Wayne State's New President, Jay Noren, Launches Landmark Student Campaign at April...

Wayne State's New President, Jay Noren, Launches Landmark Student Campaign at
April 7 Inauguration

Celebration set for April 7 at Detroit Institute of Arts

Former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala to provide
keynote address

DETROIT, April 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Reflecting the "student-focused"
approach that has characterized his administration, Wayne State University
President Dr. Jay Noren will announce a landmark fundraising campaign during
his inauguration as 10th president of the university. The ceremony takes place
on April 7 at 1:30 p.m. in the Detroit Film Theatre Auditorium at the Detroit
Institute of Arts.

The fundraising campaign is designed to boost the number and dollar amount of
need- and merit-based scholarships available to help students and their
families overcome financial obstacles to higher education in today's
challenging economic environment. Twenty-six thousand dollars in gifts from
private donors, previously earmarked for inaugural festivities, will be
donated to need-based scholarships to jumpstart the campaign.

"We are determined to make it possible for talented students to attend Wayne
State University regardless of their financial circumstances," Noren said.
"Like many of our students today, I was a first-generation college student.
Scholarships and loans were critical to the degrees I earned, and it is
imperative that we give our students every chance to get the best education
possible."

Since January of 2009, Wayne State has raised nearly $300,000 to seed this
critical initiative.

In fiscal 2008-09, Wayne State offered more than 15,700 undergraduate
scholarship offers, with an average scholarship award of more than $9,000.
Total financial aid disbursed was $262 million.

Following the president's inaugural speech, a reception and special arts
tribute program, Curtain Call, will highlight the celebration. Music, theater
and dance performances are scheduled at 3:30 p.m.

As the first Wayne State president to hold an M.D. degree, Jay Noren has
distinguished himself as an expert in health care policy, delivery,
administration and education. In his role as president of a major urban
research institution, he is helping to reinforce Detroit's international
reputation as a medical destination.

President Noren came to Wayne State from the University of Nebraska, where he
was executive vice president and provost and founding dean of the College of
Public Health. Previously, he was vice chancellor for health sciences at the
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Chancellor of Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities, and president of the Health Science Center and vice chancellor
for health affairs with the Texas A&M University System. He developed and
directed the Wisconsin Center for Health Policy and Program Evaluation and was
a founder and director of the University of Wisconsin graduate program in
administrative medicine.

President Noren received his medical degree from the University of Minnesota
Medical School. He earned two bachelor's degrees from the University of
Minnesota and has a master's degree in public health from Harvard University.

At the inauguration ceremony, President Noren will receive the Chain of
Office, signifying the authority and responsibility of the university's chief
administrative officer, from the WSU Board of Governors, chaired by Richard
Bernstein. Among distinguished guests attending will be Donna Shalala,
president of the University of Miami and former U.S. Secretary of Health and
Human Services, who will deliver the keynote address. Other distinguished
guests include Wayne State Presidents emeriti David Adamany and Irvin D. Reid;
Harold Maurer, Chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical Center; and Al
Bowman, president of Illinois State University. Offering salutations will be
Detroit Deputy Mayor Saul Green, WSU Academic Senate President Seymour
Wolfson, Alumni Association President James Garavaglia and Student Council
President Jacob Kinde. WSU Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic
Affairs Nancy Barrett will preside at the ceremony.

The 3:30 p.m.Curtain Call performance, a high-energy tribute to jazz, musical
theater and innovative dance, will feature student, faculty and alumni artists
from the WSU College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts. A brief,
student-produced film will be shown. The program is sponsored by the WSU
Alumni Association.

Wayne State University is a premier institution of higher education offering
more than 350 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to more than
31,000 students.

Note to Media: Please present identification at the media check-in table in
the lobby. Entrance to the DIA is off John R or Farnsworth streets.

SOURCE Wayne State University

Francine Wunder of Wayne State University, +1-313-577-2150, fwunder@wayne.edu