Letter from the President

Let me start with myself. As the new president of Wayne State University, and the first-ever woman to lead the university, I’m honored and excited to have the opportunity to join a community that enjoys such an abundant legacy of community engagement and impact. Throughout its more than 150-year history, Wayne State has played a key role in uplifting Detroit through our research, economic investment and, most centrally, education of our next generation of leaders. The university has pursued this mission since its founding in 1868, and I am privileged to now have a chance to join such a rich tradition.

I’m also pleased to introduce you to the latest issue of Warriors, Wayne State’s community engagement magazine. As always, the magazine offers a colorful, compelling and in-depth look at the people and programs in our university dedicated to serving Detroit and Detroiters in a multitude of ways. In our cover story (p. 8), for instance, we explore how a decade-long bond between three of the College of Nursing’s most dedicated professors has turned them into a collective force for top-notch learning and mentorship in professional pathways that promote success for all students, and advocates in our shared efforts to advance equitable health outcomes for all.

This issue also casts a bright spotlight on the Education Transition Coordination Program (p. 16), which offers recently released prison inmates a second chance at life by paving a pathway to higher education and training for a productive career.

On page 14, we catch up with influential alumnus and businessman Dartis Willis Sr., founder of one of the most successful minor league pro basketball teams in Canada, the decorated Windsor Express. As the story illustrates, the impact of Wayne State Warriors is being felt from the east side of Detroit all the way across the Ambassador Bridge and beyond!

There’s more. We explore how the College of Education is growing the ranks of critically needed community health workers in Detroit (p. 20). We explain how the new Wayne State Guarantee financial aid program is broadening access to education not only for Detroit residents but also for aspiring college students statewide (p. 26). And we sit with one of Wayne State’s most coveted scholars, Kidada Williams, Ph.D., to discuss her latest book on Reconstruction and the lessons we can take away to make our modern world a better place (p. 28).

With that, I thank you for welcoming me to this community and for taking the time to dive into this latest issue of Warriors. I’m proud to be here and look forward to showcasing the tremendous community engagement work we do at Wayne State in celebration of Detroit.