Donate
  • About
  • Rent College Pads
  • Advertise
  • Privacy
Search
News
Opinions
Sports
Classifieds
Comics
BMA
Events
Subscribe

Tuesday, February 7, 2023
Print Archive

Eastern Echo
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Comics
  • Podcast
  • BMA
  • Events
  • Classifieds
  • Search
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Comics
  • Podcast
  • BMA
  • Events
  • Classifieds
Search

Subscribe to the Echo

Donate to The Echo

You can support the Echo by donating through the EMU Foundation and selecting to apply your gift to a specific fund. Any of the funds listed below will provide support to the Echo.

01049 -- EMU Echo Editor Endowed Scholarship:  Provides financial support for the current EMU Echo Editor.

02414 -- Scott Stephenson Eastern Echo Scholarship:  This expendable scholarship is for the benefit of student(s) in the School of Communication, Media & Theater Arts in the College of Arts & Sciences.  It will be awarded to a full or part-time junior or senior EMU student majoring in journalism and working for the Eastern Echo.  The student should be working to self-finance their education and not be eligible for need-based grants.

00825 -- Student Media Development:  Provides support for the Student Media program.

Thank you for supporting the Echo and EMU Student Media.

Give Now


9/15/2019, 2:58pm

Rec/IM Director accepts position at internationally renowned university

Wesley Howell, acting director of the Rec/IM department, is heading to California at the start of the fall semester to take on a role in the Recreation department at Stanford University.

By Pamela Mohar
Rec/IM Director accepts position at internationally renowned university

Howell is also happy to announce his engagement to his partner, Leslie, who plans to join him and Cal in California.

Share

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Mail
  • Print

Wesley Howell, director of EMU's Rec/IM department, said goodbye to Eastern Michigan University - and Michigan - at the beginning of the fall semester. After serving the students of EMU for over a year, Howell said he was excited but saddened to announce his acceptance of a position in the recreational facilities at the distinguished Stanford University near Palo Alto, California.

Howell came to the university in 2018 as the director of the Rec/IM, having previously worked at Stanford as the Director of Recreation Facilities and Sustainability. Immediately Howell took on the role of student advocate. As the Rec was already undergoing renovation at the time that he arrived, Howell strived to include the student voice in every decision that was made around the facility. He did this by instituting a series of surveys and focus groups, soliciting feedback on a variety of topics dealing with recreation and student life.

"A recreation center is a great option for students looking to better themselves physically while on campus,“ Howell said. "The Rec/IM provides individuals a place to develop a regular exercise routine. But the Rec/IM is not only a place to work out, it is also a place to study, a place to play games and build a community.”

During his time at EMU, Wes also introduced a barrage of updated ideas and programming geared towards giving students a well-rounded and responsible recreational experience while on campus. This includes the new esports program that is in the process of being launched through the Rec/IM.

Cal, Wesley's best friend, will be joining him in Stanford, California, as he begins his new position of Director of Recreation Facilities and Sustainability at Stanford University this semester.

“In the digital era, we spend so much time online, or sitting at a computer. I think the Rec/IM provides a healthy environment for real life interaction and focuses on some of the things we may be missing in the current digital age,” Howell said regarding the expansion of recreational opportunities for students on campus.

Howell also focused heavily on sustainability, having introduced methods into the facility to cut down on single-use plastics and create a system of recycling that is practical and simple for students to use. Creating central waste stations in the hallways and eliminating the need for plastic garbage bags to be pulled from multiple office trash cans every day is another way that he has encouraged the Rec/IM to look toward the future and their role in maintaining a healthy environment.

The Rec/IM staff is sad to see Howell leave but thankful for the opportunity to work with him. Looking toward the future, the process of finding a new director will be starting soon. Currently the Rec/IM department is operating with only four full-time professional staff members, with Tim White, aquatics facilitator, planning to retire this month.

Despite the constant changing environment, the Rec continues to focus on the voice of the students. Howell has left a lasting impression on the community with his outreach and tireless advocacy for student recreational life and Stanford is fortunate to have his knowledge and passion on their team once again.

Howell will miss EMU, also, stating, “I had many impactful moments while working at EMU. Some of those moments were centered around speaking with students and other moments were around building relationships with graduate assistants, faculty and staff on campus. I think what I am most proud of is the relationships I built, what I learned from the individuals that I had the chance to get to know, and hopefully I left a lasting impression about the overall importance that recreation has on a college campus.”

Share



Related Stories

An aerial view of the southwestern corner of Eastern Michigan University’s campus. (photo courtesy of Eastern Michigan University)

142 Eastern Michigan University employees accept early retirement buyouts

By Ashlee Buhler

Resources for students facing housing instability are lacking at Eastern Michigan University.

Resources lacking for students on Eastern Michigan University campus facing housing instability

By Ashlee Buhler

NAACP President Kya Fordham reads off the list of demands of affected students at today's rally.

Recent Campus Hate Incident Displays EMU’s Lack of Protective Policy

By Malaya Elgarico and Arica Frisbey


The Eastern Echo welcomes thoughtful discussion on all of our stories, but please keep comments civil and on-topic. Read our full guidelines here.


Most Popular


2/2/2023, 12:36pm

Michigan's official groundhog predicts early spring in Groundhog Day celebration

By Marie White

Howell Nature Center hosts an annual Groundhog Day event to celebrate the holiday.


2/1/2023, 7:42pm

Makhail Wood: A Record-Breaking Talent


2/5/2023, 4:52pm

EMU football 2023 recruiting class rated first in the MAC by 247Sports


2/4/2023, 12:23pm

EMU men’s basketball defeats Ohio in back-to-back victory, 90-79


Podcast


11/10/2022, 11:35am

TheBlockE Podcast


11/8/2022, 11:35am

Student Interview: Pritish Kokate - The Eastern Echo Podcast Ep. 5


11/3/2022, 5:58pm

Special episode: EMU Journalism Professor Dr. You Li speaks with EMU alumni Nathan Bomey


10/27/2022, 6:03pm

Interview w/ Ronia Cabansag - The Eastern Echo Podcast Ep. 3


Tweets by TheEasternEcho
Eastern Michigan Echo To Homepage
  • About
  • Jobs
  • Freelance
  • Submissions
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Distribution

All Rights Reserved

© Copyright 2023 The Eastern Echo

Powered by Solutions by The State News.