Thank a Graduate Student

Thursday, April 9, 2020

Dee JordanDee Jordan
Doctoral student in Geography, Environment & Spatial Sciences

"Dee Jordan has a demonstrated record service and dedication to improving diversity, equity and inclusion within the Department of Geography Environment and Spatial Science, the discipline of Geography, and the MSU community. She is the founder and current co-leader of the Advancing Geography Through Diversity Program (AGTDP), an innovative program focused on addressing the underrepresentation of African American, Hispanic American and Native American scholars in the graduate program in the Department of Geography and transforming the demographic landscape of the discipline of geography. For her capacity building efforts towards departmental and disciplinary diversity and inclusion, Dee was recognized by the discipline of Geography as the 2020 Association of American Geographers Enhancing Diversity Award recipient, becoming the first graduate student to receive this honor. As a result of her noteworthy contributions towards campus culture and climate advocacy, Dee was named the 2019 recipient of a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Endowed Scholarship, a Council of Graduate Students (COGS) Disciplinary Leadership Award, and the E. James Potchen Award for Outstanding Graduate Student of the Year in Geography. In 2018, for her dedication to intentional leadership, cross-community caring and creating inclusive spaces Dee was recognized by MSU as the Excellence in Diversity Award Individual Emerging Progress recipient and the Black Faculty Staff and Administrators Association's Graduate Student Emerging Leader. Dee is the graduate student representative for the College of Social Science Dean's Advisory Board for Diversity and Inclusion serving multiple concurrent terms. She is an active member of the Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) learning community, which supports the retention and graduation of underrepresented minorities in graduate programs. Dee has served as a Graduate Student Facilitator for the Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP), which seeks to expose underrepresented minority undergraduates to research and graduate education. Several of Dee's SROP mentees have applied and been accepted to MSU for graduate school in various programs. She has been actively involved in student government at Michigan State, serving two terms on the Council of Graduate Students from 2015-2017, becoming the first African American woman elected to the Executive Board and the first African American to serve as President. In 2016, during the Department of Student Life’s All University Awards ceremony, Dee was selected as Michigan State University’s Graduate Student Leader of the Year. Since her arrival in 2014, Dee has been a change agent for her department and discipline and has an exemplary record of service campus-wide towards increasing minority participation, supporting marginalized groups serving as a mentor to graduate and undergraduate students. For her leadership, service, scholarship, character and advocacy, Dee was selected as an inaugural inductee to Michigan State University’s Chapter of the Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society. I thank you for your many contributions Dee."

Dee, we are grateful for you!

Dee is being recognized by Joe Darden


Duong NguyenDuong Nguyen
Doctoral Student in Computer Science and Engineering 

"Duong has consistently been an excellent citizen of the CSE department. He has served as COGS representative, led CSE's graduate student group CSEGA, and helped with many department events such as recruiting visits and open houses. However, what I want to recognize Duong for in this note is how he really helped out last summer when CSE was renovating two of our larger research lab spaces. This was a big task requiring moving all the existing desks and personal items out of the lab and either into the hallway or into another temporary lab so that the renovations could take place. The task was complicated by the fact that many students in the lab were away for summer internships, so there were fewer people to help. Duong stepped up and did a lot of extra work helping out many of his fellow students. His efforts are greatly appreciated by all within CSE."

Duong, we are grateful for you!

Duong is being recognized by Eric Torng 


Kellie WaltersKellie Walters
Doctoral student in Horticulture

"Kellie Walters is a PhD Candidate in the Department of Horticulture who, during the 2017-2018 school year, completed the FAST (Future Academic Scholars in Teaching) Fellowship Program to improve her knowledge and contribute to scholarly teaching and learning. During 2019-2020, Kellie took on an administrative role with the FAST Fellowship Program, mentoring the Fellows in their teaching-as-research projects and professional development. In recognition of her disciplinary research, Kellie has received the Bukovac Outstanding Graduate Student award in the Department of Horticulture and will be joining the faculty at the University of Tennessee this fall as Assistant Professor of Controlled Environment Production in the Department of Plant Sciences. Congratulations Kellie and thanks for all that you do at MSU."

Kellie, we are grateful for you!

Kellie is being recognized by Rique Campa


Jennifer ZavalnitskayaJennifer Zavalnitskaya
Master’s student in Entomology

"Jennifer joined my lab in summer 2019 as an MS student, she has been a pleasure to have in my lab ever since. She was born to immigrant parents from Eastern Europe and since I'm also from that part of the world, I always felt a sense of camaraderie even though she was born and raised in MI. (We both have difficult last names!!) Jen is super enthusiastic about agriculture and aims to be an extension agent when she graduates, therefore I quickly put her in touch with Ben Werling, West MI vegetable educator, whom she has been collaborating with and learning the ropes from. It’s rare to find a graduate student who has such a well-developed idea of what she intends to do in the future and has the passion to carry her through the obstacles, but Jen is the real deal! I'm really happy to have Jen in my lab also because she is co-hosting our entomology podcast that shares the lives of scientists. This allowed me to learn so much more about her: for example, she is an avid vegetable gardener and has lots of house plants that are growing amazingly well in her apartment!"

