Pictured:
Front Row (L-R): Justin Jacqmain (PSY), Jake Dunkerson (HS/OT), Jennica Young (HS), Maddy Searles (HS), Katalin Geeck (PSY), Tim Pionk (PSY)
Back Row (L-R): Evan Nudi (PSY), Dr. Charles Weaver (HS), David Mudd (PSY), Dr. Jeff Smith (HS), Kasey Moritz (PSY), Bob Underly (PSY)

Winning Student Research and Creativity Institute proposals were chosen through a competitive selection process.

More information about the SRCI program can be found on the SRCI website 

Many Americans recognize the opening words to the Constitution of the United States, but fewer may know much about the document that expresses the fundamental framework of our system of government.

Saginaw Valley State University invites community members to learn more about the Constitution during a “Writing the Constitution” event on Friday, April 10, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Writing Center, Zahnow Library 250. The event is open to the campus community and the public.

Participants will have the opportunity to copy the United States Constitution by hand while reflecting on the document’s significance as part of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. The event is part of a statewide series organized by Michigan Writers.

The event is sponsored by SVSU’s Writing Center and English Department, along with the College Republicans, College Democrats, the national political science honor society Pi Sigma Alpha and Cardinals Vote.

Students, faculty, staff and community members are invited to attend. Light snacks will be provided.

For more information, visit .

Vedantam will present “The Challenge of Change” at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 8, in the Rhea Miller Recital Hall. The event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required.

In the lecture, Vedantam will explore why humans — despite intelligence and ingenuity — often struggle to change behaviors, habits and systems, even when change is necessary for success. Drawing on research from neuroscience and psychology, the talk will examine how unconscious thinking shapes decisions and how individuals and organizations can overcome resistance to change.

Vedantam will address questions such as why individuals hesitate to step outside their comfort zones, why organizations struggle to pivot to new opportunities and why leaders and managers often repeat the same mistakes when implementing new initiatives.

In his reporting, Vedantam focuses on human behavior. He is the creator, host and executive editor of “Hidden Brain,” which launched in 2015 and is now one of the world’s most downloaded podcasts. The “Hidden Brain” radio show debuted in 2017 and is broadcast on more than 400 public radio stations across the United States.

He is the author of two nonfiction books: “The Hidden Brain: How Our Unconscious Minds Elect Presidents, Control Markets, Wage Wars, and Save Our Lives” and “Useful Delusions: The Power and Paradox of the Self-Deceiving Brain.”

The lecture is made possible through the Field/Spicer Endowment in Science and Engineering and the Dow Visiting Scholars and Artists Program.

For more information about the University Lecture Season, visit svsu.edu/publiclectures.

During the two-day campaign, which took place on March 18019, donors were encouraged to give to one of 10 priority initiatives or to the purpose that mattered most to them. This year, donors supported 63 different funds, including academic programs, student scholarships, athletics and the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum.

“Within the context of a university giving day, I’m a big believer in ‘your gift, your choice,’” Vice President for Development Brian Brunner said. “We have so many meaningful ways for donors to impact student success, and it was exciting to see so many areas supported across campus.”

This year’s success was bolstered by individuals and local businesses that pledged more than $100,000 in matching and challenge gifts. In addition, a dedicated group of ambassadors helped spread the word across social media, while 65 SVSU student volunteers reached out to alumni and friends, contributing a total of 275 hours of calling.

“I continue to be impressed by the generosity of the Cardinal community, particularly our on-campus community,” Brunner said. “The support we received will have an extraordinary impact on our students.”

Oppor2nity Days 2026 at a glance

• $208,000+ raised
• 137 SVSU employees contributed $63,396
• 10 university initiatives highlighted
• 63 funds supported across campus
• $100,000+ in matching & challenge gifts 
• 30 ambassadors promoted the campaign
• 65 student callers engaged in outreach

Written by Susan Zeder, a leading playwright for young and family audiences, “Wings” is an uplifting story that follows a young girl, B — just B — on the cusp of her 10th birthday. B is certain that before she could walk, she could fly. Now she is in a race against time to rediscover that ability before she turns 10. When lightning strikes B’s treehouse during a summer thunderstorm, a mysterious woman appears. Speaking only in strange squawks, single words and occasionally the letters “KHAQQ,”  — the call letters of the plane Amelia Earhart was flying when she disappeared — the stranger and B try to help each other remember how to fly, literally and metaphorically.

