After achieving her goal of studying abroad in Japan, Eastern Michigan University senior Taylor Marberry has added another milestone to her academic journey: first place in the University Division II category at the 31st Annual Michigan Japanese Speech Contest.

The statewide contest, organized by the Japanese Teachers Association of Michigan and supported by the Consulate General of Japan in Detroit, brought together top students from across the state. Participants delivered four-minute speeches in Japanese on a topic of their choice, competing in beginner and intermediate/advanced divisions. Judges evaluated memorization, content, delivery, and overall flow.

Marberry’s winning speech reflected on her time living in Japan and the personal growth she experienced as she navigated cultural differences.

“My speech was about my time in Japan and some of the feelings I experienced while there,” said Marberry. “Specifically, I spoke about how living in such a homogenous country where you may stand out can feel very difficult and uncomfortable. However, by giving it time and patience, and by making an active effort to engage with others, you can find that, despite being outwardly different, there is acceptance and friendship.”

Read the full EMU Today story.

From March 20–22, EMU Professional Geology majors Brett Bogedain and Gouro Koita attended the 2026 Northeastern Section Meeting of the Geological Society of America in Hartford, Connecticut, where they presented results of their undergraduate research mentored by Dr. Hannah Blatchford. Brett and Gouro's work focused on a suite of rock samples from Dutchess County, New York, an area of the state impacted by geologic events that occured between approximately 440 and 385 million years ago and associated with formation of the Appalachians. To prepare for the conference, Brett and Gouro conducted microscopy of their rocks to locate minerals to be used for isotopic dating and carried out structural analysis of the area using multiple geologic maps published as early as 1936. Brett and Gouro's work has created a framework for ongoing research efforts aimed at reconstructing a more detailed geologic history of Dutchess County, which is noteworthy given that samples from the area are used in undergraduate geology education in many programs across the United States.

A conference highlight for many geologists is the pre-meeting field trip; events at which attendees are introduced to some aspect of an area's geology by local experts. Brett, Gouro, and Dr. Blatchford all attended a pre-meeting trip examining the bedrock geology of Manhattan north of 155th st. in Washington Heights. Apart from offering the unusual experience of uban field geology, the field trip highlighted current research on rocks that are thought to have the same origin and history as samples studied by EMU students Brett and Gouro 100 km to the north.

Environmental Science and Society major Rosemary Kendall, recent graduate Jacob Richardson (BS Biology 2025), and Biology Professor Margaret Hanes have mapped the precise locations of all 4,851 woody plants on the EMU central campus in ArcGIS. The resulting TreEMU map is the most comprehensive tree and plant inventory ever undertaken at Eastern. This research transforms familiar green spaces into a detailed, data-rich landscape that the TreEMU survey team says can serve a range of purposes. 

Jacob Richardson, a Biology undergraduate who graduated in December, initiated the survey as an independent research study with Biology Professor Margaret Hanes. “The last survey was on a smaller scale back in 2012,” Richardson said. “Nothing like ours had been done before.”

Beginning in March 2024, Richardson conducted nearly 40 field surveys across roughly 200 acres. He logged about 250 hours identifying trees and plants (with a stem diameter of at least 1.5 inches), recording GPS coordinates, and navigating dense terrain.

Senior Rosemary Kendall, an Environmental Science and Society major, transformed Richardson’s data into the TreEMU map. “Jacob created the coordinate list,” Kendall said. “I standardized the data and built the map. It took about nine months and went through 10 iterations.”

The TreEMU team invites the EMU community to use the map and contribute to the project. “TreEMU supports Community-Engaged Digital Storytelling,” said Dr. Hanes. “We envision partnering with the campus community to more fully document the trees. Possible examples include poetry, essays, botanical illustrations, photography, mixed-media artwork, planting histories, and oral histories. Please get in touch with me if you’d like to contribute!”

Explore TreEMU and read the full EMU Today story.

Update: Read this MLive article.

This March, four CAS graduate students participated in the seventieth session of the United Nations’ Commission on the Status of Women (CSW 70). The students traveled to New York City with Dr. Solange Simões as delegates representing Sociologists for Women in Society (SWS). The meeting took place between March 9 and March 13 at the UN Headquarters in New York. CSW is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to policy making for the promotion of gender equality, the rights and the empowerment of women. 

