The College of Health and Human Services hosted it’s annual Spring Recognition Ceremony on Monday, April 8th. The outstanding students honored during the event were nominated by the faculty. Their accomplishments to date are extraordinary, and they will make significant contributions in their intended health and human services professions.
School of Health Promotion and Human Performance
Destinee Cole (Athletic Training) – Destinee recently completed her internship with the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics at The University of Detroit Mercy. She also represented EMU at the Michigan Athletic Training Society Leadership Summit, and is the Vice President of the Athletic Training Student Organization. In addition to her leadership skills, Destinee’s professors recognize her work ethic, her ability to work well with others, and her sense of humor as her strengths. Destinee plans to pursue a Master’s degree.
Emily Klinkman (Exercise Science) – Emily has excelled in the classroom, earning a 3.97 GPA. She has also participated in a research study with Dr. Tony Moreno on the influence of jump landing condition on ground reaction force and knee joint flexion. Emily presented some of the findings during the 2019 Undergraduate Symposium. Her academic and scholarly achievements will serve her well as she pursues her career goal of becoming a college professor.
Andy Brink (Exercise Physiology) – Andy is a first-year master’s student, and a graduate assistant who teaches exercise physiology lab courses, and assists in the lab techniques, anatomy and physiology classes. For his thesis, Andy is examining the acute response of insulin to stevia consumption with low intensity exercise. Upon completion of his Master’s degree, Andy hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in Applied Physiology or Biochemistry.
Addison Jendza (Public Health Education) – Addison will graduate Magna Cum Laude this spring, and has been a recipient of an Honors College Undergraduate Research Fellowship and an Honors College Scholarship for study abroad in Spain. She has served in several leadership roles at EMU, including Treasurer of her Sorority, Sigma Sigma Sigma, and President of the Beta Delta Chapter of Eta Sigma Gamma, the Health Education Honor Society.
Melinda Lawrence (Masters of Health Education) – Although Melinda has excelled academically, it is her work outside the classroom that is truly extraordinary. Her interest in sexual health education in cancer patient populations has led her to become a member of The Scientific Network on Female Sexual Health and Cancer. She also works with sexual health professionals who are conducting pilot programs for people in cancer survivorship in other states; leading to her goal of creating sexual health programs in Michigan for oncology patients. Melinda has also been an advocate for, and active in support groups that work with, the LGBTQ community.
Emily Micik (Orthotics and Prosthetics) – Emily is an ABC-Certified Orthotic Assistant, and a second-year student in the O&P program. She is a proud creator, artist, and mother to a four-year-old son. She received her undergraduate degree in anthropology at the University of Wisconsin- Madison. She divides her time between schoolwork (maintaining a 3.99 GPA), volunteering for adaptive sport events and a children’s literacy program, and being a mom. She is looking forward to residency and practicing in the orthotics and prosthetics field.
Joel Frison (Physical Education) – Joel is completing his student teaching this spring and looks forward to begin his career as a certified Physical Education and Health Education teacher. His greatest strengths as a future educator are his ability to show compassion and caring to students while managing highly varied classroom settings. Joel’s strong leadership traits and his ability to think critically will serve him well as a stand out teacher.
Victoria Fields (Sport Management, UG) – Victoria exemplifies a scholar in training. She is a McNair Scholar, and already has two publications, eleven presentations, and one invited talk. She has excelled in the classroom, and has held leadership positions in the Sport Management Club and the EMU McNair Organization of Student Trailblazers. Victoria is also a Title IX Ambassador and a Research/Public Relations Intern for the Equality Research Center for LGBTQ+ Faculty Development at EMU. She will be attending graduate school at the University of Illinois in the fall.
Rhonda Vander Zwaag (Sport Management, GR) – Rhonda is a full-time employee at EMU as a Senior Admissions Advisor. She has completed her internship with EMU Athletics in Compliance, and has emerged as a leader in the classroom. She enrolled in the Sport Management program because she wanted to expand her knowledge of the business side of Athletics. Rhonda currently serves on the Title IX Committee for Education, Prevention and Advocacy, and she is a member of the MACRAO Legislative Issues Committee.
Connor Anteau (Sport Performance/Fitness Entrepreneurship) – Connor is a standout in the classroom with an ability to inquire above and beyond course content. He is also a rock climbing enthusiast and instructor. He has united his passion for teaching climbing into a robust internship working with kids’ day camp climbers, managing a climbing venue, and pursuing climbing specific strength and conditioning entrepreneurship opportunities. He will be enrolling in EMU’s Exercise Physiology program in the fall.
School of Health Sciences
Emily Gensch (Clinical Laboratory Sciences) – Emily’s work in the classroom and laboratory exemplifies her attention to detail, her work ethic, and her willingness to help a classmate in need. Her willingness to embrace the concept of continuous improvement will serve her well as a Medical Laboratory Scientist.
