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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
† Posthumous
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.
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.