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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT: URBAN LEADERSHIP - MY EXPRESSIONS OF GRATITUDE, MY COMMITMENT TO LEADERSHIP
I have been given a humbling responsibility, which I am honored to accept.  As the eighth president of Marygrove College, I follow in the innovative, inspired, and dedicated footsteps of visionaries.  I take pride in the committed alumni who use the skills and talents they acquired here to make the world a more humane and just place.  And I devote myself to leading Marygrove College’s faculty and staff in preparing current and future students who will demonstrate competence, compassion and commitment in carrying forth this institution’s sacred mission.

As the campus community has prepared months for this occasion, it has been an opportunity to boast about the proud traditions of Marygrove, its top-notch graduates and students, its commitment to the city of Detroit, and its core values.  It has also been an opportunity to share our vision of fostering Urban Leadership, a unique vision that illuminates, motivates and dedicates this College to preparing students to take leadership roles in Detroit and America’s other urban centers as well as to broadening our own institutional leadership in the revitalization of our local community, the city of Detroit at large and our state.

There are dozens of people whom I wish to thank for their part in bringing this day to fruition.  But I am most compelled to express deep gratitude to two individuals:  the Chair of the Inauguration Committee, our Board Member Irma Clark, who creatively engaged and resourcefully led the complex processes that produced today’s celebratory events, and our Vice President for Institutional Advancement, Jo Ann Cusmano, who has spent innumerable sleepless nights and long days bringing together the thousands of details of this Inauguration.  It could not have happened without them.

With profound appreciation, I acknowledge the members of the Inauguration Committee, the staff of the Institutional Advancement Division, and the scores of faculty, staff, alumni, students and volunteers who worked to plan and execute all the Inaugural Events.  For their professionalism, hard work, ingenuity, and demonstrated pride in their Marygrove College, I am truly indebted.

David J. Fike, PhD

BIOGRAPHY OF DAVID J. FIKE, PhD, THE EIGHTH PRESIDENT OF MARYGROVE COLLEGE
Dr. Fike joined Marygrove in 2005 as Provost.  From 1997 to 2005, he served as Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty for Holy Names College in Oakland, California.  As the Chief Academic Officer of these century-old liberal arts institutions, Dr. Fike was responsible for academic programming, student affairs programming, enrollment services, information technology, and a variety of academic and administrative support services such as information resources, student registration processes, learning support resources, and academic advising.

Dr. Fike served as an elected official in Kensington, California, from 1994 to 1998.  He has held numerous appointed positions on Boards and Commissions, including the BioScience Workforce Advisory Team for the City of Oakland, the Life Sciences Task Force of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, the Bay Area’s Community Capital Investment Initiative, the Community Reinvestment Subcommittee of Alameda County’s Economic Development Advisory Board, the City of Oakland’s Sustainable Community Development Commission, the BayTEC Board of Directors, the Board of Directors of AnewAmerica Community Corporation, and the Board of Directors of the Chabot Space and Science Center.

As an economist specializing in capital markets and urban economic development, Dr Fike has provided consulting services and research in the areas of economic revitalization, sustainable community development practices, capital access in underserved markets, and strategic decision-making.  His clients have included the City of Oakland (participating in the development of the Mayor’s Economic Development Strategy, among other projects) and the Community Bank of the Bay, the first de novo community development bank in the western United States.  Dr. Fike also served as part of a team with members of Shorebank Advisory Services (consulting division for the South Shore Bank in Chicago) sent to Central America to develop a strategic plan for the establishment of a nationally chartered bank to finance infrastructure projects for El Salvador’s cooperative sector. 

In 1995, Dr. Fike was granted a prestigious Kellogg National Leadership Fellowship.  As a fellow, he investigated innovative public/private partnerships designing sustainable development strategies for low-income urban communities.  He has presented on the topics of socially responsible investing, economic revitalization and community development and is the recipient of teaching awards from the University of Maryland, College Park and Holy Names College as well as co-author of Everything You Need to Know About Economics, (Simon & Schuster, November 1999).

Dr. Fike currently serves on the Board of Directors of New Detroit, Inc. Dr. Fike holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a PhD in Economics from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Dr. Fike and his wife, Sylvia Rosales-Fike, are the proud parents of three children, Alexandra, Valeria, and David Thomas.

COMMENCEMENT 2007
This year’s commencement exercises took place on Saturday, May 12, at 1:00 p.m. at Greater Grace Temple on Seven Mile Road in Detroit.  The commencement speaker and an honorary degree recipient was Marygrove alumnus Reverend Wendell Anthony.

Reverend Anthony is a native of St. Louis, Missouri. He was educated in the Detroit Public School system, graduated from Wayne State University with a B.A. in Political Science and graduated from Marygrove with an M.A. in Pastoral Ministry. Reverend Anthony is a Certified Social Worker with the State of Michigan. He became the Pastor of Fellowship Chapel in December of 1986 and Senior Pastor in February of 1987.  Reverend Anthony was elected president of the Detroit Branch NAACP in 1993, the largest branch in the country, and was recently re-elected to an unprecedented 8th term. 

