Twenty-one College of Liberal Arts & Education alumni and other professionals gathered in October for the first meeting of the Dean's Advisory Board, which Dean Charles Marske instituted last spring. Dean Marske invited the individuals to the board to advise and assist him on internal and external affairs that impact the College.

The board members also serve to create linkages on behalf of the College with the business community and to assist in the recruitment of students and placement of students in co-ops, internships or jobs. They also help strengthen academic programs and generate financial support for the College.

The two-day meeting began with a State of the University address by UDM President Gerard Stockhausen, S.J., followed by a State of the College address by Dean Marske. The group then heard from Assistant Professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice Erick Barnes, who gave a presentation on the Intelligence Analysis program.

A student panel of seven students followed with a discussion about undergraduate education. UDM alumnus and Board of Advisors member Tom Nicholson '77, CEO of IconNicholson, then spoke of his journey through life with his liberal arts education and how he was shaped by it with the presentation "The Value of a Liberal Arts Degree in a World of Science and Technology."

The group then began the work of identifying the most immediate and critical needs of the College. These included: making potential students aware of what the College has to offer and what makes a UDM liberal arts education so valuable; converting these potential students into enrolled students and finally retaining them. The advisors are in the process of forming subcommittees to address the actions needed to resolve each of these issues.

CLAE Board of Advisors includes:

Paul Bellew '88, '91
Senior VP of Consumer Insight and Analytics
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company

Grant Beard '86
President and CEO
Tri-Mas Corp.

Brian Cloyd '73 & '76
Vice President, Global Corporate Relations
Steelcase Inc.

Randy Collins '78
Vice President, Financial Planning & Analysis
General Dynamics

Michael DiGiovanni '70, '72
Executive Director, Strategic Marketing
General Motors Corporation         

Thomas Emmet, Ph.D. '54
Senior Consultant/Founder
Higher Education Executive Association

Noreen Keating '63
Senior Consultant
Enhancing Your Nonprofit

Luther Keith '72
Executive Director
ARISE Detroit!

Cathy Lada '92
Vice President, Communications & Network Development
American Chamber of Commerce Executives

Kristy Lees '00
Retirement Plan Consultant
ALCOS

John Linahan '75
Director of Presentations
ABC Inc.

Mort Meisner '75
President
Mort Meisner Associates

Madeleine Merritt '54
Finance Consultant/Mortgage Banker
Financial Mortgage Corp.

Peter Munoz '78
Director, Michigan Department of State Police
Michigan State Police

Tom Nicholson '77
CEO
IconNicholson

Barbara Nurenberg
President & CEO
JVS

Marie Osborne '79
Morning Anchor
WWJ Newsradio 950

Peter Peacock '77
Partner
Pluckett & Clooney PC

Suzanne Hemmen Rabideau '66
Community Relations Consultant
Toyota Motor Sales, Inc.

Richard Rappleye '96
Vice President, Administration
The Kresge Foundation

John Seely-Gant '75
CEO
CTC Enterprise Ventures Corporation

Arlyce Seibert '71
Director of Cranbrook Schools
Cranbrook Educational Community

Albert Ward '76
Director
Dexter Elmhurst Center

Robert West
Founder and CEO
Echelon One, LLC

Alexander Zonjic
President
Hi-Falutin' Music