Kendra Pyle
Master's (MS, MA, MFA, MPH, MSW) Student Social Work

“Kendra, thank you so much for all that you do, we appreciate you! Your passion and expertise in DEI in NatSci and at MSU are valued. Thank you for always being willing to answers questions and making sure that all voices are represented and listened to. Additionally, thank you for seeking justice and taking action when needed.”

By Danielle Flores Lopez

Ittaty Aguilar-Guzmán
Master's (MS, MA, MFA, MPH, MSW) Student College If Osteopathic Medicine

“Always striving towards success despite setbacks. ”

Corbin Standley
Doctoral Student

“Corbin is one of the most impactful graduate student scholars I have ever met. His research on suicide has already lead to important changes that help protect every student in the state of Michigan! As the Director of Strategic Program Planning for Project 2025 at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, he is expanding his impact nationwide. I know that one day, his work will have positively changed the entire world.”

By NiCole Buchanan

Mallet Reid
Doctoral Student Psychology

“There are so many positive things I could say about Mallet. Not only is he a thoughtful scholar that strives to do research that creates a more equitable world for those who are disenfranchised and dedicates his time to empowering others. He is an incredibly gracious and kind soul-I feel like I learn how to be a better human every time we meet. ”

By NiCole Buchanan

Yongqing Ye
Doctoral Student Linguistics, Languages, and Cultuers

“Yongqing is doing a terrific job of mentoring the undergraduate researchers in the Sociolinguistics Lab! This has relieved some of the administrative burden for me. Just this morning, she proactively contacted all of the undergraduates with reminders, concrete tips, and an offer to meet with UURAF presenters individually. But more importantly, I feel satisfaction with (and admiration for) Yongqing's prompt, constructive, and compassionate approach to research advising. ”

By Suzanne Wagner

Jack Rechsteiner
Master's (MS, MA, MFA, MPH, MSW) Student Linguistics, Languages, and Cultures

“Jack is the foundational rock of the Sociolinguistics Lab. Whatever needs to be done, Jack has already thought of it, and they've executed the task in a thoughtful, ethical, and professional way. Jack supervises multiple undergraduate workers across diverse domains (transcription, coding, social media/PR, community outreach) and has also mentored about 6 undergraduate researchers in the last year. Jack is also helping to run the department's communications this year, and doing a great job of it too. They're moving on to a PhD elsewhere in the fall, and we'll miss them enormously! ”

By Suzanne Wagner

Samara Chamoun
Doctoral Student Mathematics

“Samara is a very dedicated educator and the kindest person you will ever meet. She cares deeply about teaching and student success. Not only does she teach her students mathematical concepts, but she also wants to remove barriers that hinder their success. Samara is one of those graduate students who will not hesitate to offer her time to also help fellow GTAs, and she volunteered her time in listening sessions in the aftermath of the campus tragedy. Samara teaches with compassion and recognizes that kindness goes a long way. Thank you, Samara for bringing the best out of everyone!”

Gloria Ashaolu
Doctoral Student History

“Anyone who has met Gloria immediately notices her warmth and gentle presence. Not only is she extremely dedicated to her studies, but also to her students’ success. She contributes as a steering committee and subcommittee member to the AGEP community, GTA Teaching Learning Community, and many other spaces. She is an advocate for graduate student success and well-being and helps shape the graduate student experience with all she does in all her spheres of influence. Gloria makes this world a better place with her reflective and introspective nature, and anyone who meets her is truly transformed. Thank you, Gloria! ”

Sierra Bauman
Master's (MS, MA, MFA, MPH, MSW) Student CeLTA/CLS

“Sierra is a Graduate Research Assistant with the Community Language School. In this capacity, Sierra has mentored many of our undergraduate language instructors and has assisted with many of the day to day activities for our department. She has a keen eye for details and the ability to analyze complicated situations. We have been so thankful to have had Sierra for these past two years and wish her the best of luck as she pursues her teaching career! Thank you, Sierra!”

