and it's co-chair in 2002-03) and as a member of the CASL Dean's Search Committee. As an alumni ambassador, he assists with student recruitment during the Campus Open House, and serves as a Call Night volunteer (for "admitted but not enrolled" freshmen). Anthony has served on committees awarding Alumni Society Legacy Scholarships and CASL Alumni Affiliate Scholarships to academically talented students.
Michael Berry
Community Service Award
Michael Berry has devoted his life to helping the community, professionally and personally and education has always been a high priority in Michael's community service efforts. Involved with the campus since the early 1970's, he currently serves on the Dean's Advisory Council in the College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters and as a senior advisor to Chancellor Dan Little on issues which affect the Arab American community in southeast Michigan. He also served on the founding committee for UM-Dearborn's Center for Arab American Studies. Last year, Michael and his wife, Cindy Hanes-Berry, established an endowed scholarship to provide need-based scholarship support for students on campus. A senior partner for fifty years in the law firm, Berry, Francis, Seifman, Salamey, & Harris, Michael first became involved in politics over 60 years ago. He was active in the 16th Congressional District of the Democratic Party and served as elector for the district in 1960. He also became a precinct delegate and eventually district chairman. However, Michael is probably best known in the political arena for his years of service on the Wayne County Road Commission - he served from 1967 to 1983, spending most of those years as chairman.
Kevin McKervey, '77 Management
Professional Growth and Scholarship Award
A 1977 graduate of UM-Dearborn, Kevin McKervey has utilized his degree in business administration to become a highly regarded business adviser and shareholder of Clayton and McKervey, P.C. His nominator wrote: "Kevin's personal commitment and professional contributions to assisting foreign-owned companies establish operations in Southeast Michigan are immeasurable." Kevin's professional affiliations include service as Chairman of the International Business Development Committee for PKF North American Network and membership with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants, where he is former Chairman of the International Committee. He is active in the Detroit Regional Economic Partnership, the German-American, French-American, and Michigan Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, and the Canadian United States Business Association. An author of many articles related to global business, Kevin has been published many times. Recent articles include "Five Keys to Globalization for the Entrepreneur" for Crain's Detroit Business and "Mergers and Acquisitions: They're Not just for Big Corporations" in the Oakland and Ann Arbor Business Reviews. Kevin speaks frequently on international topics, most recently facilitating the Association for Corporate Growth meeting on the Impact of Doing Joint Ventures in China. He serves as a member of the College of Business Dean's Advisory Council.
Dr. Brian McKenna, '69 CASL
Faculty Member of the Year
Dr. Brian McKenna began as a visiting professor of anthropology at UM-Dearborn in 2004, and became an assistant professor in 2005. Since 2007, he has volunteered his time to teach "Introduction to Anthropology" to women prisoners at the Scott Correctional Facility in Plymouth. He currently serves as a board member of American Indian Health and Family Services (Detroit) and is a consulting editor for the Journal of Medical Humanities, peer-reviewing about 3-4 articles per year. He is the author of numerous scholarly articles and has served as a presenter at many professional conferences. As quoted by his nominator, "Professor Brian McKenna deserves the faculty member of the year award…for challenging his students to think differently…. Most educators have the ability to transfer knowledge in terms of theory, but Professor McKenna focused on the practical application of the information. Drawing upon what he learned from his own experiences in the field of anthropology, he created unique lessons which gave me a new perspective on the subject. Professor McKenna's flexibility and willingness to accept input from his students allowed me to get the most out if his class. I was fortunate to have him as a professor."
Kenneth Ross, '90 CASL
College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters
Distinguished Alumnus of the Year
Kenneth Ross earned a bachelor of arts degree, double majoring in philosophy and political science in 1990. He went on to earn his law degree (graduating cum laude) from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. Ken was named Commissioner, Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation (OFIR), by Governor Jennifer M. Granholm in February 2008. As Commissioner, he administers 29 public acts and regulates a variety of individual licensees and entitles, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, 26 HMOs, 139 banks, 174 domestic insurance companies, 216 credit unions, 1,427 foreign insurance companies, 1,858 investment advisers, 2,036 securities broker-dealers, 6,172 consumer finance lenders, 171,443 insurance agents, and 123,604 securities agents. Prior assignments within OFIR included those of Acting Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner for Policy, and the Commissioner's Chief of Staff. Earlier positions included: Vice President of Regulatory and Legal Affairs and Director of Regulatory Affairs for the Michigan Credit Union League (MCUL); Assistant Attorney General, serving under Attorneys General Frank Kelley and Jennifer Granholm; and as Chief of Staff for State Representative Agnes M. Dobronski. In that capacity, he was responsible for a wide variety of issues including crafting the legislative agenda, committee management and policy development. His primary public policy focus areas were election and local government law.