As Co-Chair of the Sociologists for Women in Society 's International Committee and delegate to CSW70, Dr. Simões invited EMU students taking her course WGST SOCL 556 Gendered Globalization to apply to be SWS delegates to CSW70. Four of her students applied and were selected: Shandra Schoonover, Maggie Lajaunie and Wijdan Alsayegh and graduate students in Women's and Gender Studies, and Jessica Szczepanowski is a graduate student in Sociology.

The EMU students attended the official meetings with the high-level representatives of UN Member States, as well as parallel events with sessions and workshops organized by women’s and feminist NGOs from all over the world.

As part of her work to promote global learning, Dr. Simões has focused much of her work at EMU on the need to expand opportunities in global learning for students.

The CSW70 theme was, "Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, and addressing structural barriers."

Amy Bearinger, a Full-time Lecturer in the School of Communication, Media, and Theatre Arts, has been named the 2025-26 Honors College Faculty Member of the Year. Amy is a two-time graduate of EMU who earned her B.A. and M.A. degrees in Communication at the institution. She is well known for being a tireless advocate for student success at EMU. As the student who nominated her for the award said, "Amy genuinely cares about her students and shows that in everything she does. She always makes it a point to get to know her students and takes the time to learn from them and support them with whatever they may need. She is consistently kind, empathetic, approachable, collaborative, and student-centered. Her passion for supporting every student on campus and creating a welcoming environment makes me feel like a true Eastern Eagle.”    

In March 2026, at the Michigan Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators Conference in Detroit, (MI-AMTE), EMU Math Teacher Education Professor Stephanie Casey was awarded the 2026 Rheta Rubenstein Service Award. The MI-AMTE bestows this award every two years to honor a member for their exemplary dedication, leadership, and service to mathematics teacher education in Michigan.

For faculty at EMU, Casey’s recognition comes as no surprise. In 2022, she received a five-year grant from the National Science Foundation’s Improving Undergraduate STEM Education, and has collaborated with colleagues across the country to train teachers on the best practices to teach data to their students. And in 2025, she served as a Fulbright Scholar, where she conducted research on students’ interpretations of modern, big data visualizations in collaboration with the University of Canberra's STEM Education Research Centre. At EMU, she teaches courses on Math Secondary Teacher Education.  

At 2026 Distinguished Faculty & Lecturer Awards held on Tuesday, March 24, CAS Professors Jenni Putz, Gregory Plagens, and Shu Wang were granted the Ronald Collins Distinguished Faculty Award, and Lecturer Kristine Gatchel received the Distinguished Lecturer Award. These awards are the University’s most prestigious recognitions for faculty and lecturers. 

• Kristine Gatchel (English Language and Literature) was recognized with the Distinguished Lecturer Award for her significant contributions to the academic success of her students and the broader community.

• Jenni Putz (Economics) was recognized with the Collins Teaching I Award for her outstanding impact and commitment to student success early in her career.

• Gregory Plagens (Political Science) was honored with Collins Teaching II Award for his long-standing excellence in the classroom and his contributions to public affairs education.

• Shu Wang (Political Science) was recognized with the Collins Research I Award for her expertise in American federalism, state-local relations, and local financial management.

Read the EMU Today article.

At the 2026 Staff Distinguished Recognition Awards held on Thursday, March 26, CAS staff members Sara Lynne Schultz and Dustin Miller were recognized for their significant and ongoing contributions to the success of EMU.

Dustin Miller (Technical Director, Communication, Media & Theatre Arts) received a Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Innovation. Miller modernized the theatre's digital infrastructure and led the "Mission Im-prop-able" project to digitize the theatre’s prop inventory into a searchable database.

Sara Lynne Schultz (Director, Math Tutoring Center) received a Distinguished Service Award for Student Engagement and Success. Schultz has dedicated her career to student-centered academic support, including the development of the Summer Bridge Math Program.

Read the EMU Today story.

Alum Randy Tessier (BA English, 1989) has had a long career as a University lecturer and a professional musician, but he achieved national recognition as the organizer of Ann Arbor Happy Hour at LIVE. This weekly dance party, affectionately known as Geezer Happy Hour, was featured in a January 12, 2023 New York Times article, "It’s the Coolest Rock Show in Ann Arbor. And Almost Everyone There Is Over 65."

