As the fall semester begins, I want to extend a warm welcome and my sincere appreciation for all you do. Each new academic year brings fresh energy and opportunities, and it also offers a chance to reflect on what makes Michigan State such a remarkable institution.
What defines MSU is the extraordinary work happening every day across our campus and communities across the state and beyond. The education, research, outreach, and service carried out by our faculty and staff continue to make a meaningful difference in the lives of countless people, and that is something we can all be proud of.
As we begin a new academic year, we have an opportunity to build on that strength and continue supporting one another. At MSU Human Resources, our focus remains on creating a positive employee experience and fostering a workplace where people feel valued, supported, and empowered to thrive. We are proud of the many interactions we have with the MSU community in person, by phone, or via email, and of the work we do behind the scenes to enhance systems, processes, and policies focused on the employee experience.
Thank you for all you do to strengthen our university community each day. Your dedication, expertise and commitment help make Michigan State University a place where people can learn, grow, and succeed. I wish you a smooth and fulfilling start to the semester.
Go Green!
Donna Donovan, J.D. Associate Vice President MSU Human Resources
As we transition from summer vacation to back-to-school season, we know parents and caregivers may need extra support. Whether you’re preparing for a new school year, adjusting to new routines, or helping your child navigate a major milestone, your Cariloop benefit can help1.
Cariloop offers support to help guide kids (and parents) through transitions with emotional awareness, resilience, steady routines, and supportive conversations. Review how the following Cariloop resources may help you this back-to-school season:
Join the Cariloop Webinar Backpacks, Bedtimes, and Big Feelings: Support Kids Through Life’s Transitions on August 27. New schools, shifting routines, and fresh faces can spark both excitement and nerves. This talk helps you support children through the moments when life switches gears. You’ll learn how to spot stress early, keep daily rhythms steady, and offer comfort when little ones need extra reassurance. Walk away with ideas that help kids of all ages — and their grown-ups — adapt with more confidence.
Use Cariloop for Education and College Support. Did you know a Cariloop Coach can help with more than just finding child care? Connect with a licensed Care Coach for personalized support with the following:
IEP/504 meetings
Sourcing tutors
ESL learning
School transfers
College prep
FAFSA/scholarships and grants
Home schooling
Neurodiversity support
Learning challenges
Early intervention
Behavior concerns
Choosing graduate programs
Student loans and financial aid
SAT/ACT/ASVAB
Trade programs and apprenticeships
Use a Care Coach to Find Child Care, After-school Programs, and More. Choosing child care is a big decision. You want care that supports your child’s well-being and development while balancing cost, availability, and schedules. A Cariloop Coach can help you find and compare child care options and then schedule tours or interviews so you can see and evaluate options.
Here’s an example of how a Care Coach could help:
You’ll connect with your Care Coach to share your child care preferences, including location, schedule, cost, and learning approach.
Your Care Coach will identify nearby options and review licensing, safety records, cost, and availability for each.
Finally, your Care Coach will review the options with you and help schedule tours or interviews.
How to Access Cariloop
Visit the Cariloop website and click Get Started to access your benefit. Follow the prompts and sign up with your work email (you can add a personal email or phone later). Once activated, you have access to Cariloop’s Care Coaches, UrbanSitter caregiver platform, tools, resources, and more. Learn more about your Cariloop benefit on the HR website.
1 MSU benefits-eligible employees have free access to the Cariloop platform, along with 30 days of complimentary access to a Care Coach for support with a paid option to extend coaching beyond 30 days (at employee’s expense). Your 30-day Care Coach benefit renews every calendar year.
The Educational Assistance, or “Ed Assist,” support staff benefit resets with the start of the fall semester. Now is the perfect time to refresh your Ed Assist knowledge and take advantage of this opportunity for your learning and development. Here are a few important reminders regarding this benefit.
Credit and Non-Credit Options
You may receive financial assistance for credit and non-credit courses, including training, seminars, workshops, conferences, or other educational opportunities. Use this benefit to enhance your professional skill set or help you reach Performance Excellence goals.
You may receive up to 14 credits per academic year for credit courses. Your level of financial assistance is determined by your union group, whether you’re taking a graduate or undergraduate course, and where you’re taking the course (MSU or another university). The course must be considered job-related, degree-related, or career/professional development-related.