Yashasvi Chauhan
Master's (MS, MA, MFA, MPH, MSW) Student OISS

“As a GA in OISS, Yashasvi has reenergized the student organization funding process in OISS. She has worked with many organizations to plan and implement their events and secure funding from OISS. In addition, Yashasvi is always willing to help out with various OISS events and initiatives. Everyone in OISS greatly appreciates her work and her professionalism!”

By Krista McCallum Beatty

Mallet Reid
Doctoral Student Community Psychology

“Mallet Reid has been an integral part of teaching and supporting undergrads through the Adolescent Diversion Program -- he makes a life-changing impact on students and youth in the community!”

By Cris Sullivan

OliverSchool Gomez
Master's (MS, MA, MFA, MPH, MSW) Student School of Planning, Design and Construction

“Oliver thank you for helping to move the Extension Sustainable Living Series curriculum forward. Your curriculum review, assistance with transcriptions of class videos and comparative market analysis for this Extension program have been very helpful to the curriculum development team. . . Thank you!”

By Marie Ruemenapp

Shruti Nahar
Master's (MS, MA, MFA, MPH, MSW) Student SPDC

“Shruti is hard working, always cheery, thoughtful, and curious. Our conversations about facilitation, learning, and culture have enriched my professional AND personal life. It has been a joy and privilege to work alongside, Shruti, and watch her grow professionally in our work together. She is graduating this semester and I will miss her, but know that she will continue to make great contributions as she moves ahead.”

By Holly Madill

Clara Graucob
Doctoral Student OISS

“Clara is a strong advocate for graduate international students and has been the driving force behind targeted orientation for new international graduate students. Through her work in OISS, Clara has helped hundreds of new international graduate students in their transition to MSU. She is a great colleague and a highly respected member of the OISS team!”

By Krista McCallum Beatty

Jon Howard
Doctoral Student Mechanical Engineering

“Jon has made tremendous contributions to the College of Engineering, from running our summer undergraduate research program to serving as an Engineering Leadership Fellow and working to recruit and encourage MSU students to consider graduate studies. In addition to his technical expertise (including graduate degrees in multiple fields), Jon has the communication, teamwork and leadership skills so essential to personal and professional success. I am grateful for his input and assistance in making our graduate community more welcoming for everyone!”

By Katy Colbry

Uswa Memon
Master's (MS, MA, MFA, MPH, MSW) Student OISS

“Uswa plays a key role in the work OISS does to support international students and their families. She provides friendly, professional support in so many ways - meeting with students individually, connecting with students during OISS events, planning and implementing events for international students and their families. The work Uswa does has made a positive impact on many, many international students and their families. She is a great colleague and a talented professional!”

By Krista McCallum Beatty

Graham Diedrich
Master's (MS, MA, MFA, MPH, MSW) Student Forestry

“Thank you, Graham Diedrich, for your outstanding work on the FCCP Forest + Climate State Policy Initiative. We are consistently impressed by your dedication, attention to detail, and discipline. Your ability to communicate your findings clearly, concisely, and swiftly is remarkable. We don’t have to think twice about you preparing for and leading meetings with our external partners and stakeholders because we know you’ll excel. Thank you for being an excellent example of what it means to be a truly exceptional graduate student researcher. ”

By Kathryn Maloney

Serena Lorteck
Doctoral Student Plant Biology

“Serena went above and beyond this semester as the graduate student TA in the CMSE495 Capstone course. This is a difficult course to teach and requires lots of flexibility from all the instructors, even under the best of circumstances. This semester has been particularly difficult due to campus events and then I was away from class unexpectedly for more than two weeks. Serena jumped in and took charge, guiding the students in their projects for community partners and teaching while I was absent. Serena is a dedicated, caring teacher and has an amazing ability to connect with students - we are all lucky to have her at MSU. ”

By Dirk Colbry

Andrés Galindo
Doctoral Student Mathematics

“I want to thank Andrés for giving to La Comunidad Latina so much of his time and love. He is an incredible person that knows exactly how to gather latinos together and make everyone feel like home. On top of that he is a very good mathematician, I mean, he is about to start doing research with one of the best of the world!. He is graduating this year and I cannot believe the legacy that he has left us. We love you Andrés! Thank you for everything!.”

