The event, which is free and open to the public, will take place from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Kochoff Hall inside the campus’s University Center.   

UM-Dearborn’s Conversation on Race, which began as a collaboration between the campus and New Detroit, is an ongoing series of forums geared toward promoting open and honest discussion about racial issues.  Two programs are held each semester featuring a guest speaker followed by both large and small group discussion.   

A world-renowned poet, writer, commentator, activist and educator, Giovanni is a widely-read American poet who prides herself on being "a Black American, a daughter, a mother, a professor of English," according to her Web site.   

The author of more than 30 books for both adults and children, she is a University Distinguished Professor at Virginia Tech.   

Giovanni’s honors and awards have been steady and plentiful throughout her career. The recipient of some 25 honorary degrees, she has been named Woman of the Year by Mademoiselle Magazine, Ladies Home Journal and Ebony Magazine.  She was tapped for the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame and named an Outstanding Woman of Tennessee.  She also has received Governor's Awards from both Tennessee and Virginia.     

Many of Giovanni's books have received honors and awards including her autobiography Gemini which was a finalist for the National Book Award.  Her books Love Poems, Blues: For All the Changes, Quilting the Black-Eyed Pea, Acolytes, and Hip Hop Speaks to Children: A Celebration of Poetry with a Beat were all honored with NAACP Image Awards.  Blues: For All the Changes also reached number four on the Los Angeles Times bestseller list, a rare achievement for a book of poems.   

Most recently, her children's picture book Rosa, about civil rights legend Rosa Parks, became a Caldecott Honors Book.  Rosa also reached number three on the New York Times bestseller list.    

Giovanni's spoken word recordings have achieved widespread recognition, too, including her album Truth Is On Its Way which was a Top 100 album and received the Best Spoken Word Album award given by the National Association of Radio and Television Announcers.    

Giovanni’s talk is sponsored by the Office of the Chancellor and the Student Activities Office.  For more information about the COR series, call the Student Activities Office at 313-593-5390.

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About University of Michigan-Dearborn
The University of Michigan-Dearborn is celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout the 2009/2010 academic year. Founded in 1959 with a gift of just over 200 acres of land and $6.5 million from the Ford Motor Company, UM-Dearborn has been distinguished by its commitment to providing excellent educational opportunities responsive to the needs of southeastern Michigan. The university has 8,700 students pursuing undergraduate, master’s, doctoral and professional degrees in the liberal arts and sciences, engineering, business, education, and public administration. With a faculty devoted to teaching, and students committed to achievement, UM-Dearborn has been shaped by its history of interaction with business, government and industry in southeastern Michigan, and is committed to responding to the needs of the region in the future.

 

CONTACT: Tom Hoyt
PHONE: 313-593-5542
The Office of University Relations
Room 1040, Administration Building
University of Michigan-Dearborn

To be eligible for this honor, chapters must demonstrate successful professional meetings, regional competition success and community service.

UM-Dearborn’s College of Business (COB) BAP chapter earned the honor by organizing meetings on campus with accounting and business professionals, hosting various presentations from companies and participating in community service activities during the 2008-2009 academic year.

“This award is a testimonial to the hard work and dedication of our College of Business students who are officers and members of BAP,” said Kim Schatzel, COB dean.  “We are lucky to have an enthusiastic officer group who made this happen.”
In a letter announcing the designation, Andrew Bailey, national president of Beta Alpha Psi, said "Recognition as a ‘Superior Chapter’ is a very significant accomplishment.  Under the leadership of Prof. Susan Baker, the Kappa Sigma Chapter has far exceeded the minimum requirements of Beta Alpha Psi, and has excelled in the areas of academics, professionalism, and leadership.

“We believe that Susan has provided an invaluable service to your students and academic institution,” Bailey noted.  “As we begin the 2009-2010 academic year, Susan's commitment, not only to the profession but also to the students of Beta Alpha Psi, will continue to be applauded today and every day to come."

####

About University of Michigan-Dearborn
The University of Michigan-Dearborn is celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout the 2009/2010 academic year. Founded in 1959 with a gift of just over 200 acres of land and $6.5 million from the Ford Motor Company, UM-Dearborn has been distinguished by its commitment to providing excellent educational opportunities responsive to the needs of southeastern Michigan. The university has 8,700 students pursuing undergraduate, master’s, doctoral and professional degrees in the liberal arts and sciences, engineering, business, education, and public administration. With a faculty devoted to teaching, and students committed to achievement, UM-Dearborn has been shaped by its history of interaction with business, government and industry in southeastern Michigan, and is committed to responding to the needs of the region in the future.

 

CONTACT: Tom Hoyt
PHONE: 313-593-5542
The Office of University Relations
Room 1040, Administration Building
University of Michigan-Dearborn

William Grosky, professor and chair of the Department of Computer and Information Science at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, is coordinating the conference.   

“The aim of this conference is to bring together people in academia, research laboratories and industry and offer a collaborative platform to address the emerging issues and solutions in digital information science and technology,” Grosky said.     

The conference will feature two key-note speakers: Sethuraman Panchanathan, professor in the School of Computing and Informatics at Arizona State University and deputy vice president of Research and Economic Affairs in the Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Affairs, and Amit Sheth, director of the Kno.e.sis Center in the College of Engineering and Computer Science at Wright State University.  Attendees from 16 different countries will present 41 papers during the conference.   

Late registration for the conference is available at www.icdim.org.  For more information, contact Grosky at 313-583-6424.

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About University of Michigan-Dearborn
The University of Michigan-Dearborn is celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout the 2009/2010 academic year. Founded in 1959 with a gift of just over 200 acres of land and $6.5 million from the Ford Motor Company, UM-Dearborn has been distinguished by its commitment to providing excellent educational opportunities responsive to the needs of southeastern Michigan. The university has 8,700 students pursuing undergraduate, master’s, doctoral and professional degrees in the liberal arts and sciences, engineering, business, education, and public administration. With a faculty devoted to teaching, and students committed to achievement, UM-Dearborn has been shaped by its history of interaction with business, government and industry in southeastern Michigan, and is committed to responding to the needs of the region in the future.

