Laurel Whalen, Ph.D.

Experience

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  Albion College

  Aug 2002 - Dec 2006

  Managed, designed, and implemented the marketing and recruitment plan for five regional markets, in doing so, increased student enrollment by 25% in my regional territory in 2002, 2004, and 2005. Represented Albion College at local, regional, and national college fairs and delivered admission presentations at over 160 high schools. Planned and executed regional receptions for alumni and prospective students. Managed the admissions website and wrote and edited the Albionline, an electronic newsletter for prospective students. Show less

  • Assistant Director of Admission

    Aug 2001 - Dec 2006

  • Assistant Women's Basketball Coach

    Aug 2002 - Mar 2004
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  Think Detroit PAL

  Apr 2007 - Aug 2010

  Managed the fund development activity and a $2 million dollar fundraising budget for award-winning nonprofit service organization. Planned large-scale fundraising events including Benevon Ask Events, home receptions, and banquets. Researched, prepared, and reported on grant proposals. Developed new funding initiatives including events and direct-mail campaigns. Cultivated relationships with major funders, individuals, and key board members. Served as staff liaison to the annual Paul W. Smith golf outing and Detroit International Auto Show's Charity Preview non-profit committee. Show less Developed and implemented a dynamic and comprehensive leadership development curriculum and training program for volunteer youth sport coaches which included creating curriculum, power point presentations, workbooks, and an instructor’s manual. Maintained volunteer management system including certifications, background checks, and issuing badges to 1,500 volunteer coaches. Planned first annual Volunteer Appreciation Banquet for over 500 attendees and developed the Think Detroit PAL Hall of Fame. Coordinated all special events, including development events, league championship and all-star games, opening day celebrations, and holiday adopt-a-family events. Oversaw all facets of the D. Duane Hurtt Student-Athlete Resource Center including college admissions and financial-aid counseling, academic workshops, and college tours. Planned week-long, overnight leadership development camp for 85 children which included all logistics, curriculum development, state certifications, and program evaluations. Show less

  • Fund Development Officer

    Apr 2008 - Aug 2010

  • Associate Director of Programs

    Apr 2007 - Apr 2008
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  Wayne State University

  Sept 2011 - now

  As a Program Coordinator and Associate Professor, I oversee the Sport Management undergraduate and Sports Administration graduate programs, which includes: program strategic planning, course development and instructional design, student recruitment and retention, hiring/mentoring adjunct faculty, and student support and success. In this role, I have:• Managed the conversion of a traditional MA program to an entirely online format, including course adaptions, instructor training, student recruitment and retention, and student support. • Taught undergraduate and graduate courses in the Sport Management and Sports Administration programs, including courses in management, sport sociology, youth sports and recreation, marketing, and leadership.• Coordinated fieldwork and internship placements and capstone projects.• Managed student enrollment for undergraduate and graduate programs, including student recruitment, admissions, and retention. • Served as primary advisor for 45+ students each term.Awards & Honors:• 2021 President's Award for Excellence in Teaching • 2020 College of Education Faculty Scholarship Award• 2018 College of Education Faculty Service Award • 2017 Blackboard Exemplary Course Award Winner Service to the University: • Faculty Co-Chair, WSU General Education Oversight Committee• Faculty Fellow, Office of Teaching and Learning Quality Online Education• Secretary, College of Education Faculty and Staff Assembly• Member, College of Education Bylaw Review Committee• Member, Online Education Committee (Provost's Office) • Chair, COE Events & Recognition Committee• Member – Office of Teaching and Learning Online Teaching Advisory Committee• Faculty Representative, WSU Athletic Department (Women’s Basketball)• Connect Mentoring Program, WSU Athletics Department Research Interests: • Sociocultural issues in physical activity and youth sports• Parent involvement in youth sportsFaculty profile: https://coe.wayne.edu/profile/aq0220 Show less Building Healthy Communities provides comprehensive school, community, and family-based programs focused on healthy eating, food security, physical activity, and healthy living. This elementary school initiative empowers children, caregivers, and educators to transform policies, systems, and environments toward population health. The program has an extensive history of evidence-based outcomes where children eat healthier, are more active, reduce overweight/obesity, and improve academic achievement, all of which are foundational to reducing disparities and inequities that influence residents’ social determinants of health.In this role, I demonstrated: - Effective employee management skills through the supervision of 7-10 annual employees working on components of the grant implementation, including in-person and remote staff. - Prudent fiscal management strategies by overseeing the budgets for multiple funding sources supporting various aspects of the grant. - Successful track record of grant writing and management by working with a faculty team to secure more than 2.3 million in funding to support the Building Healthy Communities program since 2020. - Creative program management and design by transitioning to a fully online delivery during the pandemic, including rewriting curriculum, building a website, integrating a social media campaign, reconceptualizing the implementation standards, and redesigning the evaluation procedures. Show less As a contract employee of the Wayne State University Athletic Department, I worked with a small, selected group of student-athletes to support their personal and academic progress and athletics eligibility. In this role, I demonstrated: - A student-centered approach to mentoring through customized progress plans that met the diverse (academic, personal, professional, and social) needs of student-athletes that that empowered student-athletes with the skills and resources they needed to be successful. - Compassionate advocacy through the cultivation of collaborative working relationships with coaches, faculty, and athletics administrators to ensure collaborative support for each student and appropriate, fair resolutions to highly sensitive and often difficult student-athlete issues. - Fervent champion for student success through my student-centered approaches to mentoring and academic support and advocating for student-athletes with the coaches and athletics staff. Show less

  • Faculty Athletics Representative

    Nov 2024 - now

  • Program Coordinator/Associate Professor

    Aug 2010 - now

  • Program Manager, Building Healthy Communities

    Feb 2020 - now

  • Lead Learning Specialist

    Sept 2011 - May 2018
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  Woods & Watts Effect

  Jul 2024 - now

  Consultant

  As a consultant, I've worked with the Woods & Watts team to create and design trainings and instructional materials to promote an inclusive culture for the workplace.