The faculty, emeriti, alumni, and friends of the School of Communication announce the establishment of the Dr. Shirley A. Van Hoeven Graduate Fellowship. This fellowship honors Dr. Van Hoeven’s 31 years of extraordinary service to the School of Communication and to Western Michigan University.
During her 31 years at the University, Dr. Van Hoeven taught, advised, directed, and otherwise influenced the lives of thousands of students, particularly at the graduate level. Her contributions to graduate education in the School are immeasurable. Dr. Van Hoeven served as the Director of the Graduate Program in the School from 1979 through her retirement in 1999. Under her leadership, the faculty built a robust master’s program serving both full-time and part-time students. During the 1980s and ’90s, many communication professionals benefited from the tireless efforts of School faculty such as Dr. Van Hoeven who provided a high quality graduate experience.
Funds generated by this endowment will support graduate recruitment and retention efforts in the School. Student awards from this endowment may include travel and research grants, technology grants, and annual scholarships. The fellowship’s goal is to provide support to outstanding students who will continue the tradition of excellence initiated under the leadership of Dr. Van Hoeven.
"Shirley was a part of my graduate coursework in organizational communication. Shirley taught 'Communication and Organizational Culture' in Spring 1996 and her class taught me the various dimensions of organizational culture and its impact on human interactions, leadership, and organizations. She is a phenomenal instructor—I still reference what I learned in that class in my work in higher education today!" - Christopher W. Tremblay, BA '94, MA '99