The Contours and the Flint Symphony Orchestra Play Riverbank Park July 3, 2008
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3 July 2008, Riverbank Park, Flint, Michigan:
The sounds of Motown and the great Flint Symphony Orchestra filled Riverbank Park in downtown Flint, delighting the one-thousand plus concert goers. I had the pleasure of welcoming the audience on behalf of the university and college partners. I did not miss the chance to brag a bit about the wonderful things happening at the University of Michigan-Flint and in downtown Flint.
For the complete schedule of free Music in the Parks concerts go http://www.thefim.com/musicintheparks.asp
Blog Stats Update July 1, 2008
Posted by Jack Kay in : Uncategorized , add a comment1 July 2008, Flint, Michigan:
“Great Times at the University of Michigan-Flint” blog is now 6 months old and has attracted 7,166 unique viewers from 54 countries who have left 54 printable comments. In late August this Blog will become: A+ Academic Excelence at the University of Michigan-Flint. Stay tuned for details.
“Great Times at the University of Michigan-Flint has welcomed visitors from:
ARGENTINA
ARMENIA
AUSTRALIA
AUSTRIA
BAHAMAS
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CHINA
COSTA RICA
DENMARK
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
FINLAND
FRANCE
GERMANY
GUAM
ICELAND
INDIA-
INDONESIA 
IRAN, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF
IRAQ
ISRAEL
ITALY
JAPAN
KOREA, REPUBLIC OF
LATVIA
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MALAYSIA
MEXICO
NETHERLANDS
NEW ZEALAND
NORWAY
PAKISTAN
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ROMANIA
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
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SINGAPORE
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SWITZERLAND
SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC
TAIWAN
THAILAND
TURKEY
UKRAINE
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
UNITED KINGDOM
UNITED STATES
VIET NAM
Farewell and Best Wishes to Dean Austin Agho June 25, 2008
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25 June 2008, Harding Mott University Center Building, University of Michigan-Flint:
A good time was had by all who attended the farewell and thank you event for Dr. Austin Agho, founding Dean of the University of Michigan-Flint School of Health Professions and Studies, a position he has held since 2001. Dean Agho is moving to Indianapolis where he will become Dean of the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis. Over one-hundred well wishers attended today’s event, showering Austin with kudos and accolades. Speakers praised Dean Agho for his success in bringing external grants to the school, his efforts in development the Urban Health and Wellness Center and its Nurse Practice Clinic and Physical Therapy Clinic, his service on the Greater Flint Health Coalition, and his work with the Genesee Health Plan.
Austin, we will miss you. Thank you for your many contributions to the University of Michigan-Flint.
Partnering to Turn an Abandoned Home into an Urban Alternatives Home June 20, 2008
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20 June 2008, Carriage Town Historic District, Garland Street, Flint, Michigan:
The weather was perfect as approximately forty people gathered for the public announcement of an exciting venture involving the Genesee County Land Bank and the University of Michigan-Flint. The Land Bank has devoted a property that will be used by University of Michigan-Flint faculty, staff, and students as a classroom and laboratory to explore better ideas for urban living. The aim is to rehabilitate the property so that it becomes energy efficient and environmentally friendly, serving as a demonstration of how such renovation can and should occur in urban areas. An urban garden is planned for the adjacent lot.
Professor Richard Hill-Rowley is to be congratulated for his excellent leadership in envisioning this project. Thanks also go to the many University of Michigan-Flint faculty and staff who have helped, to University Outreach for their coordination and involvement, and to Dan Kildee and the Genesee Land Bank for their support.
Congratulation to all on this great project.
The Last Lecture: Dr. Randy Pausch June 17, 2008
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17 June 2008, Flint, Michigan:
“We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.”
—Randy Pausch
A few weeks ago while at a conference in Washington, DC, sponsored by The Chronicle of Higher Education, I attended a lecture by Jeffrey Zaslow, a columnist for the Wall Street Journal. Jeffrey told the audience of several hundred educators and administrators about his interactions with Dr. Randy Pausch, a Professor of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at age 46. At age 47 he learned the cancer was terminal. Dr. Pausch delivered his “Last Lecture” at Carnegie Mellon, a lecture now viewed by well over 10 million people. The “Last Lecture” is a tradition at Carnegie Mellon, featuring a lecture on personal philosophy by a respected professor.
