Dear Wayne State community,

We received a few inquiries about our recent message – thank you for reaching out and providing an opportunity to further clarify. Our message may have been interpreted to suggest that faculty should not engage with the media without first connecting with the university marketing and communications team. This was not our intent.

The ability for faculty to share their disciplinary expertise is central to academic freedom, a core tenet of academic life which Wayne State University leadership fully and unequivocally supports. Faculty are encouraged to respond to media inquiries in their areas of disciplinary expertise as they desire and consistent with our mission as Michigan’s only urban, public, top-tier research university.

The communications team remains available to assist members of our community and to articulate an institutional viewpoint as needed.

Thank you again, for the open dialogue from those who have raised concerns and questions in this rapidly changing environment. Should you have additional questions, please continue to share them.

Sincerely,

Bethany Gielczyk
Senior Vice President for Finance and Business Affairs, Chief Financial Officer; Treasurer

Melissa Smiley, Ph.D.
Chief of Staff and University Relations Officer