After founding EMU's first Google Developer Group, distinguishing themselves in national hackathon competitions, and building one of the University's fastest-growing technology communities, Computer Science major Chanuth Jayatissa and Cybersecurity major Karthikeya Thota earned invitations to Google I/O 2026, Google's invitation-only developer conference. Now, they're using what they learned to launch EMU's first student-led hackathon and create new opportunities for future student innovators.

When Chanuth Jayatissa arrived at EMU as an international student from Sri Lanka, he knew he wanted to become involved on campus. He quickly found a home in the Department of Computer Science, where he recognized not only the talent around him, but also an opportunity to bring students together.

One of those students was Karthikeya Thota.

The two began competing in hackathons—24-hour competitions in which teams develop technology solutions to real-world problems. While the early competitions didn't end in victories, they introduced the pair to a network of builders, creators, and innovators that inspired a much bigger idea.

"Initially, when we did Hackathons, we didn't win, of course. But we just kept going because the experience of meeting new people who are just so driven to build and create in computer science was really fascinating," Jayatissa says. "I found out through attending Hackathons that there was this thing called 'Google Developer Group.' I was telling Karthikeya, 'We have to start this; this is going to be a great opportunity.' Then in the following fall, we started our GDG here on campus."

Read the full EMU Today story.

On Friday, July 31, Consul General of Japan, Kishimori welcomed 57 participants of the 2026 Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program to his official residence for a pre‑departure orientation and farewell reception. Eastern Michigan University is proud to have two Japanese majors—Elizabeth Pelava and Jordyn Palmer—joining this year’s cohort. 

JET participants will soon begin their assignments across Japan as Assistant Language Teachers in K–12 schools or as Coordinators for International Relations in local government offices, contributing to grassroots exchange and strengthening Japan–U.S. relations. 

The reception brought together Michigan State Representatives Tyrone Carter and Brenda Carter, members of the JET Alumni Association, leaders from the Japanese business community, Japanese language educators from universities across Michigan, representatives of the Japan America Society Young Professionals, and members of the Japanese American community. Guests celebrated the participants’ upcoming journeys and shared perspectives on future career pathways.

HigherEd PodCon, the national conference dedicated to higher‑education podcasting, has named Eastern Michigan University public relations professor Lolita Cummings Podcaster of the Year for her leadership as co‑host and producer of Enlighten U, EMU’s podcast elevating student voices and expert insights on mental health and well‑being.

The inaugural HigherEd PodCon Awards received 155 nominations from institutions and creators across the U.S. and internationally. All submissions underwent three independent reviews, with finalists selected based on the highest combined average score on a 10‑point scale assessing on‑air presence, storytelling, engagement, and the strength of nomination materials. A panel of 29 judges from higher education and the podcasting profession participated in a blind peer‑review process.

Read the full EMU Today story.

EMU Theatre is proud to celebrate alumna Nancy Uffner (BS, Theatre and Communication for Secondary Education, 1979), who has been named a recipient of The Founders Award by the Stage Managers’ Association (SMA) as part of the 2026 Del Hughes Awards for Lifetime Achievement in Stage Management.

The Founders Award honors Uffner’s prolific, multi-decade career as a leading educator, production stage manager, and for her extraordinary depth of service to the theatrical industry.

Uffner’s foundational journey in performance arts began right here in Ypsilanti, where she earned her Bachelor of Science with secondary teaching certification from Eastern Michigan University. Deeply committed to higher education, Uffner returned to EMU many times over the years to teach stage management classes and workshops, mentoring generations of emerging theatre artists. Prior to her time at U-M, she also taught at Northwestern University and recently retired as Clinical Associate Professor Emerita from the University of Michigan, where she spent nearly 30 years heading their stage management program.

A proud, longtime member of Actors’ Equity Association, Uffner’s production stage management portfolio spans major national tours, including All Shook Up, Fame, Ken Hill’s Phantom of the Opera, South Pacific with the late Robert Goulet, and Camelot with the late Richard Harris.

Her extensive regional theatre stage management work includes premier companies across the country, such as the MUNY, Weston Playhouse Theatre Company, Lythgoe Family Panto, Goodspeed Musicals, Music Theatre Wichita, the U-M Festival of New Works, Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Chicago Opera Theatre, Virginia Stage Co., Baltimore’s Center Stage, Granbury Opera House, and Cherry County Playhouse. Locally, she has also worked with the Peter Sparling Dance Company as well as various music and corporate events.

"Nancy is a wonderful representative of Eastern Michigan and EMU Theatre. I have bumped into people in theatres from New York City to Arkansas who know and love Nancy and her work,” said Jeromy Hopgood, Interim Director of the School of Communication, Media and Theatre Arts. "Her lifetime of leadership, commitment to mentorship, and contributions to stage management nationwide serve as a fantastic example for our current performing arts students. We congratulate her on this incredible and well-deserved national recognition!"

