Language and International Trade - Japanese student Tayler Marberry was selected as a 2025-2026 Bridging Scholar by the United States-Japan Bridging Foundation. The Bridging Scholars are a group of academically exceptional students who are extremely motivated and passionate about Japan. Many are planning careers either in or connected to Japan that will strengthen US-Japan relations. In today's world, these cultural bridges have never been more important.

Marberry also received a scholarship for study abroad at the Japan Center for Michigan Universities for part of her Japanese major requirements from following organizations: the Upshur Flight Fund scholarship, the Paul Adam Kozma scholarship, and the JBSD Foundation scholarship.

She is going to start her internship this fall at Shiga, Japan.

Professor Jason Ihnat spent his summer serving as the Front Ensemble Coordinator for the Boston Crusaders. Along with winning the 2025 World Championship title, the Crusaders won the Fred Sanford Award for Best Percussion Performance under Professor Ihnat's direction. 

"One of the oldest active World Class corps, originated in 1940 and a founding member of Drum Corps International, took 27 years since the genesis of DCI to reach its first Top 12 appearance — a ninth place finish in 1999. 23 years after that, the corps earned a medal for the first time.

"And in 2025, for the first time, its medal is golden."

Watch a recap featuring Professor Ihnat

Read more about the Boston Crusaders

Dr. Cory Emal, Professor of Chemistry, pursued the perfect molecule for 20 years, but he wasn’t just looking for it. He was looking to create it.

Emal had taken up the challenge of building a molecule as part of a collaboration with Daniel Lawrence, Ph.D., professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan and founder of MDI Therapeutics. Lawrence’s research was focused on a protein, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), which is important to the body’s wound-healing process. But PAI-1 sometimes goes rogue and is over-produced, causing tissue in the body to harden or scar and in some cases inhibit the function of organs including the heart and lungs. Emal’s role was to create a molecule to mitigate those over-produced proteins, and potentially create a more effective drug to treat fibrotic disease.

But the rogue protein wasn’t making it easy.

“PAI-1 flexes and moves in a lot of ways that we don’t completely understand, so that gives us an incomplete picture of the shape of the protein,” Emal says. “If you think of it being a key in a lock, we wanted to design the key that fits the lock of the protein.”

Without a clear visual, Emal likens the process of getting the right fit to feeling around in a pitch-dark room.

“We’re really just waiting for someone with a flashlight to show up,” he says, “or to find a door into the next room—that opens up a lot more possibilities as well.”

Finally, after nearly two decades of bumping around, the molecular key fit. The lock turned, the potential of Emal’s molecule garnered research funding, and in June 2024, a first-in-human (phase 1) clinical trial was begun to evaluate the safety and tolerability of the new molecule, MDI-2517, in healthy volunteer participants.

“It’s incredible,” Emal said of the trial. “I can’t overemphasize how exciting it is.”

Read the full story in the Eastern Magazine

Professor of Mathematics Stephanie Casey is poised at the cutting edge of teacher education by bringing a much-needed focus on data science.  Stretching back to 2016, she has been a principal investigator in two National Science Foundation (NSF) grants: ESTEEM (2016-2022) and ESTEEM II (2022-2027).  Working with colleagues at North Carolina State, University of Southern Indiana, and Concord Consortium, Casey and fellow researchers worked to integrate statistics content and pedagogy into undergraduate mathematics teacher programs by equipping faculty members with technological and curricular resources, networking opportunities, and support.  The goal of ESTEMM II is to equip future teachers with data-rich activities to spark students’ curiosity, passion, and skills for solving social problems through data.  In an era of mass information and technologies changing at a rapid pace, it is critical to produce students well-versed in data literacy so that they can apply this knowledge to data-intensive careers and STEM Pathways.

