Chancellor’sPerspective P H OTO B Y A U S T I N T H O M A S O N A PARTNER IN SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN As I approach my final semester as chancellor this winter, I find myself reflecting on the important role University of Michigan-Dearborn has played in our region. Throughout our nearly 60- year history—including my almost 18 years as chancellor—UM-Dearborn has been an advocate for and partner in the advancement of southeast Michigan. Part of that commitment has included increasing access to the excellence of a Michigan education. On that front, I am thrilled to report that we welcomed another record number of students to campus this year—at 9,339, this marks the third consecutive year of enrollment above 9,000 students. Another part of this commitment is our work in looking for creative solutions to the complex challenges that confront our region both today and in the future. Students and faculty across campus are deeply involved in important topics for our region, including the future of automation, health disparities in our communities and the characteristics of a strong entrepreneurial climate. This fall, we once again renewed our longstanding mission to serve the region as we unveiled the first extensive look at the upcoming Engineering Laboratory Building (ELB). The $90 million project will include expanded and improved flexible classrooms, spaces designed for curriculum-based projects and dedicated labs that replicate industry environments. This building will allow the College of Engineering and Computer Science to continue to grow well into the future. With years of record-breaking enrollment within the college, we are stretched beyond our maximum capacity in our current facilities. But the new ELB is about more than enrollment growth. Here, our faculty will develop modern, innovative academic programs designed to meet the needs of Michigan’s—and the world’s—changing industries. Our students will collaborate on projects with more opportunities to design, build and test their ideas—giving them the type of hands-on experiences that are critical to fill today’s engineering jobs. And our business and community partners will work alongside us to conduct research in high-demand and emerging fields. There are many ways to stay involved as we move forward with this important project. I invite you to become a victor for UM-Dearborn and the Engineering Lab Building: Attend the groundbreaking event in spring 2018, keep updated on the building’s progress at umdearborn.edu/elb and learn how you can help shape the future of engineering education and practice. Sincerely, Daniel Little Chancellor SENIOR OFFICERS Daniel E. Little CHANCELLOR Catherine A. Davy PROVOST AND VICE CHANCELLOR FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS Jeffrey L. Evans VICE CHANCELLOR FOR BUSINESS AFFAIRS Kenneth C. Kettenbeil VICE CHANCELLOR FOR EXTERNAL RELATIONS Ray Metz VICE CHANCELLOR FOR ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT AND STUDENT LIFE Mallory M. Simpson VICE CHANCELLOR FOR INSTITUTIONALADVANCEMENT ACADEMIC DEANS Raju Balakrishnan COLLEGE OF BUSINESS Tony W. England COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE Martin J. Hershock COLLEGE OF ARTS, SCIENCES, AND LETTERS Ann Lampkin-Williams COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, HEALTH, AND HUMAN SERVICES (INTERIM) REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY Michael J. Behm Mark J. Bernstein Shauna Ryder Diggs Denise Ilitch Andrea Fischer Newman Andrew C. Richner Ron Weiser Katherine E. White Mark S. Schlissel (ex officio) CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE Saikat Dey, Maha Freij, Rich Homberg, Donna Inch, David Kurzmann, Tonya Matthews, Timothy Meyer, Patricia Mooradian, Shirley Stancato, Mary Zatina ANon-discriminatory,AffirmativeAction Educator and Employer Legacy is published by the Office of External Relations at University of Michigan-Dearborn. It is published twice a year, in the Spring and Fall, and is distributed free of charge to alumni and friends. Beth Marmarelli DIRECTOR, COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING Cristina M. Frendo DIRECTOR, ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT Kate Malicke COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER Sarah Tuxbury WRITER Please send address changes and Class Notes to: Office of Alumni Relations 4901 Evergreen Road, 1190 AB Dearborn, MI 48128-2406 313-593-5131 (PHONE) 313-593-0540 (FAX) umdearborn.edu/alumni [email protected] Please recycle this magazine. UM-Dearborn is committed to environmental stewardship. We ask you to please recycle this magazine and to support recycling efforts in your community. Recycling this magazine is one of the easiest ways you can help the environment. | 1