Now a new 12-minute documentary, Geezers: The Rocker Behind "Geezer Happy Hour", tells Tessier’s life story.

Tessier grew up in Marquette and moved to Ann Arbor in 1972. Following the birth of his son in 1982, Tessier realized that he "had to get a real job," so he completed his GED and then came to EMU to become an English teacher. He went on to earn Master’s and Ph.D. degrees at the University of Michigan, and he's been an educator there ever since. Through the years he has continued to make music, singing and playing guitar and bass with the bands Walrus, Fubar, Kingpins, the Al Jacquez Band, and the Sky Kings Blues Band.

Read the full Pulp feature by Christopher Porter, and watch Geezers: The Rocker Behind "Geezer Happy Hour".

Whether you think about it as “touching grass”, “forest bathing”, or simply a “breath of fresh air”, time spent in nature is important and can transform our teaching and learning. Place-based education enhances student engagement, skill development, and academic performance. Scientific literature suggests that cognitive control, memory, creativity, and problem solving ability increase in plant-based learning environments, while stress levels are lowered. Simply put, immersing oneself in a forest improves our physical and mental health. 

About 60 members of the EMU community (~43% undergraduate, graduate students and alumni, 32% faculty, 20% staff and 5% lecturers) did just that last weekend. Folks from four colleges (CAS, CHHS, GACET, COE), the University Archives, the Library, the Sustainability office and SEMIS (Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalition) visited EMU's Fish Lake Environmental Education Center in Lapeer County April 11-12.

Participants connected with nature and each other. Instructional staff and place-based educators inspired one another in lively discussions about how they might bring students to Fish Lake and committed to new collaborations. Almost hourly hikes explored the property and the extraordinary organisms that inhabit it. Participants went forest bathing and explored how they can bring the many benefits of spending time in greenspaces to our students (and themselves!). Alumni-led work crews removed invasive plant species across the field station.

This community building trip was facilitated by Maggie Hanes, Professor of Biology, and funded by the Faculty Development Center, with additional support from CAS. 

In October, the City of Saline asked the Preservation Studies Graduate Program for assistance with researching and assessing a historic house they were considering purchasing. Officials were interested in the magnificent ca. 1877 Davenport Curtiss House, 300 E. Michigan Avenue, with barn and carriage house, that occupies an entire city block. The house has only been owned by two families—Davenport and Curtiss—and includes original contents from both families. The Curtiss descendants were selling the property and proposed the city purchase it. Some EMU faculty and senior administrators toured the home in October; faculty then submitted a memo in support of its purchase. Saline closed on the purchase in February, mandating that a working group must develop a plan for its public use and benefit in three years. They once again asked for our assistance. 

Our program is assessing its contents, researching the structure, suggesting public use, and helping place it in a historic district so it has legal preservation protections. Professor Nancy Bryk’s class (below right) began inventorying contents the day after the house closing. On our last day inventorying in late March, two students found the ca. 1877 original blueprints of the house in the linen closet, long misplaced (detail of second floor plan at left). Combined with the architect’s written “Specifications for Work and Materials for the Erection of the Davenport House,” dated July 1877, that Associate Dean James Egge found during a tour, we have essential primary sources relating to its original construction. Part-time lecturer Ruth Mills’ Documenting and Recording class is exploring the changes to the house over 150 years. Additionally, Ruth’s Adaptive Use class is finalizing suggestions for the site’s use that will be compatible to preservation of  the landscape, structure, and furnishings.  

The house and outbuildings include original furnishings, clothing, deeds, letters, books, dishes, linens, old shutters, hitching posts, and more. We have uncovered treasures in desks, drawers, trunks, closets, and bookcases. We lamented that we could not find many family photos. However, Saline preservationist Terri Sibo Koenig, who works with us on the project, opened a  door in the hall stand (left), revealing Davenport family photos dating 1850-1920 (including daguerreotypes and tintypes). 

Alexis Braun Marks is teaching a two-credit archival, hands-on field school at the house in late May for both grads and undergrads. Students will manage and assess the archival assets found in the buildings (photos, documents, deeds, books, letters). Contact Nancy Bryk or Alexis for more information. 

Learn more about the Davenport-Curtiss Mansion.

