Faculty, academic specialists, and graduate students at Michigan State University will be honored with distinguished awards during the All-University Awards Ceremony. The MSU community is invited to celebrate the honorees at the ceremony 3:30-5:30 p.m., May 1, at the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center.
During the ceremony, nine awards will be presented to 31 MSU recipients. Learn more about the awards and recipients below.
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:
Erich Grotewold, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Natural Science
Mohammad H. Khalil, Religious Studies, College of Arts & Letters
Shannon Manning, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, College of Natural Science
Deborah McCullough, Entomology and Forestry, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Adam J. Moeser, Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine
Kristen Renn, Educational Administration, College of Education
Dana M. Spence, Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering
Zhou Tian, Composition, College of Music
Yimin Xiao, Statistics and Probability, College of Natural Science
J. Scott Yaruss, Communicative Sciences and Disorders, College of Communication Arts and Sciences
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:
Jennifer Doherty, Lyman Briggs College
Yvonne Lam, College of Music
Kirtimaan Mohan, Lyman Briggs College
Andrew J. Olive, Microbiology, Genetics, and Immunology, College of Osteopathic Medicine
Linda Sayed, James Madison College
Sitara Thobani, The Residential College in the Arts and Humanities
Community Engagement Scholarship Award
The Office of the Vice Provost for University Outreach and Engagement supports the Community Engagement Scholarship Award to recognize a mutually beneficial and sustained campus-community research partnership.
Award recipient:
Courtney Carignan, Food Science & Human Nutrition, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary Medicine
Great Lakes PFAS Action Network, represented by Sandy Wynn-Stelt, co-chair of the Great Lakes PFAS Action Network
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:
Tammy Long, Plant Biology, College of Natural Science
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 Elizabeth H. Simmons (executive vice chancellor for academic affairs at Uuniversity of California, San Diego, and former MSU associate provost for faculty and academic staff development and former dean of Lyman Briggs College) and 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:
Jerry Kooiman, College of Human Medicine
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:
Debra Barrett, Children and Youth Institute, MSUE/College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Dawn Contreras, MSUE/College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Amy Pollock, Chemistry, College of Natural Science
Valeta Wensloff, Media and Information, College of Communication Arts and Sciences
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:
Erica Holt, History, College of Social Science
Tyler Mazone, College of Music
Enrique Núñez-Mussa, Journalism, College of Communication Arts and Sciences
Riley Pizza, Plant Biology, College of Natural Science
Scott Shank, Communication, College of Communication Arts and Sciences
Alyssa Voort (Uher), Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Special Education, College of Education
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:
Alexandra Zevalkink, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, College of Engineering
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 recipient:
Paul Cooke, Communicative Sciences and Disorders, College of Communication Arts and Sciences
Previous 2024 Awards Ceremonies
In addition to the recipients being honored on May 1, the university celebrates the following award winners who were recognized earlier this year.
Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Awards
The Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Awards were announced during a ceremony on Feb. 9, 2024. Six individuals, teams and units were recognized for furthering inclusion in teaching, research, programming, service, community outreach and organizational change.
Award recipients include:
Kristen Cetin, College of Engineering
Kent Key, College of Human Medicine
Kathryn Westby, College of Natural Science
Know Your Rights Day, College of Law
Alliance for African Partnership, International Studies and Programs
Residence Education and Housing Services, Student Life & Engagement
International Awards
The International Awards goes to a diverse group of students, faculty and community members in international research, teaching and outreach on April 24. The award recognizes 14 exceptional Spartans who reach across borders and disciplines in their common commitment to global engagement.
Award recipients include:
Ralph H. Smuckler Award for Advancing International Studies and Programs at MSU: Edward D. Walker, University Distinguished Professor, College of Natural Science
John H. Hudzik Emerging Leader in Advancing International Studies and Programs: Yadu Pokhrel, Associate Professor, College of Engineering
Joon S. Moon Distinguished International Alumni Award: Jing Wang, Ph.D., Physics (1999); and Cofounder and Chairman, FinTell Inc.
Joon S. Moon Distinguished International Alumni Award: Lei Chen, Ph.D., Statistics (1997); and Managing Director, Head of Fraud Risk for Lending and Fraud Data Science for the Consumer and Community Banking, JPMorgan Chase
Glen L. Taggart Award for Community Contributions to International Understanding: Peter Lemmer, Executive Vice President & Chief Legal Counsel, GreenStone Farm Credit Services
Gill-Chin Lim Award for Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation in Global Studies: Katie Carline, Ph.D., History (2023), College of Social Science
Special Recognition Award for Promoting International Understanding: George W. Bird, Professor Emeritus, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Charles A. Gliozzo International Award for Public Diplomacy: Callista B. Rakhmatov, Global Network Specialist, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Homer Higbee International Education Award:
Rochisshil Varma, President, International Students Association; and undergraduate student, College of Engineering and Honors College
Ishwari Kapale, Vice President, International Students Association, and undergraduate student, College of Engineering
Mary Hennessey, Past Director, Volunteer English Tutoring Program, International Studies and Programs
MSU Award for Outstanding Service to Education Abroad:
Gail A. Vander Stoep, Associate Professor Emeritus, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Jonathan Choti, Associate Professor, College of Arts & Letters
Carl K. Eicher International Development Award: Dr. Lisa Tiemann, Associate Professor, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources