The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth, Department of Adult Education, awarded its first Lifetime Achievement Award to two of Wayne State University’s pioneers in adult learning and service at a ceremony held on March 22, at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in Kalamazoo.

The recipients were: Daphne W. Ntiri, associate professor, and Howard Finley, director of student services, both in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Ntiri received the award for her scholarly and overall contributions to cross-cultural perspectives and dedication to adult learning and literacy in interdisciplinary studies. Her dedication to adult learning and literacy spans over 35 years and four continents. Her accomplishments comprise a teaching career in higher education, scholarly presentations and publications, grants, consultancies, and international community service. It was noted that Ntiri’s career has demonstrated a fierce and global commitment to teaching adults within an interdisciplinary framework as well as promoting adult literacy programs. According to Ntiri, these programs enhance the student’s self-confidence, gives them the necessary tools to achieve success in daily living, as well as in the academic world, with a sense of pride and joy.

Finley was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for his tireless work for over 30 years as an adult educator and academic advisor. His commitment is to adults who may have missed the opportunity to go to college as traditional students; his work has created pathways to a second chance for them to complete college. His passion, commitment and dedication to increasing access to higher education for working adults by reaching out to them and sharing information have helped many students complete their college education. According to Finley, his purpose for going the extra mile for students is that most nontraditional students are challenged by work and family responsibilities that may impede their progress in higher education. Finley\'s Lifetime Achievement Award is inextricably related to the Howard Finley Scholarship Award, which was launched to help nontraditional adult students at Wayne State University.

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 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.