In the one hour that Jeffrey lectured about his experiences with Randy, and told of working on a book with Randy during which Randy rode his bike and spoke to Jeffrey by cell phone, I thought deeply about Randy’s words and his teaching. In a very special way, Randy embodied what the great teachers in my life had shared with me. I thought about what I might say in my “Last Lecture” and what I would say to my daughter if I were in Randy’s shoes.
Subsequently, I viewed Randy’s “Last Lecture” on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo, watched the Diane Sawyer ABC special on Randy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZbOQqtDAW0, read the book The Last Lecture http://www.thelastlecture.com/, and visited Randy’s web site http://download.srv.cs.cmu.edu/~pausch/. Randy was able to spend Father’s Day with his family. He posts regular updates on his progress.
Randy expects no sympathy and seeks to celebrate life rather than dread death. He has left very profound and simple messages for his children, spouse, loved ones, students, and all those who allow themselves to learn from his life.
One of my favorite lines from Randy is: “You just have to decide whether you are a Tigger or an Eyore.”
His powerful message includes many critically important messages. One that moved me the most is from his book The Last Lecture: “If I could only give three words of advice they would be ‘tell the truth.’ If I got three more words, I’d add ‘All the time.’” In his interview with Diane Sawyer, he said: “I tell you right now if there is anything I learned in my career a lot of people don’t want the truth. A lot of people just want to be patted and stroked and told how wonderful they are.” Sawyer added, “So in effect he dared his students to love the truth about themselves. They even handed each other report cards on character issues like teamwork.” Much should be learned from Randy’s powerful words.
So, what would you talk about in your “Last Lecture?”
Watching Senator Barak Obama Speak June 16, 2008
Posted by Jack Kay in : Uncategorized , add a comment16 June 2008, Kettering University, Flint, Michigan:
As a professor of political communication it was exciting to attend the policy speech in Flint given by Senator Barak Obama, the apparent Democratic Party Presidential nominee, speaking at Kettering University. Kettering President Stan Liberty and his campus did a spectacular job of hosting the Senator, along with Governor Granholm, Lieutenant Governor Cherry, Congressman Kildee, Congressman Dingell, Congressman Levin, and others.
Throughout the long primary campaign I watched the candidates on television. I listened as commentators talked about that Senator Obama’s special appeal, particularly by youth. Seeing the Senator on television never really gave me a sense of how that appeal worked. However, seeing him in person made clear how his rhetorical style was quite attractive to different groups. He comes across quite philosophical and thoughtful, accounting for his appeal to the college-educated. The Senator comes across as energetic, youthful, and hopeful, clearly appealing to youth. Finally, Senator Obama comes across as ministerial, spiritual, and eloquent, appealing to many faith-based constituencies. What was most amazing to me as a student of political communication was the ease by which the Senator moved from one style to the next, without contradiction. Years ago I did some work on the dimensions of charisma in political candidates, looking at how some dimensions actually work to undermine other dimensions (e.g., a candidate who comes across of dynamic and energetic might also be perceived as unsafe. I may revisit that research. In many ways Senator Obama seems to accentuate the positive dimensions of charisma without calling into play the negative dimensions.
Thank You University of Michigan-Flint Staff for 10, 20, and 30 Years of Service June 11, 2008
Posted by Jack Kay in : Uncategorized , add a comment11 June 2008, Flint Golf Club, Flint, Michigan:
I attended another wonderful evening event as interim chancellor, celebrating the tremendous service of our staff at the Twenty-third Staff Recognition dinner, held at the Flint Golf Course. The weather was perfect as staff who worked for the University of Michigan-Flint for 10, 20, and 30 years were thanked for their great service. Many great stories were told, tears (of joy) flowed every now and then, and lots of hugs were given.