By Melina Jimenez

Nick Chargo
DO/PhD student Student Physiology PhD/COM DO program

“Nick Chargo is an outstanding DO/PhD graduate student! His enthusiasm and dedication to solving research problems, and his thoughtfulness in training others, make him a leader in the laboratory. We like that he is always available to talk about science! It is no wonder that his project is uncovering new and important clinically relevant knowledge related to gut-bone signaling. We appreciate all that he does!! Thank you Nick!!!!”

By Laura McCabe

Hannah Carlson
Master's (MS, MA, MFA, MPH, MSW) Student CMIB

“Thank you so much for being an incredible unstoppable force in our lab. You are tenacious and driven and your hard work shows. Managing fieldwork, labwork, data analysis, classwork, and management of undergrads would be a daunting task for anyone else, but you do it flawlessly. Thank you for all that you do! ”

Rania Lachhab
Doctoral Student Agriculture, Food, and Resource Economics

“Rania is smart, analytical, and always thinking - this makes her an incredible researcher. She is kind, fair, and funny - this makes her an amazing friend. The people at AFRE are so lucky to have her!!”

By Thomas Keene

Goheth Motamarri
Master's (MS, MA, MFA, MPH, MSW) Student Packaging

“Thank you for your steadfast commitment to your research. It has been my pleasure to have the opportunity to work with you. You've accomplished so much in such a short time. I cannot wait to see how the world utilizes the innovations that you are bringing forward. ”

By Laura Bix

Shashank Neralla
Master's (MS, MA, MFA, MPH, MSW) Student Packaging

“So happy to have you exploring the use of technology in healthcare markets. The work that you are doing not only provides an important foundation for your own research, but will likely be foundation to many up and coming students. Theses which teach me new things are my favorite kind and I am looking forward to learning from your hard work. ”

By Laura Bix

Samuel Ofosu
Doctoral Student Packaging

“During Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation week, I would like to take a moment to formally welcome you to the Packaging HUB. We are so excited that you will be joining us this fall and adding your unique skills, perspectives and voice to our team. Go Green! Looking forward to seeing you in the Fall”

By Laura Bix

Alonda Johnson
Doctoral Student Packaging

“During Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation week, I would like to take a moment to formally welcome you to the Packaging HUB. We are so excited that you will be joining us this fall and adding your unique skills, perspectives and voice to our team. Go Green!”

By Laura Bix

Emily Bolger
Doctoral Student CMSE

“Emily was assigned to be my peer-mentor when I joined MSU. Ever since I talked to her for the first time, she has been an invaluable support. As an international student, many obvious aspects of American life are difficult to navigate in the beginning. I've sought her help multiple times and not even once she has turned me down. I'm thankful for her support, encouragement and advices. It's really reassuring to know that someone has my back. ”

Krishnaa Venkatesan
Doctoral Student Packaging

“Thank you for always being a positive senior member of our team. Your mentoring of others, willingness to engage in multiple opportunities and thoughtful kindness is appreciated ”

By Laura Bix

Kelsey Wagner
Doctoral Student Anthropology

“Kelsey, Thank you so much for your support over the years. Your creative spirit is inspiring to myself and others, and I wish you luck in all of your future projects!”

By Ashley Cerku

Qianlin Chen
Doctoral Student Department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences

“I want to thank Qianlin for his contributions to GEO206. Qianlin is always willing to help, and I appreciate the role of his efforts in his students' success.”

By Juliegh Bookout

Henry Gonzalez
Doctoral Student Department of Horticulture

“I am thankful for Henry since he is the best housemate I have ever had at MSU! He is pretty smart and know all about plants and (he is also your go to guy on how to get a fellowship). Thanks for introducing me to the world of Pupuzas ! ”

By Andres Felipe Galindo Olarte

Salomon Rodezno
Professional Student (MD, DVM, MSN, MBA, JD, etc) Student Bailey Scholars Program (ANR-210)

“Salomon Rodezno is an exceptional graduate. He has the characteristics of person who is humble yet dominant such as a leader would. Salo has always been a mentor for me and looked out for my well-being which is only scratching the surface towards why I would like to thank him. He's the kind of rare people you wouldn't find and truly it's been a really great semester being in the same room as him. Salo's compassion and leadership has brought our class closer together than I thought was possible. Furthermore, I thank him for all of his efforts and acts of kindness he's displayed towards me and the class.”