In July, Dr. Casey and 80 participants from 54 institutions gathered at North Carolina State University for the 2025 ESTEEM Summit on Transforming Mathematics Teacher Preparation for a Data Science and Statistics Future.  This conference included interactive stations on K-12 curricula, workshops, and lightening talks.  Participants—including faculty members from across the nation—discussed their own classroom experiences teaching data science and education while strategizing about the need to expand this education.  “I’m hoping to magnify the urgency and need to address preparation of pre-service teachers to teach data science and statistics,” Casey remarked.  “I think we’ve already planted a lot of seeds and have got a lot of energy and excitement building in that direction. So, I’m very hopeful that it’s going to happen. We’re trying to transform the community that’s in the math teacher education system.”  You can read more about the conference here and the ESTEEM II National Science Foundation grant here.  It is exciting that Eastern Michigan University’s Department of Math & Statistics is at the center of these innovative conversations and is part of the interdisciplinary program in Data Science & Analytics.

Dr. Hedeel Evans, Professor of Chemistry, has been awarded a major competitive renewal grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), totaling $562,500 in support of her research project entitled “Probing the Role of Insulin-Like Growth Factor-Binding Protein 3 and Humanin in Regulating Hyaluronan Function.”

This project examines the mechanistic regulation involving molecular components associated with both neurodegeneration and cancer, concentrating on their roles in cell survival. It explores the influence of protein–carbohydrate interactions in the extracellular environment on cell viability, aiming to provide information about disease processes related to disturbances in these mechanisms.

Given the fact that NIH funding is highly competitive and difficult to secure, the renewal of this grant highlights both the strength of Dr. Evans’s research program and the competitiveness of her proposal.

In line with EMU’s mission to strengthen academic programs and research quality, the grant also provides comprehensive research training opportunities for undergraduate students in the Biochemistry program, the Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Neuroscience program (NSCI), and the research-based undergraduate biochemistry laboratory course, as well as for master’s-level chemistry students. Through this project, students will gain authentic, hands-on biomedical research experience early in their academic careers, sparking interest in future careers in biomedical science.

Dr. Evans is deeply grateful for the guidance and support of NIH and in particular that provided by her NIH program officer. She is also deeply grateful for the support of the Office of Research Development and Administration staff and for EMU’s internal funding programs, including Faculty Release Fellowships, the Provost Research Support Award, and departmental support—that enabled her to gather the preliminary data essential for this successful NIH renewal.

Dr. Nataša Kovačević, Professor of Literature in the English Department, has published her third book, Nonaligned Imagination: Yugoslavia, the Global South, and Literary Solidarities Beyond the Cold War Blocs. This book, the first academic study that reconstructs the forgotten literary and intellectual history of the Non-Aligned Movement in general and of Yugoslavia’s nonaligned orientation in particular, is available from Northwestern University Press.

Dr. Kovačević shows how socialist Yugoslavia turned to the decolonizing countries of the Global South in the early 1950s, seeking an alternative to Cold War–bloc politics. It forged political, economic, and cultural links with postcolonial states and anticolonial liberation movements through the Non-Aligned Movement, of which it was a founding member. NAM spanned political and economic systems, uniting members in opposition to superpower politics and around policies of nuclear disarmament, active peaceful coexistence, anticolonialism, and respect for national sovereignty.

Dr. Kovačević traces the development of new networks of intellectual engagement and cultural exchange between writers, journalists, and scholars who connected postwar Yugoslavia with 1950s India, 1960s Algeria and Guinea, 1970s Vietnam, and beyond. Nonaligned narratives attempted to reconfigure the understanding of the globe outside Eurocentric tropes and hegemonic political stratifications and to articulate Yugoslavs’ own internationalist sensibility. With Cold War–era rhetoric intensifying again in the twenty-first century, Nonaligned Imagination assumes the urgent task of unearthing a history of engaged writing and cultural diplomacy that imagined alternatives to superpower conflicts and a bipolar vision of the world.

Dr. Chirasree Mukherjee, Assistant Professor of Political Science, has published Understanding the Roots of Intractability in Hindu–Muslim Conflicts in India (Routledge, July 2025). In this book, Mukherjee examines why some political conflicts, especially those involving religion, prove difficult to resolve. This book deepens understanding of the roots of intractable conflicts, analyzing five decades of conflicts between Hinduism and Islam in India, paving the way for more successful peacebuilding and conflict management.

Find more on Dr. Mukherjee's book. 

Ashley Reynolds (MA, Africology and African American Studies, 2022) has been appointed as Interim University Archivist of Howard University.

