| Contributed by WMU Public Relations Department
Japanese studies at Western Michigan University will be greatly enhanced over the next three years through a grant from the Japan Foundation’s Institutional Project Support Program. WMU is one of just eight institutions nationwide selected to receive a share of the nearly $2 million dollars appropriated by the Japan Foundation for its 2011-12 award cycle. The University is slated to receive about $140,000. The other grant recipients are Duke University, Columbia University, Wittenberg University, University of Cincinnati, Furman University, Arizona State University and the Japan Center for Michigan Universities. WMU will use its new award to fund a regional outreach coordinator position for the Japan Studies Program, as well as a faculty position in Premodern Japanese Culture and two workshops each year. Those initiatives already receive major support from the University’s Diether H. Haenicke Institute for Global Education and College of Arts and Sciences. The Japan Foundation’s Institutional Project Support Program was launched in 2007 with a mission to encourage innovative projects that emphasize institution building and sustainable contributions to the field of Japan studies in the United States. WMU’s successful Japan Foundation grant application was written by Dr. Stephen Covell, director of WMU’s Michitoshi Soga Japan Center and chair of the Department of Comparative Religion, and Dr. Jeffrey Angles, associate professor of Japanese languages and literature. Visit www.wmich.edu/history/undergraduate/areastudies/japanesestudies.html and www.wmich.edu/languages for more information about Japanese studies at WMU. Davis honored for small business development efforts The Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center has selected Tamara Davis as the 2011 Outstanding Regional Director of the Michigan SBTDC network. Davis, regional director of the MI-SBTDC for Southwest Michigan since 2009, was chosen by the MI-SBTDC for being an outstanding performer, making major strides in developing the program in the region and showing a strong commitment to small business in Michigan. “I am honored to have the opportunity to recognize Tamara Davis for her extraordinary work in serving Michigan’s entrepreneurs and small business owners,” says Carol Lopucki, MI-SBTDC state director. “Tamara possesses tremendous business acumen, leadership skills and peer respect. She contributes in a dynamic way to the SBTDC network at large.” Davis brings an extensive academic background to her role with the MI-SBTDC as well as practical business experience from both the private and public sectors. As regional director, she has increased the visibility and awareness of the center throughout Southwest Michigan. She has served on committees, engaged with regional partners and spoken at regional events to promote the awareness of the MI-SBTDC services. The Southwest Michigan region served more than 350 clients in 2010 with a satisfaction rate of 96.8 percent. Its regional clients created 153 new jobs in 2010 and increased capital formation 14 percent to over $16 million. Davis accepted the award at a special reception during the 2011 MI-SBTDC network conference in Traverse City. Davis earned her bachelor’s degree from the Haworth College of Business in 1988 with a concentration in advertising and marketing. She earned her MBA from WMU in 1999. After many years in advertising, she joined the Vermont Secretary of Administration’s office under then-Gov. Howard Dean. Upon returning to Michigan, Davis joined Kalamazoo College, serving in various capacities, including director of operations of the L. Lee Stryker Center. She served as project manager of the economic development group regional EDGE and as a MI-SBTDC business consultant. In 2003, she joined Davenport University as the department coordinator of the Management, Marketing and Legal departments for the Battle Creek, Holland and Kalamazoo Davenport University locations, serving in that capacity until taking her current position. The Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center provides counseling, training and market research for Michigan’s new business ventures, existing small businesses, expanding new businesses, new technology companies and innovators. The Southwest Michigan MI-SBTDC regional office is located at Western Michigan University in the Haworth College of Business. Entrepreneurs and small business owners may access the services of the Southwest Michigan MI-SBTDC office by visiting www.misbtdc.org or calling (269) 387.6004. Integrated Supply Management program earns national ranking Making its debut in a national ranking, Western Michigan University’s Integrated Supply Management program has been named 12th among the nation’s best undergraduate supply chain management programs, sharing the slot with the University of Maryland and Stanford University. (See complete list, below.) The ranking by Gartner, the definitive professional organization dealing with the supply chain industry, was announced at Gartner’s June annual conference in Scottsdale, Ariz. This is the first time the 19-year-old WMU program has made the top-25 list, having previously been listed in 2009 in the “honorable mention” category. The ranking is an important step in the development of the program, according to its director, Dr. Bret Wagner. “It’s encouraging to see that the Gartner ranking recognize the quality of the ISM program,” says Wagner. “During its nearly 20 year history, the ISM program has used the input from the ISM Executive Council, our advisory board, to drive changes in the program and curriculum so that it stays relevant. This continuous improvement philosophy will be the key for the ISM program to move up the ranking.” Gartner’s ranking relied on evaluation of numerous factors, including industry partnerships, additional training required of graduates, curriculum and integration of information technology into the curriculum. “I have been part of the ISM Executive Council for more than 10 years. The reason I and the other council members participate is we can see that our input is valued and results in changes in the program and the curriculum that produce graduates who are well prepared for careers in supply management,” says Chris Flum, vice president for global indirect supply and procurement at Harman International and a 1986 WMU alumnus. “As an alum, it’s good to see that the hard work of the faculty and executive council members in producing a world-class supply management program is being recognized by organizations like Gartner.”In addition to industry input and continuous improvement, Wagner says that the program’s innovative curriculum and distinctive elements provide students with skills to begin supply management careers and make them “ready, day one.” The curriculum: • Joins course work in business and engineering; • Incorporates extensive use of SAP ERP business software in courses; and • Requires project courses where students apply process improvement tools to real company problems. Gartner’s list of top-25 undergraduate programs in supply chain management includes: 1. Penn State University 3. Georgia Tech, Arizona State and Rutgers universities 5. Michigan State University 6. University of Texas-Austin 7. Ohio State University and University of Wisconsin-Madison 9. Texas A & M University and University of Tennessee 12. Western Michigan and Stanford universities and University of Maryland 14. Lehigh University, University of Marquette 16. Syracuse University 20. University of Indiana, University South Carolina, Auburn University, Texas Christian University, University of Kansas and University of Nevada-Reno 23. North Texas University 25. Iowa State and Rider universities -30- |
