How Life's Transitions Lead to Personal Fulfillment and Professional Growth Navigating through multiple career paths is a journey many professionals undergo. Tess Muhammad's story is no different. Starting her career as a chemist, Tess found her true calling in the field of nursing, specifically in mental health. In an enlightening conversation wit…

Heidi Hennink-Kaminski is the new dean of the College of Communication Arts and Sciences at Michigan State University. She details her background and research interests and talks about curriculum and research strengths of the college. She tells why she wants to lead the country’s first college of communication and shares some of her short- and long…

Former Spartan quarterback Bill Burke has written a book titled Victory Outside The Arena: How Athletes Can Go From Isolated To Inspired Once The Applause Begins To Fade. Burke talks about why he chose to attend MSU and reflects on his favorite memories leading the Spartans. He describes what he learned from Nick Saban and talks about what motivate…

Graduate school is often viewed as a labyrinth that requires significant introspection and preparation. On the latest episode of the *Victors in Grad School* podcast, host Dr. Christopher Lewis explores this intricate path with Paula Nas, an accomplished academic and professional at the University of Michigan Flint. Paula's unique journey through b…

Pursuing higher education is often seen as a straight path, but for many, it is a winding journey filled with unexpected turns. In this week's Victors in Grad School podcast, Dr. Shanna Haver joined us and shared her enlightening journey from social work to earning her doctorate in occupational therapy. Her experiences impart valuable lessons for a…

Discover the keys to success in graduate education, making informed decisions, and leveraging resources effectively. Graduate school can be both a thrilling and daunting journey, filled with challenges and opportunities that require strategic planning, resilience, and a clear set of goals. In a recent episode of “Victor's in Grad School” hosted by …

Michigan State University Professor and Olympian Kelly Salchow MacArthur is once again part of the Olympics, this time leading a community art project. Through the Olympian Artists program, Salchow MacArthur participated in a workshop series creating mixed-media collages with children from two community centers in Paris, France. Her workshop series…

In the latest episode of Victors in Grad School podcast, Dr. Christopher Lewis introduces us to Kim Snodgrass, a current Master of Public Health student at the University of Michigan-Flint. Kim’s story is an inspiring testament to perseverance, resilience, and the unyielding spirit to succeed, even after two decades away from the academic world. Th…

Embarking on a journey through graduate school is a significant undertaking, filled with challenges and opportunities for growth. In a recent podcast episode of Victors in Grad School, Dr. Christopher Lewis sat down with Ja'Nel Jamerson, the CEO of the Flint Center For Educational Excellence, to delve into Ja'Nel's educational journey and the lesso…

Michigan State University researchers have discovered that honeybees can detect biomarkers or chemical concentrations associated with lung cancer in human breath. The researchers have also shown that the honeybees can distinguish between different lung cancer cell types using only the ‘smell’ of the cell cultures. These findings could be used as a …

Embarking on the path to becoming a physician assistant is a significant journey filled with challenges, growth, and invaluable experiences. In a recent podcast episode of Victors in Grad School, host Dr. Christopher Lewis had a compelling conversation with graduating physician assistant student Hannah Richard. The dialogue delved deep into Hannah'…

MSU Strategic Plan 2030: Empowering Excellence, Advancing Equity and Expanding Impact identifies goals within six key themes: student success, staff and faculty success, discovery; creativity, and innovation for excellence and global impact; sustainable health; stewardship and sustainability; and diverse, equity, and inclusion. On this edition of M…

Scientists, community members, students, officials and more mark a pivotal moment as work begins on the 335,000-square-foot research facility Hundreds of community members gathered on June 17 to recognize the start of construction on the Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences Research Center in the New Center neighborhood. Wo…

Embarking on the journey of graduate education is a significant milestone in one's life. It is a pathway filled with self-exploration, knowledge acquisition, and transformation. In the podcast episode featuring Sasha Wakefield, a high school math teacher from Clio, Michigan, her story reflects the essence of this transformative journey. With a pass…

MSU Com Art Sci alumni Mike Valenti and Rico Beard host the top show on the top radio station in Detroit. It’s The Valenti Show with Rico on 97.1 The Ticket. Valenti earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 2002. Beard earned a bachelor’s in telecommunication in 1993 and a master’s in telecommunication and urban studies in 1997. Mike and Rico ta…

Michigan State University is racing into the future by participating in the Indy Autonomous Challenge, which officially launched in 2019 and brings together academic institutions and public-private partnerships to challenge university students from across the globe to invent and test a new generation of automated vehicle software to operate fully a…

Embarking on a journey through graduate school can be both challenging and rewarding. In a recent podcast episode of Victors in Grad School, Jennifer Phillips, a graduate of the University of Michigan Flint's MBA program, shared her personal journey and the lessons she learned along the way. Her experiences offer valuable insights for current and p…

