David Nicholas

Central Focus

Education EN ↓ 20 episodes

Central Focus is a weekly segment from WCMU Public Media diving into the heart of innovation at Central Michigan University. Each week, host David Nicholas uncovers and shares remarkable stories from the CMU campus, highlighting groundbreaking projects and research conducted by students, faculty, and staff members. From cutting-edge studies to notable achievements and published works, Central Focus brings these discoveries to the forefront.

Author

David Nicholas

Episodes

Central Focus: Man of many hats retires from CMU 24.06.2026 5:00

Dr. David Patton retires at the end of July after 25 years at CMU. He started as an assistant professor in Geography. Many jobs followed in the years that followed.

Central Focus: More Questions for Ben Andera on AI 17.06.2026 4:00

We talked about the importance of not letting the technology think for us and the potential fallout from the recent high profile court case with leading AI companies.

Central Focus: CMU chooses first-ever AI Advisor 10.06.2026 5:00

Ben Andera focused first on the transition ushered in during the extraordinary time Covid 19

Central Focus: A conversation leads to more stories on Robert Khorman 03.06.2026 5:00

A sporting goods company founded in Southwest Michigan, more about the grayling, the fish, and final thoughts on his passion for protecting our abundant state waterways

Central Focus: More stories from the life of Robert Kohrman 27.05.2026 5:00

From my conversation with Carrie Marsh and Bryan Whitledge from CMU’s Clarke Historical Library, more stories I wanted to share.

Central Focus: Remembering Robert Kohrman, Part 1 20.05.2026 5:00

Robert Kohrman was a CMU professor for nearly forty years. He was an avid angler. He collected books and articles about sport fishing his entire adult life.

Central Focus: Grad inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame 15.04.2026 5:00

Steve Jessmore's chance enrollment in a photography class was a life-changer. He worked at several newspapers and, for a time, returned to CMU as university photographer.

Central Focus: Grant will fund expansion STORM field research program 08.04.2026 5:01

At CMU, STORM stands for Student Training for Observational Research in Meteorology. Each August, the program takes students to CMU’s Biological Station on Beaver Island

Central Focus: Grant from CMU graduate will assist female student athletes 01.04.2026 5:00

This fall, a $350,000 gift will launch EmpowHER Leadership at CMU, designed to guide and mentor female student athletes.

Central Focus: A Go Grant leads to a new CMU song 25.03.2026 4:07

Jane Amstutz, Manistee junior and Gabe Schall, Saginaw junior, worked with Professor Will Anderson engineered and recorded it in studio in Moore Hall.

Central Focus: Michigan Learning Channel finds new ways to teach kids 18.03.2026 5:00

The Michigan Learning Channel, a collaboration among the state’s public broadcasters, is built on fundamentals, but it too has evolved with the times.

Central Focus: Finding and inspiring future physical therapists 11.03.2026 4:59

Karen Grossnickle, clinical education director for CMU’s Department of Physical Therapy, received a 20-25 Go Grant to take the message about PT careers to rural areas.

Central Focus: CMU writer speaks of sense of place regarding his work 04.03.2026 5:00

After exploring the themes in the writing of CMU English Professor Darrin Doyle, our conversation continued, we looked at another influence, sense of place

Central Focus: CMU Prof has a reissued collection of short stories 25.02.2026 5:00

CMU English professor Darrin Doyle celebrates the 10th anniversary of his re-issued collection of short stories

Central Focus: English professor releases fifth collection of poetry 18.02.2026 5:00

CMU's Robert Fanning has gone through the parts of the creative process now for a fifth time. His latest published collection is titles “All We Are Given We Cannot Hold.”

Central Focus: More good news for rural care and Mobile Health Central 11.02.2026 5:00

Speaking with Kathleen Hodgkins, Director of Clinical Services for CMU’s CARLS Center, there's more money that can be put toward services offered on the 39-foot truck…

Central Focus: Go Grants connect to CMU's Strategic Plan 04.02.2026 4:48

CMU will host its first Go Grant Symposium on Tuesday February 10 in the Bovee University Center. The event is a chance to interact with 27 inaugural Go Grants projects

Central Focus: More rural care as Mobile Health Central goes high tech 28.01.2026 5:00

Mobile Heath Central has been around a little over ten years, bringing health care services to rural parts of Michigan. Kathleen Hodgkins talks about its expanded reach

Central Focus: CMU joins Volcker Alliance as a Next Gen partner 21.01.2026 5:00

Working to address the challenge of effective execution of of public policies and to rebuild public trust in government

Central Focus: New book tells the story of Beaver Island Mormon king 14.01.2026 5:00

More with CMU Emeritus Professor James Hill and his book, "The King Must Die"