 

CONTACT: Tom Hoyt
PHONE: 313-593-5542
The Office of University Relations
Room 1040, Administration Building
University of Michigan-Dearborn

Officers who wish to pursue undergraduate or graduate degrees at UM-Dearborn will be eligible for a special scholarship that will provide a credit for 20 percent of their tuition costs and fees each semester.    

The partnership between the university and the Southfield Police Department seeks to expand community ties, facilitate academic access and promote higher education opportunities for police department employees.    

“Formal education is one of the keys to success of any organization.  The policing industry is not an exception,” said Southfield Police Chief Joseph E. Thomas, Jr.  “We welcome this partnership with the University of Michigan-Dearborn and view it as a win-win situation.”       

Prospective students may be admitted to any undergraduate or graduate program the university offers as long as the program’s admission and eligibility criteria are met.  UM-Dearborn’s 20 percent tuition credit will work in conjunction with any tuition assistance offered by the Southfield Police Department.       

"We are elated to partner with the Southfield Police Department to provide their officers with an opportunity to earn bachelor's and master's degrees at UM-Dearborn,” said Kathryn Anderson-Levitt, dean of the campus’s College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters.  “This partnership demonstrates the city's strong commitment to community policing, and will benefit everyone living and working in Southfield.  It's a great way for UM-Dearborn to continue making metropolitan Detroit a better place to live and work."

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About University of Michigan-Dearborn
The University of Michigan-Dearborn is celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout the 2009/2010 academic year. Founded in 1959 with a gift of just over 200 acres of land and $6.5 million from the Ford Motor Company, UM-Dearborn has been distinguished by its commitment to providing excellent educational opportunities responsive to the needs of southeastern Michigan. The university has 8,700 students pursuing undergraduate, master’s, doctoral and professional degrees in the liberal arts and sciences, engineering, business, education, and public administration. With a faculty devoted to teaching, and students committed to achievement, UM-Dearborn has been shaped by its history of interaction with business, government and industry in southeastern Michigan, and is committed to responding to the needs of the region in the future.

 

CONTACT: Tom Hoyt
PHONE: 313-593-5542
The Office of University Relations
Room 1040, Administration Building
University of Michigan-Dearborn

SOAR provides invaluable academic, financial and personal support for non-traditional students facing socioeconomic challenges, including subsidizing textbook costs.   

“With the skyrocketing price of textbooks and the struggling economy, we find our costs increasing and donations to our textbook fund dramatically decreasing,” said Ellen Judge-Gonzalez, director of the SOAR program in UM-Dearborn’s College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters. “Without prompt financial help, we are faced with the very real possibility of telling students that we cannot subsidize their textbooks.  And the reality is that if they cannot afford to buy books, they won’t be able to succeed in the program.”   

The program’s “SOAR International 9/50 Celebration” will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 17 in the campus’s Fairlane Center South building, located off of Hubbard Drive.  Proceeds provide textbooks for first-year SOAR students and critical grants to SOAR students in need.   

The theme of this year’s fundraiser celebrates the ninth anniversary of SOAR and the 50th anniversary of the university.  Cost to attend is $25, and participants will enjoy international cuisine, desserts and entertainment reflective of the rich diversity of the campus, its students and supporters.  The campus choral group, “The Vocal Experiment,” will perform during the event, along with additional music and dance performers.  There also will be a number of tin can raffle items.     

The event is sponsored in part by a grant from the 50th Anniversary Celebration Committee.  

In partnership with more than 50 local human service organizations, UM-Dearborn’s SOAR program is a tangible representation of the university’s Metropolitan Vision “to bring the knowledge resources of the university into engagement with the needs of the people of southeastern Michigan."   

SOAR provides a wide range of support for non-traditional students who wish to begin or resume their post-secondary education on a part-time basis.  Students in the SOAR program are referred to UM-Dearborn through their interactions with human service agencies and community support organizations.  SOAR students receive reduced tuition and textbook subsidies in their first year, as well as academic and personal support that continues throughout their tenure as UM-Dearborn students.    

To purchase tickets, or to sponsor a SOAR student, contact the SOAR office at 313-593-3961 or e-mail Christine Hilbush at chilbush@umd.umich.edu.

####

About University of Michigan-Dearborn
The University of Michigan-Dearborn is celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout the 2009/2010 academic year. Founded in 1959 with a gift of just over 200 acres of land and $6.5 million from the Ford Motor Company, UM-Dearborn has been distinguished by its commitment to providing excellent educational opportunities responsive to the needs of southeastern Michigan. The university has 8,700 students pursuing undergraduate, master’s, doctoral and professional degrees in the liberal arts and sciences, engineering, business, education, and public administration. With a faculty devoted to teaching, and students committed to achievement, UM-Dearborn has been shaped by its history of interaction with business, government and industry in southeastern Michigan, and is committed to responding to the needs of the region in the future.

 

CONTACT: Tom Hoyt
PHONE: 313-593-5542
The Office of University Relations
Room 1040, Administration Building
University of Michigan-Dearborn

“These scholarships will enable more elected officials whose budgets are so strapped to take advantage of our learning opportunities at no cost to them,” according to Dale Thomson, assistant professor of political science and director of UM-Dearborn’s Institute for Local Government (IFLG).    

Miller Canfield, known for its public finance work in the Midwest and representing many Michigan governments, has been a longtime supporter of the IFLG.  Some of the firm’s public finance lawyers sit on the IFLG advisory board and continue to lead classes and workshops.   

 “Michigan governments at all levels are facing unprecedented economic hurdles, so it’s more important than ever to collaborate with peers and discuss challenges and opportunities,” said Michael P. McGee, a Miller Canfield public finance lawyer and IFLG advisory board member and instructor. “Miller Canfield is pleased to continue to support and help grow this invaluable program with these scholarships.”    

The IFLG was founded in 2004 to help develop stronger civic leadership in the region.  The IFLG offers a range of programs for school board members, mayors, city council members and village and township trustees to help them enhance their knowledge in government finance, policy-making, leadership and other subjects critical to effective leadership from elected officials.  Classes and workshops typically range in cost from $50-$80 per session and tackle a wide range of topics including municipal/school district collaboration, campaign financings, fundamentals of planning and zoning, and being a young government leader.     

