Exceptional Merit Grant Awardees

The Ferris Foundation Board of Directors has conferred $27,725 in Exceptional Merit Grant Awards to help five faculty and staff members advance Ferris State University’s goals of engagement and learning.

"The Ferris Foundation Board of Directors is pleased to support the tremendous efforts of the Ferris faculty and staff,” said Carla Miller, executive director of the Foundation and associate vice president for Special and Leadership Gifts. “Such innovation and collaboration is to be applauded."

The following faculty and staff members will receive a portion of funding during the 2013-14 academic year for their proposals:

  • Michael Berghoef, Professor of Social Work, College of Arts and Sciences, Grand Rapids, A Virtual Museum Collaboration with FSU’s Academic Service Learning Partner in El Salvador.
  • Tara Braun, International Exchange manager, Office of International Education, Festival of Nations
  • Bradley Isler, Associate Professor of Biology, College of Arts & Sciences, Enrichment of an academic camp, STEM education, and undergraduate recruitment using advanced personalized medicine laboratory exercises.
  • David McClendon, Assistant Professor of Mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences, Student Centered, Technology Based Reform in Calculus
  • Arinze Nkemdirim Okere, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Pilot Study: The Role of Alpha Lipoic Acid for the Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy.


The Gifts and Grants Committee develops policies and procedures, and recommends additional resources for Exceptional Merit Grants and Foundation for Excellence Scholarships.

The committee also monitors scholarship awards for compliance with donor specifications, recommends and monitors grant disbursement, and recommends student scholarship recipients for the Foundation Scholarship.

For more information or to make a gift to Ferris State University, please contact The Ferris Foundation at (231) 591-2365 or www.ferris.edu/foundation. Details about establishing scholarships or endowments may be obtained from the Advancement Office at (231) 591-3825.