Vashti Sawtelle, associate professor of physics in Lyman Briggs College and the MSU Department of Physics and Astronomy, was one of three professors selected for the 2022 Michigan Distinguished Professor of the Year Award from the Michigan Association of State Universities, which represents Michigan’s 15 public universities. 

The Michigan Distinguished Professor of the Year Award recognizes the outstanding contributions and dedication exhibited by the faculty from Michigan’s 15 public universities to the education of undergraduate students. Each university was invited to nominate a faculty member who has had a significant impact on undergraduate student learning through various activities, particularly classroom instruction, applied research, experiential learning, innovation and mentoring.  

The 2022 recipients are Sandra M. Gonzales of Wayne State University, Carl Lee of Central Michigan University and Vashti Sawtelle of Michigan State University.  

“These nominees continue to bring new scholarship and innovation in teaching and learning to Michigan’s public universities,” said Daniel J. Hurley, CEO of the Michigan Association of State Universities. “These professors have the highest dedication to their students, ensuring that they are well prepared to make a meaningful impact in their careers and in their communities.”

Sawtelle has been an MSU faculty member since 2014. She’s co-director of the Physics Education Research Lab in the Department of Physics and Astronomy in the College of Natural Science. Sawtelle is known by students and peers for her inclusive teaching practices and student engagement in the Lyman Briggs College, MSU’s residential college for studying STEM in societal and global contexts.  

For more on this story, visit the Lyman Briggs College website.