Celebrating 10 years of service: Theresa Landis, Diana Groulx, Kathleen Schoenherr, Kathy Howe, Linda McGee, Peggy Sturtz, Henry Bazemore, Sharon Beam, Coleen Beamish, Pat Slackta, Becky Armour.
Celebrating 20 years of servce: Jerry Glasco, Karen Arthur, Gayle Bachman, Lynn Kruse, Milton Straham, Scott Russell, Lisa Quade, Keith King, Nancy Gouin, Roxanne Brunger, Johnny Young.
Celebrating 30 years of service: Ken Ellison, Kim Doerr, Denise Shourd, Bob Urmetz, Lynne McTiernan, Rob Montry.
The Staff Recognition Award went to Mary Deibis and Nick Gaspar (below middle)
The Dorothea Wyatt Award was presented to Jo Ann Shabazz (below left).
Photography courtesy of Beth Manning.
Serving Those Who Serve: Our Veterans June 6, 2008
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6 June 2008, Georgetown Conference Center, Washington, DC:
The last two days have had a powerful impact on me. I have been in DC attending a conference sponsored by the American Council on Education focusing on higher education and the soldier. We were greeted by Nebraska U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel, a highly decorated veteran of the Vietnam war who received two purple hearts. The concluding speaker was Hawaii U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye (photo above) who served in World War II and was awarded two medals of honor. We learned much about the difficulties faced by our veterans returning to school from military service and the importance of developing a campus climate welcoming to the veteran. We learned about our wounded warriors. Most moving was a lunch where at each table a veteran who recently returned from Iraq or Afghanistan was present. I listened in fasccinatiion to the exeperiences of Jodi who had recently returned from Iraq where she served as an MP providing protection for the convoys that traveled throughout Iraq. I was saddened to learn that she, like so many returning veterans, wanted to remain invisible when she enrolled in a university. Other veterans reported being ostracized, belittled, and misunderstood by theirclassmates and faculty. Jodi found it easier to not tell anyone about her recent military experience, purposefully avoiding classes that would prompt her to share her military background.
I learned much about what is needed to help a campus become “vet friendly.” I look forward to a Veteran’s Student Organization forming on the Flint campus. I thank the one-hundred-plus veterans who attend school on our campus as well as the active duty soldiers who are taking on-line classes. I also look forward to welcoming many more veterans to campus. Thank you for your tremendous service.
Jack Kay
International Education Conference May 30, 2008
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Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC, 30 May 2008:
The last four days have been a wonderful learning experience. I attended the NAFSA Conference, an association for international educators, that brought over 9,000 people from 110 countries to DC to learn about study abroad, international students in the US, international curriculum, SEVIS regulations, visa issues, and much, much more. I attended several sessions on strategies to increase campus internationalization, to promote international service learning, and to advance civil society.
I did break away from an hour of sightseeing, taking my traditional walk around the White House. The latest in sightseeing transportations are Segways! Maybe next time I will rent one.
For you Washington DC buffs, answer the following questions about the photos?
What wing of the White House is shown below? What building near the White House is shown below? What memorial is shown?
Welcome to UM-Flint’s 7th Chancellor—Ruth Person May 29, 2008
Posted by Jack Kay in : Uncategorized , add a comment29 May 2008, Washington, DC:
President Mary Sue Coleman announced today that she is recommending to the University of Michigan Board of Regents that Dr. Ruth J. Person, Chancellor at Indiana University Kokomo, become the 7th Chancellor of the University of Michigan-Flint. I am delighted to welcome Dr. Person and look forward to working with her. I enjoyed meeting Dr. Person during her on campus interview. She has great understanding and experience in forging strong university/community partnerships and in advancing academic excellence. She will be a great friend to academic affairs, as well as the entire university. Chancellor Person is scheduled to begin her term August 18.
I have enjoyed serving as interim chancellor and express great thanks to the campus community for the support and help so many faculty, students, staff, alumni, and community members provided. I have learned much about our university and community and return to being provost with renewed enthusiasm and commitment. I am more convinced than ever that the University of Michigan-Flint is the place to be.
