News

Best Practices in Higher Education: A Local Perspective

Please join the Center for the Education of Women’s Michigan Partners Project for a speaker event on Thursday, September 12, 2013 at the U-M Detroit Center. Learn more about two local and promising approaches to support Michigan women with low or no income who are also completing higher education degrees. Please register by September 9th.

Speakers:

Dr. Stephanie Bulger
District Vice Chancellor of Educational Affairs and Distance Learning
Wayne County Community College District, Detroit

Ellen Judge-Gonzalez
Director, Student Outreach and Academic Services (SOAR) Program
University of Michigan-Dearborn

Dr. Stephanie Bulger is the District Vice Chancellor of Educational Affairs and Distance Learning at Wayne County Community College District. As Vice Chancellor, Dr. Bulger oversees faculty development and student learning. Under her leadership, WCCCD has increased enrollment and tailored course offerings to improve urban students’ preparedness for in-demand employment sectors such as IT and Health Care. She has been honored by the Michigan ACE (American Council of Education) Network for her work in nurturing leadership among Detroit women and mothers who have low to no incomes.

Ellen Judge-Gonzalez is the director of the Student Outreach and Academic Resources (SOAR) Program. SOAR encourages socially and economically disadvantaged individuals from the Detroit metropolitan community to attend the University of Michigan-Dearborn by provides reduced tuition, mentoring, book subsidies and academic/ personal support. Under her leadership, SOAR has been acknowledged by multiple Detroit metropolitan organizations for increasing educational access for nontraditional students. Judge-Gonzalez also serves on the Executive Board for the U-M Dearborn Commission on Women, which aims to improve conditions for women on campus and nurture relationships with the metropolitan community.

The Michigan Partners Project
The challenges Michigan women and their families face when trying to become self-sufficient are as multifacted as they are seemingly insurmountable. The Michigan Partners Project aims to address these barriers by bringing together key stakeholders from diverse sectors working on issues related to women and economic security. This network of Michigan academic and community partners works to identify and address barriers through research, programs and policy at the community and state level.

Advancing economic security among Michigan low-income women requires comprehensive policies that are data-driven, community-rooted and responsive to women’s barriers and assets. Our goal is to convene organizations and individuals holding different parts of the puzzle and support their collaborative efforts.

Current members represent multiple universities and policy organizations throughout the state. We would love to have you join us! See the Michigan Partners Project.