Ashley Reynolds earned her Master of Arts in Africology and African American Studies at Eastern Michigan University in 2022, including an external cognate in Cultural Museum Studies as part of the coursework for the MA degree in AAAS.

Ashley reports that in her role as Interim University Archivist at Howard University, she is charged with overseeing the University's repository of official administrative records. Ashley manages a team of five archivists, developing work plans and policies that drive their collections management and development work. Before transitioning to Howard University, Ashley served as the Digital Archivist at The Wright Museum in Detroit, MI, from 2023 - 2025.

Eric Molina Pereira, who earned his Master’s degree in Music Performance from Eastern Michigan University in Fall 2025, has recently been awarded a prestigious fellowship with the New World Symphony for the 2025–2026 season. Based in Miami Beach, FL, the New World Symphony (NWS) is widely recognized as the premier orchestral training program in the United States for recent graduates of top music schools. Admission into this highly competitive program involves an extensive, multi-round audition process, culminating in live final rounds held in major U.S. cities and attracting a large pool of highly qualified candidates from around the world.

“EMU offered me countless performance opportunities and challenges that pushed my technical abilities with demanding repertoire — from solo features with the Wind Symphony and the EMU Orchestra, to performances as a soloist with the EMU Choir, recitals, student solo competitions, and even a halftime show solo with the EMU Marching Band during a Detroit Lions NFL game for an audience of over 63,000 people. I’m confident that each of these experiences played a crucial role in my development and growth as a performer over the past two years. Getting hands-on experience in real-world situations like these truly makes all the difference — and I know it did for me! I’m especially grateful to the EMU faculty, and in particular to Dr. Anderson Romero, for the mentorship and support I received throughout my time there.”

“EMU also provided tremendous support that allowed me to take part in the 2024 National Trumpet Competition — where I was a quarterfinalist in both the solo and chamber music categories — and the 2024 International Trumpet Guild Chamber Music Competition, where our EMU Trumpet Quintet advanced to the semifinals. I also received full support to prepare and travel for numerous auditions for schools and programs across the country. Now, I’m honored to continue my journey in Miami, representing EMU alongside other incredibly talented young musicians and internationally renowned conductors and soloists.

Beyond performance, my experience with the EMU Bands — under the leadership of Dr. Mary Schneider, Dr. J. Nick Smith, and a fantastic team — gave me the chance to develop in areas beyond simply playing an instrument. From organizational and administrative responsibilities to working collaboratively with a large ensemble, these experiences helped me grow tremendously as a musician and as a person. I’m truly grateful to all the faculty who supported me throughout my journey.”

Eric has seen a growing presence on the national stage over the past year. He recently won professional orchestra auditions for both the Flint Symphony Orchestra and the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, and in January 2025, he was awarded the “Most Outstanding Instrumentalist – Trumpet” prize at the SOPA Competition, hosted by the Sphinx Organization in Detroit. That award led to performance opportunities with major orchestras across the country this summer, including the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Oregon Symphony, and New Jersey Symphony.

Dr. Anderson Romero, Assistant Professor of Trumpet shares that, "Eric Pereira was an outstanding student with a strong professional dedication to playing the trumpet. His excellent progress over the past two years while pursuing his master's degree at EMU has enabled him to succeed in several professional auditions. Besides that, Eric was invited to play with major symphony orchestras in the United States, which shows his commitment to excellence and extraordinary abilities on the trumpet. I am very proud of Eric, and I am confident we will hear many good updates about his career in the coming years."

The School of Art & Design has been approved for $200,000 in grant funding from the Windgate Foundation to support student experiential learning and community engagement. The School of Art & Design will establish two cohorts of approximately ten students each for the following two cycles:  

FIRST YEAR COHORT: May 2026 – April 2027 (summer 2026, fall 2026, winter 2027)

SECOND YEAR COHORT: May 2027 – April 2028 (summer 2027, fall 2027, winter 2028)

Students will be selected for this prestigious EMU Windgate Fellowship based on their artistic and scholarly records. Ideally, 6 – 8 undergraduate students and 2 – 4 graduate students each year from the School of Art & Design's range of disciplines including: studio art, design, SAG, art history and art education, will be selected.

