Jump to HeaderJump to Main ContentJump to Footer
Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Office of the Provost

Office of the Provost

  • Home
  • |
  • About the Office
    • Meet the Provost
    • Academic and Administrative Units
    • Academic Leadership Postings
  • |
  • Mission and Values
  • |
  • Priorities and Initiatives
    • 1855 Professorships
    • CAL-RCAH Integration Project
    • EDI Center
    • Green and White Initiatives
    • Honorifics
    • MiLEAP Learning Goals Project
    • Modernization of General Education
  • |
  • Academic Resources
    • Civil Discourse FAQs for Faculty
    • Religious Observance Resources
  • |
  • News and Updates
    • Messages from the Office
    • Stories that Define Us
    • Events
  • |
  • Contact
    • Engagement Team
Office of the Provost
  • Home
  • About the Office
  • Mission and Values
  • Priorities and Initiatives
  • Academic Resources
  • News and Updates
  • Contact

< Home

< About the Office

  • Meet the Provost
  • Academic and Administrative Units
  • Academic Leadership Postings

< Mission and Values

< Priorities and Initiatives

  • 1855 Professorships
  • CAL-RCAH Integration Project
  • EDI Center
  • Green and White Initiatives
  • Honorifics
  • MiLEAP Learning Goals Project
  • Modernization of General Education

< Academic Resources

  • Civil Discourse FAQs for Faculty
  • Religious Observance Resources

< News and Updates

  • Messages from the Office
  • Stories that Define Us
  • Events

< Contact

  • Engagement Team

Office of the Provost > Priorities and Initiatives > Honorifics > All University Awards > Distinguished Academic Staff/Specialist >

Cumulative

Cumulative List of Distinguished Academic Staff/Specialist Recipients

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

2026

  • 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 

2025

  • 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

2024

  • 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

2023

  • Dr. Katy Luchini Colbry, Dean's Office, College of Engineering
  • Erica Colón, Human Development and Family Studies, College of Social Science
  • Dr. Bess German, Dean's Office, Honors College
  • Michael Staton, Extension Agriculture and Agribusiness Institute, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

2022

  • Rebecca Finneran - MSU Extension: Agriculture and Agribusiness Institute
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources
  • Lauren Gaines McKenzie - Communication Arts & Science: Dean's Office
  • Jennifer New - Communication Arts & Sciences: Academic and Student Affairs
  • Jody Schulz - MSU Extension: Children & Youth Institute
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources

2021

  • Madeleine Lenski - Human Medicine: Epidemiology and Biostatistics
  • Stanley Moore - MSU Extension: Agriculture & Agribusiness Institute
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources
  • Daniel O'Keefe - MSU Extension: Michigan Sea Grant
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources
  • Cheryl Williams-Hecksel - Social Science: Social Work

2020

  • Diane Doberneck - University Outreach and Engagement
  • James Lucas - Undergraduate Education
  • Steven Pierce - Research and Innovation: Center for Statistical Training and Consulting
  • Brandon Schroeder - MSU Extension: Michigan Sea Grant
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources

2019

  • Karen Kangas-Preston - Arts & Letters: Theatre
  • Jo Latimore - Agriculture and Natural Resources: Fisheries & Wildlife
  • Kendra Moyses - MSU Extension: Children and Youth Institute
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources
  • Mary Wilson - MSU Extension: Agriculture and Agribusiness
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources

2018

  • Jeffrey Judge - James Madison College
  • Philip Schwallier - Agriculture and Natural Resources: Agriculture and Agribusiness, MSU Extension
  • George Silva - Agriculture and Natural Resources: Agriculture and Agribusiness, MSU Extension
  • Lois Wolfson - Agriculture and Natural Resources: Fisheries & Wildlife; Institute of Water Research

2017

  • Jordan Burroughs - Agriculture and Natural Resources: Fisheries & Wildlife, MSU Extension
  • Ann Hoffman - Communication Arts & Sciences: Undergradute Education
  • Terry McLean - Agriculture and Natural Resources: Greening Michigan, MSU Extension
  • Kaillathe Padmanabhan - Natural Science: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

2016

  • Phillip T. Durst - Agriculture and Natural Resources: Agriculture and Agribusiness, MSU Extension
  • Terry L. Gibb - Agriculture and Natural Resources: Greening Michigan, MSU Extension
  • Marolee Neuberger - Human Medicine: Family Medicine
  • Kurt H. Schindler - Agriculture and Natural Resources: Greening Michigan, MSU Extension

2015

  • Lisa A. Bottomley - Agriculture and Natural Resources: Children and Youth Institute MSU Extension
  • Lucy A. Maillette - Broad: Business Dean's Office
  • Steven Poulios - Natural Science: Chemistry
  • Pavel Sikorskii - Natural Science: Mathematics

2014

  • Richard J. Hensh - Natural Science: Mathematics
  • Jill L. O'Donnell - Agriculture and Natural Resources: Agriculture and Agribusiness, MSU Extension
  • Gary L. Parsons - Agriculture and Natural Resources: Entomology
  • Dean R. Solomon - Agriculture and Natural Resources: Extension Greening Michigan, MSU Extension

2013

  • L. Charles Bokemeier - Broad: Business Accounting and Information Systems
  • Debra A. Dotterer - Natural Science: Dean's Office
  • Jane M. Herbert - Agriculture and Natural Resources: MSUE Greening Michigan Institute, MSU Extension
  • Arlene E. Sierra - Osteopathic: Medicine Radiology, Human Medicine