Julia Robinson (Dietetics, UG) – After completing her acute care rotation at a level one trauma center in Toledo, Julia will graduate in April. She serves as a student board member with the Michigan Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and also serves as a member of the MI Academy Political Action Committee advocating for licensure for dietitians in Michigan. Her career goals include opening a private practice in women’s health and fertility and becoming an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant.
Tomiko Karangelen (Dietetics, GR) – Tomiko earned a graduate degree in Applied Mathematics from Johns Hopkins University and worked as a software engineer before deciding to pursue a second career in dietetics. Tomiko is an active Master Food Volunteer with the Virginia Cooperative Extension, helping to provide nutrition education to underserved populations in her community. Her career interests include clinical acute care, long-term care, and enteral and parenteral nutrition.
Lorna Wyatt (Human Nutrition) – Lorna is completing her M.S. in Human Nutrition with a concentration in research writing. As a graduate assistant, she has contributed to faculty research, presented class lectures, and served as a preceptor to students in the Coordinated Program in Dietetics. Lorna has held a variety of management and public speaking positions and as a registered dietitian, she works with the growing senior population providing supportive nutrition care.
Travia Crawford (Gerontology) – Travia graduated from EMU with a bachelor’s in Criminal Justice in 2003. She worked as a probation officer for eleven years before deciding to return to school. She will be graduating with a Master’s of Social Work and Graduate Certificate in Gerontology this spring. She is a certified alcohol and drug addiction counselor, and an active member of her community. Her goal is to open her own Home for the Aging, specializing in maintaining quality of life for each resident.
Monyca Johnson (Health Administration, UG) – A member of the Honors College, Monyca has excelled in her undergraduate studies. She recently presented her project, “Health Outcomes for Low-Income Older Adults with Diabetes who Receive Services from Meals on Wheels” at the 2019 Undergraduate Symposium. Monyca hopes to continue her graduate studies in Public Health.
Margaret Rayer (Health Administration, GR) – Margaret is a graduate of EMU’s Clinical Lab Science program, and is presently the Quality Assurance Coordinator at the Department of Pathology, Michigan Medicine in Ann Arbor. She is a member of the American Society for Clinical Pathology, and a leader in both the laboratory and the classroom.
Lindsey Talcott (Occupational Therapy) – Lindsey earned a B.S. in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience from the University of Michigan. As the President of Pi Theta Epsilon, she is a strong advocate for the advancement of occupational therapy research. Her interest in research is further evidenced by her work as a research assistant on a faculty led research project.
Ashley Beals (Public Health) – Ashely is a McNair Scholar and has been active in service on campus, particularly for the honors program and public health community. Ashley’s research has focused on factors influencing opioid prescribing trends. Ashley will be pursuing a Master’s of Public Health degree in the future, and has been accepted at multiple schools.
Rebecca Cooper (Public Health, Health Administration Track) – Rebecca graduate Magna Cum Laude this past December with her Bachelor of Science in Public Health. She is currently working as a Utilization Management Care Coordinator for Meridian. As a student at EMU, she was actively involved in the Health Administration Student Organization (HASO) helping to arrange professional development and community service opportunities for her fellow classmates.
Elizabeth Hartwig (Therapeutic Recreation) – Betty has proven herself as an exceptional student and leader in and outside the classroom. She is the first to volunteer her time and attends various outreach events to promote EMU and the therapeutic recreation program and profession. She is the President of the Student Therapeutic Recreation Organization (STRO). Betty also volunteers weekly at Therapeutic Riding, Inc., assisting individuals with disabilities during their therapeutic horseback riding sessions.
School of Nursing
Brianna Young (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) – Brianna is a traditional nursing student and is an a very active board member in the Student Nurse Association and chair and mentor of the Student Nurse Association Peer Support Services. She is a member of the Honors College. Her research interest addresses minority student success in nursing programs. She is currently working as a Certified Nurse Assistant at Michigan Medicine C.S. MOTT Children’s Hospital and holds an impressive 3.9 cumulative GPA.
Reem Atshan (RN/BSN Completion) – Reem works full-time in a step-down/telemetry unit and additionally serves as a resource for hospice/palliative care within a hospital. As a full time student, she frequently serves as a preceptor for new nurses, and serves as part of the stroke champion team. Reem was also the recipient of the Daisy Award in the hospital where she works as a registered nurse.
Kyle Hug (RN/BSN Completion) – Kyle is a staff nurse at Detroit Medical Center in the cardiothoracic intensive care unit (CICU). He will complete the RN to BSN program this spring. Kyle believes that participating in this program has given him the opportunity to grow exponentially as a nurse.