John Cole, '76 Engineering
College of Engineering and Computer Science
Alumni Service Award
John Cole earned a bachelor of science in industrial and systems engineering from UM-Dearborn in 1976, and is a Registered Professional Engineer in the states of Michigan and North Carolina. John is currently President and Chief Operating Officer of Parkwood Engineering Development Corporation in Westland. Previously, he was Vice President of engineering and development for Kolene Corporation in Detroit and a member of Kolene's Board of Directors. He is involved in many industrial, trade, and professional organizations, including NSPE, SME, SAE, PCI, and the Industrial Heating Equipment Association, where he served as national president in 2003. As chair of the CECS Alumni Affiliate Board of Governors since 2003, John has helped to lead several initiatives for the college, most notably the creation of the annual Engineering/Computer Science Experience and contest. This event gives high school students a "taste" of what the engineering profession is about, and offers partial tuition scholarships to the winners. He also helped develop the college's Donor Recognition Wall Brick Program, which raises scholarship funds for engineering and computer science students. John helped form a GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade) alumni committee, speaks to students at campus recruitment events, and reconnects with CECS alumni through social and networking events organized by the affiliate.
Arnold Van Zanten, '65 Engineering
College of Engineering and Computer Science
Distinguished Alumnus of the Year
Arnold Van Zanten received a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from UM-Dearborn in 1965 and continued his studies at UM-Ann Arbor, earning an M.B.A. in 1967. Early in his career, Mr. Van Zanten worked at Anderson Consulting in Detroit, and served as an instructor at Wayne County Community College, teaching classes in computer and data processing principles. Later, he served as a Vice President at Detroit's American Natural Resources, as well as President and Director of the subsidiary ANR Information Systems Company. Moving to Houston, he served as Senior Vice President for The Coastal Corporation and then National Convenience Stores Incorporated. In 1996, started his own independent consulting firm, currently located in Clearwater, Florida. His work focuses on the areas of business planning and restructuring and technology services. Mr. Van Zanten has served in a variety of volunteer roles, most recently having served for 12 years as a trustee and executive committee member with Hope College, where he attended prior to his enrollment at UM-Dearborn.
Stephen Weatherholt, '98 CASL, '99, '01, '04 Education
School of Education
Distinguished Alumnus of the Year
Stephen Weatherholt earned a bachelor of arts degree in history and social studies from the College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters in 1998. He continued his studies in the School of Education, earning a SOE endorsement as a Secondary Teacher of Social Studies in 1999, a M.Ed. in Special Education (concentrating in Learning Disabilities) in 2001, and a M.A. in Performance Improvement and Instructional Design in 2004. Since 1999, Mr. Weatherholt has taught students with learning disabilities in the Taylor School District and is a valued, district-wide consultant trainer. He also serves as an adjunct lecturer in the UM-Dearborn School of Education and internship supervisor for the school's Special Education program. Mr. Weatherholt is very active in his profession, is a valued member of the School of Education Alumni Board, and active in a variety of professional associations that help link the SOE with numerous community agencies. Stephen is currently enrolled at Wayne State University in their Specialist Certificate Program in General Administration concentrating in Special Education Supervision with the intent to complete an Ed.D. in Education Administration.
Gary Wagerson, '63 Management
College of Business
Distinguished Alumnus of the Year
After graduating in 1963 with his bachelor of business administration degree in marketing, Gary Wagerson joined PPG Industries, which led to sales jobs in Detroit, North Carolina, and Pittsburgh, where ultimately he was named Manager of New Products in the fiberglass division. Following a stint as Marketing Director for a joint venture between PPG Industries and Union Carbide, Gary's entrepreneurial spirit led to the founding of his own sales agency, Wagerson & Associates, Intl., in 1970. Mainly a sales and marketing consulting firm for overseas companies wishing to do business in the U.S., the business greatly expanded when two of his sons joined him. This led to further international opportunities in India and Mexico, and more recently in Brazil. Gary founded a second company, Global Trade Development, whose list of clients included the International Monetary Fund. Beyond his business life, Gary and his wife, Joanne, founded two charities, the First Words Society which provides the families of children with speech problems with assistance not covered by insurance, and Beyond Basics which supports literacy work in inner-city schools. Mr. Wagerson is a trustee at William Beaumont Hospital, former director of the Detroit Golf Club, The Old Club and has been a member of the Detroit Athletic Club for over 30 years.
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