By Fidel Marquez

Salo Rodezno
Master's (MS, MA, MFA, MPH, MSW) Student Bailey Scholar

“He is all around a great person. As well as puts in his all to help and comfort others. Salos the best!!!”

By Ismael Jaber

Salo Rodezno
Master's (MS, MA, MFA, MPH, MSW) Student Educational Administration

“Salo is beyond outstanding. As a student you come across teachers who genuinely care in way that is greater than just taking time to teach, but time to learn. Salo genuinely cares to learn about each of his students and it shows from his language, actions, and consistent smile and good mood. Salo has an inate ability to make you feel comfortable, loved, seen, and most importantly heard. There are countless sidebar conversations he has because he immediately knows when something is off. There aren't enough good words to describe his impact on all of us!”

By Francisco Hernandez

Pei-Jyun Lu
Doctoral Student Agriculture, Food, and Resource Economics

“Pei-Jyun has brought in the Golden Age of AFRE Grad Brown Bags! AFRE is so lucky to have her as a dedicated researcher, Brown Bag chair, and microwave expert.”

By Thomas Keene

Mihiravi Gunasekara
Doctoral Student Chemistry

“Mihiravi was my mentor for a month when I joined Hong Lab in Summer 2020. She was very polite and really helped me in understanding the lab environment and chemistry we do. She is graduating this summers and I want to tell her that i’ll really miss her. My best wishes for her future life.”

By Saba kanwal

Connor Eichenhauer
Doctoral Student Psychology

“Big thanks to Connor for such great work organizing and getting our new student recruitment visits to run smoothly!”

Jo Jo
Doctoral Student Psychology

“Thanks to Jo for being a kind and supportive presence in the office and program--you're a positive force for program culture!”

Rachael Pyram
Doctoral Student Psychology

“Thanks to Rachael for all of her great and extrarole positive efforts in support of keeping the program running! You are an instrumental part of the program and you have good jokes!”

Kailey Miller
Doctoral Student Plant Soil and Microbial Sciences

“Kailey Miller - A dedicated, heavy-hearted student, colleague, and friend. In graduate school, you need to surround yourself with someone like that. She takes time out of her day to be a part of extracurricular activities (Association of crop and soil sciences), research on the weekends, and actively support the people around her. She is an amazing individual who impacts people around her daily. ”

Natasha Sloniker
Doctoral Student FSHN

“She has had a beautiful influence on the whole department. I have always smiled after having a conversation with her. Her courage, strength, and positive energy always radiate from her. I have been very fortunate to see her grow as a person in her graduate program. ”

Manoj Rana
Doctoral Student Chemistry

“Manoj is one of the nicest person I know in MSU. He is helping, funny, and have got brains. I can talk to him about work, life and bla bla bla for hours and won’t get bored. During my coursework and comprehensive exam, he helped me alot whenever I had difficulty in understanding science. He is and will always be my Gooooooood friend in States. I’m happy to have him in my worklife. Thank you Manoj for being such a wonderful person and friend. God bless you!! ”

Emily Gerkin
Doctoral Student Psychology

“Thanks to Emily for joining our program as a transfer student and immediately having such a positive and welcome impact on the culture with her supportive and positive presence! MSU is so lucky to get to have Emily with us now! ”

Saba Kanwal
Doctoral Student Chemistry

“Saba and I knew each other in August 2020 when she joined our lab. We first met on Zoom. In the beginning, I was impressed by the sweet smile on her face and her positive attitude toward life. When we worked together in person for the following two and half years, I know she never hesitated to provide help and encouragement to everyone. We didn't have too much long conversations every day, but I believe she's doing great in balancing work and life.”