2012

  • Roger A. Betz - MSU Extension: Agriculture and Agribusiness
  • John A. Courtney - Natural Science: Mathematics
  • Hanni Nichols - Lyman Briggs
  • Lela Vandenberg  - MSU Extension: Administration

2011

  • Thomas A. Dudek - MSU Extension Extension: Agriculture and Agribusiness
  • Rex L. LaMore - Outreach and Engagement: Outreach and Engagement Partnerships
  • Michael J. Rich - Engineering: Composite Materials and Structures Center
  • Stephen R. Stewart - MSU Extension: Extension Greening Michigan; Fisheries and Wildlife CES

2010

  • Cynthia B. Mark - MSU Extension: Children, Youth, Families and Communities
  • Howard L. Russell - Agriculture and Natural Resources: Plant Pathology; Institute of Agricultural Technology; Entomology, MSU Extension
  • Michael Score - MSU Extension: Southeast Region
  • Larry T. Zink - Agriculture and Natural Resources: Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics, MSU Extension

2009

  • David L. Epstein - Agriculture and Natural Resources: Entomology
  • Craig J. Gunn - Engineering: Mechanical Engineering
  • Joy Neumann Landis - Agriculture and Natural Resources: Entomology
  • Lynne A. Zelenski - Broad Business: Accounting and Information Systems

2008

  • Merle Heidemann - Natural Science: Science and Mathematics Education
  • David P. Lusch - Social Science: Geography
  • Valerie K. Nilson - Academic Student Services and Multicultural Issues: Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities
  • Steven S. Poindexter - MSU Extension Extension: Southeast Region, Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station

2007

  • Julie A. Chapin - MSU Extension: 4H Youth Development
  • Lynn Forsblom - Social Science: Dean's Office
  • Timothy J. Hinds - Engineering: Mechanical Engineering
  • Sharon Anderson Schwille - Education: Teacher Education

2006

  • Lori Faulkner - Communication Arts and Sciences: Human Environment and Design
  • Cynthia Sarver - Engineering: Chemical Engineering and Materials Science
  • Kathryn Severin - Natural Science: Chemistry
  • Gertrude Sykes - Education: Teacher Education

2005

  • Daniel G. Lee - Engineering: Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Dale R. Mutch - MSU Extension: Southwest Region
  • Anne Schneller - Education: Dean's Office
  • Eileen M. Wilson - Business: Dean's Office

2004

  • Leslie L. Leone - Engineering: Dean's Office
  • Elizabeth C. Moore - MSU Extension: Director's Office
  • Cheryl M. Pell - Communication Arts and Sciences: Journalism
  • Natalie Bement Rector - MSU Extension: Southwest Region

2003

  • Larry A. Hembroff - Social Science: Public Policy and Research
  • Paul Hunter - Natural Science: Chemistry
  • Patricia Lowrie - Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs: Women's Resource Center
  • Veterinary Medicine
  • Susan B. Smalley - MSU Extension: Director's Office

2002

  • Charles Pistis - MSU Extension: West Central Region
  • Marilyn Rudzinski - MSU Extension: Southeast Region

2001

  • Benjamin Bartlett - MSU Extension: Upper Peninsula Region
  • Karen Busch - Osteopathic Medicine: Dean's Office
  • Florence Harris - Assistant Provost for Academic Student Services and Multicultural Issues Supportive Services
  • Ronald Kinnunen - MSU Extension: UP Region/Sea Grant Extension District

2000

  • Thomas V. Atkinson - Natural Science: Chemistry
  • Margaret A. Bethel - MSU Extension: West Central Region
  • Joseph M. Cousins - International Studies and Programs: International Students and Scholars
  • James P. LeCureux - MSU Extension: East Central Region

1999

  • Stella Cash - Human Ecology: Food Science and Human Nutrition
  • Madeline Dodson - Human Medicine Obstetrics: Gynecology and Reproductive Biology
  • Elizabeth Phillips - Natural Science: Mathematics
  • Gary Reid - Communication Arts: Telecommunication

 

 

Resources

  • A to Z Index
  • Find People
  • Maps
  • Email
  • Student Information System (SIS)
  • D2L
  • Libraries
  • Tech Support
  • MSU Misconduct Hotline
  • Social Media Directory
  • Events Calendar
  • For Media

Health and Safety

  • MSU Police and Public Safety
  • Olin Health Center
  • Counseling & Psychiatric Services (CAPS)
  • University Health and Wellbeing
  • MSU Health Care
  • Civil Rights and Title IX
  • Our Commitment
  • Center for Survivors
  • Security & Fire Safety Report
  • University Policy on Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct
  • Notice of Non-Discrimination, Anti-Harassment and Non-Retaliation
  • Health Care Non-Discrimination Notice

Support Services

  • Disability Resources
  • Supportive Services
  • Learning Resources

Working at MSU

  • Human Resources
  • EBS Login
  • Job Postings
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • WorkLife Office

Contact us

(517) 355-6550

Address

Michigan State University 426 Auditorium Road East Lansing, MI 48824

Follow Us

  • Visit our Facebook page
  • Visit our page on X
  • Visit our Instagram page
  • Visit our LinkedIn page
  • Visit our YouTube page

If you're having accessibility issues, please let us know.

Know More: Campus Safety Information and ResourcesTransparency Reporting: Budget & Salary/Compensation
  • Contact Information|
  • Site Map|
  • Privacy Statement|
  • Site Accessibility|
  • Call MSU: (517) 355-1855|
  • Visit: msu.edu|
  • Notice of Nondiscrimination|

SPARTANS WILL|© Michigan State University|