On May 6–7, faculty members and administrators from across Michigan State University stepped out of their departments and onto the Spartan Bus Tour, traveling through Flint, Saginaw and Bay City. The two-day journey was designed to immerse university leaders in the research, outreach and community partnerships that define MSU’s presence in Flint, the Bay Region and beyond.
From witnessing the resurgence of the lake sturgeon to exploring public health initiatives that span generations, these Spartans spent two days and 222 miles discovering the depth of the university’s impact on this vibrant and resilient region of the state. Along the way, they found a renewed sense of purpose and connection — not only with the communities they visited but also with one another.
Here is what participants had to say about their experience on the Spartan Bus Tour.
Jade Mitchell
Professor in biosystems and agricultural engineering, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
“There is something uniquely powerful about stepping away from our day-to-day work to learn from one another — in conversation, in communities and even on a bus. This experience gave me the opportunity to slow down, to truly see people, to hear their stories, and to better understand the partnerships that exist both within and beyond our institution.
“Through this experience and others this year, I have spent time thinking more deeply about institutions — how they function, how they lead, how they are perceived and how they show up in the world. I’ve been reflecting not only on what we do as faculty and administrators, but on how our work contributes to something much larger than ourselves.
“One of the most important lessons I’ve taken away is this: Institutions are remembered less for what they say about themselves and more for how people experience them. Leadership is not just about vision or strategy — it is fundamentally about relationships and trust. This bus tour brought those ideas to life. It transformed abstract concepts like leadership, engagement, responsibility and impact into something tangible. We didn’t just talk about our work — we saw it, felt it and experienced it.
“Across all of these experiences, a common thread emerged: people choosing to invest in one another. Whether through activism, education, hospitality, creativity, research or community engagement, I saw individuals and institutions intentionally creating belonging, opportunity and impact.
“One of the most important lessons I will carry forward — from this year and from this trip — is the importance of moving with purpose, grounded in our values. Leadership is about alignment — between what we say we value and how we actually show up in the world. Moments matter. Invitations matter. Small interactions matter. And often, the most meaningful forms of leadership happen in ways that feel ordinary at the time.
“So as we return to campus, I hope we continue to ask ourselves: How are we showing up? What impact are we creating? And how are we connecting?”
Juan Mundel
Associate dean for graduate studies and associate professor of advertising, College of Communication Arts and Sciences
“I learned about community-led efforts in Flint that help children develop into strong, emotionally aware individuals that prioritize community over individual gain. In a city where community activism runs through its DNA, this work could not feel more relevant. One especially meaningful stop included our visit to MSU’s Charles Stewart Mott Department of Public Health, which was designed in partnership with community members and continues to be governed alongside them.
"In our time spent with Michigan Sea Grant, we learned about work being done alongside community partners to restore habitats and improve environmental outcomes for species endangered by human activity. It was particularly meaningful to participate in the releasing of two young sturgeons — Sparta and Gus — back into Michigan waterways.
“Many institutions talk about community embeddedness, yet this experience felt fundamentally different. Hearing the community’s pride in this partnership was incredibly powerful. I came away deeply impressed with MSU and hopeful that this approach to partnership and shared governance continues to ripple through all of our operations.”
Joseph Hefner
Associate professor of anthropology, College of Social Science
“I’m an anthropologist; that means a lot of things to a lot of people. Some anthropologists are people watchers; some are people engagers. I fit somewhere in between. That said, a bus packed full of university faculty, staff and administrators was, frankly, terrifying. But over the course of the trip, I learned what it really means to be a land-grant institution and how deeply connected MSU is to communities across the state.
“I was especially struck by MSU’s impact on the Flint and Bay regions. Everywhere we went, there was a genuine sense of pride in, and appreciation for, the university and the people doing the work. I learned more about the role of MSU Extension and how important that work is, not just to agriculture, but to everyday life in Michigan.
“I also learned from the community members themselves: I can drum, I can work as a team (Ubuntu!), I can attempt to name a fish, and I can (happily) eat my weight in chocolate. Seeing this combination of research, community partnership and long-term stewardship will stay with me for a long time and will absolutely guide my future interactions in the classroom, the field and beyond.”
M. Emin Kutay
Professor of civil and environmental engineering, College of Engineering
“We boarded the bus as colleagues unsure of what two days could hold. We returned as something more. In Flint, teachers with threadbare classrooms and immeasurable hearts reminded us that wisdom needs no budget, only courage. In the fields of MSU Extension, the stories of the beans, wheat and sugar beets demonstrated what happens when universities stop talking about communities and start working alongside them. In Frankenmuth, the Bavarian Inn became a stage for possibility. Chocolate is shared freely. Kindness, even more so. And at the river’s edge, a living dinosaur slipped back into the Saginaw — ancient, resilient, still here against all odds — and left a question in its wake: What sediment can we move together?
“At the Flint Farmers’ market, children are learning that nourishment is a form of justice. At MSU’s Charles Stewart Mott Department of Public Health, community was not a mission statement, but a daily practice. We spent two days’ worth of salaries to remember why we earn them. I came back smaller — humbled — and somehow larger, too. Valued. Inspired. Proud. Michigan is not a backdrop to our work. Michigan is the work.”
Michael Burry
Faculty and chairperson of the Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Osteopathic Medicine
“Throughout the tour, I was deeply moved by MSU’s impact on individuals, families and communities across our state. Seeing firsthand how lives are changed through education, outreach, research and service reminded me why our work matters so much. From the beginning, I was repeatedly reminded that we are part of something far greater than ourselves. Throughout the tour, people from completely different parts of campus shared goals, ideas and opportunities to work together. It was a powerful reminder that the strength of MSU lies not only in what we do individually, but in what we can accomplish together.
“I have felt a true renewal through participating in the Spartan Bus Tour — renewal of my sense of pride, hope and commitment to our mission. The experience reinforced that when we collaborate across disciplines and support one another, there is no limit to the positive difference we can make for our students and for the citizens of Michigan. I returned inspired, energized and grateful to be part of the Spartan community.”
Alyssa Ryan
Assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, College of Engineering
“Having not grown up in Michigan, visiting some of the communities MSU serves was a powerful experience for me. Learning about everything from farming sugar beets to the theater scene in Flint at the Capitol Theatre — the range of stops demonstrated for me that being a Spartan is far more than just what happens within East Lansing. I left the tour with a significant appreciation for the people and the work they are doing across the Flint, Bay City, Saginaw and Frankenmuth communities.”