By Jiaqi Yao

Saba Kanwal
Doctoral Student Chemistry

“Saba joined our lab nearly three years ago. Since then, she has been a wonderful friend and colleague to me. Saba is a cheerful, kind, and positive-thinking person who never hesitates to offer encouraging words to anyone in need. I wish her the best in all of her future endeavors.”

Ashley Fabry
Doctoral Student Program in Mathematics Education

“Ashley, thank you for serving as the PRIME GSO Secretary this year, as a student mentor, and for all you do to promote community at MSU! We appreciate you!”

Sarah Kuang
Doctoral Student Psychology

“Thank you to Sarah for always being so open and kind! It is always a better day when Sarah happens to be around in the office! And of course, thank you to her years of incredible generosity with her snacks!”

Brian Brutzman
Doctoral Student Psychology

“Thank you Brian for always going the extra mile in your research assistantship on the Wallace funded project on research use! You are an invaluable collaborator on our research team! ”

By Jennifer Watling Neal

Mariah Purol
Doctoral Student Psychology

“Mariah has been such a delight to have in lab and has enriched our department in so many ways. Through nearly everything she does--teaching, research, mentoring--she does so with an uplifting attitude that makes the people around her better. Our lab, department, and MSU are better for having her here!”

By William Chopik

Riley Pizza
Doctoral Student Plant Biology

“Riley is such a strong leader in our department and deserves to be recognized for their efforts. They helped tremendously recently in planning our recruitment events, ensuring that all of visiting recruits were well taken care of, and had all questions answered about our department. I am thankful for Riley's hard work and determination to continue bettering our program and department.”

Alicia Matthews-Johnson
Doctoral Student Program in Mathematics Education

“Alicia, thank you for your teaching this year, especially with all of the difficult circumstances. Also, many thanks for all of your time and help with community building, for stopping by to say hi to us, and for your service in the program as a student ambassador for recruiting and admissions. You are greatly appreciated! ”

Sunyoung Park
Doctoral Student Program in Mathematics Education

“Sunyoung, thank you for your time serving as Student Ambassador for our prospective students this year, as a student mentor to prospective students, and for all of your time and efforts with our prospective student recruiting visit! We appreciate you!”

Sarah Wright
Doctoral Student Biomedical engineering

“Sarah is incredibly hardworking, she is receiving both a Masters in Mechanical Engineering and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering. She has such grace in the things she does while constantly inspiring and supporting everyone around her. She is an amazing friend who has impacted me greatly and I'm very lucky to learn and grow with her in graduate school. ”

Katie Westby
Doctoral Student Program in Mathematics Education

“Katie, thank you for all of your time and efforts with the doctoral program - mentoring current and prospective students, leading PRIME Time, sharing of your time and talents, and always stopping by to say hello and share the latest cute family baby photos. We appreciate you!”

Maya Wilson Brown
Doctoral Student Plant Biology

“Maya is such a bright light in our department! She is incredibly positive and joyful. Maya deserves to be recognized for her positive attitude. She also was a huge help in our recent recruitment events! Maya put in so much effort in planning logistics and organizing current graduate student help. I am thankful for Maya's attitude and efforts in bettering our department!”

Manoj Rana
Doctoral Student Chemistry

“I knew Manoj in 2018 right before he joined our group. He's very friendly and has a great sense of humor. Although we don't have long conversations every day, talking with him is really relaxing. His hardworking also inspires me. Being a TA with an intense schedule already, Manoj still puts great effort into training undergraduates who joined our lab recently. He never hesitated to offer support and encouragement to us. I would like to thank him for being supportive and nice.”

Sabrina Zarza
Doctoral Student Program in Mathematics Education

“Sabrina, thank you for your time serving on the Colloquium Committee, as a student mentor to two prospective students, and for all of your time and efforts with our prospective student recruiting visit! You bring warmth, welcome, and sunshine to the unit! We appreciate you!”

