From the desk of Chris Waters, Acting Associate Provost:

It is with great regret that I share with the university community the intention of Sponsored Research and Programs Director, John Callewaert to leave us for an opportunity to which he could not say no. He will be assuming the title of Integrated Assessment Director (research lead) with the Graham Environmental Sustainability Institute in Ann Arbor (http://www.graham.umich.edu/). He will be coordinating research projects focused on local, regional and international issues such as campus sustainability and sustainable development in Detroit. The Graham Institute reports to the Provost’s office in Ann Arbor. It offers him a once in a lifetime career opportunity to combine his professional training and experience.

In the all too brief time John was with us he has done much to broaden the scope of and develop our Office of Research both physically and operationally. Since joining us in January 2008, he has become well known and respected across campus. He improved communication about research opportunities with weekly funding opportunity announcements that always also included warm congratulations to those successful in obtaining funding. He has done much to strengthen our ties with OVPR in Ann Arbor and has gone a long way toward creating a sense of a culture of research on our campus. In doing this, John has instituted incentives for faculty and developed workshops as well, both demystifying and rewarding faculty participation in grant writing.

John also presided over the recent renovations in the Office of Research and a couple of successful Office of Research staff hires. He has created an atmosphere that is physically, visually and psychologically harmonious in the process. I am sure his staff will dearly miss him.

John’s last day in his position at the University of Michigan-Flint will be October 9th. I am grateful to him for staying with us as long as he has and as long as he could.

On behalf of the Office of Research staff and the University of Michigan-Flint community, thanks John for the time you spent with us! Good luck during the next phase of your career!