Wayne State’s May 5 Commencement was a joyous celebration of our newest degree recipients. We are very proud of you! (Images below from The Detroit News 05.05.2016 Spring Commencement 8399404)

In April, Lauree Emery was honored at the FernCare Free Clinic annual fundraising dinner on Belle Isle. She was recognized for her volunteer service to the Ferndale-based mental health services provider in 2015-16.

The School of Social Work extends a warm welcome to two new colleagues. Joy Ernst will join the faculty as the associate dean for academic affairs on Aug. 8, and Erin Comartin, an alumna of our Ph.D. and M.S.W. programs, will join the faculty as an assistant professor on Aug. 18. The school is grateful to Jerrold Brandell for his service as interim associate dean for academic affairs for the winter 2016 semester.

Shantalea Johns has been promoted to Academic Services Advisor III effective Aug. 18. She was named the “Spotlight Advisor” for the spring/summer edition of the WSU Advisor Training Academy newsletter. http://advisortraining.wayne.edu/newsletters/ss_16_advising_notes.pdf

Takisha Lashore successfully defended her dissertation, “Delinquency And Self-Control Outcomes For Youth In Middle Childhood: Variations By Neighborhood Context, Race And Gender,” in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences’ Sociology Department.

Jamey Lister was recently awarded a University Research Grant from the WSU Office of the Provost for his study, “Psychosocial Characteristic Predictors of Short- and Long-Term Treatment Outcomes among Patients in an Urban Methadone Clinic.” Dr. Lister is the Principal Investigator on this collaborative study alongside Co-Investigators (Mark Greenwald, David Ledgerwood) at the WSU School of Medicine.

Dr. Lister earned a National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Women & Sex/Gender Junior Investigator Travel Award for attendance/presentationat the 78th Annual Scientific Meeting for the College on Problems of Drug Dependence in Palm Springs, Fla.

Mary Morris has joined Dean Waites’ staff as secretary III. Mary worked at Eastern Michigan University for 10 years in the College of Business and in Extended Programs and Educational Outreach. The school welcomes Mary and thanks Tamara Maxwell for her service in this position. Best of luck to Tamara in her next endeavor!

Deirdre Shires successfully defended her dissertation titled "Factors Associated with Primary Care Providers' Willingness to Deliver Routine and Transition Care to Transgender Individuals" on May 24. She will join the faculty of the School of Social Work at Michigan State University in the fall.