Brady Tyburski
Doctoral Student Program in Mathematics Education

“Brady, thank you for all of your time with graduate students: serving as President (and earlier, Secretary) of the PRIME GSO, organizing and leading the PRIME Time for first and second year doctoral students, co-leading MLRG, serving on COGS, and as a student mentor to prospective and current students, and for all of your time and efforts with the doctoral program and MSU! You always stop by to say hello share a kind word with us! We greatly appreciate you! ”

Sophie Buysse
Doctoral Student Plant Biology

“Sophie is the most resilient graduate student I have ever encountered. Despite facing several academic setbacks this year, she has pushed through and made tremendous progress while also making time to support her friends and labmates. She is always someone I reach out to for advice, and I am grateful to have her support here at MSU.”

Asia Hightower
Doctoral Student Plant Biology

“Asia is a tremendous force of change at MSU, especially in the PLB department. Behind the scenes, she is working tirelessly to create policy changes and strategies to ensure graduate students have a positive experience here at MSU. She is a fearless leader, phenomenal mentor, and an overall outstanding graduate student.”

By Riley Pizza

Jane Zimmerman
Doctoral Student Program in Mathematics Education

“Jane, thank you for your time and efforts in the math ed doctoral program! You are an inspiration to all pursuing a PhD while teaching full time and conducting research! Thanks also for taking the time out of your busy schedule to mentor a prospective student (and hopefully incoming student!) this year!”

Eric Abaidoo
Doctoral Student Agricultural, food, and resource economics

“Eric has made such a large positive impact on our ANR 410 class. He is a consistent calming presence and has been able to foster positive cooperation, comradery, and effective discussion. Eric also has been able to provide invaluable insight during our coursework and helps to provide unique perspectives that always enrich the classroom experience.”

Elizabeth McCormick
Master's (MS, MA, MFA, MPH, MSW) Student CS Mott Department of Public Health

“I am extremely thankful to Liz McCormick who has been my GTA for the past two semesters in our online MPH Program. In addition to all she does to support me, she has been incredibly supportive of our students. Following the mass shooting in February, she sent a heartfelt email to students in the class acknowledging our collective grief. One student replied, “Your note helped me to tell myself that I was and am allowed to grieve in any way I needed to because this is my community regardless of my physical location." Thank you Liz for your professionalism and kindness!”

By Connie Currier

Teresa Ng
Doctoral Student Nursing

“Teresa is wonderful to work with! She always gives 100% whether that be academically, professionally, or personally. Teresa goes out of her way to make others feel included, valued, and supported. Bringing food to meetings, offering rides to fellow students, and volunteering to participate in events are just a few if the MANY things we appreciate about Teresa!”

By Kristy Griswold

Muna Alali
Doctoral Student NUR

“I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Muna Alali! She consistently produces high-quality work. She takes the initiative to learn whatever she does not know well. She works very hard to satisfactorily achieve all goals she sets for herself. I have always been impressed with her level of commitment to successfully complete the program. She will be an asset to any organization in the future. ”

By Lorraine B. Robbins

Harlow Lochramirez
Doctoral Student Accounting

“Harlow has went above and beyond for our ANR 410 class during what has been the hardest semester to be a student at MSU. She is consistently thinking about ways to improve discussion, ensure everyone is included, and connecting on an individual level with each student in our class. She has been a bright spot in an otherwise dark semester.”

Guanglong Pang
Doctoral Student Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education

“Guanglong was a convener of my ANR310 class and added so much to my learning experience. He always asked thoughtful questions, brought a contagious positive attitude, and contributed to an atmosphere that pushed us to do our best. ”

By Hope Thome

Amy Slotten
Doctoral Student College of Nursing

“Amy Slotten brought years of knowledge and experience as a registered nurse to the Doctorate of Nursing Practice program in the College of Nursing at MSU. While she was pursuing her terminal degree she served in a graduate student role on the Faculty Practice Committee and the Michigan Council of Nurse Practitioners Student Chapter as treasurer, secretary, and in whatever other role that needed her organization and time management skills. She is well known in her role as a certified lactation consultant and has helped many women pursue their dream of being able to breast feed their babies in a healthy manner. I know Amy is going to serve her patient population with compassion and evidence-based knowledge in her future role as a family nurse practitioner. Best Wishes! ”

By Linda J Keilman

Hannah Larrabee-Walcutt
Master's (MS, MA, MFA, MPH, MSW) Student Office of Admissions

“In less than a semester, Hannah has become an invaluable member of our Admissions team. She helps out in virtually every aspect of our work (presentations, meeting with families, programming, strategy, etc.) and brings an incredible enthusiasm to both her work and her studies!”

