From the President


Come to a Beautiful Campus at Eastern C


Generous donations are helping strengthen academic programs, enrich the student experience


ampus looks wonderful this fall—with the completion of many renovations and improvements from way-


finding signage to freshmen living center electronic locks. We have successfully completed the renovation and move back into Pray-Harrold for fall semester, the renovation of the Science Complex continues, and upgrades to residence halls, parking and grounds make for a beautiful, living and learning atmosphere on campus. We have 18,569 undergraduates —the highest number since


fall 2005 and total enrollment of 23,341. Our freshman class is at 2,130, up 6 percent from a year ago. Te Port Authority of New York gave Eastern a 14-foot, 6,800 pound steel beam from the World Trade Center and it was installed as a permanent memorial in Pease Park. A moving ceremony took place on the 10th anniversary of 9/11. I hope you can come to campus to see this memorial and all of the other recent improvements in buildings and grounds. Eastern received two major giſts this summer. One was


the largest giſt in Eastern’s 161-year history. Philanthropists William (Bill) and Delores (Dee) Brehm have long had a vision to help children with special needs in new and creative ways. Now they are collaborating with Eastern Michigan University to further that goal by donating an additional $3.2 million to Eastern’s College of Education. Te donation is being used to establish the Delores


Soderquist Brehm Center for Special Education Scholarship and Research and to fully endow programs that they have been supporting for several years on an annual basis. Te new center will be housed within the Department of Special Education, and will bring four programs together under one roof. Dee and Bill Brehm are truly special—a couple who gives


with their heart to support students and special education research. It is always a joy to spend time with the Brehms and witness their personal interest and love for the Brehm scholars, and for the faculty who work in developing these students into caring teachers and leaders. Te second major giſt over this summer was the donation of $1.5 million from the American Electric Power (AEP)


Foundation. AEP is among the nation’s largest generators of electricity, serving areas in Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. Te giſt honors Eastern Michigan University Regent


Michael Morris, a two-time graduate of EMU. It will fund an endowed chair in the College of Education. Funds from the endowment will be used to support research, teaching, service activities, salary, travel and other pursuits that benefit students or University constituents. Morris is retiring from AEP in November aſter serving as


chairman, president and chief executive officer of the company since January 2004. Morris will remain chairman of the company’s board of directors through 2013. Te Michael G. Morris Endowed Chair honors Morris’ contributions to the company, to the community and to higher education. Morris has deep ties to EMU. He graduated from Eastern


with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biology, and served as an ROTC brigade commander during his graduate school years. Morris later served as a regent from 1997-2004. He is currently serving a new term through 2018. With these giſts, EMU’s comprehensive fundraising


campaign, “Invest. Inspire. Te Campaign for Eastern Michigan University,” stands at more than $48 million. Te campaign, which kicked off its public phase in April 2010, seeks to raise more than $50 million for scholarships, academic programs, faculty, facilities and endowments. Te outreach effort is the largest in EMU’s history. We’re pleased to be in the home stretch of achieving our


goal, and wish to thank the Brehms, AEP and Regent Morris, and all of you have taken the time or made a special sacrifice to give back to Eastern. We appreciate the support of our entire community. Eastern’s family and friends are one of our strongest assets and will help guarantee that our outstanding programs, faculty and campus will be here to help future generations of students achieve their dreams.


office_of_the_president@emich.edu


Eastern | FALL 2011 5


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