[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 47 (Wednesday, March 11, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E297]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   IN RECOGNITION OF PROFESSOR RONALD WOODS DISTINGUISHED CAREER AT 
                      EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DEBBIE DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 11, 2020

  Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Professor 
Ronald Woods on his retirement and recognize his forty-three years of 
distinguished service at Eastern Michigan University (EMU). His 
contributions to our community have been many and deserve significant 
recognition.
  In his decades of service as a teacher and mentor, Professor Ronald 
Woods has become a pillar of the EMU community. A former poverty law 
attorney, Ronald Woods started at EMU in 1976 as a lecturer in the 
Afro-American Studies Program, and later went on to become a professor 
and the first head of the African American Studies Program. In these 
capacities, Professor Woods provided valuable expertise on the 
intersection of race, public policy, and law. He shed light on the 
impact of social policy on our nation's schools and communities and 
published on a variety of different topics like African policy in the 
horn of Africa. In addition to his work as a professor and scholar, 
Professor Woods was highly regarded in serving as Director of the 
Institute for the Study of Children, Families, and Communities.
  Today, we celebrate Professor Woods for his leadership and 
unrelenting dedication to his students, community, and academia. 
Throughout his tenure, Professor Woods mentored hundreds of students 
and was recognized for his professionalism, kind demeanor, and passion 
for educating our nation's future leaders. Beyond academics, Professor 
Woods's contributions included serving as interim president of the 
Michigan Council of Black Studies, a member of the Board of Directors 
of the African American Cultural and Historical Museum of Washtenaw 
Court, and member of the Board of Directors of Wittenberg University, 
and even a member of the Board of the Ann Arbor Housing Commission, 
just to name a few of his many outstanding accomplishments. In 
addition, Professor Wood was paramount to the success of key community 
programs. As an early leader and the first coordinator of Washtenaw 
County My Brother's Keeper, Professor Woods empowered multiple 
generations to build community, change narratives, and improve outcomes 
for young men and boys of color in Washtenaw County. Professor Wood's 
years of service have impacted the lives of many, and his continued 
dedication provides a lasting example of what we should all endeavor to 
accomplish--to effect change, be compassionate leaders, and do all we 
can to make a difference in the world.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Ronald 
Woods as he retires from Eastern Michigan University. We thank him for 
his decades of distinguished of service and leadership and wish him the 
best of luck in all future endeavors

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