The achievements of Michigan State University’s faculty and staff, their research and their contributions were recognized with the presentation of distinguished awards during the 2023 MSU Awards Convocation on May 8 at the Kellogg Center.
At the MSU Awards Convocation, 10 distinguished awards were presented to 33 faculty and staff recipients at MSU. Read more about each award winner.
William J. Beal Outstanding Faculty Award
Faculty are honored with the William J. Beal Outstanding Faculty Award for their comprehensive and sustained record of scholarly excellence in research and/or creative activities, instruction, and outreach. The award is supported by the Office of University Advancement at MSU.
Award recipients include:
- Dr. Tracey Covassin, Kinesiology, College of Education
- Dr. Dimitar Deliyski, Communicative Sciences and Disorders, College of Communication Arts and Sciences
- Dr. Peilei Fan, School of Planning, Design and Construction, College of Social Science/College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
- Dr. William Hart-Davidson, Writing, Rhetoric, and American Cultures, College of Arts & Letters
- Dr. Robert Maleczka, Chemistry, College of Natural Science
- Dr. Katheryn D. Meek, Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, College of Veterinary Medicine
- Dr. Kevin Sedatole, Instrumental Conducting, College of Music
- Dr. Xiaobo Tan, Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering
- Dr. Angela K. Wilson, Chemistry, College of Natural Science
- Dr. Irene Xagoraraki, Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering
Teacher-Scholar Award
Teacher-Scholar Awards are presented to faculty who have earned the respect of their students and colleagues for their devotion to and skill in teaching, and whose instruction is linked to and informed by their research and creative activities. This award is supported by the Office of University Development.
Award recipients include:
- Dr. Daniel Ahlquist, James Madison College
- Dr. Melissa Charenko, Lyman Briggs College
- Dr. Janet Hauck, Kinesiology, College of Education
- Dr. Nazita Lajevardi, Political Science, College of Social Science
- Dr. Jane Manfredi, Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, College of Veterinary Medicine
- Dr. Divya Victor, English, College of Arts & Letters
Community Engagement Scholarship Award
The Office of the Associate Provost for University Outreach and Engagement supports the Community Engagement Scholarship Award to recognize a mutually beneficial and sustained campus-community research partnership.
Award recipients include:
- Dr. Maria Lapinski, Communication, College of Communication Arts and Sciences
- Lu Zhi, Founder and Designated Community Partner Representative, Shan Shui Conservation Center
President’s Distinguished Teaching Award
Supported by an endowment from Carl and Margaret Leidholm, the President’s Distinguished Teaching Award is given to faculty who create innovative teaching environments that enable student learning within and across disciplinary, cultural and ethnic boundaries.
Award recipient:
- Dr. Susan Masten, Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering
Simmons Chivukula Award
The Simmons Chivukula Award is given for exemplary work in academic leadership at the rank of department chair, school director, assistant dean, or associate dean. An individual is selected based on consistent and demonstrated excellence in academic leadership, including the dimensions of equity, diversity and inclusion.
The Simmons Chivukula Award is generously sponsored by a gift from Dr. Elizabeth H. Simmons (Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at UC San Diego, and former MSU Associate Provost for Faculty and Academic Staff Development and former Dean of Lyman Briggs College) and Dr. R. Sekhar Chivukula (Distinguished Professor of Physics at UC San Diego, and former MSU Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education and former Dean of Undergraduate Studies).
Award recipient:
- Kirk Domer, Theatre, College of Arts & Letters
Distinguished Academic Staff Awards
The Distinguished Academic Staff Awards honor academic specialists and MSU Extension academic staff for extraordinary achievement, excellence and exceptional contributions in advising, curriculum development, outreach, extension, research and/or teaching. The awards are supported by the Office of University Development.
Award recipients include:
- Dr. Katy Luchini Colbry, Dean’s Office, College of Engineering
- Erica Colón, Human Development and Family Studies, College of Social Science
- Dr. Bess German, Dean’s Office, Honors College
- Michael Staton, Extension Agriculture and Agribusiness Institute, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Excellence-in-Teaching Citations
Excellence-in-Teaching Citations are awarded to graduate teaching assistants who have distinguished themselves by the care they have given and the skill they have shown in meeting their classroom responsibilities. The awards are supported by the Office of University Development.
Award recipients include:
- Steven Gagnon, Linguistics, Languages, and Cultures, College of Arts & Letters
- T. J. Mesyn, School of Journalism, College of Communication Arts and Sciences, and Teacher Education, College of Education
- William Poulos, Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
- Joseph Riedy, Biological Sciences Program, College of Natural Science
- Jonathan Spiegler, Political Science, College of Social Science
- Meredith Wekesser, Kinesiology, College of Education
Robert F. Banks Award for Institutional Leadership
Supported by the Office of University Development, the Robert F. Banks Award for Institutional Leadership is presented to a member of the faculty, academic staff, or support staff in recognition of extraordinary and sustained institutional leadership that advances MSU’s commitment to connectivity, quality and inclusion.
Award recipient:
- Dr. Leo Kempel, Dean, College of Engineering
Donald F. Koch Quality in Undergraduate Teaching Award
The Donald F. Koch Quality in Undergraduate Teaching Award honors and recognizes teachers who take pride in and are committed to quality undergraduate teaching and who demonstrate substantial continuing involvement in undergraduate education. The Donald F. Koch Award for Quality in Undergraduate Teaching is supported by the MSU Alumni Club of Mid-Michigan and by Donald F. Koch and Barbara J. Sawyer-Koch.
Award recipient:
- Dr. Jaideep Taggart Singh, Physics and Astronomy, College of Natural Science, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams
Faculty Emeriti Association Award
The Faculty Emeriti Association Award recognizes an individual MSU Faculty Emeritus or Emerita or a team of Emeriti faculty who following retirement have served the university community through contributions to a unit or program.
Award recipients include:
- Dr. Laura Dillon, Computer Science and Engineering, College of Engineering
- Tim Mrozowki, School of Planning, Design and Construction, College of Social Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources