Additional facts
Alumni
The 2010-2011 academic year marks the 75th anniversary of the Wayne State University Alumni Association, which continues to build loyalty and support among alumni, students and the greater university community. Wayne State graduates make a difference every day in a wide range of professions, demonstrating high achievement in a wide range of careers. In every part of the world (from New York to Tokyo, Chicago to Berlin, and San Francisco to London) Wayne State alumni are proven leaders and are highly acclaimed in almost every professional area. From serving in elected positions at the state and local levels, to running non-profit agencies, working in unions, education, public health, science, social work, public policy and professional athletics, Wayne State graduates put their education to work — for themselves, for their communities and for our planet.
No matter where they are in life or in the world, Wayne State alumni stay connected through special events, personal and professional development, campus activities and the Wayne State alumni association. More than 75 percent of Wayne State University’s 235,000 alumni live in Michigan.
- About 30 percent of practicing physicians in Michigan, and 43 percent of practicing physicians in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties received all or part of their medical training at Wayne State University
- 75 percent of Wayne State Law School graduates live and work in the state of Michigan
- More than 15 percent of the judges on the Michigan Court of Appeals are Wayne State alumni
- Six judges on United States District Court are Wayne State alumni
At Wayne State, we have many reasons to be proud of our alumni. Many of these former students have pursued not only their degrees, but also their dreams. Some have launched new companies; others, new careers. A significant number have enjoyed the challenges and satisfaction that come with reaching the next level within their organizations. Many others have enriched their lives, as well as their respective industries. Notable WSU alumni include:
- Yousif Ghafari, former U.S. Ambassador to Slovenia
- Ernie Hudson, Broadway, television and movie actor
- Cynthia Bir, lead engineer for ESPN Sports Science
- The Honorable Damon J. Keith, senior judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals
- Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, United Nations, undersecretary general
- Paul Butcher, retired Pro-Bowl (NFL)
- Wayne Dyer, self-help advocate, author and lecturer
- Dan Gilbert, chairman & founder of Quicken Loans, owner Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA)
- Dr. Jerry Linenger, retired U.S. Navy captain and NASA astronaut.
- Casey Kasem, radio host, actor and founder of America’s Top 40
- Joique Bell, Winner of the 2009 Harlon Hill Trophy and current NFL rookie
- David M. Overton, Founder and CEO, The Cheesecake Factory, Inc.
- John Conyers, U.S. Representative, (D-Michigan)
- Philip Levine, Pulitzer Prize-winning American poet, Distinguished Poet in Residence for the Creative Writing Program at New York University
- Lily Tomlin, Tony, Emmy and Grammy Award recipient actress, comedian and writer
- Peter Karmanos, CEO of Compuware and owner of the Carolina Hurricanes (NHL)
- Hugh Downs, television host, producer and author
The Wayne State University Alumni Association has a range of events planned throughout each year to suit every interest — social, cultural, educational, career or family-oriented. The Wayne State Alumni Association’s work impacts communities across the globe and some of its work includes:
- Awarding student scholarships — In 2010 more than $105,000 in funds were awarded
- Developing alumni networks in areas such as New York, California, Florida, Texas, Washington D.C., Illinois, Ontario, China and the Middle East
- Mobilizing over 2,000 alumni advocates who serve the needs of the university by communicating with legislatures and key government officials
- Creating career development and services for alumni helping to sustain the needs of our communities and assisting alumni in all stages of their career
- Producing the award winning Wayne State magazine which provides key information to alumni, friends and Wayne State community members around the world
- Supporting student recruitment activities in order to continue the lasting traditions of student success and engagement in the metropolitan community
- Hosting key programs such as the Arthur L. Johnson Urban Perspectives Lecture Series which brings some of the country’s leading thinkers on campus to share their viewpoints and thoughts on cutting edge topics
Wayne State University centers and institutes
Wayne State University’s centers and institutes play an integral role in the university’s emphasis on encouraging innovative scholarship, providing service to society and strengthening its performance as a nationally recognized research university. WSU’s centers and institutes embrace the multidisciplinary nature of scholarship and research within the university, and expand University boundaries by fostering collaborations with government, industry and organizations to enhance economic growth and the quality of life locally, nationally and globally. Our centers and institutes vary greatly in size, focus and mission. Some promote a primarily research-focused agenda, while others focus on instruction and/or community service.