State of the State is the monthly roundup of policy and research for the state of Michigan from MSU’s Institute for Public Policy and Social Research (IPPSR). Arnold Weinfeld is the associate director for the institute. Charley Ballard is an economist at MSU. This month’s guest is Kimberly Dodd, a veterinarian and virologist with extensive expertis…

Embarking on the journey of graduate school can be a transformative experience, especially for first-generation students of color. In a recent episode of Victors in Grad School, Dr. Christopher Lewis engages with Dr. Miroslava Chavez-Garcia and Dr. Yvette Martinez-Vu, coauthors of "By Christopher Lewis, Miroslava Chavez-Garcia, Yvette Martinez-Vu

The Charles Stewart Mott Department of Public Health focuses on population health from its home base – the College of Human Medicine’s Flint campus. Being embedded in the Flint community allows the faculty and researchers to understand the assets and needs of the community while studying Flint’s most pressing public health issues. Spartans work sid…

Embarking on a journey to graduate school comes with its own set of successes and challenges. The path to achieving success in graduate school is seldom a straightforward one. In this enlightening conversation, we sit down with Dr. David Luke, the chief diversity officer at the University of Michigan-Flint, to delve into Dr. Luke's experiences and …

Entering graduate school is a significant step in one's academic and professional journey. It requires careful consideration, motivation, and a clear vision of how it will contribute to personal and career growth. In this week's Victors in Grad School Podcast, Marsha Hare, an international logistics analyst with XPO Logistics, shares her inspiring …

New endowed fund to foster next generation of women’s health leaders To close the gap between women’s health research and other scientific disciplines, Ward and Mari Walstrom of Harbor Springs have made a $1 million gift to bolster education and research in the MSU College of Human Medicine’s Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Bi…

Teresa Mastin is vice provost and associate vice president for faculty and academic staff affairs at MSU. She joins Bill Beekman, vice president for strategic initiatives, to discuss progress on the implementation of the faculty and staff success theme of the MSU 2030 strategic plan. Conversation Highlights: (1:03) – Mastin on her background, caree…

The Importance of Continuous Learning In this week's Victors in Grad School we welcome Jeff Sharkey, Vice President for Tru Treasury, as he shares his insights into the journey of success through graduate school. A key takeaway from his experience is the importance of continuous learning. His decision to pursue a graduate degree was driven by the d…

Matt Grossmann, Charley Ballard, and Arnold Weinfeld from Michigan State University’s Institute for Public Policy and Social Research (IPPSR) discuss the latest in Michigan and national politics, policy, and the economy on the State of the State podcast, a monthly round up of policy and research for the state of Michigan. Peter Berg joins the conve…

Rodney Whitaker, University Distinguished Professor of Jazz Bass and director of Jazz Studies in the Michigan State University College of Music, is among the class of new members elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. With this honor, he joins the ranks of artists, scholars, scientists, and leaders of one of the oldest learned societ…

Darien Harris is Spartan Athletics’ assistant athletic director for business development and NIL strategy. He provides leadership for Michigan State Athletics’ award-winning NIL program, EverGreen. Harris is expanding his role and focusing on engagement and collaboration with local and statewide businesses and national brands to help student-athlet…

Spirituality is declining in the United States if you focus on religious affiliation, but that isn’t the whole story according to Morgan Shipley, associate professor of religious studies at Michigan State University. A recent Pew Research Center survey reports that 28% of U.S. adults say they are religiously unaffiliated. By digging a little deeper…

Embarking on the journey of graduate school can be a daunting yet rewarding endeavor. In the podcast episode "Victors in Grad School," Robert Burack, co-founder of Brocade Studio, shares insights from his experience transitioning from undergraduate to graduate education, offering valuable tips and reflections for success in the world of higher educ…

Are you happy? What is happiness exactly? Is it true what Abraham Lincoln is said to have said, that we’re just about as happy as we decide we want to be? Is happiness that simple? What is the World Happiness Report, and what’s in the 2024 report? MSU psychology researchers Bill Chopik and Rich Lucas discuss happiness on this episode of MSU Today. …

Though many of us may think of student success as graduating and finding a good job, our three guests today will share with us that it is much more than that. We think of universities as places where students learn: They go to class, study, and do homework, and get a degree that supports future career success. But that creates a narrow definition o…

Dr. Christopher Lewis, the host of Victor's in Grad School, recently had a compelling conversation with Arianna Elkins, a student in the master's in biology program at the University of Michigan Flint. The discussion delved into her journey from undergraduate to graduate studies, the decision to pursue a joint degree program, the importance of bala…