By Terence Brown

Lauren Adams
Doctoral Student College of Nursing

“When Lauren interviewed for the nurse practitioner Doctorate in Nursing practice program in the College of Nursing, she left a positive impression with the faculty interviewers. Her poise, professionalism, motivation, and passion for nursing of older adults were clear and concise. During her time earning her degree she has exhibited resilience, innovation, and excellence and even had time to plan a beautiful wedding! Lauren is going to be an incredible older adult advocate and serve her community with care and compassion. I am looking forward to Lauren being my nurse practitioner colleague! LJK ”

Chastity Stokes
Doctoral Student Higher, Adult & Lifelong Education

“Chastity, thank you so much for all the work you do for us at the NIFS office! You are excellent at representing NIFS and your dedication allows our office to be successful. So many students at MSU have learned about great opportunities because of you. We really enjoy working with you. -- Kristin and Gabriel”

By Dr. Kristin Janka

Asia Hightower
Doctoral Student Plant Biology

“Thank you for being a fierce supporter of graduate students! Asia has spent many hours advocating for graduate students rights through fellowships and committee work while working on multiple research projects. I appreciate your support!”

Justin St Charles
Doctoral Student Neighborhood Student Success Collaborative (NSSC), CoE HALE program

“Justin and I are in the same cohort in the College of Education, HALE doctoral program. He is one of the positive lights I follow during my doctoral studies. Justin genuinely cares for his fellow classmates and often encourages them to do better and strive. He is patient and never gets tired of answering questions. Even though we are not in class together anymore, I often hear his encouraging words, "you can do it," "WE DID IT!!!" when I doubt myself and struggle. Justin might not be aware of this, but he is an inspiration on how to be a better human and overcome struggles. ”

By Aybige Kocas

Emilia Zamora
Professional Student (MD, DVM, MSN, MBA, JD, etc) Student Broad MBA

“Thank you for supporting SRGs and providing great insight in class! Being your classmate has been fruitful. ”

Clive Akhalumenyo
Professional Student (MD, DVM, MSN, MBA, JD, etc) Student Broad MBA

“Thank you for being a great person and always being there for me! Your hard work and dedication to your legacy is unmatched. Nothing can stand in your way. ”

Clara Graucob
Doctoral Student Department of Fisheries and Wildlife & Environmental Science and Policy Program

“Clara is an integral part of the OISS team. As our logistics specialist, Clara is always on top of the finer details needed to make the engagement activities of our office a success. She has overseen a major program redesign that has improved the function of our office but also the experiences of other students. ”

Carly Gomez
Doctoral Student Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

“Carly has such a great can-do attitude and an unbreakable work ethic. She drives two hours just to be on campus, yet she always makes it work!”

Miles Roberts
Doctoral Student Genetics and Genome Sciences

“Miles is so well-prepared for any situation that comes his way, and that's on purpose! He gives 100% to the projects he's involved in. His cheerful and friendly personality also just light up any room he's in.”

Beau Zhang
Doctoral Student Psychology

“I want to thank Beau for his work as a teaching assistant for PSY 302. He has gone beyond the normal duty to helping students learn in this class, e.g., by holding additional out-of-class recitation sessions. His dedication to student learning is exemplary.”

