"There is no other place like this for an education degree"

Rachel Smart,an early education major, shares her experience as student at the College of Education, Health and Human Services. The Saline native, who has taught in both the kindergarten and toddler rooms at the Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC) and a third grade classroom, said her UM-Dearborn educators have given her the confidence to succeed in the classroom after graduation.

Rachel Smart

“I always knew I wanted to teach, and I came here for college because it was highly recommended by everyone I talked to,” she said. “With the one-on-one attention, smaller class sizes and the opportunity to work in the Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC), there is no other place like this for an education degree.”
Smart said every day is different, both as a student and as an educator, and she is excited to start her new journey.
“I feel prepared to go out and excel in my field. I’m going to give my students the best I can, just like many of my teachers did for me.”

Read the full story in The Reporter

CEHHS graduates honored during UM-Dearborn commencement ceremony

Freda Shatara was honored with
the Chancellor's Medallion Award
(Photo by Millard Berry)

DEARBORN, MI - On Saturday December 19th, the University of Michigan-Dearborn conferred more than 750 degrees during the two Fall 2015 commencement ceremonies and recognized five students as Chancellor’s Medallion recipients. During the day long events special honors were placed on two of the graduates from the College of Education, Health and Human Services.  Freda Shatara who received the Chancellor’s Medallion Award and Shéma Aman who was the speaker during the morning ceremony.

 Freda Shatara was honored with the Chancellor’s Medallion Award in recognition of her strong academic record, quality of character, intellect and integrity. She has earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in education with a focus in early childhood and mathematics studies. She earned University Honors from 2012-2015 and UM-Dearborn Honors in 2015. She was named a James B. Angell Scholar in 2014 and 2015 and earned placement on the Dean’s List five times.

Shéma Aman, appointed as the speaker during the morning ceremony, graduated with a Master of Education degree with an endorsement in Reading Specialist K-12. In December 2010, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in language arts from UM-Dearborn’s College of Education, Health, and Human Services, graduating with Distinction and earning placement on the college’s Dean’s List twice. She returned to UM-Dearborn in Fall 2014 to earn her graduate degree while serving as a sixth and seventh grade language arts teacher.

Shéma Aman was the speaker
during the morning ceremony
(Photo by Millard Berry)

Saturday was also a day for celebrating a milestone as UM-Dearborn graduated its 50,000th graduate. “UM-Dearborn has prepared students who are making a difference and having an impact in the community, nation and world for 56 years. As we celebrate today’s milestone, we celebrate all of our outstanding graduates.”- Chancellor Daniel Little said.

Michigan Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein addressed graduates during the ceremony and he told graduates that life experiences—good and bad—will come to define them.

"For it is through the struggle and the challenge and the difficulty that you will come to do what is hard, but achieve what is great,” Bernstein said. “We must celebrate the idea there will always be chapters—chapters of pain, struggle and difficulty. But it is only through those chapters that you can find the chapters of hope, the chapters of joy and the chapters of ultimate triumph. So today, let us celebrate.”

The College of Education, Health and Human Services celebrates indeed its graduates and feels proud of them. Congratulations to you and your families. Well done!

Dean Janosky congratulates CEHHS graduate Randa Abdallah
(Photo by Millard Berry)

Read the full stories at The Reporter

A healthy community grows at the College of Education, Health and Human Services

MHealthy, the University of Michigan's health and wellness program, provides resources designed to build healthy communities for employees and students.

To that end, Janine Janosky, Dean of the College of Education, Health and Human Services, is excited about the opportunity to provide CEHHS employees a Relaxation & Wellness Den, which includes a MHealthy grant-funded massage chair. Professors and staff will be able to enjoy it as it becomes available in the first quarter of 2016.

Please enjoy this brief video to learn more about this program as it is explained by the CEHHS MHealthy triad members: Dean Janine Janosky (supervisor); Professor Sharon Werner (MHealthy Champion) and Craig Kotajarvi (MHealthy Wellness Coordinator).