The Stage Managers’ Association will formally present Uffner with The Founders Award at the annual Del Hughes Awards ceremony in New York City this fall.

Since its inception in 2023, the EMU MPA Mentorship & Professional Development Program – which was designed to provide public administration students with an opportunity to build professional relationships with alumni from the EMU Master of Public Administration Program -- has connected at least 25 undergraduate and graduate students to MPA alumni working in the field. The mentorship program guides students over a two-year period: during the first year, in addition to gaining career advice from their mentors, students have the opportunity to attend professional meetings, conferences, or workshops with their mentors. The second year focuses on career readiness; mentors help students by discussing career opportunities, reviewing their resume, and providing support through a job application process.

“My mentor has helped me to see the ways in which the skills I've developed outside public administration have positioned me well for a role in a nonprofit organization or municipal entity,” said Chris DeVries, an MPA student and first-year participant in the EMU MPA Mentorship & Professional Development Program. “One of the most enjoyable parts of the program is having a trusted partner who provides guidance but who also challenges me to think about public administration in new and exciting ways!”

Students have reported learning the following through the mentorship and professional development program:

• Broadened understanding of public administration and various career opportunities within it

• Best practices in networking

• Negotiation advice

• Willingness to adapt to changing circumstances, embrace flexibility, and play to your strengths

• How to leverage the MPA  

• Where to look for opportunities

Mentors have also expressed positive experiences, such as “meeting younger, determined, and smart future public administrators,” seeing the eagerness of the students to learn and grow, and exposing students to the jobs they may not have been aware of.

“As a mentor, I was hopeful that I could provide some guidance to my mentee on their goals and their future job search, and doing so has boost my confidence as a coach. However, I was not expecting the many other benefits that it brought to me,” said Patricia Denig, EMU MPA alumna, MPA Advisory Board Member, Board Staff Liaison for the Washtenaw County Conservation District, and mentor to Chris DeVries. “It has both reminded me of and helped me hone the importance of building trust, respect, accountability, and clear communication. But even more, it has reminded me and reinforced what often seems forgotten about the value of listening (rather than just waiting for your turn to speak).”

In the program, students get special access to public service professionals with varied experiences. “My mentor, Patricia Denig, has been a fantastic resource for me as I consider my career options once I obtain my MPA,” said DeVries. “Although she is retired, she still serves on a board of directors and has a wealth of experience in the nonprofit and government sectors. Patricia has helped me to consider the various options that exist in the nonprofit world, as well as in the government sector where there might be opportunities to promote and advance the work of nonprofits.” 

Mentors and students alike look forward to continuing in the mentorship program and learning from each other. “I am energized and grateful for the mentorship program and all it does for the MPA students and those of us who are serving as mentors,” said Denig. “I encourage other MPA students to give it a try and especially encourage MPA graduates to consider being a mentor in the program. You will be surprised with what you learn and receive by being a mentor.”

Norman Raymond Tyler, Professor Emeritus of Urban and Regional Planning, passed away on July 30, 2026, at the age of 81. Tyler was a Professor in the Department of Geography and Geology from 1990 to 2014.

Norm graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1962 and had one year of community college before transferring to the University of Michigan to pursue a degree in architecture. After one semester, he received an invitation to join the Peace Corps in a Rural Construction program in Sierra Leone, West Africa. He completed his two years as a volunteer, then participated in a six month Peace Corps training program in Grenada. In 1966, he returned to the University of Michigan School of Architecture and Design and graduated in 1970 with a Bachelor of Architecture. It was in architecture school that he met his future wife, Ilene, a fellow student.

During their years in Pennsylvania, Norm and Ilene discovered the field of Historic Preservation, serving as architects for the Main Street Program in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. Norm was accepted into the University of Michigan Doctoral program in Architecture in September 1983, necessitating their move to Ann Arbor. He received his doctoral degree in 1987 and applied for a teaching position at Eastern Michigan University, while concurrently earning his Ph.D. in Planning at Michigan State University.

In 1988, Tyler became an adjunct instructor at Eastern Michigan University, where he taught the Community Development and Downtown Revitalization course. In 1990, he became a faculty member of EMU’s Urban and Regional Planning program. He served as the program’s director for seventeen years, during which time he coordinated the effort to gain accreditation for EMU's undergraduate Urban and Regional Planning program. 

Norm worked as an architect, a planner, a professor of urban planning, and an author of several books. His greatest joy in his later years was as an author. He published seven books, two of which were co-authored with his wife, Ilene, and one with his friend and colleague Rocky Ward. Ted Ligibel joined the team for the 3rd edition of his Historic Preservation book. He was grateful in his final days to see his biography of Harriet Quimby in print. A final book on his ancestor Job Tyler was in progress and may yet be published posthumously.

Read Professor Tyler's full obituary, this MLive feature, and this University Archives biography.