Eastern Michigan University Theatre presents Our Town, the Pulitzer Prize-winning American classic written by Thornton Wilder, for one weekend only, April 16-19, 2026. Our Town will be performed in the Legacy Theatre, located at 1030 East Circle Drive in the Judy Sturgis Hill building on EMU’s Ypsilanti campus. Runtime is approximately two-hours with one 15-minute intermission. The production is suggested for audiences ages 12 and up.

Welcome to the small town of Grover’s Corners and to the story of the Webb and Gibbs families, as told in three acts: “Daily Life,” “Love and Marriage” and “Death and Eternity.” Described by Edward Albee as “the greatest American play ever written,” Our Town takes us on a journey through the joys & simple pleasures and the trials & tribulations of everyday life. As in the best of all stories, it reflects the human condition, makes us think, and causes us to feel, to laugh, to cry. It delivers a masterclass of storytelling that cements Our Town and Thornton Wilder’s place in American Theatre history and in the hearts of audiences everywhere. Director Pirooz Aghssa, the student cast and the production’s creative team have taken this beloved theatrical masterpiece and infused it with contemporary energy and perspective. The production marks the culmination of Director Pirooz Aghssa’s career at EMU as he is set to retire in December 2026 after 35 years teaching for the School of Communication, Media & Theatre Arts.

EMU Theatre’s performances of Our Town will take place in the Legacy Theatre on April 16, 17, 18 at 7 p.m, and April 18 & 19 at 2 p.m., one weekend only. As always, fidgets, headphones, sunglasses and large print programs will be available at our Accessibility Counter for every performance. Special thanks to our show sponsors Michael Page and Lee Stille, and our season sponsors Pat & Juanita Curley and Sally McCracken & Bette Warren.

Tickets for Our Town are $20 regular admission, $15 for seniors, and $12 for students. Tickets may be purchased online at emich.ludus.com, by phone at 734.487.2282, or in person at the EMU Ticket Office in the Judy Sturgis Hill building. Ticket Office hours are Monday – Friday from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and 90 minutes before showtime. Please note that there is an additional surcharge for tickets purchased via credit card. Checks are also accepted in person at the ticket office and should be made payable to EMU Theatre. Following the standard set by the university, cash is no longer accepted.

Parking on EMU’s campus is available for a fee. Performance parking will be available in the Alexander Pay Lot, pay as you exit, and the Ford Commuter & Staff Lots, pay by text or QR code before the show. Payment can be made with a debit card or credit card. Those with an EMU parking permit may park accordingly.

For more information about EMU Theatre, our season, and directions to our theatres, visit www.emich.edu/emutheatre, fan us on Facebook: Eastern Michigan University Theatre; or follow us on Instagram, Snapchat and Tiktok: @emutheatre.

By Joseph Ballard

The Digital Media, Cinema Studies, and Journalism (DMP) program at Eastern Michigan University is proud to announce a new partnership with the Michigan Raptors, a professional arena football organization. Beginning this month, DMP students will gain hands-on experience by interning with the team in roles such as video production personnel, play-by-play announcers, and color commentators.

This partnership represents the latest in a series of experiential learning opportunities offered by the DMP program, designed to provide students with real-world industry experience while earning academic credit. Through these affiliations, students are able to apply classroom knowledge in professional environments, preparing them for careers in media and broadcasting.

The DMP program has a strong history of collaboration with major media and athletic organizations. Students play an integral role in Eagle Vision and ESPN broadcasts, contributing to live coverage of Eastern Michigan University football, basketball, volleyball, and other athletic events. These productions are housed in the state-of-the-art facility located in the Convocation Center, which is supervised by a former EMU student now working professionally in Detroit sports broadcasting.

In addition, DMP students are actively involved in the Pease Auditorium production initiative. The venue has been equipped to host weekly live-streamed performances from the Music and Dance Departments. Managed by a DMP student intern, Pease Auditorium is one of several production facilities—including multiple television studios and Eagle student radio—supported by program faculty and staff.

The program also maintains its longstanding relationship with WEMU, EMU’s public radio station, where students contribute as interns and on-air talent, serving the Southeast Michigan community.

The partnership with the Michigan Raptors further expands the DMP program’s commitment to immersive, career-focused education and strengthens its connections within the professional sports media industry.

For more information, visit the Michigan Raptors.