For Stephanie Crachiolo, a music major from Sterling Heights, playing the lead, B, is different from other roles.

“The biggest challenge has been embracing B’s youthfulness,” Crachiolo said. “She’s a nine- (almost 10-) year-old, and I’ve never played a child before so it’s been a really fun experience tapping into that childlike wonder and excitement! She truly is such an excitable sweetheart, and discovering her character has been such a fun experience that I’ve been so grateful to have!”

Filling out the cast are:

• Brook Treynor, a psychology major from Greenville, in the role of A (mysterious stranger)
• Jaiden Gardner, a theatre major from North Branch, in the role of Dad/Man
• Isaac Pease, a theatre major from Flint, in the role of Attendant
• Addi Williams, a cell biology, molecular biology and biomedical sciences major from Otsego, in the role of Wingman
• Tyler Obermiller, a theatre major from Mio, in the role of Sound Op

Peggy Mead-Finizio, associate professor of theatre, directs the play. She said an interesting aspect of this production is the duality of student’s role as cast and crew.

“The type of storytelling in the play is a challenge because the Sound Designer is actually a character on stage. We have a student designer who also happens to be an actor playing the role of Sound Op. His name is Tyler Obermiller. He is splitting his time between being in rehearsal and creating sound cues.”

Obermiller was excited about being asked to fill both roles — sound designer and Sound Op. Yet the challenges of both led Obermiller to make a bold move, contacting the composer and sound designer from the original production, Christopher Baine. Obermiller explained:

“Because of the complexity of both the character and the sound design, I reached out to Christopher Baine and to my surprise, he responded. We set up a meeting where we discussed how Sound Op functions within the play and the unique challenges of the design. He expressed how impressed he was that I had taken on both roles, given the demands of each. During that conversation, he shared original music and preliminary paperwork with me and generously gave permission for us to use his music in the production. While we are incorporating some of Christopher’s compositions, the overall sound design is entirely my own.”

“When She Had Wings” is an uplifting, family-friendly production. Tickets are $15 plus fees and can be purchased online here at any time or at the SVSU box office one hour prior to show time. SVSU students can attend the play at no cost.

For more information about “When She Had Wings” and other SVSU theatre productions, visit svsu.edu/theatre.

This is the 16th year SVU’s Office of Diversity Programs is hosting the luncheon, which is held in celebration of Black History Month. Making a repeat appearance as culinary guests are Men of Bethel/Sons of Allen from Bethel A.M.E. Church. They will be joined by Joyce Seals, former mayor of Saginaw, and Shannon Williams, a business systems analyst at SVSU. 

For more information, call the Office of Diversity Programs at 989-964-4068.

Note: All dining locations at SVSU, including the Marketplace at Doan, are cashless; payment may be made by credit or debit card or mobile payment.

To earn the CE Classification, SVSU completed a self-study. The classification has been the leading framework for institutional assessment and recognition of community engagement in U.S. higher education for the past 19 years with classification cycles in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2015, 2020, 2024, and now 2026.

In the 2026 cycle, 237 institutions earned the CE Classification, joining the 40 institutions classified in 2024 for a total of 277 institutions that currently hold the designation. Of the institutions recognized in 2026, 189 have previously held it. The 2026 cohort includes a diverse range of institutions, with 157 public institutions, 80 private colleges and universities, and 81 Minority Serving Institutions represented among the recipients.

“Higher education is a vital economic engine for us all. Our colleges and universities not only fuel science and innovation, they build prosperity in rural, urban and suburban communities nationwide,” said Timothy F.C. Knowles, president of the Carnegie Foundation. “We celebrate each of these institutions, particularly their dedication to partnering with their neighbors —fostering civic engagement, building useable knowledge, and catalyzing real world learning experiences for students.”

