CREATE! Micro-Grant Winner Explores Personal Hardships and Experiences Through Mixed Media Piece

As a transgender individual growing up in a homophobic household, the hardships endured by Mike Gardner created lasting emotional scars, which now serve as inspiration for art and a piece created with support from a $500 CREATE! Micro-Grant.

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Japanese-English Language Exchange Takes Learning Beyond the Classroom

The Japanese-English Language Exchange (JELE) isn’t a class, an app, or a trip. It’s a recurring casual virtual chat between college students, passionate about practicing Japanese and English, that’s building connections here at MSU and across the globe.  Ren McCowan, an MSU senior majoring in Japanese with minors in TESOL and Linguistics, founded the program in 2020 after realizing what…

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Two-Time CREATE! Micro-Grant Recipients Return for Second Season of Their Podcast

A podcast that explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the artistic community, created by Nate Davis, senior BFA in Acting major, and Jason Dernay, recent BFA in Acting and BA in Management alumnus, has received the support of a second CREATE! Micro-Grant. The Art of Adaptation podcast features artists at different stages in their careers and lives and…

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Linguistics Student Wins at Social Justice Art Festival

Diana Cisneros, a junior majoring in Linguistics, won the Most Out-Of-The-Box Award at MSU’s fifth annual Social Justice Art Festival (SJAF) for her painting, titled Mikia Nemi Tunal Tit (The Fire of the Sun Is Dying). The Most Out-of-the-Box Award is given to the artist or performer with the most unique artistic concept or creative medium. The winning piece is…

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Intern Worked with Individuals with Autism in Washington State

Growing up in Bremerton, Washington, Fiona Graham, an English and History major in her senior year at MSU, landed a summer internship last year in her home state through the connections she made during service projects in high school. Working under the title of Registered Behavior Technician, Graham interned for North Star Behavior Consultants. Her role consisted of implementing behavioral…

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Collaborators from MSU’s Department of Theatre Help Bring Musical to Texas Stage

Four collaborators from Michigan State University’s Department of Theatre have teamed up to help bring the world premiere of MacGyver: The Musical to Stages in Houston, Texas. Kirk Domer, Professor of Scene Design at MSU, is the scene designer for the production. MSU alumna Kristina Ortiz Miller is the costume designer and is being helped by Mona Jahani, an MFA…

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Student Driven by Passion for Black History, Aspires to Help Community

Morgan Braswell said she is not the first in her family to attend college. But she is the first to stay the course. A sophomore, Braswell expects to graduate from Michigan State University in 2024 with her bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She’s also on track to complete a second major in African American and African Studies. It’s a scholarly path that…

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Graphic Design Major Completes Remote Internship with South African TV Station

Shayla Pham, a Graphic Design senior, recently completed a motion graphic designer internship for Cape Town Television, a South-African community television station. The internship, which was made possible through MSU Excel Network’s Global Remote Internship Program, allowed Pham to sharpen new skills in animation and to expand her graphic design skills by editing the organization’s graphics. Pham met with her…

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Student Aspires to Preserve Literature and Activist Thought That Shaped Her Life

Growing up, Camille Jackson set a goal to pursue higher education. Now that she’s close to receiving her bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University, she’s expanded her goals to attend graduate school and to preserve the cultural works that shaped her trajectory as a first-generation college student. When she graduates from MSU this May, Jackson will conclude one leg of…

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Exploring Cultural Identity Through AAAS Department Courses

Deon Bennett came to Michigan State University intent on becoming more independent and open to new opportunities. He achieved that and more through academic and leadership activities that have inspired him to learn more about his culture and leave a legacy for others facing similar challenges as young Black men. Bennett started his scholarly exploration of the Black experience by…

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