NMU Faculty and Staff,

I'd like to update the campus on two positions within the Division of Extended Learning and Community Engagement.

Bob Eslinger has been chosen as the interim dean of the new College of Technology and Occupational Sciences. This will be a three-year term effective immediately. In the first year of his tenure, he has been tasked with helping the programs of the college develop and begin implementing strategic plans that include extensive market analysis. During the second year, new programs will be implemented to meet regional need. The third year will focus on continued growth and a search for a permanent dean.

Bob is currently the Associate Vice President for Innovation, Economic Development and Community Engagement and he will keep many of his current responsibilities during his interim dean term. Bob came to NMU in 2011 as the director of Continuing Education and Workforce Development. Since then he has also become the director of the Center for Rural Community and Economic Development and director of the Center for Innovation and Industrial Technology. He was also one of the founders of Invent@NMU and was promoted to his current position in 2014.

An NMU alumnus ('77), Bob spent 20 years in the U.S. Army, retiring in 1997 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Before coming to NMU he was the executive director of business services for the Six County Employment Alliance and was the executive director of the Munising Area Partnership for Development.

Bob's exceptional research skills, his experience analyzing the educational needs of the region's workforce, and his ability to respond to these by delivering timely, relevant, and applied educational programs position him well to successfully lead the new College of Technology and Occupational Science. His entrepreneurial and creative spirit, coupled with outstanding planning and strategizing acumen, provide a unique balance that will propel the new college forward.

I would also like to introduce our new director of the English Language Institute, Diana Vreeland, who arrives on campus at the end of the month.

Diana's 20 years of extensive experience in the international student and intensive languages field as a university administrator, instructor and consultant make her a perfect fit to fill the vacant ELI director position. Diana will also be helping with international recruiting strategy and support. I couldn't be more confident that her collegial manner, knowledge of international student needs, and understanding of learning and pedagogy in English as a Second Language will reinvigorate the English Language Institute.

In a university setting, Diana has worked with intensive English language and multilingual programs at the University of Central Florida, Northwoods University, Western Michigan University, Saginaw Valley State University, Central Michigan University and City University – Bratislava, Slovak Republic.

Diana holds a bachelor's in English and biology with secondary education certification, and a master's in Teaching English as a Second or Other Language (TESOL), both from Central Michigan University.

Finally, we are excited to welcome Mindy Nannestad to our team who takes the place of Marlina Martinez. Marlina was kind enough to support the newly created ELCE division until we could finalize our search. Mindy comes to us with years of experience working in students services and, most recently, in the Dean of Students office. Mindy is unbelievably organized, knowledgeable about all of the systems and people at the university, and versed in working with budgets. In addition, her creative spirit and optimism, coupled with an eye toward pragmatism, make her a perfect addition to our team. We couldn't be more happy that Mindy has already started working in ELCE.

If you have questions or ideas related to the College of Technology and Occupational Science, please contact me (svanden@nmu.edu) or Bob (reslinge@nmu.edu). If you have questions or ideas about the English Language Institute, send them to me and I will share them with Diana when she arrives on campus.

Thank you for your continued support of our relatively new and growing division.

Steve VandenAvond, Vice President
Division of Extended Learning and Community Engagement