Taxation Information for Graduate-Level, Degree-Related Coursework
When using Educational Assistance funds toward graduate-level, degree-related classes for credit, it’s important to remember and plan for IRS tax exemption rules. The Internal Revenue Code (IRC) provides up to $5,250 in exemption per tax (calendar) year for graduate-level, degree-related courses reimbursed/waived through employer educational assistance programs, like the one at MSU. Any amount of the benefit over $5,250 for degree-related, graduate-level courses is considered taxable income by the IRS.
If you use Ed Assist benefits for graduate-level, degree-related courses for credit over the $5,250 exemption amount, appropriate tax withholding will be made, and the amount will be added to your gross wages. If there is a tax liability, the deductions must be completed within the same calendar year. If this tax situation applies to your Ed Assist usage, you will receive a notification via email in the fall, typically around September. This notification will indicate the amount of Educational Assistance received in the calendar year, the taxable amount, and which paycheck withdrawals will occur to cover the outstanding tax liability.
Note: This tax liability, dictated by the IRS, applies ONLY to any Ed Assist benefit usage over the $5,250 limit when applied to graduate-level, degree-related courses for credit. For example, if you received $6,250 in eligible Ed Assist benefits in a year, you would only be taxed on the $1,000 over the exemption limit and owe a percentage of that $1,000 as your tax liability.
Find detailed information about Educational Assistance – including how to apply – on the HR website. Contact Organization and Professional Development at avphr.hrdmail@msu.edu with questions.
Whether your family loves shopping for back to school, or they dread it every year, MSU Benefits Plus has you covered. All benefit-eligible employees can log into the MSU Benefits Plus portal through MSU’s multifactor authentication system and find dozens of discounts to get you and your family heading back to school in style without paying full price.
Below are just a few examples of what might be useful this time of year.
Electronics and Technology
Technology is now an essential part of the school supply list so enjoy extra savings on those investments through a variety of retailers, even here at MSU.
Apple: Save up to 10% on Apple devices and accessories through the Employee Purchase (EPP) program.
Dell: Get the best pricing available on all Dell PCs, electronics and accessories.
HP: Up to 50% off HP computers and accessories through their EEP.
Lenovo: Take advantage of exclusive savings on Lenovo PCs, accessories, and innovative AI-powered technology.
Microsoft Office: Save over 50% on Office 2024 and even more on previous versions.
MSU Tech Store: Purchase all kinds of tech with prices exclusive to MSU staff, faculty, and students.
Apparel and Beauty
Everyone wants a great outfit for their first day of school, whether you’re a student, an educator, or even if it’s just another day at the office.
Pair Eyewear: Start the new year in style with customizable glasses you’ll love and get a free gift with purchase using code CORESTEAM-GIFT.
Bombas: 25% off a purchase of $85 or more with code Exclusive25 (plus a pair is donated with every pair purchased!).
Crocs: Save $20 off a purchase of $100 or more using the code SUNNYDEAL20.
Spartan Spirit Shops: Visit any Shop in person and show your Faculty/Staff ID for 20% off!
Education
Learn a new skill, stock up on textbooks for those fall courses, and show your Spartan spirit, all at a discount through these local organizations.
Spartan Bookstore: 10% off new and used books when you show your ID.
Student Book Store: 10% of your whole purchase (excluding computer software and calculators) when you show your ID.
Method Learning: Up to 20% off SAT/ACT prep, college advising and more.
For all of these discounts and more visit the HR Website or the MSU Benefits Plus portal. Employees can also call Benefits Plus at 888-758-7575 with any questions. Back-to-School is on at Michigan State!
We are seeking nominations for three prestigious awards available to support staff: the Ruth Jameyson Above and Beyond, Gliozzo Clerical-Technical Recognition, and Jack Breslin Distinguished Staff awards!
All award nominations are due Monday, October 26, 2026.
Ruth Jameyson Above and Beyond Award
This annual award recognizes a support staff member who most closely exemplifies the contributions, personal characteristics, and commitment to MSU demonstrated by Ms. Jameyson, going “above and beyond” what is reasonably expected in supporting the mission of MSU. In recognition of Ms. Jameyson’s pursuit of a graduate degree while working at MSU, the award recipient must be pursuing a graduate degree at MSU or elsewhere, concurrent with their employment at MSU. Learn more about the award on the web page, Ruth Jameyson Above and Beyond Award.
