Faculty

Read more about the article ‘Nexus’ Exhibit Features Work by Artists Who Help Shape MSU’s Arts Community
AAHD / Arts MSU / Exhibition / Faculty / Faculty / Lansing-East Lansing Impact / News / Staff / Visual Arts, Arts Administration, and Performing Arts

‘Nexus’ Exhibit Features Work by Artists Who Help Shape MSU’s Arts Community

August 26, 2025

Michigan State University’s Department of Art, Art History, and Design (AAHD) is shining a spotlight on the creative work of its academic staff, offering the public a look into the lives and practices of the artists who help shape MSU's arts community. Their work, brought together for the “Nexus” exhibition, is now on display through Sunday, Sept. 21, at (SCENE) Metrospace.

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

Aline Godfroid First From College of Arts & Letters to be Named a Red Cedar Distinguished Professor

August 25, 2025

In recognition of her outstanding scholarly achievements and their transformational impact, Aline Godfroid, Professor of TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) and Second Language Studies in the Department of Linguistics, Languages, and Cultures at Michigan State University, was named a Red Cedar Distinguished Professor, which is among MSU’s highest faculty awards. Godfroid is the first College of Arts…

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A group of 16 people, all standing and smiling in a posed photo. There are 13 women in the group and three men.
AAHD / African American and African Studies / English / Faculty / Faculty / Linguistics / News / Philosophy / Staff / Theatre / WRAC

College Welcomes New Faculty and Staff

August 20, 2025

The College of Arts & Letters is thrilled to welcome 28 new faculty and staff members whose diverse expertise will enrich our community, strengthen collaboration, and expand opportunities for students. New colleagues will be recognized during the 2025 Faculty and Staff Welcome Reception on Sept. 29 at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center.

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Portrait of Professor Joshua Yumibe against a dark, softly blurred background. He is wearing a dark textured blazer over a checkered shirt, looking directly at the camera with a slight smile. The lighting is even and professional, highlighting his facial features clearly.
English / Faculty / Faculty / Faculty Stories / Film Studies / Grant / News / Research / Scholarship

Joshua Yumibe Named an MSU Research Foundation Professor

August 15, 2025

In recognition of his influential scholarship in film and media studies and his contributions to Michigan State University's research mission, Joshua Yumibe has been named an MSU Research Foundation Professor. He is among just four MSU faculty members to earn this prestigious designation in 2025.

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Ten portraits created by Michigan State University and OCAD University students for the Faces and Traces: A Cross-Border Portrait Project, arranged in two rows of five. Each piece uses a different style and medium to interpret the artist’s partner, from realistic graphite drawings to abstract line work and vibrant mixed media compositions.
AAHD / Arts MSU / Faculty / International Impact / News / Student / Student / Visual Arts, Arts Administration, and Performing Arts

Art Project Brings U.S. and Canadian Students Together

August 13, 2025

When Emma Sambaer, an Art Education student at Michigan State University, was paired with Shiva Mohseni, an OCAD University student from Toronto, for a unique cross-border art project, she noticed how much they had in common despite being separated by an international border.Students from MSU and OCAD U were tasked with creating portraits of each other to capture the likeness…

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A group of people stand on wide wooden steps inside a bright, modern building. They are arranged in two rows, with national flags from various African countries positioned between them.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion / English / Faculty / Faculty / International Impact / News / Programs / Student

Mandela Washington Fellows Make Their Mark at MSU and Beyond

August 8, 2025

For the fourth year, Michigan State University was among 25 educational institutions across the country to provide a leadership institute for the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. This year, the university welcomed 23 Fellows from 19 African countries for a six-week program in civic engagement that ran from June 19-July 17, 2025.

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Read more about the article MSU Professor Leads Effort to Preserve Kenya’s Indigenous Languages
Faculty / Faculty / Faculty Stories / Linguistics / News

MSU Professor Leads Effort to Preserve Kenya’s Indigenous Languages

July 22, 2025

Jonathan Choti, Associate Professor of African Languages and Cultures in the Department of Linguistics, Languages, and Cultures at Michigan State University, recently traveled to Kenya to lead a workshop focused on revitalizing that country’s indigenous languages, many of which face extinction due to the predominance of English and Swahili in education, government, and media.

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A person in a blazer behind a podium on the "Jeopardy!" TV game show set. A blue curtain is in the background. The person is MSU Film Studies faculty member Peter Johnston.
Alumni / English / Faculty / Faculty / Faculty Stories / Film Studies / News

MSU Film Studies Faculty Member Appears on ‘Jeopardy!’

July 16, 2025

Peter Johnston, Interim Director and faculty member in the Film Studies program at Michigan State University, relied on his high school quiz bowl experience and arts and humanities background to secure a spot on the iconic game show “Jeopardy!” Johnston’s appearance as a contestant aired July 15. He played a strong game solidly taking second place. “It was so surreal…

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A collage featuring five individuals and the Fulbright Program logo. Surrounding the logo are portraits of five people.
Alumni / Award / Faculty / Faculty / Faculty Stories / Featured Alumni / French / Grant / News / Research / Scholarship / Spanish / Theatre

College of Arts & Letters Faculty and Recent Graduates Awarded Fulbright Awards

July 2, 2025

Three faculty members and two recent graduates of the College of Arts & Letters at Michigan State University were offered Fulbright awards for the 2025-26 academic year and will reside and work in different countries because of the opportunities made available to them through these awards. Another recent College of Arts & Letters graduate was selected as an alternate and…

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Read more about the article MSU Faculty Member Publishes Book on Creating Theatre With Neurodiverse Audiences in Mind
Alumni / Arts MSU / Diversity, Equity and Inclusion / Faculty / Faculty / Faculty Stories / Lansing-East Lansing Impact / Michigan Impact / News / Publication / Publishing, Editing, and Authorship / Research / Theatre

MSU Faculty Member Publishes Book on Creating Theatre With Neurodiverse Audiences in Mind

June 30, 2025

For nearly a decade, Dionne O'Dell has led the Sense-Ability Ensemble at Michigan State University, which develops multisensory theatrical works for audiences often excluded from traditional performance spaces. Dionne O'Dell O’Dell is an Academic Specialist in MSU’s Department of Theatre who specializes in teaching children’s theatre and writing and directing plays for youth and community, and Routledge has now published…

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