Alumna and Aspiring Physician Named Miss New York International 2020

Alumna Ashley Lyles, who earned her undergraduate degree in Professional Writing from Michigan State University in 2016, was crowned Miss New York International and will go on to compete for the title of Miss International 2020 during the final competition in Kingsport, Tennessee, July 30-Aug. 1, 2020. Lyles, who now lives in New York City, is an award-winning medical journalist and an…

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Alumnus Reflects on His Time with SLS

MSU’s Second Language Studies (SLS) Program welcomed scholars from around the world to present their research at the 42nd annual Second Language Research Forum (SLRF) September 20-22. One of the four plenary speakers at the forum was Luke Plonsky, who received his Ph.D. in Second Language Studies from MSU in 2011 and who organized MSU’s previous SLRF in 2009. “It…

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MSU Alum Leading Creative Designs for Gatorade

MSU College of Arts & Letters alumnus Matt Geiger is leading teams of designers for one of the most successful sports drink brands in the world. As the Creative Lead and Brand Designer for Gatorade, Geiger is responsible for those innovative and iconic Gatorade package designs that appear in TV commercials and at local grocery stores in more than 80 countries. A…

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English Alum Establishes Successful Sausage Company

An English degree may seem like an unlikely career path for a culinary entrepreneur, but to Michigan State University alumnus Will Branch, his B.A. in English has proved to be the perfect ingredient upon which he built a successful artisan sausage company. “As the owner of Corridor Sausage, my job requires effective communication, like how to put together marketing plans and…

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Alumnus’ Novel ‘Bird Box’ Is a Blockbuster Hit

During the first seven days of its release, 45 million Netflix accounts worldwide watched the film Bird Box, making it the most successful first week for a Netflix film to date. The man behind the idea and The New York Times bestselling book: novelist, songwriter, and MSU College of Arts & Letters English alumnus Josh Malerman, who says MSU is where his creative career began. …

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MSU Alumna Fostering Equity Through Art Education

Asmaa Walton hasn’t run short of opportunity after earning a bachelor’s degree in Art Education from Michigan State University in 2017. Following the completion of an M.A. in Art Politics from New York University (NYU) and a Toledo Museum of Art KeyBank Diversity Leadership Fellowship, Walton will join the St. Louis Art Museum this September as the 26th Romare Bearden Fellow. The Romare…

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Alumna Designs Activewear for Under Armour

Alumna Jess Burkhardt is using the skills she learned at Michigan State University in her current position as an Associate Designer at Under Armour, a global manufacturer of sports and casual apparel and footwear. A 2016 graduate with a B.A. in Apparel and Textile Design (ATD) from the Department of Art, Art History, and Design, Burkhardt tailored her undergraduate courseworkto fit…

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From Desktop Publishing to CGI: Alum’s Career Continues to Evolve

Graphic Design alumnus David Quisenberry has made a successful career in creative spaces since graduating from MSU in 1984 by evolving with new technology and continuing to learn at every stage. From Leo Burnett to Mackevision and founding two of his own companies, Quisenberry’s 35-year career has grown and flourished with each new technology, beginning with desktop publishing on the…

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