The Clerical-Technical Recognition Award is presented annually to a Michigan State University support staff member performing Clerical-Technical duties. The recipient is selected from nominations received by the CT Recognition Award Selection Committee. The award is sponsored by the Thomas and Concettina Gliozzo Endowment Fund to recognize outstanding MSU Clerical-Technical employees. Learn more about the award on the web page, Clerical-Technical Recognition Award.
This award is presented annually to six university support staff members selected by the Jack Breslin Distinguished Staff Award Selection Committee from all nominations received. The award is named in honor of Jack Breslin, who served Michigan State University as a student leader, honored athlete, top administrator, and steadfast advocate. Jack was the personification of the “Spartan Spirit.” His strong and innovative leadership played a pivotal role in MSU’s growth and development as the nation’s premier land grant institution. Learn more about the award on the web page, Jack Breslin Distinguished Staff Award.
When you think of upskilling — learning new skills — at work, what comes to mind? Perhaps learning new software or working toward a certification or degree. There’s no question that many in-demand skills are technical in nature, but there’s also a critical need for what are sometimes described as “soft” skills, particularly strong emotional intelligence (EI).
EI allows us to build and maintain relationships and influence others — important skills no matter your position and area of work — and research has found people with greater EI tend to be more innovative and have higher job satisfaction than those with lower EI. Utilizing emotional intelligence in the workplace can enhance decision-making and social interactions and improve your ability to cope with change and stress.
The good news is that, like technical skills, soft skills such as EI can also be learned and improved.
Emotional Intelligence: What It Is
To strengthen your emotional intelligence, it’s important to know what it entails. Most definitions of EI include the following components:
Perception and expression of emotion — Noticing your own emotions and picking up on the emotions of others, as well as the ability to distinguish between discrete emotions.
Using emotion to facilitate thought — How you incorporate emotions into your thinking processes and understand when and how emotions can be helpful for reasoning processes.
Understanding and analyzing emotions —The capacity to decode emotions, make sense of their meaning, and understand how they relate to each other and change over time.
Reflective regulation of emotion —An openness to all emotions and the ability to regulate your own emotions and the emotions of others to facilitate growth and insight.
Measuring Your Emotional Intelligence Skills
Do you find you relate to either of these statements?
“I want to improve my EI skills, but don’t know where to start.”
“I already have strong emotional intelligence skills. This isn’t an area I need to work on.”
As with any skill, we all have varying levels of aptitude for EI and may feel overwhelmed about where to begin.
One interesting study found that 95% of participants gave themselves high marks in self-awareness. However, using more empirical measures of self-awareness, the study found that only 10-15% of the cohort demonstrated true self-awareness. Consider the following characteristics typical of people with higher and lower EI skillsets as one way to better gauge your skillset:
Potential indicators of higher EI:
Understanding the links between your emotions and how you behave
Remaining calm and composed during stressful situations
Ability to influence others toward a common goal
Handling difficult people with tact and diplomacy
Potential indicators of lower EI:
Often feeling misunderstood
Getting upset easily
Becoming overwhelmed by emotions
Having problems being assertive
It’s important to note that these potential indicators can also stem from other causes and vary significantly depending on the day and situation.
Learning and Developing Emotional Intelligence
As few as ten hours of EI training (i.e., lectures, role-playing, group discussions, and readings) can significantly improve people’s ability to identify and manage their emotions, and these benefits are sustained six months later.
No matter your current EI skillset, it may be helpful to try the following exercises:
Notice how you respond to people — Are you judgmental or biased in your assessments of others?
Practice humility — Being humble about your achievements means you can acknowledge your successes without needing to shout about them.
Be honest with yourself about your strengths and vulnerabilities, and consider opportunities for development. Even though it might make you cringe, it’s helpful to get others’ viewpoints on your emotional intelligence. Ask people how they think you handle tricky situations and respond to the emotions of others.
Think about how you deal with stressful events — Do you seek to blame others? Can you keep your emotions in check?
Take responsibility for your actions and apologize when necessary.
Consider how your choices can affect others — Try to imagine how they might feel before you do something that could affect them.
