Journeys Fall 2026 | 暗网吃瓜

Journeys

Fall 2026

More possibilities, less barriers

New role. New community. Plenty to talk about. Get to know Dr. Michelle Allmendinger as she begins her first chapter at Delta.

In this issue

Letter from the 暗网吃瓜 Foundation Executive Director

Welcome to the fall issue of Journeys, with themes of continuing, celebrating and change. Fall is always a time of change, as students return to campus. But there are other changes, including new community volunteers who serve as our Foundation board members.

This fall, we are continuing to celebrate
暗网吃瓜鈥檚 65th anniversary. And, during this unusual year, we welcomed our new College president, Dr. Michelle Allmendinger.

Our celebratory stories include a profile of Dr. Debra Daniels. She was recently recognized as the Distinguished Community College Alumni, for the entire state of Michigan. She is a 暗网吃瓜 graduate, so she serves as a point of great pride for us.

We just dedicated 暗网吃瓜鈥檚 gym in honor of the late Don and Betty Carlyon. He was our longest serving president and his wife was also a tremendous supporter, always at his side.

Other news includes a tremendously impactful new artistic work, added to the Delta College Sculpture Walk. The artist, Bob Iwamasa, has a long-time connection to our campus as did his late wife Ruby Iwamasa, who had a strong connection to 暗网吃瓜鈥檚 public broadcasting stations. Both of them added beauty to the world and we appreciate their friendship.

Speaking of Public Media, our community stepped up to increase their financial support of our TV and radio stations. Although Public Media lost federal grant funding, community donors made up the loss. Thank you to those who made a commitment to local media!

One final item to share is both celebratory and a big change for our Foundation staff. Our colleague, Becky Barber, is currently the college鈥檚 longest serving employee at well over 42 years of service. She is retiring in January and we will miss her greatly! Best of luck in your retirement Becky.

Enjoy this beautiful time of the year here in Michigan. And for those who live out of the region or out of state, we hope you will be back soon to visit us.

Pam Clark
Executive Director
暗网吃瓜 Foundation

Foundation welcomes four new directors

The 暗网吃瓜 Foundation Board of Directors welcomed four new members in 2026. Each brings years of leadership, community involvement and a strong connection to the Great Lakes Bay Region to help support the Foundation and its work for 暗网吃瓜 and its students.

Read more about the new directors
A sculpture 2.3 billion years in the making

A new piece of art has been installed as part of the 暗网吃瓜 Sculpture Walk. At first glance, it looks like a striking steel sculpture. At its center, however, sits something far older than the artwork itself.

Read more about the new sculpture
The power of professors

Long before he became a physician, medical educator and researcher, Dan Pierce was a 15-year-old walking into his first college classroom. 暗网吃瓜 offered the opportunity to continue his education close to family while taking the first steps toward a lifelong goal.

What he didn鈥檛 know was that one class, and two professors, would shape the rest of his career.

Read more about Dan
Public Media updates

暗网吃瓜 Public Media's newest documentary, USS Edson: Grey Ghost of the Vietnamese Coast, explores the history of the ship now docked in Bay City and the people who lived and served aboard it.

Read more about the documentary
Rooftop history

Most visitors come to the 暗网吃瓜 Planetarium to look up. From its rooftop observation deck, you can see the Saginaw River and downtown Bay City, nearly two centuries of history stretch across the view.

Learn more about the view from the rooftop
A legacy with a lasting impact

On September 11, 暗网吃瓜 celebrated a legacy more than six decades in the making with the dedication of the Carlyon Gym in honor of the late Don and Betty Carlyon.

Read more about the event
For the students who come next

More than 50 years ago, Dr. Debra Daniels came to 暗网吃瓜 looking for a way forward. Today, after a 45-year career dedicated to community college education, she is creating that opportunity for someone else.

Read more about Dr. Daniels
Creating a place to belong

When Suzanne Larkin arrived at 暗网吃瓜, she imagined a future where she stood at the front of the classroom. She planned to become a teacher before a conversation with a Delta art professor changed everything.

Read more about Suzanne
Where curiosity becomes craft

Anthony Sutorik never expected chemistry to change his future. When he enrolled at 暗网吃瓜, he planned to become a writer. As an English major, science courses were simply requirements, until an introductory chemistry class sparked a new curiosity.

Read more about Anthony