By Joseph Ballard

Eastern Michigan University’s Theatre program is delighted to present The Snowy Day and Other Stories, adapted for the stage by Jerome Hairston and based on the beloved works of Ezra Jack Keats. Directed by Olivia Allen, this heartwarming production brings to life the imaginative journey of Peter, a young boy navigating childhood wonder, friendship, and growth.

Audiences will follow Peter from early childhood into adolescence as he experiences the joy of a snowy day, faces challenges such as encounters with neighborhood bullies, and bravely takes a chance by inviting a crush to his birthday party. Through the creative use of shadow puppetry, light play, music, and live performance, the production captures the magic, curiosity, and emotional depth of Keats’ award-winning stories.

Perfect for families and young audiences, The Snowy Day and Other Stories is recommended for children ages 4 and up. The production celebrates imagination, resilience, and the beauty of everyday moments.

Performances will take place in the Sponberg Theatre on:

• April 24 at 7:00 PM  

• April 25 at 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM  

Tickets are $6 and can be purchased at emich.ludus.com.

This production is presented by special arrangement with Plays for New Audiences. It is generously supported by Production Sponsor Brian Steimel and Season Sponsors Pat & Juanita Curley, and Sally McCracken & Bette Warren. Additional funding is provided by the Suzanne J. Stevens Enrichment Fund and the Michigan Arts & Culture Council.

Join us for a charming and visually engaging theatrical experience that brings a timeless children’s classic to life.

The Math Lab hosted a lively and well-attended Pi Day celebration on March 11th, welcoming approximately 100 students over the course of the hour-and-a-half event. Held in the Math Lab, the celebration also featured campus partners from the Holman Success Center and the Disability Resource Center, who shared information about tutoring services and supported students in navigating the accommodations process, including resources related to dyscalculia. The event highlighted the collaborative efforts across campus to support student success both inside and outside the classroom.

Students participated in a variety of engaging activities, including coloring “Happy Pi Day” signs, solving themed crosswords, enjoying trivia, and sharing pun-filled math jokes (because, of course, math teachers have plenty of those). A highlight of the event was the Pi recitation at 3:14 PM, where a student, Lucy, impressed attendees by reciting 100 digits of pi. As one joke from the day reminded us, “Why should you never start talking to π at a party? Because it just goes on forever.” Guests also enjoyed mini pies, ice cream, apples, and oranges, creating a welcoming and celebratory environment that fostered both community and a positive connection to mathematics.

On Friday, March 20th, faculty members Dr. Michael Foster (Associate Professor of French and Bilingual Education) and Dr. Audrey Viguier (Assistant Professor of French) and students Summer Moynihan (French Minor), Alana Stone (K-12 French Major), and Amber Vermani (K-12 French Major) from the French program in the Department of World Languages participated in the first annual Jeux de la francophonie (French-Speaking Games) Day at Wayne State University in Detroit. Over 200 local area high school students and their French teachers participated in the daylong events, which included language and culture workshops, games, learning about French programs at various universities in Michigan, and how French is used in the local community. Dr. Foster facilitated a film workshop about Paris and Dr. Viguier represented EMU’s French Program. Students helped volunteer at different activities throughout the day.

Professor Jennifer Fisher, an alumna of Eastern Michigan University, was an integral member of the School of Music & Dance’s keyboard area for over 18 years, where she taught functional piano classes for music majors and group piano pedagogy. Throughout her tenure, she worked closely with countless students, becoming a meaningful and enduring presence in their educational journeys. Her teaching extended beyond technique and curriculum. Prof. Fisher fostered confidence, curiosity, and a lifelong appreciation for music, leaving a lasting impression on all who studied with her.

She also served on the faculty of EMU’s Community Music Academy. Centered on a nurturing and supportive atmosphere, Prof. Fisher provided music lessons and classes in piano and early childhood music for students between the ages of 4–10. For many young learners and their families, Prof. Fisher was not only an instructor but a trusted mentor who helped shape their earliest and most formative musical experiences.

Prof. Fisher earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music Therapy from Western Illinois University and a Master of Arts in Piano Pedagogy from Eastern Michigan University. She went on to earn level 1 certifications from the Gordon Institute of Music Learning (GIML) in piano and elementary general music as well as level 2 certification in early childhood music. Off campus, she taught piano at Concordia University-Ann Arbor and served as a summer GIML faculty member.