CANR Faculty and Staff Awards Reception

May 6, 2026
3 - 5 p.m. 
Formal program begins at 3:30 p.m.

MPS Atrium 
(1066 Bogue St., East Lansing, MI 48824)

Complimentary parking is available in all pay by plate parking lots for those without parking passes.

Join us in celebrating our outstanding CANR faculty and staff!

Each year the college recognizes faculty and staff who have made outstanding contributions to the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

The awards program includes formal recognition of the following awards:

The awards program includes formal recognition of the following awards:

CANR Teaching Awards 

Camden Endowed Teacher/Scholar Award: Dong Zhao, Ph.D., School of Planning, Design and Construction

CANR Excellence in Teaching – Established Teacher Award: Laura Winter, School of Planning, Design and Construction

CANR Excellence in Teaching – New Teacher Award: Jeta Rudi Polloshka, Ph.D., Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics

CANR Excellence in Graduate Student Teaching Award: Dangkamol Wongthanaroj, School of Packaging

MSU Extension Excellence in Teaching: Sarah Eichberger, Grand Traverse County Extension, and Christine Skelly, Department of Animal Science

CANR Excellence in Research Awards

Early Career Researcher Award

Younsuk Dong, Ph.D., Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Established (Mid-Career) Researcher Award

Robert VanBuren, Ph.D., Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences

Hanne Hoffmann, Ph.D., Department of Animal Science

Research Career Award

Eric Benbow, Ph.D., Department of Entomology

Impact Award

Adam Lock, Ph.D., Department of Animal Science 

CANR Outstanding Academic Advisor: Jennifer Petzko, Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics

CANR Staff Awards

CANR Staff Dean's Award of Distinction: Cara Robison, Ph.D., Department of Animal Science

CANR Excellence in Research Performance and Support: Steve Van Timmeren, Department of Entomology

CANR Early Achievement Award: Aislinn Callahan-Brandt, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition

Spirit of CANR: Rose Stewart, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife

CANR Global Scholars

2026 CANR Global Scholars in Research:

Mar Mancha-Cisneros, Ph.D., Department of Fisheries and Wildlife

Asia Dowtin, Ph.D., Department of Forestry

Mahsa Adib, Ph.D., School of Planning, Design and Construction

2026 CANR Global Scholar in Education:

Barbara Biduski, Ph.D., Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition

2026 CANR Global Scholar in Extension:

Naim Edwards, MSU Detroit Partnership for Food, Learning and Innovation

CANR You Belong Here Champion Awards:

You Belong Here Undergraduate Student Award: LaQuan Mack, Construction Management

You Belong Here Graduate Student Award: DeShae Dillard, Department of Entomology

You Belong Here Postdoctoral Scholar Award: Olivia Spagnuolo, Ph.D., Department of Fisheries and Wildlife 

You Belong Here Faculty Award: Ingrid Aguayo Fuentealba, Ph.D., Department of Forestry

You Belong Here Staff Award: Rebecca Wetzel, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife

CANR CAB Digital Badge Awards:

Platinum:

Department of Animal Science

Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Department of Community Sustainability

Department of Entomology

Department of Fisheries and Wildlife

Department of Forestry

Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition

Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences

School of Planning, Design and Construction

MSU Extension: Agriculture and Agribusiness Institute

MSU Extension: Children and Youth Institute 

Gold:

ANR Information Technology

Kellogg Biological Station

In addition, we will celebrate new hires, promotion and tenure, years of service milestones and other key CANR awards.

Detailed information about award winners will be released after April 3, 2026.