By Taosheng Liu

Hesam Varpaei
Doctoral Student NUR

“I would like to thank Hesam Varpaei for his high level of motivation and commitment to achieve various outcomes in the PhD in Nursing program. He is highly productive and always interested in learning. When he attends a presentation, he pays close attention to the information and usually asks the presenter several thought-provoking questions. He has worked with a few honor students to analyze some data and help them with developing their abstracts and poster presentations. ”

By Lorraine B. Robbins

Elle Wernette
Doctoral Student Psychology

“I'd like to submit two entries: Congratulations to Elle Wernette on getting her first paper accepted at Psychonomic Bulletin & Review!! Congratulations to Dr. Elle Wernette on successfully defending her dissertation! This is very interesting and important work and it has been an absolute pleasure working with Elle throughout this process!”

By Kimberly Fenn

Melina Jimenez Deniz
Doctoral Student Mathematics

“Since Melina arrived to the math department I finally that colleague that I missed. Being one of the few latino students in a math department could be a bit isolating, but now I have someone who I can speak in my own language and ask her about all the math ideas sanity checks that I frequently need ! Melina your presence in the math department brings lots of happiness to everyone. I am thankful for you being here. Te amo.”

By Andres Felipe Galindo Olarte

Erik Amezquita Morataya
Doctoral Student CMSE

“Erik is one of the greatest friends that I have made him at MSU, he always takes the time to write a postcard for me everytime he travels, and he gives the coolest Applited Topology talks that I have ever seen. I am thankful for your friendship and advice! ”

By Andres Felipe Galindo Olarte

Declan McClintock
Doctoral Student Computer Science

“Declan is a phenomenal graduate student. He is constantly working hard to help others learn and better their education. Nearly always being available and contributing to the community in any way he can, he is both an amazing friend, and a great teacher. I look forward to seeing him do amazing things in the future.”

By David Levy Khankin

Toni Smith
Doctoral Student Psychology

“Thank you for all that you do. You are an excellent mentor and role model for the undergraduate students in the lab.”

By Devin McAuley

Declan McClintock
Doctoral Student Computer Science & Engineering

“Declan is the single most impactful graduate student I've met during my time at Michigan State University. For years, he has gone above and beyond acting as just my instructor throughout the Game Design & Development minor, becoming my friend as well. He always has a positive attitude and is eager to help in whatever way he can both inside and outside of class - whether that's teaching me how to code in C#, or cheering me up when I've had a rough week. Thank you Declan for all you've done. My time at MSU wouldn't be the same without you!”

By Christopher Cardimen

Emily Roman
Master's (MS, MA, MFA, MPH, MSW) Student Musicology

“In her first year at MSU, Emily has proven to be one of the most conscientious and committed graduate teaching assistants our area has seen, especially given the challenges of this semester and the large number of students in our IAH course. I have appreciated her attention to detail and her commitment to undergraduate student success. She deeply cares about our students, about their learning, and about developing her own strengths and best practices as a teacher of musicology.”

By Joanna Bosse

Salo Rodezno
Doctoral Student Education

“Salo has always made a conscious effort to stimulate conversation amongst amongst his peers. Instead of being eager to contribute his thoughts and spewing them from his mouth when it's his time to share. Salo can often be found with his fingers pressed against his chin, in a state of thought. This posture is soon followed by a, slow, well-thought response that brings together countless perspectives previously mentioned by peers, while also questioning different aspects of these ideas in a way that opens pathways into deeper discussions. This in combination with Salo's commitment to ensuring the emotional and well-being of those around him, makes him a model of understanding and stimulation through any discussion or other interaction one is fortunate enough to have with him. ”

Alexandra Vazquez
Doctoral Student Psychology

“I am so proud of all of Alex's hard work and amazing successes!! Over the last 4 or so years, she has been awarded an NSF GRFP AND an NIH-F31. She has published several papers, co-chairs the Diversity Science group in the Clinical Science area, and is blazing new trails in her work on the development of resilience to disadvantage. Just amazing!!”

By Alex Burt

Sarah Carroll
Doctoral Student Psychology

“Sarah's deep love of science has made her such a wonderful trainee to mentor. She loves the work she does and it shows! She publishes multiple papers a year and has been awarded an NIH F31 and a University Fellowship. I'm very proud of all Sarah has accomplished!”

By Alex Burt