Faculty Stories

Faculty Receive Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Awards

February 8, 2023

Four faculty members from the College of Arts & Letters are being honored by the University as recipients of 2022-2023 Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Awards. These awards, presented by MSU's Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, recognize recipients' exceptional and innovative contributions that advance diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at Michigan State University through their teaching, research, programming, service,…

English / Faculty / Faculty Stories / News / Publication

On the Cusp: English Professor Establishes New Journal

January 25, 2023

Kristin Mahoney, Associate Professor in the Department of English at Michigan State University, has helped create a new journal that focuses on field-defining scholarship on the works, authors, artists, problems, and phenomena that defined the dynamic period from the late 19th century to the early 20th century. The journal, titled Cusp: Late 19th-/Early 20th-Century Cultures, aims to promote interdisciplinarity scholarship on the visual arts, cinema and…

Faculty / Faculty / Faculty Stories / Linguistics / News / Research / Scholarship

Paula Winke Named Inaugural Arts & Letters Professor

January 17, 2023

Paula Winke, Professor in the Department of Linguistics, Languages, and Cultures (LiLaC) at Michigan State University, recently was named the inaugural Arts & Letters Professor recognizing her outstanding intellectual leadership and excellence in teaching. “It is a true honor to be the inaugural Arts & Letters Professor in the College of Arts & Letters,” Winke said. “This award is meaningful…

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion / Faculty / Faculty / Faculty Stories / News / Research / Scholarship

Inaugural Endowed Professor Teaches How to Connect Writing With Culture

November 15, 2022

As the inaugural Karen L. Gillmor Ph.D. Endowed Professor in Professional and Public Writing at Michigan State University, Kristin Arola, an innovative scholar and researcher, is not only teaching students persuasive and effective writing skills she also is showing them how to connect and make sense of their culture through their writing. “To have been selected to serve in this…

Faculty / Faculty / Faculty Stories

Professor Brings Black Religion and Spirituality Expertise to Religious Studies Department

October 10, 2022

Associate Professor Tamura Lomax is going back to her roots to the discipline that first inspired her scholarly work. In January 2023, she will begin teaching classes as a faculty member of Michigan State University’s Department of Religious Studies. A scholar, author, and activist, Lomax never left Religious Studies, it’s always been an important part of her life, but now…

Faculty / Faculty Stories / News

Faculty Voice: Understanding Identity in Learning

September 30, 2022

In this Faculty Voice, Ellen McCallum, a Professor in the Department of English and Faculty Fellow at the Center for Gender in Global Context (GenCen), shares how the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) and Sexuality Studies program at MSU offers an opportunity to gain a broader historical and social context for understanding personal and collective identities. As Associate Chair of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of…

Faculty / Faculty Stories / News / Performance

College of Arts & Letters Faculty Honored at 2022 Investiture

September 29, 2022

The Michigan State University community gathered at the Wharton Center for Performing Arts on Sept. 14 for the investiture of the 2022 class of endowed chairs, endowed professors, and MSU Foundation professors. The ceremony was a celebration of their accomplishments and a celebration of the philanthropic support that makes these esteemed positions possible. Dr. Kristen Renn, newly named Mildred B.…

Faculty / Faculty / Faculty Stories / News / Performance / Production

Theatre Professor Serves as Assistant Fight Director for Broadway Production

June 15, 2022

Alexis Black is always up for a good fight. And since February 2022, the Assistant Professor of Acting and Movement at Michigan State University has been choreographing stage combat for the Tony Award-nominated production of Macbeth, currently on Broadway, starring Daniel Craig and Ruth Negga. Working alongside her long-time mentor David Leong, Black is the Assistant Fight Director for the production, which runs…

Faculty Stories / News

MSU Faculty Member Shares How Global Context and History Can Help Us Understand Other Cultures More Fully

May 31, 2022

In this Faculty Voice, Catherine Ryu, Associate Professor of Japanese Literature and Culture in the Department of Linguistics, Languages, and Cultures at Michigan State University, shares how Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month is important to recognize and celebrate, but also the need to go beyond public awareness. Ryu says concerted and sustained efforts are needed to create a more inclusive culture for all. At MSU, Ryu also serves as Director of the…

Faculty Stories / News

MSU Assistant Professor Shares How Learning a Language Can Help Students Experience Diverse Perspectives

May 24, 2022

In this Faculty Voice, Rajiv Ranjan, an Assistant Professor of Hindi-Urdu in the Department of Linguistics, Languages, and Cultures at Michigan State University, talks about some of the misperceptions and nuances related to South Asian languages and culture. Ranjan also reflects on why Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month in May is important to recognize and celebrate. At MSU ,…