Miles Mercier, an EMU Physics major and Astronomy minor, has worked for the Department of Physics and Astronomy as a work-study student since the summer of 2022. Miles has been working with Mr. Norbert Vance, the Director of Sherzer Observatory and the EMU Planetarium, and the head of the Physics and Astronomy Machine Shop. Miles helped Mr. Vance to do the final organization of the Machine Shop supply room, to perform needed updates of Sherzer Observatory, and, most significantly, to install the new planetarium projector during Fall 2022. The new projector has much better resolution and color, providing a great improvement over the original system. Public showings resume during December 2022; please see the EMU Planetarium website for information.

Miles took ASTR 320 Planetarium Science with Mr. Vance during Winter 2022 and learned how to produce and present a brief planetarium show. Miles aims to apply that knowledge by hosting planetarium shows for fellow EMU students, visiting school groups, and the public, thereby serving both EMU and its home community. During November 2022, Miles began this work by hosting groups of kindergarten and first-grade students from Ypsilanti International Elementary School.

Miles tells us that "Through this work study with Mr. Vance, I have gained the knowledge of how to safely operate heavy machinery within our Department Machine Shop, how to operate and maintain Sherzer Observatory, and most importantly, how to operate and use the EMU Planetarium in order to educate its guests in the wonders of space! As a member and President of the EMU Astronomy Club I have had the opportunity to meet and network with many astronomers from around the state of Michigan, all whom I have become good friends with. This work-study, in all honesty, is the best job I have ever had!"

Mr. Vance says, "I admit to taking advantage of Miles's strong back and energy to accomplish some tedious tasks, but he was able to 'get his hands dirty' and do everything from shop machining and carpentry to technical troubleshooting and software installs. With his help, we repaired everything from the Sherzer Observatory deck picnic table and mini-dome to installing the major planetarium system upgrade in the Mark Jefferson Sphere. He has become quite proficient at operating both the observatory telescopes and the planetarium projection systems." Miles will describe his efforts at the undergraduate Symposium in March. Students interested in physics and astronomy work-study positions are encouraged to contact Interim Department Head Dr. Behringer.

Dr. Cam McComb was awarded Higher Education Art Educator of the Year by the Michigan Art Education Association. She was recognized at the MAEA fall professional development conference held in Grand Rapids November 3-6, 2022.

Prior to beginning her work with preservice teachers, Dr. McComb spent 25 years teaching art in K-12 public schools. She is a national board certified teacher, a mixed media artist, a published writer-scholar, an arts advocate, and a 2018 graduate of the National Art Education Association School for Art Leaders.

In conjunction with the highly successful Seetoo Scholarship Celebration Concert on November 10, the School of Music and Dance has recently received a $50,000 gift to support string student scholarships for the School of Music and Dance. The gift will include $25,000 for the Shing Cheng Seetoo Endowed Scholarship and $25,000 for the Zhiwen Situ Cello Scholarship. At this time, the donor wishes to remain anonymous.

The Seetoo Scholarship Celebration Concert was successful event that featured student and faculty performers from the School of Music & Dance, as well as guest performer Da Hong Seetoo, a Grammy award winning classical music producer and violinist.