Adrian, MI – Michael Bell, a national authority on credit union and bank transactions, was the keynote speaker at Adrian College’s Opening Convocation, in Herrick Chapel, where three faculty members were also honored with teaching awards.
Bell is known for his work in credit union acquisitions, including the first-ever purchase of a whole bank by a credit union in 2011. Over the past decade, he has successfully completed more than 50 mergers and acquisitions transactions.
Bell’s achievements have been recognized with numerous awards. He has been named a Leading Lawyer in Banking and Financial Institutions Law, Mergers and Acquisition Law, and Real Estate Law by Law Bulletin Media from 2014 to 2024.
His expertise in Financial Services Regulation Law also earned him recognition in The Best Lawyers in America for 2023.
Bell has been a member of Adrian College’s Board of Trustees for the past four years.
During the convocation, new faculty and newly promoted and tenured faculty took another step forward in their careers…and President Dr. Jeffrey Docking presented several teaching awards.
During the convocation, new faculty and newly promoted and tenured faculty took another step forward in their careers.
New faculty members introduced included Danielle Gilbert (teacher education), Krista Schindel (teacher education), Dr. Alex Martin (chemistry and biochemistry), Dr. Ian Steinke (chemistry and biochemistry), Dr. Christopher Rodgers (accountancy, business and economics), Jenna Cleary (accountancy, business and economics), Patty Higdon-Dudley (art and design), and Dr. Malak Bazzi (biology).
Brittney Cole (chemistry and biochemistry) was promoted to assistant professor while Jody DiMarco (social work) was promoted to associate professor. Dr. Jennifer Towns (social work) and Dr. Cheryl Nutter (accountancy, business and economics) were promoted to associate professors with tenure. Dr. Yasser Alginahi (computer science) was promoted to the rank of full professor.
Faculty promoted to the rank of full professor with tenure were Dr. Christie Boxer (sociology and criminal justice), Dr. Dorin Dumitrascu (mathematics), and Dr. Cedrick Heraux (sociology and criminal justice). Docking presented the teaching awards. The first was the Ross Newsom Award for Outstanding Teaching, which was presented to Dr. Kristin Clark, associate professor of music.
Clark earned her Doctorate in Voice Performance from the University of Michigan, where she also completed Master’s Degrees in Choral Conducting and Voice Performance, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. She has appeared as a soloist throughout the United States, as well as in Canada, Italy, Ukraine, Russia, and Estonia.
The Exemplary Teaching Excellence Award went to Dr. Thomas Muntean, professor of geology. During his time at Adrian College, Muntean helped redevelop and modernize the geology and environmental science curriculum, has developed several new in-demand courses not previously offered at the College, and has served in numerous leadership roles, including serving in his fourth year as the Ribbons of Excellence Program Director.
Adrian College’s Creative Activity, Research and Scholarship Award was created to honor and recognize significant contributions to a faculty member’s field of study. This year’s recipient is Nathan Goetting, professor of sociology and criminal justice. Goetting is the Director of Adrian College’s George W. Romney Institute for Law and Public Policy and a full professor in Sociology and Criminal Justice. His teaching and writing focus on constitutional law and civil liberties. He has taught at three law schools, served as faculty advisor to The University of Toledo Law Review and has published several writings, with some being sited in law reviews. He is also a contributing writer for Discourse Magazine. Goetting was an integral part in bringing a debate series to Adrian College.
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*media courtesy of Mickey Alvarado at Adrian College*