It takes only one case of measles or other vaccine-preventable diseases for an outbreak to begin. But vaccines can prevent or lessen the severity of conditions for everyone, according to Peter Gulick, professor of Osteopathic Medical Specialties at the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine and Sean Valles, professor and director…

Stewardship and Sustainability is a key theme in the MSU 2030 strategic plan. We discuss progress on implementation of this part of the plan with Bill Beekman, MSU’s vice president for strategic initiatives. Bill talks with Laura Young from the Office of Sustainability and Sherri Jett from Infrastructure Planning and Facilities. Conversation Highli…

Michigan State University Executive Vice President for Health Sciences Norman J. Beauchamp Jr., M.D., M.H.S. and MSU Vice President for Strategic Initiatives Bill Beekman discuss progress on implementation of the sustainable health theme of the MSU 2030 strategic plan. Conversation Highlights: (1:28) – Beauchamp describes his role as executive vice…

Understanding Faculty Impact In this enlightening conversation with Dr. Jennifer Blackwood, Director of the Physical Therapy program at the University of Michigan-Flint, students were urged to focus on the caliber of faculty when choosing a graduate program. Dr. Blackwood stressed that meaningful growth is nurtured through connections with educator…

Michigan State University researchers Evangelyn Alocilja, André Bachmann, and Richard Lunt have been named Senior Members by the National Academy of Inventors. The MSU researchers being honored have found that their research often presents a challenge that provides an opportunity for invention. Alocilja’s passion is to find solutions to challenging…

Student success is a key theme in the MSU 2030 strategic plan. Student success is the measure of an institution’s ability to provide an inclusive, equitable curriculum and environment with the academic, social, wellness and financial support that enables all students to learn, thrive, persist, graduate and succeed after graduation. Mark Largent is …

On this episode of MSU Today, a conversation on progress and implementation of a key objective in the Stewardship and Sustainability theme of the MSU 2030 strategic plan. The strategic plan calls for a new University Comprehensive Facilities and Land Use Plan that embeds diversity, equity, and inclusion; faculty, staff, and student success; and sus…

Embarking on the Journey Graduate school acts as a beacon for those seeking to elevate their academic prowess and career trajectory. In our latest 'Dads with Daughters' episode, Victor's in Grad School, Dr. Christopher Lewis sheds light on what it takes to navigate this crucial phase with the poise of a seasoned scholar. From the higher salaries an…

The conference provided attendees with actions and solutions they can take back to their institutions. There’s a burgeoning relationship between Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine and the University of Buffalo’s Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. The school’s deans have brought the institutions together to advocat…

As part of Michigan State University’s 2024 MSUFCU Arts Power Up artists-in-residence, Abel Korinsky (representative of Studio Korinsky) of Berlin, Germany, is in residence during the spring semester. This inaugural open call for artists is a collaboration between the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, or FRIB; the MSU Museum; the STEAMpower Project,…

Entering graduate school can be a daunting prospect, especially for first-generation college students like Natalie El-Zayat. In a recent episode of the Victors in Grad School podcast, Natalie shared her experiences as a second-year Doctorate of Physical Therapy student at the University of Michigan Flint, shedding light on her journey from undergra…

You have likely heard about ChatGPT, and you might even have the application downloaded on your phone. But have you thought about how technology — and artificial intelligence specifically — will impact your job and the future of work? Michigan State University’s College of Social Science launched the Future of Work initiative to answer this very co…

Ashton Henderson and Jack Ebling are 2024 Outstanding Alumni Award honorees from MSU’s College of Communication Arts and Sciences. Henderson received his bachelor’s in advertising in 2010 and his master’s in public relations in 2012. He is currently Spartan Athletics’ director of Championship Resources and Culture. Ebling earned a bachelor’s in rad…

Courtney Brown and Sarah Fay-Koutz are social workers with University Health and Wellbeing’s Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS). For the second year, CAPS is collaborating with the Michigan Chapter of American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to hold an Out of the Darkness MSU Campus Walk on April 14. Courtney and Sarah are co-chair…

Navigating the World of Graduate School Graduate school is a significant step in an individual’s academic and professional journey. The decision to pursue advanced education often arises from the desire to broaden one's knowledge, enhance career prospects, or delve deeper into a particular field of study. In a recent episode of the "Victors in Grad…

Embarking on a journey towards graduate education is a significant decision that can profoundly shape one's career and personal growth. In a recent episode of the Victors in Grad School Podcast hosted by Dr. Christopher Lewis, the conversation centered around the critical aspects of choosing the right graduate program. The episode provided valuable…

Matt Grossmann, Charley Ballard, and Arnold Weinfeld discuss Michigan and national politics, policy, and the economy on the monthly State of the State podcast from MSU’s Institute for Public Policy and Social Research (IPPSR). The podcast is a monthly round up of policy and research for Michigan. Nura Sediqe is an assistant professor of American po…