Jennifer, we are grateful for you! 

Jennifer is being recognized by Zsofia Szendrei


Abbie Cathcart 
Theatre

"Thank you, Abbie, for sharing your peaceful yoga practice with us in the Department of Theatre. Your practice brought a window of peace into our busy schedules. Thank you for helping us to see our own lights."

Abbie we are grateful for you!

Abbie is being recognized by Amy Lampe


Alexandra LeeAlexandra A. Lee
Doctoral student in Educational Psychology & Educational Technology
Counseling, Educational Psychology, & Special Education (CEPSE)

"Alexandra’s research focuses on the social-psychological processes underpinning achievement motivation specifically implicit theories of intelligence, competence beliefs, and achievement goals. She has taught in the K-12 setting and in a variety of cultural contexts, prior to coming to MSU (in Thailand, Singapore, rural Mississippi, and Denver, CO). As is currently the instructor of record for TE 150 (Reflections on Learning). Alexandra shared her teaching expertise and enthusiasm at a recent Lunch and Learn session with Graduate Teaching Assistants at MSU. Those in attendance really enjoyed learning from her and her expertise. We hope to have Alexandra share more of her great work in the teaching space for all those interested in teaching."

Alexandra, we are grateful for you!

Alexandra is being recognized by the Graduate School Teaching Assistant Program


Caitlin CornellCaitlin Cornell
Doctoral Student in Second Language Studies 

"Caitlin Cornell has been working tirelessly to improve access to education and other resources for the community at large. She has shared resources and taught people how to keep their courses accessible even during this transition to online. She has led several learning communities that have a great focus on inclusivity and equity, while also being interdisciplinary (e.g., the Applied Scholars group housed in the SLS program and a accessibility learning group that developed out of a course she taught). A Lansing native, she has also been committed to her community delivering meals and other resources to struggling families."

Caitlin, we are thankful for you! 

Caitlin is being recognized by Senta Goertler


Curtis Green-EneixCurtis Green-Eneix
Doctoral student in the English Language Studies Program 

"A former McNair Scholar, Curtis has always maintained a positive attitude, even though he's had to negotiate and has overcome much adversity in his personal life. Being the first in his family to make it college, I have been (re)infected by his sheer enthusiasm to learn and embrace the academic and social opportunities that MSU has to offer. He embodies the spirit and drive of an emerging scholar who views education as a privilege, not a right. As my research assistant (RA), he works tirelessly to ensure that my work requests are met. At the same time, he goes above and beyond the call of duty. Being on sabbatical this past year, I've been traveling internationally to share my research with overseas colleagues. In spite of the time differences (I traveled to Australia, China, Hong Kong, Pakistan, Turkey, the UK), Curtis always supplied the requisite information for me to deliver invited academic talks at various universities abroad. More often than not, these talks had to be customized for local contexts, and he always took it upon himself to find details that speak to the local contexts of my audience. Curtis has proven himself to be a responsible and thinking RA who often improves on responsibilities assigned to him. I'm truly thankful for his commitment and his desire to produce first-class work. Needless to say, I have been fortunate to have been the beneficiary of such a commendable work ethic."

Curtis, we are grateful for you!

Curtis is being recognized by Peter De Costa


Kambriana Gates
Master’s student in Urban and Regional Planning 

"Kambriana Gates is a dedicated student who has been instrumental in developing the Climate & Response process in the Prevention, Outreach and Education department as our graduate research assistant. Kam's positive attitude, flexibility with transitioning to remote work and dedication to making the world a better place are remarkably inspiring. I thank her for all that she does!"

We are grateful for you, Kambriana.

Kambriana is being recognized by Lydia Weiss


Eric Estrada
Master’s student in Packaging

"Eric has produced a risk-based, user-centered tool to develop the labeling of medical devices. The labels are presented in a standard format which prioritizes information needed to make life or death decisions. (Surprisingly, labeling for medical devices is not yet standardized in the US). He has not only developed this tool, but is in the process of empirically evaluating the performance of the new system verses existing, commercial labeling for the same product using tools from the field of visual perception. He is doing all of this while also working full time at a medical device company and taking care of his family. I am grateful that Eric has remained committed to this project amidst all that he has to do. His work is not only incredibly unique; it is also meaningful, and I am grateful that I have had the opportunity to work with him."

Eric, we are grateful for you.

Eric is being recognized by Laura Bix


HALE Graduate Students
Education Administration

"Students with whom I work most closely are all adult learners with very complex lives during these difficult times. They are eldercare providers, researchers whose studies have been totally interrupted as they neared completion of dissertations, those hoping for employment next year on and off campus now on hold due to hiring chills and freezes, those who have to find ways to focus on class while becoming homeschool teachers, and those who have put up my constantly shifting schedule of an academic administrator. Yet, they continue to show up to meet with me on zoom and email, inspire through their insights and leadership in these challenging times, find ways to bolster each other in virtual writing groups, and make it clear that postsecondary education will be in good hands. They remind me why I wanted to be a faculty member and are my motivation every day. Thank you isn't enough to each of them."

HALE students we are grateful for you!

HALE students are being recognized by Marilyn Amey