Crimson & Gold
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On Campus |
 John Willey |
In January, John Willey, of Des Moines, Iowa, took the reins as Ferris’ new vice president for University Advancement & Marketing.
Willey has held appointments as vice president for Institutional Advancement at Lyon College in Batesville, Ark.; vice president for Development and University Relations at Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio; and most recently at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where he served as special counsel and vice president for Institutional Advancement.
“John has a long history of fundraising and marketing success, and has led multiple successful capital campaigns,” Ferris President David Eisler said. “His interactions here on campus show in a very concrete way his philosophy that emphasizes approachability, patience, creativity and openness. These traits and his breadth of experience will, I believe, be a very good match for our needs here at Ferris.”
Willey earned his undergraduate degree in history from the University of Georgia and holds a master’s degree in history from Vanderbilt University and another with an emphasis on nonprofit management/educational policy analysis from Columbia University. A former Peace Corps volunteer in Korea, Willey was a Foundation Fellow at Harvard’s Japan Institute.
“Ferris State University is blessed with a rich heritage; an innovative mission, vision and values; a motivated student body; excellent faculty and staff; and outstanding leadership. I am looking forward to joining this family and to learning more from my new campus colleagues as to how we can effectively advance the University through marketing, alumni relations and fundraising,” said Willey.
His appointment fills a position that had been held on an interim basis by Shelly Armstrong, Ferris’ associate vice president for Marketing and Communications.
First Lady’s Attic Helps Students Dress for Success
 Patsy Eisler and Chief Diversity Officer David Pilgrim celebrate the opening of First Lady’s Attic. |
Looking professional can make the difference for a student in a job or internship interview – or even a class presentation. The First Lady’s Attic is helping to ensure that Ferris students’ looks are equal to their skills.
“This is something I have been dreaming about for two years,” said Patsy Eisler, wife of Ferris President David Eisler and founder of First Lady’s Attic. “With the foresight and collaboration of Chief Diversity Officer David Pilgrim and Vice President for Student Affairs Dan Burcham, this is now a reality.
“Here at Ferris we are committed to providing opportunities for our students. One way we can do this is to make certain they are appropriately dressed and have the best possible chance of achieving that first great job or internship. Looking the part and feeling confident in an interview or during a class presentation can make a world of difference.”
Once students choose their outfit, it is theirs to keep as they commence from the school environment into the world of work.
“This represents one way we can make tangible our commitment to opportunity, one of the core values of our University,” noted Pilgrim.
First Lady’s Attic is currently accepting donations of all men’s and women’s professional clothing. The Attic will gladly take not just “experienced” suits, but shirts, blouses, dress pants and skirts, blazers, dresses, shoes, ties, scarves, belts, jewelry, purses and briefcases.
Pete’s Cleaners in Big Rapids, a community supporter of First Lady’s Attic, has been serving as a drop-off point for donations.
“I am thrilled to be a part of this and happy that I can contribute to helping students look their best when interviewing,” said Darin Cebulla, owner of Pete’s Cleaners. Clothing also can be dropped off on campus at the Ferris Diversity Office located at the Timme Center for Student Services, Room 312.
All donations to First Lady’s Attic are considered charitable contributions and are tax deductible.
For more information about First Lady’s Attic e-mail flattic@ferris.edu or call (231) 591-3193.
College of Technology Engineers Name Change
 Surveying Engineering Technology is one of the College of Engineering Technology’s 12 departments. |
Ferris’ College of Technology has changed its name to the College of Engineering Technology, which reflects the college’s need to remain competitive, and more accurately represents the extensive and applied aspects of its programs and curricula, said Welding Engineering Technology professor Ken Kuk.
Kuk, who was instrumental in changing the college’s name, worked with the college’s 11 other departments in presenting to University officials the need for the change. “I really wanted our college to be representative of what our programming is and will be in the future,” Kuk said.
“Careers are increasingly requiring four-year instead of two-year degrees,” added Daniel Burcham, acting vice president for Academic Affairs. “As parents and students look at schools and programs, they are looking for bachelor degree offerings.”
The American Society for Engineering lists Ferris State University as awarding the most bachelor’s degrees for Engineering Technology, the second highest University to award women with Engineering Technology degrees and the highest enrollment for an Engineering Technology school.
This is not the first time that the college has changed its name. When Ferris started offering two-year technology curricula, it was through the Collegiate Technical Division which later became the School of Technical and Applied Arts. Over time, four-year degree offerings and more programs were added and the name was changed to the College of Technology.
More information about the College of Engineering Technology is available by going to www.ferris.edu/collegesa and clicking on “Engineering Technology.”
Grant Creates Community Partnership
 The Michigan Energy Conference will again this year be a major part of Ferris’ efforts to become an important energy efficiency resource. |
Ferris has been awarded one of five grants designed to build community partnerships promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency. The nearly $25,000 grant partners Ferris with the city of Big Rapids, DTE Energy, Mecosta County, Mecosta County Area Chamber of Commerce and Mid Michigan Community Action Agency.
The grant is funded by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth but also includes in-kind contributions of time and resources by Ferris faculty and staff, and $12,500 provided by the MMCAA, along with a grant award of up to $30,000 from the DTE Foundation.
Tom Crandell, Ferris’ director of Corporate and Professional Development, said the proposal includes multiple tasks, including:
• Ferris hosting public education sessions, from a general seminar on understanding energy bills and solutions for renewable energy to workshops targeted at industry professionals
• DTE Foundation providing grant funding that will provide passes for professionals to attend the second annual Michigan Energy Conference at Ferris April 16 and 17.
“This is a countywide effort that ties into sustainability efforts at Ferris to become known as the energy efficiency center of Michigan,” Crandell said. “We’re hoping the model we create will be replicated across the state.”
Other energy efficiency efforts at the University include coursework for Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning and Refrigeration students designed around service-learning principles. HVACR students participate annually in Heat the Country, which provides cleaning, servicing and replacing of furnace parts for low-income families each fall. Others, through coursework, are already conducting commercial energy audits as classroom projects, Crandell added.