| As autumn paints campus with warm hues, I’m filled with anticipation for what lies ahead. In my ten months at WMU, I’ve witnessed an inspiring level of passion and dedication, leaving me hopeful for the year to come. Commitment to excellence and ongoing recognition of outstanding faculty and staff From the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, I want to emphasize our steadfast commitment to supporting our students, faculty and staff. Moreover, we’re deeply engaged in representing WMU in crucial conversations and initiatives that contribute to enhancing our University’s esteemed reputation. Last month, we had the pleasure of acknowledging and celebrating exceptional faculty and staff and their contributions in teaching, service and scholarly work. The Fall Awards Celebration underscores the collective dedication of the faculty and staff who work daily to shape the University’s success. |
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| Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month and Latinx culture The provost’s office is celebrating our Latinx community members in observance of National Latinx Heritage Month. We worked with the Multicultural Greek Council and the College Assistance Migrant Program to sponsor the first Latinx Fiesta at Western. We also partnered with the Latinx Employee Association to organize a screening this past weekend of “First Voice Generation,” a documentary focusing on Latinx students that was produced and directed by Western alumna Cynthia Martinez. These are just two of several events happening around campus to celebrate Latinx culture in Southwest Michigan. It also was an honor to return to my alma mater and have the privilege of speaking at a faculty engagement event at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor on the topic of “Engaging Latinx Youth Across the Educational Pipeline.” As an active board member of the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE), I presented at a conference at the College of Southern Nevada about Western’s ongoing initiatives to boost Latinx enrollment and foster a sense of belonging. Benchmarking our efforts with peer institutions across the nation has been a key part of our growing success. |
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| Growing success in enrollment and retention Our efforts continue to yield positive results in enrollment. As our President Montgomery recently detailed, we’ve experienced significant growth in graduate student enrollment and noteworthy improvements in retention rates, especially among historically marginalized populations. Our 7.2% growth in graduate student enrollment is a University record and the second time in a decade that Western has seen an increase. This fall, our first-to-second year retention reached 79.8%, a 3.3 percentage point gain over last year. This increase was the biggest in nearly a decade. These advancements bolster our University’s reputation and reflect our unwavering dedication to creating an inclusive academic environment. |
| Celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day and collaborating with communities of color For Indigenous Peoples Day, we proudly recognized the invaluable contributions and rich heritage of Native communities. We are actively collaborating with Native communities through various initiatives across the state, celebrating their culture and ensuring their voices are heard on our campus. As we engage with the greater community, the knowledge acquired and relationships forged enhance and advance our University. To that end, in pursuit of community engagement, I’m thrilled to announce strategic appointments: Dr. Dee Sherwood as our faculty fellow for Native American Affairs and Dr. Deveta Gardner as community liaison. Additionally, Dr. Cristóbal Rodríguez, associate provost for equity-centered initiatives, continues to be instrumental in establishing and nurturing connections for WMU, both on the local and national stage. These appointments symbolize our commitment to fostering a sense of belonging and promoting diversity within our community. |
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| Nurturing partnerships and engaging nationally We have prioritized engaging with leaders and scholars from colleges and universities across the nation. Over the past year, I proudly represented WMU at significant events, including presidential installations at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids Community College. We engaged in meaningful dialogues with leadership to explore potential collaborations and strengthen existing partnerships. Additionally, this past week, I visited Michigan State University’s Facility for Rare Isotope Beams with Dean Carla Koretsky and several physics faculty to discuss potential collaborations. I was also present when our College of Education and Human Development team garnered attention at the Education Deans for Justice and Equity Conference for our ongoing success with Grow Your Own teacher efforts and collaborations to address the teacher shortage with public school districts across the state. |
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| Advocacy for academic freedom and inclusion In the inclusion realm, we discussed academic freedom at the American Sociological Association meeting at Flagler College and at an upcoming convening of the Network for Public Education. This advocacy is particularly pertinent given recent concerns expressed by some WMU faculty about the challenging environment in areas like Florida, where academic freedom is under notable assault. |
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| Active engagement to navigate challenges and opportunities in higher education At WMU, we must be committed to engaging with our peer institutions and colleagues to create opportunities and be prepared to address a vast array of internal and external responsibilities. Collaborative and reflective practice involves benchmarking that contributes to our broader community in new ways. For instance, I participated in a hands-on strategic planning session with higher education leaders from Rutgers University aimed at initiating systemic changes in universities. In addition to my plans to attend the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) provosts session, I take great pride in regularly representing WMU at Association of Public Land-Grant Universities (APLU) national meetings. In conclusion, as leaders in higher education, our commitment to community engagement and benchmarking is not merely a checkbox on our to-do lists; it’s a steadfast dedication that reinforces our core values, seizes opportunities, and drives our success. Through active participation and meaningful dialogues with our colleagues at AASCU and APLU meetings, we immerse ourselves in strategic discussions that provide us with forward-thinking solutions and invaluable insights. These engagements empower us, leaders at WMU, to adeptly navigate the ever-evolving landscape of higher education. We embrace the challenges and opportunities presented by the shift towards AI-driven digital learning and prioritize the mental well-being of our community. As I reflect on this journey, I carry my values of justice and equity with me in every aspect of my leadership role. This blog project has not only informed my work but also reinforced the importance of championing justice and equity in higher education. It’s a commitment that WMU and I take seriously, as we strive to create a brighter future for our institution, our students, and our broader community. Thank you for joining me on this exploration of community engagement and benchmarking. Together, we can continue to shape a more inclusive, innovative, and compassionate higher education landscape. |
Cloaking Inequity 
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