“Miller Canfield has always been a strong supporter of ours, providing a significant amount of pro bono work and time in the class room and board room,” Thomson said.  “We’ve always been grateful for the work they’ve done, and this recent gift of scholarships is a show of their support for stronger civic leadership in the region.”
     

The 2009-2010 class schedule is:
•    Fundamentals of Local Government: Thursday, Dec. 3
•    Essentials of Public Service:  Thursday, Dec. 10
•    Fundamentals of Planning & Zoning:  Thursday, Jan. 14
•    Fundamentals of Finance: Thursday, Jan. 21
•    Understanding Your Budget:  Thursday, Feb. 4
•    Ethics (tentative Wednesday, Jan. 13 or 20)
•    Labor Contracts/Act 312 (tentative Thursday, Feb. 25)

Elected officials interested in the scholarship opportunity should contact Susan Rowe, IFLG Program coordinator, at 313-593-5140.
 
####

About University of Michigan-Dearborn
The University of Michigan-Dearborn is celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout the 2009/2010 academic year. Founded in 1959 with a gift of just over 200 acres of land and $6.5 million from the Ford Motor Company, UM-Dearborn has been distinguished by its commitment to providing excellent educational opportunities responsive to the needs of southeastern Michigan. The university has 8,700 students pursuing undergraduate, master’s, doctoral and professional degrees in the liberal arts and sciences, engineering, business, education, and public administration. With a faculty devoted to teaching, and students committed to achievement, UM-Dearborn has been shaped by its history of interaction with business, government and industry in southeastern Michigan, and is committed to responding to the needs of the region in the future.

 

CONTACT: Tom Hoyt
PHONE: 313-593-5542
The Office of University Relations
Room 1040, Administration Building
University of Michigan-Dearborn

The program is designed to foster a new generation of leaders in the MENA region by developing leadership skills, U.S. connections and academic excellence.   

The five undergraduate students, all enrolled as juniors or seniors at UM-Dearborn, are studying electrical engineering, chemical engineering and computer science as part of the Peace Scholarships Program, administered by World Learning, an educational NGO based in Washington D.C.     

“The goal of this program is to reach out to the youth of Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, West Bank and Gaza, and Yemen to provide promising students with one year of undergraduate training in the U.S. and leadership training, regional networking and other skill-building opportunities,” according to Barbara Peitsch, a program manager in the Henry W. Patton Center for Engineering Education and Practice at UM-Dearborn.   

Peace Scholarships help those who have the potential to contribute to the social and economic development of the Middle East and North Africa by strengthening connections between citizens of the Middle East and North Africa, and the people of the United States.    

Last year, the first year of the program, 21 scholars were placed at five U.S. colleges and universities.  This year, as many as 27 scholars are being given the opportunity to study at up to seven U.S. colleges and universities.   

Program recipients receive scholarships for a year of full-time, undergraduate, non-degree study in the U.S. where they are enrolled in course work chosen from existing curricula that allow them to interact with American faculty and student peers.   

Leadership development training and community service/internship opportunities are provided to help the students build skills, understand U.S. values and to enable scholars to develop innovative approaches and solutions to meet the needs of their communities.
   
####

About University of Michigan-Dearborn
The University of Michigan-Dearborn is celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout the 2009/2010 academic year. Founded in 1959 with a gift of just over 200 acres of land and $6.5 million from the Ford Motor Company, UM-Dearborn has been distinguished by its commitment to providing excellent educational opportunities responsive to the needs of southeastern Michigan. The university has 8,700 students pursuing undergraduate, master’s, doctoral and professional degrees in the liberal arts and sciences, engineering, business, education, and public administration. With a faculty devoted to teaching, and students committed to achievement, UM-Dearborn has been shaped by its history of interaction with business, government and industry in southeastern Michigan, and is committed to responding to the needs of the region in the future.

 

CONTACT: Tom Hoyt
PHONE: 313-593-5542
The Office of University Relations
Room 1040, Administration Building
University of Michigan-Dearborn

The award recognizes exceptional distinction as reflected in active and innovative career achievements in library, archival or curatorial services, including developing specialized services for faculty and students, improving access to information, efficiently managing library and archival resources (staff, space, funding, collections) or other activities reflecting a commitment to these professions.       

Richards was honored for his focus on positioning the library to provide more and better service in support of faculty scholarship and student learning.       

“Noted for his rare ability to combine deep thought with vigorous action, he embodies the best to which all librarians should aspire: commitment to excellence, vision, and leadership, all guided by humility and humanity,” according to the citation for the award.       

Richards’ achievements include his collaboration with colleagues on the Flint and Ann Arbor campuses to provide full access to the University’s electronic journal holding for all faculty, regardless of their campus affiliation; his efforts to create a green roof for the library to help conserve energy; and his initiation of a year-long project with library staff to reconceptualize acquisition and access practices in light of what will soon become widespread use of eBooks instead of bound copies in academe.       

Richards also has encouraged his staff to become involved in the campus community and to pursue professional development opportunities. He worked to create a promotion process that required and rewarded professional engagement both on and off campus. As a result of his efforts, the library is now fully integrated into the decision-making process on campus.      

In addition to his work in the library, Richards has been active in a number of professional organizations at the regional, state and national levels and has served on countless committees.  He is recognized as a leader in Michigan.  Among his accomplishments is one he championed for many years and worked hard to bring to fruition: the state-wide delivery service among libraries that enables them to easily share resources for patrons. His vision became reality several years ago when the Michigan eLibrary Catalog project was implemented.


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About University of Michigan-Dearborn
The University of Michigan-Dearborn is celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout the 2009/2010 academic year. Founded in 1959 with a gift of just over 200 acres of land and $6.5 million from the Ford Motor Company, UM-Dearborn has been distinguished by its commitment to providing excellent educational opportunities responsive to the needs of southeastern Michigan. The university has 8,700 students pursuing undergraduate, master’s, doctoral and professional degrees in the liberal arts and sciences, engineering, business, education, and public administration. With a faculty devoted to teaching, and students committed to achievement, UM-Dearborn has been shaped by its history of interaction with business, government and industry in southeastern Michigan, and is committed to responding to the needs of the region in the future.