Two students delivered commencement addresses on behalf of their respective classes.  Carolyn Miller, graduating with a double bachelor’s degree in English and Political Science, represented the Class of 2007 and spoke on competence, compassion and commitment.  Carolyn was the recipient of the 2006 and 2007 Outstanding Student Leadership Award and Outstanding Work-Study Student, and was president of the Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society.

Dana Parker received her Social Justice Master’s degree and represented the graduate students.  Dana is the founder of the nonprofit Dig My Roots Foundation that assists in enhancing the lives of individuals diagnosed with psychiatric illnesses.  Her remarks focused on the elements of success after Marygrove.

A second honorary degree was granted to Jay P. Harrison, president of Harrison Technology Consulting and president and chief technology officer of the Internet Operations Center.

Jay is a nationally recognized authority and speaker on Internet security, disaster recovery and business-to-business process automation. He is a board member of the Detroit Charter School for Industrial Arts. Jay was honored as one of Crain’s Detroit Business’s  “Forty Under Forty” in 2000. In 2002, Jay was appointed to the board of directors of Automation Alley, Oakland County’s premier technology consortium.  He attended University of Michigan, studying computer science.

This year, the Theresa Maxis Award for Social Justice went to the Matrix Theatre Company of Southwest Detroit.  Since its founding in 1991, Matrix has used the transformative power of original theatre to change lives, build communities and foster social justice. Matrix creates opportunities for children, youth, adults and elders of all abilities, especially those from challenged or isolated populations, to become the creators, producers, and audience of original theatre.

AKRON ALUMNI CHAPTER CELEBRATES 65TH ANNIVERSARY WITH VISIT FROM PRESIDENT FIKE
On Saturday, May 19, 2007, Marygrove College President Dr. David Fike, Diane Puhl, director of Alumni Relations, and Dr. Darcy Brandel, associate professor of English, joined 18 members of the Akron Alumni Chapter at the Fairlawn Country Club in Akron, Ohio, to celebrate the 65th anniversary of Marygrove’s oldest chapter.  In attendance was Ellen Krumeich Koob ’40, one of the three founding members of the chapter who was presented with a plaque of appreciation by Dr. Fike.

Event organizers included Kathleen McCabe Markovich ’51, chairperson, Gilda Sferrella Pace ’52, secretary, Marge Wozniak Burkley ’56, treasurer, Catherine Baltes ’50 and Emily Butler Petrarca ’61. 

If you are interested in hosting an alumni gathering in your area, please contact Diane Puhl at (313) 927-1443 or dpuhl@marygrove.edu.

President David Fike and Ellen Krumeich Koob ‘40	Mary Ann Papp Kozma ’61 and President Fike
Kathleen McCabe Markovich ’51, President Fike, Marge Wozniak Burkley ’56 and Gilda Sferrella Pace ’52	Marge Wozniak Burkley ’56, Darcy Brandel, Diane Darr Couts ’00, Anna Lee Fiely Cleary ’47 and Mary Ann Papp Kozma ’61
Stephanie Mueller, IHM ’47, Anna Mary Waickman, IHM ’42 and Dorothy Rauckhorst ‘48	Kathleen McCabe Markovich ’51, Velda Culver Holtgreive ’56 and Gilda Sferrella Pace ’52
Ellen Krumeich Koob ’40 and her daughter Elaine Haynes	Diane Puhl, Velda Culver Holtgreive ’56, President Fike, Marge Wozniak Burkley ’56 and Gilda Sferrella Pace ’52

ALUMNI SPONSORED TRIPS TO SOUTH AFRICA AND SPAIN OFFERED IN 2008
Join Marygrove College alumni and friends as we explore the rich history, culture and traditions of Spain and South Africa.  Collette Vacations has once again been selected as the preferred vendor for these alumni-sponsored trips.  Trips offered through Collette Vacations include knowledgeable tour guides and accommodations that are historic, luxurious and unique to the region. 

Spectacular South Africa
March 27 – April 9, 2008
14 days – 20 meals
$4,099 – Includes roundtrip air from Detroit and double occupancy
Full details can be found here

Spain’s Classics
February 24 – March 4, 2008
10 days – 14 meals
$2,399- Includes roundtrip air from Detroit and double occupancy
Full details can be found here

HELP RECRUIT STUDENTS TO MARYGROVE AND THEY RECEIVE SPECIAL BENEFITS!
Alumni who care about the future of their alma mater can help the Marygrove Alumni Recruiting Students (MARS) committee and the Office of Admissions by identifying potential Marygrove students for the Winter 2007 class. If you refer a student to Marygrove, he or she will have the $25 application fee waived and, if admitted and enrolled, a $250 gift card for books will be awarded to be used at the College Bookstore.

You can become a very important member of our staff as a volunteer alumni admissions representative by telling others of your experiences at Marygrove College. Do not discount the value of your experience as an opportunity to help people choose wisely about the future of their education.

Please use the Alumni-Referred Admission Application and feel free to make copies. If you know someone who would make a good addition to the Marygrove student community, give him or her an application to fill out and send in. Remember to include your name and graduation year in the “Referred by” line below so we know whom to thank! If you have questions, email info@marygrove.edu or call the Office of Admissions at (313) 927-1240. Thank you in advance for your continued support and commitment to Marygrove College.