Each EMU Windgate Fellows cohort will serve as a catalyst for academic and professional development, fostering career readiness, civic engagement, and community connection among EMU art students. Students will be awarded a stipend to be used for one academic year to support tuition, fees, travel and incidental expenses towards creative activity and scholarly research.

These funds will provide ongoing support for a cohort of high-achieving students, helping them take full advantage of opportunities that can shape their academic and professional paths.  These opportunities give students the chance to build professional networks, develop a clear sense of direction in their field, and take creative and intellectual risks in a supportive environment. Fellows emerge with a stronger resume, a deeper understanding of their discipline, and the confidence to lead projects, influence their peers, and pursue competitive opportunities—whether that means graduate school, professional work, or community-based leadership.

Working with faculty mentors and the school director, fellowships will emphasize professional growth through immersive learning opportunities, which may include the following activities. 

$100,000 of this grant is contingent on matching this Challenge Grant.  

Please consider contributing to our Challenge Grant of $100,000 by reaching out to School Director Sandra Murchison at smurchis@emich.edu or Jill Hunsberger, Associate Vice President for Advancement at jhunsberg1@emich.edu.  

College of Arts and Sciences majors, your unique experience as a commuter, on-campus resident, athlete, artist, scientist, or non-traditional student is exactly what the Dean needs to hear! Help shape the future of the College of Arts and Sciences by sharing your perspective directly with college leadership. 

Soar with us—apply today to make your voice matter! 

It is with great sadness that EMU’s School of Music & Dance announces the passing of Dr. Marilyn Saker on August 26, 2025. A beloved professor and colleague, Dr. Saker’s passing marks a profound loss to the field of music theory and to the many lives she touched through her teaching, scholarship, and quiet generosity.

Dr. Saker served as Professor of Music Theory at Eastern Michigan University for over three decades, coordinating the music theory and aural skills program with distinction. She taught first- and second-year theory and aural skills classes, guiding students through the foundational aspects of musicianship with rigor, clarity, and care. She also served as coordinator for the Alexander Computer Lab and the Music Resource Center.

Her academic reach extended far beyond EMU’s campus. Dr. Saker was coauthor—alongside Bruce Benward—of the seventh, eighth, and ninth editions of Music in Theory and Practice published by McGraw-Hill. These volumes have become central to music theory curricula nationwide.

Dr. Saker was also a dedicated contributor to the Macro Analysis Creative Research Organization (MACRO), serving as a board member and as the editor and publisher of Musical Insights, the organization’s scholarly journal. 

Prior to joining EMU in 1993, Dr. Saker held faculty appointments at Northern Michigan University and Iowa State University.

Her colleagues remember her not only for her professional excellence but for her personal warmth:

"...a stellar colleague... a real soldier... a dedicated and caring teacher... meeting and greeting her was like taking a breath of fresh air."

—Dr. Nelson Amos

"...she was a highly perceptive, gifted theory teacher. The Benward/Saker Music in Theory and Practice texts are first-class models of theory pedagogy and have contributed significantly to the foundational musicianship of countless students across the country. Rest in peace, Marilyn, and to quote an empathetic observer of humanity 'May your memory be a blessing.'"

— Dr. Anthony Iannaccone

"I’ll remember Marilyn as a consummate professional, a dedicated and highly skilled teacher, and a gracious colleague. When I began teaching theory and aural skills, Marilyn was generous in her guidance and encouragement, for which I'll be forever grateful. Her work on the Music in Theory and Practice texts has made a lasting contribution to the study of music theory, and her devoted support of MACRO, an organization inspired by her mentor Bruce Benward and focused on theory pedagogy ‘for the rest of us,’ further exemplified her generous and meaningful contributions to the field.

"Marilyn was probably one of the most private people I’ve ever known, and in all our years teaching together I only had two opportunities to socialize with her… What I remember from those experiences was just how fun and vivacious she could be…There were many sides of Marilyn, some of which we only glimpsed, which I’m sorry we’ll never see again."

—Dr. Whitney Prince

In lieu of flowers, students and colleagues are invited to consider making a donation in Dr. Saker’s name to the Humane Society of Huron Valley - Ann Arbor. This request comes at the family's suggestion, in honor of Dr. Saker’s affection for the organization, where she loved to visit and had sponsored a kennel for some time.