“The institutions receiving the 2026 Community Engagement Classification exemplify American higher education’s commitment to the greater good,” said ACE President Ted Mitchell. “The beneficiaries of this unflagging dedication to public purpose missions are their students, their teaching and research enterprises, and their wider communities.”

About the Carnegie Classifications
The Carnegie Classifications are the nation’s leading framework for categorizing and describing colleges and universities in the United States. Utilized frequently by policymakers, funders, and researchers, the Classifications are a critical benchmarking tool for postsecondary institutions. ACE and the Carnegie Foundation announced a partnership in February 2022 to reimagine the Classifications to better reflect the diversity of postsecondary institutions and more completely characterize the impact that today’s institutions have in society.

• Margot Alvey, medical laboratory science
• Emily LaRocque, nursing
• Kevin Lorentz, political science
• Joshua Mike, mathematical science
• Ashley Sanders, social work
• JoAnne West, teacher education
• Colin Wood, music

The Board also granted an honorary degree to Doug Ford, the premier of Ontario, in recognition of his efforts to build partnerships between Michigan and the Canadian province. Ford will serve as SVSU’s Commencement speaker in May.

In other action the Board:

• Received and accepted the federal awards audit for the 2024-25 fiscal year, as performed by Andrews Hooper Pavlik PLC.
• Authorized the president or vice president for Administration and Business Affairs to proceed with property acquisition for SVSU’s planned facility in Saginaw’s medical diamond district.
• Appointed a nominating committee for election of Board officers in May.
• Approved the Board’s meeting schedule for the 2026-27 academic year.

“We’re delighted to host the Triennial Festival with a full range of activities celebrating the arts in our area and promoting the work of Theodore Roethke, Saginaw’s native son,” said Carlos Ramet, Associate Dean of SVSU’s College of Arts & Behavioral Sciences and coordinator and co-chair of the 2026 Festival.

While the centerpiece of the festival is the , winner of the 2025 Roethke Memorial Prize for Poetry, SVSU is partnering with local businesses and organizations to offer a rich lineup of events.

All events listed below are free of charge and open to the public. 

• A poetry slam will take place Friday, March 20, from 6:30-9:00 p.m. at the Whittaker Lecture Theatre on the campus of SVSU (Brown Hall 106). This poetry slam is open to adults, college students and high school students. Prizes will be awarded to the top three winners. Live music by the SVSU Jazz Combo and refreshments will round out the evening.
• Tours of the Roethke House will be held Saturday, March 21, from 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. at the Theodore Roethke Home Museum, 1805 Gratiot in Saginaw. A guided tour will take attendees through the childhood home of Theodore Roethke. Then, from 2:00 p.m.- 3:30 p.m., the River Junction Poets will read some of their original work and discuss the influence Roethke had on the region’s longest-standing poetry group.
• The Ted (Roethke) Talk and Brew will take place on Sunday, March 22, from 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. at Oracle Brewing, 122 N. Michigan Avenue in Saginaw. Local author Jeff Vande Zande will speak on “Theodore Roethke and the Making of an American Poet.” Three special craft beers related to Roethke’s poems will be available for purchase.
• A Tribute to Roethke Musical Concert will take place on Monday, March 23, at 7:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 121 S. Harrison in Saginaw, featuring acclaimed soloist and Saginaw native Emily Marvosh, an original composition by Michigan resident Collin Whitfield, and performances by the SVSU Cardinal Singers. The concert is supported by a Saginaw Community Foundation grant.
• The Theodore Roethke Memorial Poetry Prize ceremony will be held Tuesday, March 24, at 7:00 p.m. in SVSU’s Rhea Miller Recital Hall. The national prize has been awarded since 1968. Recipient LaTasha N. Nevada Diggs will read selections from her award-winning poetry collection, “Village,” and sign books following the event.

The Theodore Roethke Poetry & Arts Festival celebrates the life and legacy of one of Michigan’s most recognized poets. Roethke won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 1954 and is widely known for his work exploring nature, identity and personal experience.

For more information about the Roethke Festival or any of the events listed here, visit www.svsu.edu/roethke or contact Carlos Ramet (ramet@svsu.edu; 989-964-4062).