Interested in further increasing your EI skills? Check out the resources below to get you started.
Whether this is your first job out of school or you’ve been working for 40+ years, it’s important to make sure you’re taking advantage of every opportunity to prepare for your eventual retirement. Most benefit-eligible employees* are aware of and enrolled in the 403(b) Base Retirement Program (BRP) offered by MSU, which consists of a 5% employee contribution of your eligible compensation and a generous university matching contribution of 10% – an immediate two-for-one match of your investment – for a total contribution of 15%. While this provides an excellent foundation for your retirement savings, most employees will eventually want to consider additional savings options for their retirement.
In addition to the BRP, eligible employees also have the option of enrolling in two additional retirement programs: the 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Program and the 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan. Enrollment in one or both optional programs can help employees meet their retirement savings goals, making it easier for them to transition to retirement.
New in 2026: SECURE 2.0 Act and After-Tax Roth Option
Earlier this year, MSU’s retirement plans were enhanced in alignment with the federal SECURE 2.0 Act to include a new requirement and an option for Catch-up contributions as well as a new After-tax Roth Contribution option for all eligible employees. Learn more on the HR webpage, After-Tax Roth and SECURE 2.0 Act.
Answers to Top Questions about Optional Retirement Plans
We’ve compiled a list of the top questions we receive as employees think about enrolling in these optional plans:
Q: Is there a minimum contribution amount required for one of the optional plans? What about a maximum amount?
A: Employees may elect any percentage contribution, as all contributions are based on a percentage of eligible pay. For example, 1.50% would be an acceptable contribution election. Employees wishing to contribute a certain amount, such as $100 per paycheck, can use the calculator to convert a dollar amount to a percentage.
Maximum contribution amounts are set by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) each year. Information on current IRS limits, including Age 50 Catch-up contributions, can be reviewed at Maximizing Your Retirement Plan Contributions.
Q: Does contributing a small amount, such as $25 a month, make a difference in the long run?
A: We encourage employees to work with their financial advisors or retirement vendors for assistance in deciding how much more to contribute. You may be surprised how a small contribution over a long time can impact your retirement account balance, and you may want to take advantage of compounding earnings as you save for retirement.
Q: What are the main differences between the 403(b) Supplemental and the 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan?
A: Generally, the differences are when an individual can access the funds and the loan provisions. Also, the 403(b) Supplemental contributions must be added to the Voluntary 403(b) Base contributions when calculating the IRS maximum contributions, whereas the 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan has a separate IRS maximum limit. A more detailed comparison of the two different optional accounts can be found in the Retirement Plans Comparison chart.
Q: Can I enroll in an optional retirement plan account at any time?
A: Yes, retirement plan elections can be made at any time. This includes beginning or canceling enrollment, increasing or decreasing contribution percentages, and changing vendors. Depending on payroll schedules and deadlines, there may be a delay when contributions start or stop. For more detailed information, please visit the HR website at Enroll or Make Changes to Retirement Plans.
National Insurance Awareness Day (June 28) encourages us to review our insurance options to make sure we’re enrolled in the best plans for our families. As an MSU employee, you have a variety of benefit options available to you beyond just health care and dental plans. While many of these benefits allow you to enroll in or make changes at any time, several require you to sign up, change, or cancel enrollment during the Open Enrollment period in October. If you’re interested in a benefit but unable to sign up right away, review the plan options and make a list of changes you’d like to make so you’re prepared for the upcoming Open Enrollment period in October.
Benefits without an Enrollment Period
The following benefits are available to enroll in, change, or cancel at any time. You’ll find a brief description of each benefit below, and you can click on the benefit name for more details and information on how to enroll/register.
Auto: Find special pricing on insurance for your vehicle through Farmers GroupSelect or Liberty Mutual Insurance.
Educational Assistance: Support staff have access to educational assistance funds to help cover the costs of credit and non-credit professional development opportunities.
Home: Find special pricing on insurance for your home through Farmers GroupSelect or Liberty Mutual Insurance.
Livongo by Teladoc Health: Employees and their dependents enrolled in an MSU health plan can receive diabetes management supplies and coaching at no cost.
Pet: Find special pricing on pet insurance through Nationwide.
