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  • MI-ACE Women's Network Annual Conference
  • Modernization of General Education

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Michigan State University
Office of the Provost

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>
Priorities and Initiatives >
Honorifics >
All-University Awards >

2025-2026 All-University Award Recipients

2025-2026 Awards

Michigan State University recognized the outstanding work of 37 faculty, administrators, academic staff and graduate assistants. They were celebrated during an awards ceremony on April 7, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. at the Breslin Center Hall of History.

Awards Booklet (PDF)

 

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.

  • Thomas Berding, College of Arts and Letters, Art, Art History and Design
  • Laura Chomiuk, College of Natural Science, Physics and Astronomy
  • Sean Crosson, College of Natural Science and College of Veterinary Medicine, Microbiology, Genetics, and Immunology
  • Kevin Elliott, Lyman Briggs College, Fisheries and Wildlife
  • Songqing Jin, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics
  • Mary Juzwik, College of Education, Teacher Education
  • Lisa Linnenbrink-Garcia, College of Education, Counseling, Educational Psychology and Special Education
  • Yadu Pokhrel, College of Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Stephanie Watts, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Pharmacology and Toxicology
  • Elise Zipkin, College of Natural Science, Integrative Biology 

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.

  • Alexandra Allweiss, College of Education, Teacher Education
  • Vivian Aranda-Hughes, College of Social Science, Criminal Justice
  • Jean Hardy, College of Communication Arts and Sciences, Media and Information
  • Thea Knowles, College of Communication Arts and Sciences, Communicative Sciences and Disorders
  • Justin Simard, College of Law   
  • Caroline Szczepanski, College of Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science 

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.

  • Bindu Bhakta, MSU Extension, Community, Food and Environment Institute
  • Michael Everett, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Community Sustainability
  • Maddalena Fanelli, College of Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science
  • Rebecca Henne, MSU Extension, Institute of Health and Nutrition 

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.

  • Elena Ruíz, Department of Philosophy, College of Arts and Letters;  
    • Partnered with: Sara’s House (Geneva Jackson) and W.H.E.A.T. (Melvenna Fant-Jones) 

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.

  • Anara Akhmetova, College of Education, Teacher Education
  • Sarah Griffes, College of Social Science, Human Development and Family Studies
  • Jong In Lim, College of Communication Arts and Sciences, Communication
  • Jessica Pettengill, College of Communication Arts and Sciences, Journalism
  • E. Woo, College of Education, Teacher Education
  • Alex Zajdel, College of Music, Double Bass 

President's Distinguished Teaching Award

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

  • Gabe Ording, College of Natural Science, Integrative Studies in General Science; College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Entomology 

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 inclusive excellence.

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).

  • Monique Mitchell Turner, College of Communication Arts and Sciences, Communication 

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 Robert 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.

  • Marilyn Amey †, Office of the Provost, Faculty and Academic Staff Affairs
  • Andrew Corner, College of Communication Arts and Sciences, Advertising and Public Relations

 † Posthumous

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.

  • Sarah Prior, College of Social Science, Sociology 

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.

  • Dave Dewitt, College of Natural Science, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
  • Steve Pueppke, International Studies and Programs, Asia Hub
  • Mike Scott, College of Veterinary Medicine, Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation
  • Jyotsna Singh, College of Arts and Letters, English
  • Scott Winterstein, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Fisheries and Wildlife 

 

 

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