University of Michigan - Flint

After an intense internal search and strong support of faculty, staff, and administration, Interim Provost Lotfi appointed Mary Jo Finney as Dean of the School of Education and Human Services, effective September 1, 2009, pending Board of Regents approval.  Professor Finney has served as Director of the Thompson Center for Learning and Teaching since 2007, is the founder and most recent Director of the University of Michigan-Flint Reading Center, served as Co-Director of the Living Learning Community, Co-Chair of the General Education Steering Committee and Design Team, and served on many university and school committees and boards too numerous to list.  She also concurrently served as Editor of The Scholarship of Teaching during 2008-09 and Editor of the Michigan Reading Journal from 2005-07.  Professor Finney has demonstrated her ability to be a strong leader especially in the areas of collaboration, developing new initiatives, and promoting excellence in teaching and research.  She has a presence on campus and an extensive network in the community.

We were delighted to welcome Klara Kalibova, Fulbright Scholar from the Czech Republic, to the University of Michigan-Flint on Wednesday, August 19.  She will be visiting and conducting research along side our own faculty for the Fall Semester and is hosted by the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice of the College of Arts and Sciences.  Her research interests are in hate crime, racism, and anti-semitism, and their practical effect on individuals.  Ms. Kalibova was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia, she holds a M.A. degree in Law and Legal Science from the Charles University of Prague, and she has worked as an independent lawyer since 2004.  We encourage you to welcome Ms. Kalibova and we hope that her visit will be most rewarding, interesting, and enjoyable.    

Following a national search headed up by Associate Provost Vahid Lotfi, Provost Jack Kay appointed Barbara L. Kornblau as Dean of the School of Health Professions and Studies, effective July 15, 2009.  Dr. Kornblau served as Professor of Occupational Therapy and Public Health, College of Allied Health and Nursing, and College of Osteopathic Medicine, at Nova Southeastern University since 1994.  She also served as Government Relations and Disability Policy Consultant to Special Olympics International, Washington, D.C. since 2007.  Dean Kornblau brings a superb portfolio of community engagement and public advocacy at local, state, regional, national, and international levels as well as an extensive administrative and research record.  She also served as a Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellow.

With full support of the College of Arts and Sciences faculty and the Executive Committee, Dean DJ Trela was reappointed for a third five-year term, effective July 1, 2009.  Dean Trela administers the largest academic unit at the University of Michigan-Flint and works collaboratively with other instructional units, providing leadership for the College within the framework of the mission of the Flint campus.  His experience as a veteran dean is invaluable to the campus and his great energy and dedication are apparent in his successes and in statements from his colleagues.  Dean Trela has been an effective leader.

UM-Flint Emergency Alert System – In March ITS in conjunction with University Relations, Environmental Health and Safety, Public Safety, and the Ann Arbor campus announced the implementation of the UM-Flint Emergency Alert System for the Flint campus. Students, faculty and staff at the University of Michigan-Flint can now register to receive voice and text messages during major emergencies on campus. Individuals can register two telephone or cell phone numbers and a device to receive text messages for increased notification. The new notification system will generally only be used when it is believed that a life threatening event is about to happen, is currently happening, or has a high potential of happening. You are encouraged to visit the Web site: UM-Flint Campus Emergency Information Center and to register your additional contact information.