Michelle Gardiner (Master of Science in Nursing) – Since graduating from EMU with her BSN in 2013, Michelle has worked primarily as a neonatal nurse. She returned to school to pursue her true passion for education. During her academic career, she has presented research projects at EMU and the University of New Mexico. Her long-term goals are to obtain her Ph.D. in Nursing and teach our future nurses.
Nicole McPharlin (Master of Science in Nursing) – Nicole is an adult gerontology primary care nurse practitioner student who exemplifies excellence in all aspects of her clinical and academic studies. She has contributed over ten years of service in nursing, providing holistic, compassionate care to those in need. Nicole is an active member of Sigma Theta Tau International – Eta Rho Chapter, American Association of Nurse Practitioners, and Michigan Council of Nurse Practitioners (MiCNP).
Chelsea Noble (Doctorate of Nursing Practice) – Chelsea is pursing both her adult gerontology primary care nurse practitioner and doctor of nursing practice degrees. In addition to maintaining a 4.0 GPA, Chelsea currently serves on the School of Nursing’s Master’s Admissions and Program Committee, and is an active member of Sigma Theta Tau- Eta Rho Chapter. She also contributes time to help undergraduate nursing students in the nursing skills lab, and serves as an ATI champion and predictor proctor.
School of Social Work
Kayla Strong (Bachelor of Social Work) – Kayla has an outstanding academic record and has demonstrated a commitment to social work values and ethic through her volunteer work in the community and EMU. She works to be inclusive, non-judgmental, and to build positive experiences for those around her. During a recent service learning class in Jamaica, Kayla was assigned to a group that presented on human trafficking to local community leaders. She was well prepared and did an outstanding job!
Zachary Ellsworth (Master of Social Work) – Zach is a graduate of EMU’s BSW program, and was employed by Community Mental Health in Livingston County. He has been a graduate assistant for the last two years working for the BSW program. He has served on multiple committees, and has worked with faculty to collect and code information from focus groups. Zach also developed a mentoring program for transfer students and worked with the other GAs to develop and implement a new transfer student orientation.
Everett L. Marshall Award for Faculty Excellence
In addition to recognizing our best and brightest students, three faculty members received the Everett L. Marshall Award for Faculty Excellence. The recipients demonstrated their exceptional achievements in their chosen category, with emphasis on outcomes and impact upon students, the college, the university, the community, and/or the profession.
Professor Jacob Lindquist from the School of Health Promotion and Human Performance received the Excellence in Service Award. Professor Lindquist was nominated by one of his students who recognized his commitment and willingness to serve the Orthotics and Prosthetics (O&P) program. In addition to serving as the faculty advisor to the O&P student organization (O.O.P.S), he routinely accepts opportunities to help students with their capstone research and extracurricular projects. In addition to serving his students, Jake also provides significant service to the O&P program as Chair of faculty search committees, as a member of the Admissions Committee and Advisory Board, and aiding in the new student lab safety orientation. He is an active member of the School of Health Promotion and Human Performance Scholarship Committee, and the Aging Studies Program Advisory Council. His most visible contribution to the college is his work in organizing IPE Sim Day. As his IPE Sim Day colleagues stated, “Jake’s dedication to service and his passion for impacting student’s learning through IPE is exceptional.”
Dr. John Carbone from the School of Health Sciences was a co-recipient of the Excellence in Scholarly/Creative Activity Award. Dr. Carbone’s research focuses on the benefit of higher- protein feeding during periods of negative energy balance, as well as the limitations of high protein diets in the face of severe energy deficit and environmental stress. Since 2013, John’s research efforts have generated 13 published manuscripts, one first-author book chapter, and eleven published abstracts and oral/poster presentations at international and national conferences. He and his research partner, Dr. Stefan Pasiakos of the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM) have designed and executed several applied laboratory and translational studies to identify nutritional countermeasures to non-pathophysiological conditions of muscle wasting. Dr. Carbone has also been instrumental in guiding and mentoring student research activities. A former student wrote that John has not only inspired but also worked tirelessly to support his students in their research and careers.
Dr. Stephanie Wladkowski from the School of Social Work was also a co-recipient of the Excellence in Scholarly/Creative Activity Award. Dr. Wladkowski’s research in end-of-life care has been greatly influenced by her clinical experience. She focuses on live discharge from hospice, and specifically, the psychosocial and concrete factors relevant to this care transition for patients and their primary caregivers. Her research uses both qualitative and quantitative methods, and she works collaboratively with other scholars across CHHS, EMU, community agencies, and institutions across the country. During the past three years, her research efforts have generated 29 refereed conference presentations, six invited presentations, nine refereed journal articles, one book chapter, five professional newsletter articles, and ten internal research awards at EMU. Her colleagues praise Stephanie’s efforts to mentor students into becoming research scholars. She invites students to participate in her research, and she works closely with undergraduate and graduate students to develop their own research initiatives. Stephanie is a highly regarded researcher among her peers and her students.