Francine Rossi Distinguished Alumna 2007

Francine Zeidman Rossi has been named Distinguished English Department Alumna for 2007. She earned her B.A. in 1970 with a major in English and minors in Speech/Drama. She continued her education at Michigan State University where she was a student inductee into the Society of Professional Journalists. Her concentration was in Journalism/Consumer Affairs and she completed the requirements for a M.S.J. (With Honors) from Roosevelt University, Chicago, IL in 1987. In 1975, she served an internship at the U.S. EPA (Region V - Department of Public Affairs, Chicago) where she researched, wrote and edited the first in-depth article calling for the national ban on PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls): “Study group calls for ‘ban’ on PCBs.” In 1987, she purchased The National Center for Educational Testing, Inc. from Roosevelt University where she had served as Director of Test Preparation Courses within the College of Continuing Education. She also incorporated The American Center for Educational Development, Inc. and trained over 8,000 students in asbestos/lead abatement. Her company was named one of the top three trainers in the country by the U.S. EPA. As an adjunct to training, she incorporated AS-RA-TECHnologies, Inc., a female-owned environmental remediation company, in 1991. Her company has been awarded contracts, among others, for the Department of Aviation (O’Hare, Midway & Meigs Airports), Chicago; Ft. McCoy, WI; Ft. Leonard Wood, MO; Butler VA, PA; Great Lakes Naval Training Station, IL; and, Ft. Sheridan, IL, for which the company was awarded a Certificate of Recognition by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for its outstanding performance on its three-year contract. She served on the WMU Alumni Board of Directors for six years, and is a member of the Federation of Women Contractors, National Association of Women in Construction, National Association of Women Business Owners, and, the Environmental Information Association, in addition to other professional/social organizations.
The English department is extremely proud to honor Francine Rossi with this recognition. She is an excellent example of the many wonderful careers that begin with an education in English studies.