Dear Friends, Every day, I witness the tremendous difference Western Michigan University’s quality programs, outstanding faculty and caring staff make in the lives of our students. It is truly heartening to lead a value-added institution of higher learning. Students come to us to learn, to grow and to succeed. We respond by helping them shape and achieve their academic goals today to secure their successful personal and professional futures, and to change our world. Inside this spring edition of the WMU Magazine are stories of individuals who exemplify the value this University imparts—from the freshman and former migrant worker whose long-stalled dream to pursue higher education was realized this academic year to an alumnus living out aspirations that were honed on campus in the 1990s. On the pages that follow, learn about WMU’s role in altering the direction of LZ Granderson’s life for the better when he was a student. The 1996 alumnus is today an ESPN and CNN journalist, working at the highest levels of his field. His experience illustrates our mission so well. And while we are educating students, WMU is improving the world in other important ways as well. The magazine’s cover story is an apt example of those efforts. Scientists in the University’s Earth Sciences Remote Sensing Lab use data logged by satellites high above the planet to help address environmental problems on the ground in countries across the globe and within our states. The lab is known in the field and its researchers apply their expertise widely. Read about their fascinating and consequential work. As you consider these and the other stories in this issue, I believe you will be as gratified as I am about WMU’s successes and be reminded of the excellence the University community achieves in every aspect of our mission.
Best regards,
John M. Dunn President
2 wmich.edu/magazine