Teladoc Health Telemedicine: An online medical care service that gives you 24/7 access to a healthcare professional via web, phone, or mobile app. Use Teladoc to get help for a range of conditions, including cold/flu, bronchitis, allergies, pink eye, dermatology, and more.
Teladoc Medical Experts: Get medical advice from leading medical experts. Whether you need medical questions answered, a diagnosis double-checked, help deciding on a treatment plan, or guidance about a surgery, Teladoc Medical Experts can help.
TruHearing: Some benefit providers offer discounts on hearing aids. Please contact the providers directly to learn more about the discounts they offer.
Benefits with an Enrollment Period
The following benefit options have an enrollment period. This means you can only enroll in, change, or cancel the benefit during Open Enrollment in October each year. We encourage you to review the plans you’re currently enrolled in, along with the options available, and make a plan to make any necessary changes this October. Please note that updates for the 2027 plan year will be shared this September before Open Enrollment in October:
Critical Illness: MetLife gives you extra cash in the event you or a covered family member experiences a covered illness.
Dental: Various plans are available based on your employee type. We encourage you to check which dentists are available in your area before enrolling in a new plan.
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA): There are two FSA options available for employees – Dependent Care FSA and Health Care FSA. Be sure you know the difference before you enroll.
Health Care (including prescription): Various plans are available based on your employee type and work location.
Legal: ARAG currently offers plan options to help cover a wide range of legal needs.
Life/Accident Insurance: Several types of life insurance are available for you to enroll in, along with voluntary Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance.
Vision: Two plan options are available through VSP for vision care.
The Jack Breslin Distinguished Staff Award honors six MSU support staff members annually. Colleagues submit nominations of individuals who demonstrate the qualities of Jack Breslin, who served MSU as a student leader, honored athlete, top administrator, and steadfast advocate, personifying the “Spartan Spirit.”
Congratulations to this year’s recipients: Dana Applebee, Lisa Laughman, Murtaza Lokhandwala, Jamie Lynn Marks, Katie Pease, and Mark Rokita! These recipients display excellence in their job performance, a supportive attitude, and significant contributions to MSU. On May 12, they were honored at an awards ceremony at the new Student Recreation and Wellness Center along with recipients of the Ruth Jameyson “Above and Beyond” and Gliozzo Clerical-Technical Recognition awards.
Dana Applebee
Research Administrator and Fiscal Officer, Charles Stewart Mott Department of Public Health
Dana Applebee is widely regarded as the steady force behind the Charles Stewart Mott Department of Public Health’s remarkable growth. Colleagues describe her as a trusted partner whose financial expertise, calm leadership, and deep empathy allow complex research portfolios to thrive. One nominator shared that Dana ‘quietly clears roadblocks, anticipates needs before they arise, and helps teams move forward with confidence.’ Others emphasized that the department ‘runs better because of Dana,’ noting her ability to see both the big picture and the smallest details while supporting faculty, staff, and community partners with integrity and care.
Training Program Developer IV, University Health and Wellbeing
Lisa Laughman has transformed Spartan Resilience Education at MSU through visionary leadership and deep compassion for the Spartan community. She is credited with building scalable, trauma-informed programs that support emotional wellbeing across campus. A colleague noted that Lisa ‘creates spaces where people feel seen, supported, and empowered,’ while another highlighted her leadership during times of crisis, emphasizing that she helped Spartans ‘process grief, manage stress, and rebuild a sense of community when it was needed most.’
Assistant Director, IT Services, MSU Human Resources
With more than two decades of service, Murtaza Lokhandwala has shaped critical HR and payroll systems that support employees across MSU. Nominators consistently highlighted his ability to pair deep technical expertise with humility and care, describing him as the person who ‘makes things possible where most would not.’ His leadership on large-scale system migrations and his commitment to mentoring others reflect a quiet but transformational impact on the university.
Administrative Business Professional, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering
Jamie Lynn Marks is described as a trusted expert, advocate, and problem solver whose initiative consistently exceeds expectations. Colleagues shared that she ‘leads by example’ and is often the first call for complex HR or facilities challenges. One letter emphasized that she is ‘among the top staff members I have worked with in over 30 years,’ praising her judgment, confidentiality, and unwavering commitment to improving systems for the benefit of faculty, staff, and students.
