If you are an HC alum, please help us keep in touch with you and update our records by filling out this brief SURVEY.

Barth Riley "87 accepted a new position this year as a Research Scientist at Chestnut Health Systems, a substance abuse treatment and research center. His research focuses on the evaluation of survey instruments that assess substance abuse and mental health issues and on the effectiveness of substance abuse treatment.

Sue Evans '88 her husband Cam and daughter, Haley, welcomed the newest member of the family, Jacob Louis on Oct. 11th! Jacob weighed 8 lbs. 1 ounce and was 20 in long.

David Nykanen '92 an Attorney/ Partner at Steinhardt, Pesick & Cohen, and president of the HC Advisory Council, has recently been named a "rising star" in Super Lawyers magazine .

Alan Terlep '94 was installed as Senior Minister of Central Christian Church in Connersville, Indiana on Oct. 12, 2008. Alan, his wife Kate, and daughter Lizzie were officially welcomed to the church family.

Matt MacLeod '05, is in his fourth year teaching Advanced Placement US History and American Government at Bloomfield Hills Lahser High School. He is also an assistant varsity football coach and runs the Model United Nations Team.

Sheila Brooks '07, accepted a position as an Assurance Associate with Pricewaterhouse Coopers, one of the world's largest professional services firm.

Margaret DeGrandis '07, relocated to Herndon, VA to work with Volkswagen of America. She has accepted a position with the VW Public Relations team and plans to pursue a masters in communications.

Lea Jeffire '08 and a studio-art major, was accepted at Parsons New School in New York City in the MFA program. It was her #1 choice. She is one of 20 students accepted to the program this year and currently have a piece in a show called "Manifest Makings”

If you would like to become involved in The Honors College Advisory Council, please contact Jude Nixon at (248) 370-4450.
To learn more about The Council, see Honors College Advisory Council on the HC Faculty and Staff link.

For information about or to join the Oakland University Alumni Association, visit the OU Alumni Web site.

"We expose bright, curious students to exciting, innovative curriculum and our best OU professors. They gain knowledge and creative vision. We gain a vibrant intellectual and social community."

- Jude Nixon
Director, The Honors College of Oakland University

"We'd find ourselves in the middle of these great, intense conversations - exactly the kind of lively, memorable discussions you'd always hope to have when you're in college."

- Lenora Ledwon
Law Professor
St. Thomas University School of Law, Florida

"OU's Honors College sets you apart, forces you to become involved and opens up a lot of opportunities. It teaches you how to think more creatively and accept a broader range of thinking."

- Lani Morgan
Current OU Student

"The Honors College opened my eyes to possibilities that before were only dreams."

- Susan Jezewski Evans
Judicial Law Clerk for Judge George E. Woods

"Just being able to meet and interact with your peers in a scholarly, supportive environment is great."

- Lenora Ledwon
Law Professor
St. Thomas University School of Law, Florida

It's been described as "creative," "intellectually stimulating," "challenging," and "just great fun" - and The Honors College at Oakland University is all of these things. High achievers flourish in this challenging environment that touts intimate class sizes, open forums for creative expression, opportunities to study abroad and colloquiums on the controversial topic of the day.

"The classes are smaller, the challenges are greater and the education you receive is premier," says Susan Jezewski Evans, a judicial law clerk, president of OU's alumni association and a former Honors College student. "What's great about The Honors College is how invested the professors are in your success. And you develop a group of peers that you have for the rest of your career. All the advantages far outweigh the increased challenges of the work."

The added challenges - which keep undergraduate students on their toes and reaching for the pinnacle of excellence - includes a more demanding course load and heightened graduation requirements such as advanced foreign language and concentrated thesis development.

"We developed a fearlessness that allowed us to take on new intellectual challenges - challenges I would never have taken without this support," explains Lenora Ledwon, Law Professor at St. Thomas University School of Law in Florida and OU Honors College alum.

Ledwon also fondly remembers unique courses that "opened her eyes" to interests beyond her own discipline, as well as fun events that buffered the rigorous schedule. The Honors College continues to promote extra activities such as plays, seminars, monthly poetry readings and an annual talent show, which the students coordinate themselves.

"When you think of an honors college, you think of advanced courses in math and science, but OU is really supportive of the arts," explains Honors College student and council representative Lani Morgan. "The college promotes and showcases real creativity and abstract thinking. It's a broad, well rounded program."