This year Michigan State University recognizes the outstanding work of 32 faculty, administrators, academic staff and graduate assistants. The MSU community is invited to celebrate the honorees at the ceremony on April 7 at 3:30 p.m. at the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center. Ten awards will be presented to 32 MSU recipients.

We also celebrate recipients of the Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Awards and International Awards, which were presented earlier this semester.

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:

• Christoph Adami, College of Natural Science, Microbiology, Genetics and Immunology & Physics and Astronomy
• Steven Chermak, College of Social Science, Criminal Justice
• Michael Dease, College of Music, Jazz Studies
• Walter Hawthorne, College of Social Science, History
• Hui Li, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences
• Xiaoming Liu, College of Engineering, Computer Science & Engineering
• Richard Lunt, College of Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science
• Anna Moore, College of Human Medicine, Radiology and Physiology
• Karin Allor Pfeiffer, College of Education, Kinesiology
• Shin-Han Shiu, College of Natural Science, Plant Biology & Computational Mathematics, Science and 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:

• Shireen Al-Adeimi, College of Education, Teacher Education
• Kristen Cetin, College of Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Amanda Flaim, James Madison College
• Jacquelyn Jacobs, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Animal Science
• Elizabeth Perry, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Community Sustainability
• Ryan Shaw, College of Music, Music Education

Distinguished Academic Staff Award

The Distinguished Academic Staff Award recognizes the outstanding achievements of those professionals who serve the university in advising, curriculum development, outreach, extension, research, and teaching.

Award recipients include:

• Samantha Cass, Lyman Briggs College, Chemistry
• Andrew Corner, College of Communication Arts and Sciences, Advertising and Public Relations
• Guillermo Delgado, Residential College in the Arts & Humanities
• Philip Kaatz, MSU Extension, Institute of Agriculture and Agribusiness

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.

• Irene Xagoraraki, College of Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Community Partners in Detroit Tri-County

Excellence-in-Teaching Citations

Excellence-in-Teaching Citations are awarded to outstanding graduate teaching assistants who have distinguished themselves by the dedication and skill they show in meeting their classroom responsibilities. The awards are supported by the Office of University Development.

• Vindula Alwis, College of Natural Science, Chemistry
• Kasun Gajasinghe, College of Education, Teacher Education
• Kathryn Genoa-Obradovich, College of Communication Arts and Sciences, Communicative Sciences and Disorders
• Mary Ellen Rutemeyer, College of Arts & Letters, Linguistics, Languages and Cultures
• Danielle Seppala, College of Natural Science, Physics and Astronomy

President’s Distinguished Teaching Award

The President’s Distinguished Teaching Award recognizes academic specialist and tenure system faculty members’ roles in the creation of innovative environments that enable student learning within and across disciplinary, cultural and ethnic boundaries.

• Erica Wehrwein, College of Natural Science, Physiology

Simmons Chivukula Award for Academic Leadership

The Simmons Chivukula Award is presented for exemplary work in academic leadership by department chairs, school directors, assistant deans or associate deans. Award recipients are chosen 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 University 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).

• Dimitar Deliyski, College of Communication Arts and Sciences, Communicative Sciences and Disorders

Robert F. Banks Award for Institutional Leadership

The Robert F. Banks Award for Institutional Leadership recognizes the commitment and dedication that MSU faculty, academic staff and support staff leaders demonstrate by their extraordinary and sustained efforts. The award was established in honor and recognition of Dr. Robert F. Banks for his 40 years of service to Michigan State University, including seven years as Dean of James Madison College and 28 years as Associate Provost and Associate Vice President for Academic Human Resources.

• Sandi Smith, College of Communication Arts and Sciences, Communication

Donald F. Koch Award for Quality in Undergraduate Teaching

The Donald F. Koch Award for Quality in Undergraduate Teaching recognizes fixed-term academic specialists and tenure system faculty who are committed to quality undergraduate teaching and who demonstrate substantial continuing involvement in undergraduate education.

• Raven L. Jones, College of Education, Teacher Education

Faculty Emeriti Association Award for Outstanding Contributions by an Individual or Team of Faculty

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.

• Laurie Kaguni, College of Natural Science, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• John Wang, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Awards

In addition to the above awards, we celebrate the recipients of the Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Awards.

The Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Awards were announced during a ceremony on Feb. 6, 2025. Twelve awards were presented to individuals, teams, and units for furthering inclusion in teaching, research, programming, service, community outreach and organizational change. These awards are supported by the Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion.

Individual Award

• Hend Azhary, College of Human Medicine, Department of Family Medicine
• Jonathan Choti, College of Arts and Letters, Department of Linguistics, Languages, and Cultures
• Bess German, Honors College
• Susan McFarlane-Alvarez, College of Communication Arts and Sciences, Advertising and Public Relations
• Sriram Narayanan, Broad College of Business, Department of Supply Chain Management
• Leonora Souza Paula, College of Arts and Letters, Department of English
• Emily Sorroche, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Outreach Culture Access and Belonging

Team Award

• MSU Counseling and Psychiatric Services/College of Arts & Letters/Graduate School/Career Services/Women of Color Initiative – A collaborative team represented by Delia Fernandez-Jones, Ashley Bustamante, Meg Moore, Theresa Murphy and Jessica Oyoque Barron
• Women in Skilled Trades Program, Represented by Carol Cool, Tori Menold and Leisa Williams-Swedberg

Unit Award

• Diversity Equity and Inclusion Team, Office of Admissions, Represented by Florensio Hernandez
• Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, College of Communication Arts and Sciences, Represented by Lauren J. Gaines and Jada Flowers

Lifetime Award

• James C. “Jim” Anthony, College of Human Medicine, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics

International Awards

In addition to the above awards, we celebrate the recipients of the International Awards.

The International Awards goes to a diverse group of students, faculty and community members in international research, teaching and outreach on April 17. The award recognizes nine exceptional Spartans who reach across borders and disciplines in their common commitment to global engagement.

Ralph H. Smuckler Award for Advancing International Studies and Programs at MSU

• Kay E. Holekamp, College of Natural Science, Department of Integrative Biology

Joon S. Moon Distinguished International Alumni Award

• Myung-Keun Chang, Waves to Oceans, Ltd.

MSU Award for Outstanding Service to Education Abroad

• Jeffrey Tsang, College of Engineering

Charles A. Gliozzo International Award for Public Diplomacy

• Suzanne W. Braden, Pandas International

Homer Higbee International Education Award

• Raymond Musiima, Broad College of Business
• Tatlana A. Iretskala, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Department of Sustainable Tourism and Protected Areas Management
• Larry Bruce Karnes, International Friendship Program

Special Recognition Award for Promoting International Understanding

• Antoinette Tessmer, Broad College of Business, Department of Finance

Carl K. Eicher Award for International Development

• Randolph M. Beaudry, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Department of Horticulture