 

CONTACT: Tom Hoyt
PHONE: 313-593-5542
The Office of University Relations
Room 1040, Administration Building
University of Michigan-Dearborn

The award is named for Jackie Lawson, professor of English and communications at UM-Dearborn from 1985 to 2000, who was deeply committed to faculty governance and to strengthening relationships among the University’s three campuses.  At the time of her death, Lawson was serving as chair of the Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs (SACUA), the first faculty member from one of the regional campuses elected to that position.                    

Moerman was the first faculty member from the Dearborn campus to serve on SACUA.  In the 1980s, during the presidencies of Harold Shapiro and James Duderstadt, he served for four consecutive years.  As a member of the Honorary Degrees Committee, he wrote the citation for Nelson Mandela’s honorary degree.  During his long service on the General Counsel Advisory Committee, his advice and intervention were important in a number of areas of university life.       

Moerman, who started his career at UM-Dearborn in 1973 and served for over three decades, was the first president of UM-Dearborn’s Faculty Senate in 1993, sketching out the general shape of an entirely new faculty governance system, which continues to present time.         

He also is a recognized researcher and scholar.  His research has focused on the anthropological analysis of processes of human healing and, in particular, the impact people’s knowledge and understanding of health have on their well-being.        

He is well known for his work on the “placebo effect,” that is, situations where the meaningful dimensions of medical practice play real, measurable roles; his book on the subject Meaning, Medicine, and the “Placebo Effect,” was published by Cambridge U Press in 2002. He has also worked extensively with medicinal plants primarily of Native American peoples, but also globally. He is the author of Native American Ethnobotany, which received the "Annual Literature Award" of the Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries for 2000. A revised version of that book—Native American Medicinal Plants—was published in March of 2009.

####


About University of Michigan-Dearborn
The University of Michigan-Dearborn is celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout the 2009/2010 academic year. Founded in 1959 with a gift of just over 200 acres of land and $6.5 million from the Ford Motor Company, UM-Dearborn has been distinguished by its commitment to providing excellent educational opportunities responsive to the needs of southeastern Michigan. The university has 8,700 students pursuing undergraduate, master’s, doctoral and professional degrees in the liberal arts and sciences, engineering, business, education, and public administration. With a faculty devoted to teaching, and students committed to achievement, UM-Dearborn has been shaped by its history of interaction with business, government and industry in southeastern Michigan, and is committed to responding to the needs of the region in the future.

 

CONTACT: Tom Hoyt
PHONE: 313-593-5542
The Office of University Relations
Room 1040, Administration Building
University of Michigan-Dearborn

Prior to his presentation, Jaffe spoke with members of the campus community, including Lee Redding, associate dean in UM-Dearborn’s College of Business, UM-Dearborn Chancellor Daniel Little and Kathryn Anderson-Levitt, dean of the College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters at UM-Dearborn.   

Jaffe’s research focuses primarily on social services to children and families, the nonprofit sector and philanthropy in Israel. He is an expert in nonprofit organization management, fundraising and private philanthropy.  Jaffe has pioneered in research on culturally sensitive practice, ethnic stereotypes among Israelis and public access to information regarding nonprofit organizations in Israel.    

Chancellor Little interviewed Jaffe during his visit to UM-Dearborn.  The full interview is available for viewing on YouTube.com.


####

About University of Michigan-Dearborn
The University of Michigan-Dearborn is celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout the 2009/2010 academic year. Founded in 1959 with a gift of just over 200 acres of land and $6.5 million from the Ford Motor Company, UM-Dearborn has been distinguished by its commitment to providing excellent educational opportunities responsive to the needs of southeastern Michigan. The university has 8,700 students pursuing undergraduate, master’s, doctoral and professional degrees in the liberal arts and sciences, engineering, business, education, and public administration. With a faculty devoted to teaching, and students committed to achievement, UM-Dearborn has been shaped by its history of interaction with business, government and industry in southeastern Michigan, and is committed to responding to the needs of the region in the future.

 

CONTACT: Tom Hoyt
PHONE: 313-593-5542
The Office of University Relations
Room 1040, Administration Building
University of Michigan-Dearborn

The tour included stops at several of the village’s working farms, including the fields, house and barn of Harvey Firestone, where students learned about the crops, livestock and agricultural activities of the 1880s.    

“Too few of our students know that The Henry Ford is in the forefront of the local and sustainable food movement in southeastern Michigan,” said UM-Dearborn economics Prof. Bruce Pietrykowski, who teaches the seminar.  “This field trip gave students the opportunity to learn about the historical roots of that movement.  In addition, Susan Schmidt, director of food services, and Chef Nick Seccia discussed current efforts to support locally sourced food production in a way that successfully addresses the needs of small farmers and the demands of food service providers.”  

UM-Dearborn’s First Year Seminars are small classes developed exclusively for first year students by some of the university’s best faculty members.  Seminar topics reflect each instructor’s expertise, but also fulfills at least one distribution requirement for the College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters.  Many seminars are linked with a Composition class.  Pietrykowski’s course is linked with Composition 105 taught by Joann Riley, lecturer in composition, who joined the group on the village tour.

####

About University of Michigan-Dearborn
The University of Michigan-Dearborn is celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout the 2009/2010 academic year. Founded in 1959 with a gift of just over 200 acres of land and $6.5 million from the Ford Motor Company, UM-Dearborn has been distinguished by its commitment to providing excellent educational opportunities responsive to the needs of southeastern Michigan. The university has 8,700 students pursuing undergraduate, master’s, doctoral and professional degrees in the liberal arts and sciences, engineering, business, education, and public administration. With a faculty devoted to teaching, and students committed to achievement, UM-Dearborn has been shaped by its history of interaction with business, government and industry in southeastern Michigan, and is committed to responding to the needs of the region in the future.

 

CONTACT: Tom Hoyt
PHONE: 313-593-5542
The Office of University Relations
Room 1040, Administration Building
University of Michigan-Dearborn

Jaffe’s presentation is titled, “The Israel Free Loan Association – A Micro-Lending Model for Low Incomer People and Small Businesses in Israel.” His research focuses primarily on social services to children and families, the nonprofit sector and philanthropy in Israel. He is an expert in nonprofit organization management, fundraising and private philanthropy.  Jaffe has pioneered in research on culturally sensitive practice, ethnic stereotypes among Israelis and public access to information regarding nonprofit organizations in Israel.   

The lecture will take place in the BorgWarner Auditorium in the IAVS building on the UM-Dearborn campus.

For more information on Jaffe’s lecture, please contact Tom Hoyt, interim director of Communications, UM-Dearborn at 313-593-5542 or by e-mail at tahoyt@umd.umich.edu.  

####

About University of Michigan-Dearborn
The University of Michigan-Dearborn is celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout the 2009/2010 academic year. Founded in 1959 with a gift of just over 200 acres of land and $6.5 million from the Ford Motor Company, UM-Dearborn has been distinguished by its commitment to providing excellent educational opportunities responsive to the needs of southeastern Michigan. The university has 8,700 students pursuing undergraduate, master’s, doctoral and professional degrees in the liberal arts and sciences, engineering, business, education, and public administration. With a faculty devoted to teaching, and students committed to achievement, UM-Dearborn has been shaped by its history of interaction with business, government and industry in southeastern Michigan, and is committed to responding to the needs of the region in the future.

 

CONTACT: Tom Hoyt
PHONE: 313-593-5542
The Office of University Relations
Room 1040, Administration Building
University of Michigan-Dearborn

The event will feature a silent auction, wine-tasting, strolling dinner, desserts and live jazz music.   

“As fun as the evening will be for everyone involved, the most important thing to remember is that all proceeds will benefit the CASL alumni affiliate scholarship fund,” said Susan Gedert, alumni affiliate coordinator and communications editor in CASL. “Over the years, we have helped many outstanding students pay their tuition bills, and the need is certainly greater now than it has been in the past."  

Over the last 13 years, the affiliate has awarded scholarships to 60 outstanding CASL students.  Founded in 1995, the scholarship is funded solely through donations received from CASL alumni and friends. The “November Indulge” event is the group’s primary fundraiser.    

Gold sponsors for the event are Bodman LLP; Miller Canfield; Stephen and Susan Gedert; James and Judy Miller; and the University of Michigan-Dearborn 50th Anniversary Celebration Committee.  Tickets are $50 per person.  Sponsors who donate $200 will receive two tickets and special recognition. Tickets are limited and will not be sold at the door.    

Checks should be made payable to UM-Dearborn and sent to Susan Gedert, 2022 CASL Building, University of Michigan-Dearborn, 4901 Evergreen Rd., Dearborn, MI 48128. For more information, call 313-436-9198 or e-mail sgedert@umich.edu.

####

About University of Michigan-Dearborn
The University of Michigan-Dearborn is celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout the 2009/2010 academic year. Founded in 1959 with a gift of just over 200 acres of land and $6.5 million from the Ford Motor Company, UM-Dearborn has been distinguished by its commitment to providing excellent educational opportunities responsive to the needs of southeastern Michigan. The university has 8,700 students pursuing undergraduate, master’s, doctoral and professional degrees in the liberal arts and sciences, engineering, business, education, and public administration. With a faculty devoted to teaching, and students committed to achievement, UM-Dearborn has been shaped by its history of interaction with business, government and industry in southeastern Michigan, and is committed to responding to the needs of the region in the future.

 

CONTACT: Tom Hoyt
PHONE: 313-593-5542
The Office of University Relations
Room 1040, Administration Building
University of Michigan-Dearborn

The event will take place in the campus’s Institute for Advanced Vehicle Systems Building, located off of Evergreen Road. The program will explore jobs and careers for students interested in going into the fields of engineering or computer science.

Students and parents will learn first-hand from engineers and computer scientists about the opportunities, challenges and rewards of pursuing a career and working as professionals. In addition, participants can meet with faculty members, current students and alumni who have gone on to become leaders in the community. 

“Career Night provides a great wealth of information to prospective students and their families,” said Christopher Tremblay, director of admissions and orientation at UM-Dearborn. “By sharing alumni success stories and connecting degrees to jobs in the field, we are able to showcase how a Michigan degree makes the difference.”

For more information and to register for UM-Dearborn’s “Career Night” event, contact the Office of Admissions and Orientation at 313-593-5100 or visit http://www.umd.umich.edu/visitsandevents.

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About University of Michigan-Dearborn
The University of Michigan-Dearborn is celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout the 2009/2010 academic year. Founded in 1959 with a gift of just over 200 acres of land and $6.5 million from the Ford Motor Company, UM-Dearborn has been distinguished by its commitment to providing excellent educational opportunities responsive to the needs of southeastern Michigan. The university has 8,700 students pursuing undergraduate, master’s, doctoral and professional degrees in the liberal arts and sciences, engineering, business, education, and public administration. With a faculty devoted to teaching, and students committed to achievement, UM-Dearborn has been shaped by its history of interaction with business, government and industry in southeastern Michigan, and is committed to responding to the needs of the region in the future.

 

CONTACT: Tom Hoyt
PHONE: 313-593-5542
The Office of University Relations
Room 1040, Administration Building
University of Michigan-Dearborn

Additionally, the Village of Dundee and the cities of Auburn Hills, Southfield and Troy--communities who were also recognized in the 2008 study--will be honored for their continuing efforts at supporting entrepreneurship.   

The communities will be honored at a ceremony at UM-Dearborn on Oct. 20.  Richard Blouse, president and CEO of the Detroit Regional Chamber, will provide a keynote address at the event.    

The study, conducted by iLabs, UM–Dearborn’s Center for Innovation Research, focuses on entrepreneurship because of its importance to expansion and diversification of Michigan’s regional economies and the impact small businesses have on job creation.    

This third annual study found that the municipalities leverage their existing assets to provide opportunities for small business growth and entrepreneurial development.  “The communities we are recognizing this year have identified existing strengths to use as a starting point to help new and growing businesses,” said Tim Davis, director of iLabs.   

UM-Dearborn researchers utilize an online interface that allows communities to enter public data and receive instant feedback on their performance.  This year 52 communities across Michigan took part in the study, up from 36 in 2008.   

The study used the data supplied by the communities as well as other public records to assemble a six-factor, 31-item index to measure entrepreneurial activity, looking at such factors as clustering, incentives, growth, policies, community and education.      

In the future it is expected that eCities’ research will continue to add communities from across Michigan. “The focus of this project is assisting local communities.  It provides a method for cities, townships and villages to benchmark their efforts and have access to best practices to attract entrepreneurial development and create business growth,” Davis said.  “Sharing the findings will have a positive impact on Michigan’s economy, providing municipalities with the tools and knowledge they need to aid with job growth strategies, economic diversification, and attraction of entrepreneurs.”

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About University of Michigan-Dearborn
The University of Michigan-Dearborn is celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout the 2009/2010 academic year. Founded in 1959 with a gift of just over 200 acres of land and $6.5 million from the Ford Motor Company, UM-Dearborn has been distinguished by its commitment to providing excellent educational opportunities responsive to the needs of southeastern Michigan. The university has 8,700 students pursuing undergraduate, master’s, doctoral and professional degrees in the liberal arts and sciences, engineering, business, education, and public administration. With a faculty devoted to teaching, and students committed to achievement, UM-Dearborn has been shaped by its history of interaction with business, government and industry in southeastern Michigan, and is committed to responding to the needs of the region in the future.

 

CONTACT: Tom Hoyt
PHONE: 313-593-5542
The Office of University Relations
Room 1040, Administration Building
University of Michigan-Dearborn

Next week, those efforts will kick into high-gear when the campus participates in Campus Sustainability 2009, a nationwide event aimed at drawing attention and giving support to sustainability activities on college campuses.   

The EverGreen Team has coordinated a number of events and activities for the week, beginning on Monday, Oct. 19 when UM-Dearborn will host “50 Mile Meal and a Movie” in the auditorium of the Environmental Interpretive Center.     

The event will start at 4 p.m. with a screening of "King Corn," the first in a week-long series of films focused on a sustainable food supply.  At 5:30 p.m., Chancellor Daniel Little will present the campus’s first Sustainable Seeds awards to the recipients. Made possible by faculty and staff donations, these awards are small loans for students who have viable and innovative plans for developing sustainability projects on campus.  Following the chancellor’s presentation, the “50-Mile Meal” will feature food grown within a 50-mile radius of the campus. Cost to attend is $15 for faculty and staff and $10 for students.  Donations also will be accepted, with proceeds benefiting the campus’s Sustainable Seeds Fund.   

On Tuesday, Oct. 20, the Sustainable Film Festival continues with a screening of "Big Ideas for a Small Planet" at 4 p.m. in the EIC auditorium.  The documentary series focuses on important environmental topics and features interviews with forward-thinking designers discussing alternative ideas that could save the planet.   

The Sustainable Film Festival runs all week, with the full schedule of film titles and times available online at http://sustainableum-d.blogspot.com/2009/10/2009-campus-sustainability-fest.html.   

On Wednesday, Oct. 21, UM-Dearborn will participate in its third Campus Sustainability Day.  Activities will kick off at 10 a.m. when a “Sustainable Bites” food fair and “50 Years and 50 Questions” Scavenger Hunt is launched in Kochoff Hall.  More than 20 vendors and chefs will be on hand to demonstrate and talk about slow food, organic products and the locavore movement.    

At noon, “Read, Eat and Discuss” group members will talk about the book In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan in Room 1210 of the Mardigian Library.  All staff and faculty members are welcome to bring their lunch and attend. Beverages will be provided. Or, the campus community may visit the third floor of the Library to see “The Sense of Wonder: Visions of Sustainability” art exhibition in the commons area of the University Center.   

At 1 p.m., the campus community can participate in an interactive webcast called “Sustainability Strategies for Vibrant Campus Communities” in Kochoff Hall.  During the webcast, Andrew Revkin, science editor for The New York Times, will moderate presenters Larry Eisenberg, executive director of Facilities Planning and Development for the Los Angeles Community College District; Joseph Grasso, assistant dean of finance administration at Cornell University; and Sarah Brylinsky, sustainability education coordinator at Dickinson College.  

 At 1:30 p.m., employers from a variety of fields will connect with students interested in environmental, economic and social sustainability efforts during a “Sustainable Career Connections” workshop in Kochoff Hall.  Students will have the opportunity to learn what "green" employers are looking for in an applicant, and how sustainability efforts affect real-life business decisions.   

At 2 p.m., the campus community can learn about locally grown foods during a tour of the organic gardens at the Environmental Interpretive Center.   

That evening, the Sustainable Film Fest continues from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. with a screening of “Water: The Great Mystery” in the EIC auditorium.     

On Thursday, Oct. 22, the week’s activities will begin to wind down with the final movie in the Sustainable Film Fest, “Future of Food,” in the EIC auditorium.  The film examines the complex web of market and political forces that are changing what we eat as huge multinational corporations seek to control the world's food system, according to the film’s Web site.  The film also explores alternatives to large-scale industrial agriculture, placing organic and sustainable agriculture as real solutions to the farm crisis today.    

The week’s activities will conclude on Friday, Oct. 23 with an opportunity to tour the Immaculate Heart of Mary Mother House in Monroe, a facility that was remodeled and retrofitted for energy and water efficiency, materials use, development processes, and social benefits at the cost of $56 million.  The tour, which is coordinated by biology Prof. Orin Gelderloos and sponsored by environmental studies students and the Student Environmental Association, will take place from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.  The Student Environmental Association is arranging carpools which will leave the Environmental Interpretive Center at 1 p.m.  Those interested in attending should e-mail Charles Ford at crford@umd.umich.edu to register for a ride with the carpool or to provide a vehicle.  The cost of the tour is $5.  To register, contact Gelderloos at ogg@umd.umich.edu.
    
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About University of Michigan-Dearborn
The University of Michigan-Dearborn is celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout the 2009/2010 academic year. Founded in 1959 with a gift of just over 200 acres of land and $6.5 million from the Ford Motor Company, UM-Dearborn has been distinguished by its commitment to providing excellent educational opportunities responsive to the needs of southeastern Michigan. The university has 8,700 students pursuing undergraduate, master’s, doctoral and professional degrees in the liberal arts and sciences, engineering, business, education, and public administration. With a faculty devoted to teaching, and students committed to achievement, UM-Dearborn has been shaped by its history of interaction with business, government and industry in southeastern Michigan, and is committed to responding to the needs of the region in the future.

 

CONTACT: Tom Hoyt
PHONE: 313-593-5542
The Office of University Relations
Room 1040, Administration Building
University of Michigan-Dearborn

The presentation, which is free and open to the public, will be held at 3 p.m. in Room 1500 of the Social Sciences Building on the UM-Dearborn campus.  A reception will follow the presentation.     

Davy, who also serves as professor of English and Women’s and Gender Studies at UM-Dearborn, will discuss the legacy of New York City’s WOW (Women’s One World) Café Theatre for both avant-garde theatre performance and feminist history. 

Davy earned her master’s degree and Ph.D. in drama and performance studies at New York University.  She has authored two books, including Lady Dicks and Lesbian Brothers: Staging the Unimaginable at the WOW Café Theatre, which will be published this year by the University of Michigan Press.   

For more information, contact Suzanne Bergeron, associate professor of women's studies and social sciences and director of the Women’s and Gender Studies Program, at sbergero@umd.umich.edu.

####
    

About University of Michigan-Dearborn
The University of Michigan-Dearborn is celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout the 2009/2010 academic year. Founded in 1959 with a gift of just over 200 acres of land and $6.5 million from the Ford Motor Company, UM-Dearborn has been distinguished by its commitment to providing excellent educational opportunities responsive to the needs of southeastern Michigan. The university has 8,700 students pursuing undergraduate, master’s, doctoral and professional degrees in the liberal arts and sciences, engineering, business, education, and public administration. With a faculty devoted to teaching, and students committed to achievement, UM-Dearborn has been shaped by its history of interaction with business, government and industry in southeastern Michigan, and is committed to responding to the needs of the region in the future.

 

CONTACT: Tom Hoyt
PHONE: 313-593-5542
The Office of University Relations
Room 1040, Administration Building
University of Michigan-Dearborn

Lempert, who received the award during a ceremony in San Francisco on Aug. 8, was recognized for consistently using sociology to better the lives of women, particularly through advocacy and outreach efforts.  She will travel as a guest lecturer to two applicant colleges/universities this year as a part of the award process.   

Lempert joined UM-Dearborn in 1994 as an assistant professor of sociology, and was promoted to associate professor in 1998; she became a full professor in 2003.  She served five years on the campus's "Agenda for Women" committee and was director of the Women's Studies program for two years. She teaches courses in sociology and women's studies, marriage and family problems, family violence, and criminal justice. Lempert also is an executive committee member of the Institute for Research on Women and Gender on the Ann Arbor campus.   

In 2001, Lempert was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to the Sociology Department and Women and Gender Studies program of the University of the Western Cape in South Africa.  At the request of UWC and the American Consulate in Cape Town, her year-long appointment was extended by six months.   

During her service as director of the UM-Dearborn Women's Studies program, a certificate program was established and an overall framework developed that led to significant growth of the program.  She also created an internship program that provided students with opportunities to analyze social problems as they provide direct service in sites such as shelters for abused women, Head Start programs for children, victim advocacy units in prosecutor's offices, adolescent transitional housing and other programs.   

In 2000, when Lempert won UM-Dearborn's Distinguished Teaching Award, she was described by a nominator as "a transformative teacher, waking students up to gender, racial, and social class inequalities, and helping them to understand the interactions between all three." Four of her course syllabi have been published by the teaching resources unit of the American Sociological Association.

In her family violence class, Lempert modified the national Clothesline Project to bring student research on domestic violence and grassroots activism together on campus. Every Fall Semester students create t-shirts that memorialize the violence experienced by individual women and display them in public spaces.    

In 2003, Lempert received two major awards for her leadership, scholarship and service on behalf of women: the Sarah Goddard Power Award from the University of Michigan Academic Women's Caucus and UM-Dearborn's Susan B. Anthony Award, which is given annually to a member of the UM-Dearborn community "who exemplifies the dedication, fortitude and involvement of Susan B. Anthony," a leader in the women's suffrage movement.  

In 2006, the American Association of University Women’s Legal Advocacy Fund honored UM-Dearborn faculty and students teaching in a local prison with the group’s Progress in Equity Award.  Directed by Lempert, the program brought college-level courses into the Scott Correctional Facility for Women in Plymouth, which closed in May.  Several of the students in that program are now enrolled at UM-Dearborn.  This year, with the close of the Scott Facility, UM-Dearborn has collaborated with Eastern Michigan University to continue offering courses to incarcerated women at Women’s Huron Valley in Ypsilanti.   

In addition to her teaching and research, Lempert publishes extensively on domestic violence, prison pedagogy, and issues related to gender and racial equality. She has served on the editorial board of the journal Gender and Society and is on the board the Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, and she reviews for the feminist journal Signs.

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About University of Michigan-Dearborn
The University of Michigan-Dearborn is celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout the 2009/2010 academic year. Founded in 1959 with a gift of just over 200 acres of land and $6.5 million from the Ford Motor Company, UM-Dearborn has been distinguished by its commitment to providing excellent educational opportunities responsive to the needs of southeastern Michigan. The university has 8,700 students pursuing undergraduate, master’s, doctoral and professional degrees in the liberal arts and sciences, engineering, business, education, and public administration. With a faculty devoted to teaching, and students committed to achievement, UM-Dearborn has been shaped by its history of interaction with business, government and industry in southeastern Michigan, and is committed to responding to the needs of the region in the future.

 

CONTACT: Tom Hoyt
PHONE: 313-593-5542
The Office of University Relations
Room 1040, Administration Building
University of Michigan-Dearborn

The second annual Michigan Technology Climate Survey assessed opinions of technology executives in southeast Michigan regarding the current business climate facing Michigan’s technology firms.  This past spring, the survey queried 96 executives from Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne counties.

“The results indicate that executives believe there are structural issues--at the state level--that hinder technology growth,” according to Timothy Davis, director of iLabs, also known as the Center for Innovative Research at UM-Dearborn's College of Business. 

Consistent with last year’s results, this year’s survey found that 63 percent of executives say the business climate for technology firms in Michigan is worse than the rest of the country.  “The lack of confidence in Michigan has not changed, even given the worsening economic conditions throughout the state,” Davis said.  Only 10 percent claimed better conditions in 2009, compared to eight percent in 2008.

