On March 29, the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies (IS) launched its inaugural meeting of an advisory board established as part of the IS Development Initiative and comprised of community leaders across southeastern Michigan. The Development Initiative was created by Antonetta Johnson-Gardner, a professional staff member of the department. Johnson-Gardner is chair of the IS Development Committee and serves on the executive committee of Wayne State University’s fundraising campaign for faculty and staff.

The advisory board’s purpose is to support interdisciplinary studies in its fundraising and advancement, community relations, and future directions. The board members will plan, evaluate, and advise on activities which create and maintain special programs and scholarships to support the development and educational needs of nontraditional adult students.

Board members include the following community leaders: Alan J. Benchich, president, UAW Local 909; Annivory Calvert, consultant/entrepreneur, executive training; Cheryl Ford, IS senior student, Ford Motor Company; James Jacobs, director, Center for Workforce Development and Policy, Macomb Community College; David A. Green, chairman, Department of Internal Medicine/Neurology, Huron Valley Sinai Hospital; Leah Ann Kleinfeldt, former director of development, Sinai-Grace Hospital, Detroit; Daedra A. Von Mike McGhee, advisor, Business and Civic Affairs, Governor\'s Office for Southeast Michigan; Rick E. McKiddy, IS graduate student, UAW; Brenda G. Price, program director, community liaison; John S. and James L. Knight Foundation; Daphne Ntiri, associate professor, Interdisciplinary Studies, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, faculty representative; Antonetta Johnson-Gardner, professional staff, Interdisciplinary Studies, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, liaison/ex-officio member.

The Department of Interdisciplinary Studies directly and innovatively addresses the urban mission of Wayne State University by implementing curricula in ways that serve the needs of nontraditional students, many of whom are the first generation in their family or neighborhood to attend a university. It is the mission of IS to meet the needs of working and commuting students who are racially and ethnically diverse. For more information, visit the IS website at http://www.clas.wayne.edu/IS/

Wayne State University is a premier institution of higher education offering more than 350 academic programs through 11 schools and colleges to more than 33,000 students.