Shantalea Johns was selected for the 2017-2018 Wayne State University Outstanding Contributor award. This award is presented in recognition of significant accomplishments during the past three years beyond normal responsibilities, scholarship (presentations and/or publications), and emerging leadership among junior academic staff (fewer than seven years of service). The award will be formally presented at an awards reception on April 26 from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the McGregor Memorial Conference Center.

An Academic Services Officer III and part-time faculty member, Shantalea in 2016 was named an Emerging Leader by the Global Community for Academic Advisors (NACADA) one of only 10 chosen from an international pool of applicants (and the first ever from Wayne State). Since joining the university in 2012, she has presented 25 times on best practices in academic advising to national and international audiences at academic conferences and workshops.  In 2017, she was appointed co-chair of the NACADA region 5 conference, in which role she will provide leadership to a team of advisors and advising administrators that will plan the 2019 conference held in Detroit. Shantalea also serves on the NACADA research committee and the probation/dismissal interest group steering committee. Additionally, she serves as the co-chair of the School of Social Work's social entrepreneurship committee and is a member of nine other committees across campus. She is a second-year doctoral student in the College of Education, researching the impact of mental health on student persistence and retention. 

On Feb. 16, faculty and staff of the School of Social Work gathered to celebrate Beverly Hunter and her contributions to the school for over 28 years. In celebration of her love of all things New Orleans, the Wayne State student Jazz ensemble, the Jazztet, played traditional Dixieland music for everyone. Below are a few pictures of guests at the party (top from left: Juanitta Hill, Beverly Hunter, Marilynn Knall, Roseland Winchester; bottom from left: Joanne Sobeck, Anwar Najor-Durack, Dean Jerrold Brandell, Juanitta Hill, Beverly Hunter, Margaret Madej)