Greetings from WISE Director Cinda-Sue Davis

I know that we are all looking forward to graduation at the beginning of May. This is particularly true for me, since I have the extraordinary opportunity to serve as co-host for Dr. Freeman Hrabowski III, President of the University of Maryland Baltimore-County (UMBC) as he receives an honorary degree from the University of Michigan. Dr. Hrabowski is a prominent African American education serving as UMBC President since 1992. Among his many accomplishments, he is the founder of the UMBC Meyerhoff Scholars Program which encourages and supports students from diverse backgrounds to become leading research PhD. scientists and engineers. Click here for full story.

WISE co-sponsors 2nd annual math and science concentration event

The WISE program co-sponsored the 2nd annual Finding a Concentration for Math and Science majors event, held this year at Cottage Inn. The event, part of the College of Literature Science and the Arts' Concentration Week, is aimed at providing undecided students with information about various math and science concentrations from a student perspective. Click here for full story.

WISE-UM Admissions Event

Last month, the WISE program worked with the University of Michigan Admissions office to provide interested parents with a UM admissions information session. The session, which was attended by over 200 parents and pre-college students from southeast Michigan, was presented by Admissions Counselors Alissa Lurie from UM's central admissions office and Katrina Williams from UM's College of Engineering. Click here for full story.

A stellar finish to a sparkling year

The Movement of Underrepresented Sisters in Engineering and the Sciences (MUSES) hosted the MUSES Achievement Gala on Friday, April 9. The event highlighted a year that featured a range of successful social events and professional development activities. Graduate and undergraduate women from a wide range of majors were honored for their academic achievement and accomplishments. Click here for full story

WISE Director Davis helps nominate winning student for UM Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) award

David Lorch, a Ph.D. candidate in biomedical engineering and WISE Program instructor extraordinaire, has received a Rackham Outstanding GSI Award at an April 17th ceremony. Nominated by WISE Director, Dr. Cinda-Sue Davis, he was the only College of Engineering graduate student to receive the award this year. Click here for full story.

WISE sponsors Planetarium visit

Matt Linke, the UM Exhibit Museum's Planetarium Director, took students to the edge of the universe and back during a WISE-sponsored dinner and visit as part of the College of Literature, Science and the Arts' "The Universe: Yours to Discover" theme semester.  Click here for full story.

WISE student profile: Colleen Monahan

Colleen Monahan is a senior in aerospace engineering and is looking forward to graduating this May. At UM, she's been involved in a broad range of activities including Pi Beta Phi Sorority, the congressional debate team, Alternative Spring Break, campus band, the Michigan League Board of Governors, and Student Space Systems Fabrication Labs (S3FL). Says Colleen: "All of these activities have given me great leadership and communication skills. I have met loads of people that have been really helpful in my recent job hunts. All of these different activities have really given me a great understanding about Ann Arbor and the University."  Click here for full story.

WISE sponsors pottery event at A2 Art Center

The connection between creativity and the analytical mind was apparent at a WISE-sponsored event for students at the Ann Arbor Art Center in March. The event, attended by 30 students, included dinner and pottery painting at the downtown Ann Arbor center.  Click here for full story.

WISE again hosts Cranbrook girls

For the third year in a row, Cranbrook science teacher Ashlie Smith brought her 60 students to campus for science and engineering experiences. The students attended a lecture and demonstration by physics professor Greg Tarle, and dynamic chemistry demonstrations by campus-favorite Ed Burton. In addition, the girls had a question-and-answer session during lunch with undergraduate science and engineering majors from the Women in Science and Engineering Residence Program (WISE RP).

WISE co-sponsors Southeast Michigan Science Fair

Along with Washtenaw Community College, WISE co-sponsored the tenth annual Southeast Michigan Science fair for students in grades 6-12 from Livingston, Washtenaw, Monroe, Hillsdale and Lenawee counties. Click here for full story.

WISE participates in GEMS conference

WISE participated in the Plymouth-Canton Schools bi-annual Girls Excelling in Math and Science (GEMS) conference in March. The WISE program had an information table with camp information, representatives from the WISE Residence Program offered two mentoring sessions, and the keynote speaker was a UM Chemistry PhD, former WISE camp instructor and current Kettering University Assistant Professor Jennifer Aurant.  Click here for full story.

WISE hosts astronomer Lisa Kewley

Named one of Astronomy Magazine's top 10 stars of astronomy, Professor Lisa Kewley of the University of Hawaii accepted WISE's offer to host a visit to the UM campus as part of the College of Literature Sciences and the Arts' "The Universe: Yours to Discover" theme semester. Click here for full story.