While the general perception of Michigan’s technology climate is not positive, the majority of executives that were surveyed lead stable firms.  Forty percent plan to maintain the size of their workforce and another 31 percent plan to expand their workforce. 

“The 20 percent who expect to see employment reductions is significantly greater than the 5 percent from last year’s survey,” Davis noted.  More than half of the firms planning to reduce their workforce cite a decrease in sales as a reason for layoffs.  Those who plan to maintain their workforce feel a lack of capital and market opportunities are hindering their growth along with uncertain economic conditions.  Executives who plan to expand their employee base will do so via an increase in sales and new products or services, according to the survey.

Executives are split on their revenue expectations for 2009, with 43 percent planning to see a decrease in revenue, while 34 percent expect to see an increase.  “Although 57 percent of executives expect their 2009 revenue to hold steady or increase, more than half feel that their expectations regarding revenue changes are not meeting their plans for growth,” Davis said.

The survey found that the majority of technology executives feel Michigan is ineffective when it comes to business development in the current economic situation.  "The technology executives do not believe that the state's policies are supportive of entrepreneurs nor do they have confidence in how the state is promoting economic growth," Davis said.

Almost half of the executives said they would be interested in utilizing services or training offered by the state, including promoting services, events and other opportunities to network with and learn from technology firms in the area.

With the current state of the automotive industry, close to 80 percent of the executives surveyed feel that reducing Michigan’s dependence on that industry would improve the state’s economy.  “In this digital age, it’s no surprise that shifting from a manufacturing-based to a knowledge-based economy is on the top of many executives’ minds,” Davis said, noting that 67 percent of executives feel this way.

Yet, although nearly 80 percent of executives feel that Michigan should reduce its dependency on the auto industry, 75 percent agree that Michigan’s economic future is clearly linked to the auto industry.

All of the executives surveyed work for technology firms that have centralized operations within southeastern Michigan.  Sixty-nine percent identified their title as president, CEO, COO, or vice president.  An additional 26 percent identified themselves as director or manager of the firm.

####

About University of Michigan-Dearborn
The University of Michigan-Dearborn is celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout the 2009/2010 academic year. Founded in 1959 with a gift of just over 200 acres of land and $6.5 million from the Ford Motor Company, UM-Dearborn has been distinguished by its commitment to providing excellent educational opportunities responsive to the needs of southeastern Michigan. The university has 8,700 students pursuing undergraduate, master’s, doctoral and professional degrees in the liberal arts and sciences, engineering, business, education, and public administration. With a faculty devoted to teaching, and students committed to achievement, UM-Dearborn has been shaped by its history of interaction with business, government and industry in southeastern Michigan, and is committed to responding to the needs of the region in the future.

 

CONTACT: Tom Hoyt
PHONE: 313-593-5542
The Office of University Relations
Room 1040, Administration Building
University of Michigan-Dearborn

“Best 301 Business Schools” has two-page profiles of the schools and their MBA programs with write-ups on their academics, student life and admissions, plus ratings for their academics, selectivity and career placement services.   

In the profile on UM-Dearborn College of Business, the Princeton Review editors describe the College of Business’ MBA program as “serving busy professionals looking for a leg up in their careers. Students don’t have to live in, or even near, Dearborn to benefit from the program, however, because the school also offers an online degree featuring the same courses taught on the Dearborn campus with no on-campus residency making it beneficial to out-of-state students and allowing local students more flexibility between school, work, and social life.”

The editors quoted students who said UM-Dearborn’s College of Business “is well reputed for finance coursework” but that it also “excels in marketing and accounting”. Classes “are very challenging but fair,” with the entire program “tailored to working professionals, making it very attractive to people who work long hours.” 

“A great environment in which to hone business skills,” students tell us, adding, “It provides a diverse set of students, experienced and highly regarded faculty, and top facilities to learn in.”

“College of Business faculty are very passionate about what they do, making sure their students get the best education possible,” said Kim Schatzel, dean of the College of Business.  “This designation reaffirms that the College of Business and its faculty are providing the highest quality learning environment and curricula to its students, as well as responding to the needs of our region’s employers.”

According to Robert Franek, Princeton Review senior vice president of publishing, the business schools in this book were chosen based on their academic programs and offerings, as well as a review of institutional data collected from the schools.  “We also strongly consider the candid opinions of students attending the schools that rate and report on their campus experiences at their schools on our survey for the book," he said.

"We are pleased to recommend the University of Michigan-Dearborn College of Business to readers of our book and users of our site as one of the best institutions they could attend to earn an MBA”, Franek said.

“The University of Michigan-Dearborn MBA has long been recognized for its rigor, relevance, and accessibility to business professionals,” Schatzel said. “I am pleased that the program is extending its visibility and well-deserved reputation.”

“Best 301 Business Schools” is one of nearly 200 Princeton Review titles published by Random House. The line includes annual guides to the best law schools and medical schools, plus guides to grad school admission exams and application essays. The Princeton Review also is known for its college and career guidebooks, its test-prep courses and other education services. The company is not affiliated with Princeton University and it is not a magazine.

The University of Michigan-Dearborn’s College of Business is home to several nationally recognized programs where students gain valuable hands-on experience working alongside faculty members and business professionals in a variety of areas.

Founded in 1959, The University of Michigan-Dearborn is celebrating “50 years of metropolitan impact”.  The university has more than 8,700 full- and part-time students and offers more than 90 bachelor’s and master’s degrees and three doctoral degree programs.  

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About University of Michigan-Dearborn
The University of Michigan-Dearborn is celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout the 2009/2010 academic year. Founded in 1959 with a gift of just over 200 acres of land and $6.5 million from the Ford Motor Company, UM-Dearborn has been distinguished by its commitment to providing excellent educational opportunities responsive to the needs of southeastern Michigan. The university has 8,700 students pursuing undergraduate, master’s, doctoral and professional degrees in the liberal arts and sciences, engineering, business, education, and public administration. With a faculty devoted to teaching, and students committed to achievement, UM-Dearborn has been shaped by its history of interaction with business, government and industry in southeastern Michigan, and is committed to responding to the needs of the region in the future.

 

CONTACT: Tom Hoyt
PHONE: 313-593-5542
The Office of University Relations
Room 1040, Administration Building
University of Michigan-Dearborn