By Gayle McCreedy

Please join me in heartily welcoming Dr. Michael Schmidt to our advising ranks as he steps into an Academic Services Officer (ASO) position in the Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies (GSW) program. As an ASO, Michael will be providing advising to majors and minors in the undergraduate program as well as supporting the academic program for GSW, and increasing student engagement in the program and in the community.

Many of you have come to know Dr. Schmidt already. He first came to Wayne State as a student, and carries with him the traditional WSU story. He began at a community college, transferring to Wayne State to finish his undergraduate degree in American Studies, and then stayed to earn both an M.A. and a Ph.D. in English. 

Since 2013, he has been teaching at WSU in both the English and the Gender Studies program, and has also taught at our neighbor institution, the Center for Creative Studies. Michael has had a unique experience with the Gender Studies program in that he has been teaching both an introductory course and the most-advanced course of the program, effectively bookending each student’s academic experience. He quickly became a much-beloved and trusted faculty member for GSW students. 

In this new position, Michael will be the first dedicated academic staff member for the program, and will bring this singular focus in support of both students and programming. He will be working directly with OMSE on the Rainbow Graduation ceremonies, will be strengthening ties to QWSU and Jigsaw, and (when we finally return to campus) will be opening a new space where GSW students can gather and establish better community with each other. He will also be working closely with Professor Simone Chess, the new director fo the GSW program, on the establishment of a new Queer Studies minor.

In what little free time he will have in the future, he will continue his love of gardening. Welcome Michael!