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KALAMAZOO, Mich.— The College of Arts and Sciences 51������ Michigan University honored 18 distinguished graduates at the Alumni Achievement Awards Ceremony on Friday, October 13 in Miller Auditorium.

Every year, the College of Arts and Sciences encourages each of its 22 departments to select one outstanding alum to be honored over homecoming weekend for their achievements and contributions to their field and the communities in which they engage.

The College of Arts and Sciences takes immense pride in celebrating the remarkable achievements of our alumni. Each honoree represents not only the pinnacle of excellence in their respective fields but also embodies the spirit of service and commitment to their communities,” says Dr. Carla Koretsky, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. "Through their accomplishments, they inspire future generations to make a meaningful impact on the world."

Among the recipients are trailblazing researchers breaking new ground in areas such as quantum computing and machine learning, inventive educators revolutionizing teaching across all levels of education, legal advocates championing justice and civil rights, nonprofit leaders bolstering communities through philanthropy and activism, honorable military veterans who have served our nation with distinction, and many others. Their stories vividly illustrate the immense potential of a Western education in enabling graduates to embark on diverse paths and make a meaningful impact in their chosen field.

Awards were given to the following College of Arts and Sciences alumni: 

• Dr. Scott Hodges (Department of Biological Sciences)

• Stephanie Slingerland (School of Communication)

• Dr. Cynthia Visscher (Department of Comparative Religion) 

• Dr. Isabel Ruiz (Department of Economics)

• Henry Sias (Department of English)

• Dr. Cheyenne Lei (School of Environment, Geography, and Sustainability)

• Dr. Franklyn Legall (Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences) 

• Dr. Hanmo Zhang (Department of History) 

• Dr. Cleothia Frazier (Institute for Intercultural and Anthropological Studies) 

• Dr. Ozcan Gulacar (Mallinson Institute for Science Education) 

• Dr. Ralucca Gera (Department of Mathematic) 

• Coreen Geary (Department of Philosophy)

• Dr. John Novak (Department of Physics) 

• Sean McCann (Department of Political Science) 

• Dr. Emily Fredericks (Department of Philosophy) 

• Kara Wood (School of Public Affairs and Administration) 

• Julián Ramírez (Department of Spanish) 

• Mitch Zajac (Department of World Languages and Literatures) 

Full biographies on the Alumni Achievement Award honorees can be found here.