Wayne State University Centers and Institutes directory:
Business Administration
Institute for Organizational and Industrial Competitiveness
Manufacturing Information Systems Center (MISC)
Education
Institute for Learning and Performance Improvement
Engineering
Bioengineering Center
Center for Automotive Research
Fine, Performing and Communication Arts
Center for Arts and Public Policy
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Center for Chicano-Boricua Studies
Center for Excellence and Equity in Mathematics
Center for Peace and Conflict Studies
Center for the Study of Citizenship
Confucius Institute
Douglas A. Fraser Center for Workplace Issues
Labor Studies Center
Medicine
C.S. Mott Center for Human Growth and Development
Cardiovascular Research Institute
Ligon Research Center of Vision
Nursing
Center for Health Research
Social Work
Center for Social Work Practice and Policy Research
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Center for Urban Studies
Cohn-Haddow Center for Judaic Studies
Developmental Disabilities Institute
Humanities Center
Vice President for Research
Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute
Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics
Center to Advance Palliative-Care Excellence
Institute for Information Technology and Culture
Institute of Environmental Health Science
Institute of Gerontology
Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute
Intercollegiate athletics
The University sponsors 16 varsity sports including three which compete at the NCAA Division I level (women’s ice hockey, and men’s and women’s fencing). The additional 13 sports are baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, football, men’s golf, softball, men’s and women’s swimming/diving, men’s and women’s tennis and women’s volleyball. The nickname of Wayne State’s intercollegiate teams is “Warriors.” All of Wayne State’s teams, except hockey (College Hockey America) and fencing (Midwest Fencing Conference), participate in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). WSU has had athletic teams since 1918 and has 409 All-Americans, 10 NCAA Division I Team Championships, 570 Academic All-Americans and 60 NCAA Individual National Champions. The cumulative grade-point average of all student-athletes is 3.08, and the graduation rate is 26 pecent above comparable campus population in the federally mandated report. Wayne State University’s 10 best finishes in the prestigious NACDA Cup standings (which measures the overall competitive success of athletic programs around the country) have all occurred in the last 10 years including the two highest marks ever in the past two years (11th in 2009 and 21st in 2010).
Wayne State University Press
Wayne State University Press, located in the heart of Detroit’s cultural district, publishes high- quality books and journals that advance scholarship in the humanities and social sciences, foster creativity and the arts, and enhance understanding of the region and the world. Wayne State University and its Press are dedicated to the discovery, discourse, and dissemination of ideas and knowledge and to the well-being of Detroit and Michigan. Our books develop and enrich the lives of students, scholars, and local and international communities of readers.
Wayne State University Press is the authoritative source for books on the Detroit region’s history, art and architecture, and significant cultural figures and movements. Publishing 35-40 new books each year, the Press specializes in Regional Studies and Great Lakes Books, Film & Television Studies, Jewish Studies, African American Studies, Fairytale and Folklore Studies, and poetry, essay, and short fiction by Michigan authors through our Made in Michigan Writers Series. Our books receive wide recognition and varied awards, including regular inclusion by the Library of Michigan on their annual top 20 list of Michigan Notable Books. Recent highlights include the nomination of American Salvage as a National Book Award Finalist in Fiction and recognition of the Press as one of the “17 Most Innovative University Presses” in the country by The Huffington Post.
Wayne State University Public Radio — WDET 101.9 FM
WDET has been a community service of Wayne State University since 1952. The station plays an important role in the university’s goal to develop community partnerships as a catalyst for the region’s social, cultural, economic and educational enrichment. WDET also runs the Detroit Radio Information Service, which offers free reading services to people who are blind or print-impaired. It is the only service of its kind in the region.
Wayne State University Theatre
Wayne State University theatre is Detroit’s oldest noncommercial theatre. It is one of the nation’s leading educational theatres. Nearly 200 students are enrolled and/or participate in the three theatres it operates. Each year these theatres play to the second-largest audience in Michigan — second only to the audience at Detroit’s Fisher Theatre, where tours of New York musicals and plays, and pre-Broadway tryouts are presented.
WSU’s Hilberry Theatre is the nation’s only true graduate rotating repertory company. Students from across the country come to Detroit to participate in its rigorous audition process, and only about 40 of the most promising theatre artists are accepted each year. Most recently, the Hilberry was honored with seven Wilde Award nominations in the 2009-10 season.