To learn about the programs implemented by other MHealthy triads, please watch the full MHealthy Triads video here.

CEHHS Professor participates on Bioretention Gardens project

Bioretention Gardens in Detroit's Cody Rouge neighborhood

UM-Dearborn’s Assistant Professor Natalie Sampson is part of the team working on the project Bioretention Gardens. This project contributes to efforts to use green infrastructure to manage storm water and reduce combined sewer overflows throughout Detroit. On the site of former vacant homes in Detroit’ Cody Rouge neighborhood, four new innovative gardens have arrived.

Professor Sampson brings her public health lens to the interdisciplinary team of scholars examining the benefits and limits of these gardens. With her colleague Noah Webster at U-M Ann Arbor’s Institute of Social Research, Sampson led a recent household survey to better understand the perceptions and preferences of residents living near the gardens.

Landscape architect professor in U-M Ann Arbor’s School of Natural Resources and Environment Joan Nassauer led the pilot project, which was funded by $285,000 from the U-M Water Center with support from the Erb Family Foundation. An additional $500,000 investment was made by the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) to construct the gardens and instrumentation for them to gather data.

Natalie Sampson

Sampson and Webster are already beginning plans for the next round of surveys. Sampson knows that this is only the first phase, but she’s glad to see the gardens—once only a concept in their multi-year project.

"There is still a lot to be done to understand the potential impacts of these gardens for residents, for the environment, and for the city. And we need to keep gathering and sharing information to do that, and do it well, Sampson said. 

View the full article in The Report

Dean Janosky shares latest news and updates with CEHHS alumni

Janine Janosky, dean of the College of Education, Health, and Human Services (CEHHS) shared with CEHHS alumni news about two new significant initiatives within the college: The Center for Disparity Solutions and Equity and the grant awarded by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to start the Center of Autism.

Knowing the importance to be in contact with our alumni, Dean Janosky publishes a quarterly letter on the Alumni E-Newsletter to inform them about all the exciting news happening in CEHHS.

On this month's publication, Dean Janosky mentions that she is "encouraged by the great progress we are making in CEHHS to implement innovative initiatives to meet the critical needs of our students and community." She closes her message inviting all alumni to read this newsletter and wishing "a happy holiday season and all the best in 2016."




About Alumni E-Newsletters:
UM-Dearborn publishes an alumni electronic newsletter with information on upcoming activities, volunteer opportunities and campus news. To receive this monthly newsletter in your email inbox, update your contact information here. 

Dean Janine Janosky invited as Keynote Speaker to World Congress in Dubai

Dean Janosky during her presentation in Dubai

Dubai, UAE - Dr. Janine Janosky, Dean of the College of Education, Health, and Human Services at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, participated as keynote speaker at the World Congress on Nursing in Dubai, UAE on November 23, 2015.

Each day of the congress had its own theme and Dr. Janosky's session was held on Day 1 which was focused on Nursing Education and Research. Her conference concentrated on the development and implementation of innovative education and health community-centered academic programs.

Dr. Janosky recognizes the importance of fostering and developing social and physical environments that promote wellness and good health for all. In order to achieve this goal, she mentioned that "One important consideration is addressing the impact of social determinants, including economic stability, education, social and community context, health and health care, and the neighborhood and built environment."

Being an expert in achieving impactful health initiatives, along with implementing higher education programs and initiatives, Dr. Janosky's presentation was of great interest to those attending the event.

The World Congress on Nursing was held during November 23-25 in Dubai, UAE receiving participants from around the globe (70 countries and 6 continents) representing universities, governments, health and health care. The theme of the conference was "Creating the Future" addressing the shift in medicine and healthcare from management of disease towards promoting wellness and the importance of working together to ensure that all have equal opportunities to a healthy life.

Keynote speakers at the 2015 World Congress on Nursing in Dubai, UAE