eNews Special Edition

Schoolcraft College became a gathering place for music, conversation and community in July. In this special edition of eNews, we take you behind the scenes of a live WJR Radio broadcast hosted by Director of Community Affairs and News Marie Osborne, featuring interviews with Schoolcraft students, faculty, alumni and community partners. Following the interviews, the 31^st annual Michigan Jazz Festival filled campus with talented musicians and music lovers for a day-long celebration of jazz.

In this edition:

WJR Live Interview: Student Success

Hear from Chief Student Services Officer Laurie Kattuah-Snyder, Hinkle Student Resource Center Manager Rhonda Donovan, Schoolcraft College student Samantha Bleim and Associate Dean of Library & Learning Support Services Elizabeth Kenney.

Removing barriers to college access is the heart of this conversation. The Hinkle Student Resource Center provides financial assistance, access to food, technology and transportation to students. UWill, a virtual wellbeing support service available at no cost, also supports students struggling with mental health. Watch to learn more about the network of academic coaching, tutoring and supplemental instruction that Learning Support Services provides for students facing academic challenges at Schoolcraft College.

Click here to read our impact story on Samantha Bleim.

WJR Live Interview: Nationally Renowned Culinary Arts Program

Hear from Chief Workforce and Economic Development Officer Rob Leadley and Certified Master Chef and Culinary Arts Department Chair Brian Beland.

From the classroom to the workplace, Schoolcraft College’s programs prioritize experiential learning opportunities to prepare students for the workforce. These partnerships strengthen connections with employers while giving students valuable on-the-job experience. Watch to learn about how the award-winning Culinary Arts program provides students with hands-on experience at Schoolcraft.

WJR Live Interview: Industry Collaboration

Hear from Chief Workforce and Economic Development Officer Rob Leadley, Dean of Health and Human Services Tara Kane and Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace co-owner Leo Salvaggio.

Watch to learn how on-campus collaboration leads to long-term opportunities for local businesses and organizations, such as Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Union, Local 2 of Michigan, which partnered with Schoolcraft to integrate apprenticeship training with college credit toward an associate degree. Then, hear how Schoolcraft is responding to workforce shortages in health care and public safety by expanding its programs, creating scholarships and entering partnerships with hospitals to give students a leg up in competitive fields of study.

WJR Live Interview: The Need for Humanities

Hear from Schoolcraft College Foundation Board Member and Political Science Professor Dr. Alec Thomson, Psychology Professor Dr. Colleen Pilgrim, Manager of The Center for Experiential Learning Errin Stegich-Moloney and student Sophia Mark.

Watch to learn more about transfer pathways offered at Schoolcraft College, such as the Michigan Transfer Agreement, which streamlines students’ transition to four-year universities. Hear how the International Institute expands cultural understanding through cross-cultural learning opportunities on campus and international content incorporated into coursework. Then, learn more about how the Center for Experiential Learning and its community partnerships help students broaden their understanding through real-world experiences.

Click here to read out impact story on Sophia Mark.

WJR Live Interview: Impact on Students

Hear from Schoolcraft College’s Department Representative for Music and Theatre Dr. Fred Moss, Schoolcraft College Foundation student employee Bhumi Patel and Schoolcraft Sound Recording Technology student Jaylyn Johnson.

Hear how Schoolcraft students make the most of extracurricular opportunities on campus to support personal and professional growth. Getting involved allows students to expand their skill sets while gaining valuable experience before entering the workforce. Learn how the Music Department prepares music majors for transfer while welcoming non-majors, too—a unique benefit of the community college experience that gives students the resources to discover new interests and opportunities to grow.

WJR Live Interview: 2026 Michigan Jazz Festival Leadership

Hear from Professor Emeritus Barton Polot, Vice President of the Michigan Jazz Festival Sally Bolle and Director of the Paul Keller Orchestra Paul Keller.

Hear from representatives of the 2026 Michigan Jazz Festival about the Festival’s longstanding relationship with Schoolcraft College, which has proudly hosted the event since 1999. Over the decades, the Festival has grown to eight stages featuring 48 bands. Representatives credit Schoolcraft’s facilities as a key factor in that growth and describe the Festival as the biggest day of their year. Learn how the event engages younger people in jazz, lowers the barrier to entry and introduces new audiences to the scene across the state.

The Michigan Jazz Festival Returns

Following the broadcast, the 31^st annual Michigan Jazz Festival filled the Schoolcraft College campus with music. The festival serves as a love letter to the genre and aims to inspire listeners with a celebration of community through vibrant and expressive jazz. Around 5,000 people attend each year to enjoy this decades-long tradition.

The College has hosted and sponsored the Michigan Jazz Festival since 1999. For more information, visit: https://michiganjazzfestival.org/.

Save the Dates

9/25/26: Giving and Growth

10/22/26: CulEx 2026: A Taste of Detroit

Show your support for Schoolcraft College students and programs today.