Senior Business Operations Manager, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams
Katie Pease is widely viewed as the glue that holds FRIB together, particularly during high-stakes federal reviews and executive engagements. Nominators praised her professionalism, strategic coordination, and ability to unite people across the laboratory. One colleague described her as the ‘quiet force who elevates the work of others,’ while another noted that external reviewers routinely single out FRIB’s review process as among the best in the DOE system due to Katie’s leadership.
Operations Supervisor II, Infrastructure Planning and Facilities
Mark Rokita is known across campus for his ‘start with yes’ approach and his exceptional leadership of the IPF Set-Up Crew. Colleagues consistently highlighted his reliability, responsiveness, and ability to deliver under pressure. One nominator shared that ‘we would not be able to accomplish most of what we do without Mark,’ while another called him ‘a pillar of excellence at MSU’ whose leadership and customer-first mindset make IPF shine.
Congratulations to Stephanie Six, this year’s recipient of the Ruth Jameyson “Above and Beyond” Award! This award honors a support staff employee who goes “above and beyond” in the job at MSU while pursuing a graduate degree concurrent with their employment.
Stephanie Six is the Administrative Business Professional for Global Health Studies and Global Health Institute within the College of Osteopathic Medicine and has worked at MSU for more than 15 years. She is pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Technology from Central Michigan University.
You can watch the moment Stephanie discovered she was this year’s award recipient on YouTube.
Colleagues consistently describe Stephanie as a trusted leader with a ‘can do’ attitude who combines deep institutional knowledge with empathy, professionalism, and humor. She was instrumental in launching the MS in Global Health in record time, developing policies, procedures, and systems that ensured both academic rigor and an inclusive, student-centered experience. One nominator noted that she managed the work of several positions during the program’s early growth, always ‘with enthusiasm and grace.’
Stephanie’s commitment to going above and beyond is reflected not only in her work but in her personal pursuit of excellence. While working full-time, she is completing a doctoral degree in Educational Technology, maintaining a 4.0 GPA, and directly applying what she learns to strengthen online teaching, assessment, and accessibility practices within her unit. Faculty credit her with helping them navigate learning technologies, improve course design, and ensure equitable learning environments for diverse students.
Above all, Stephanie is deeply committed to students. She developed and leads orientation and onboarding supports for adult and online learners, meets individually with students to connect them to resources, and consistently advocates for inclusive and trauma-informed practices. Even while managing significant personal health challenges, she continues to take on additional responsibilities and ensure students and colleagues feel supported and valued. As one colleague shared, Stephanie ‘approaches all of her work with excellence, patience, and genuine care.’
The Awards Ceremony
On May 12, Stephanie was honored at an awards ceremony at the Student Recreation and Wellness Center that also included the Gliozzo Clerical-Technical Recognition and Jack Breslin Distinguished Staff awards. Ray Gasser, committee chair, acknowledged Stephanie’s hard work and achievements during the ceremony. A recording of the whole event is available below or on YouTube.
In the event space at the Student Recreation and Wellness Center, Stephanie Six, 2026 recipient of the Ruth Jameyson Above and Beyond Award, hugs a colleague.
At the podium, Stephanie gives her remarks accepting the 2026 Ruth Jameyson Above and Beyond Award.
Stephanie poses with her certificate and university President, Kevin Guskiewicz and committee chair Ray Gasser.
Stephanie’s table at the awards event, featuring her plaque and personal items.
Stephanie poses with colleagues and her certificate at the awards event photo booth.
Stephanie in the photo booth at the awards event.
We’d also like to thank the selection committee members for this award: Chairperson Ray Gasser, Nancy Craig, Shelby Gombosi, Tammi Harmon, Mike Rice, and Joan Smith. We greatly appreciate your time and effort!
About the Ruth Jameyson Above and Beyond Award
The annual Ruth Jameyson “Above and Beyond” award recognizes a support staff member who most closely exemplifies the contributions, personal characteristics, and commitment to MSU demonstrated by Ms. Jameyson, going “above and beyond” what is reasonably expected to support the mission of MSU. In recognition of Ms. Jameyson’s pursuit of a graduate degree while working at MSU, the award recipient must be pursuing a graduate degree at MSU or elsewhere, concurrent with their employment at MSU.
Ms. Ruth Jameyson, who died in 2007 at the age of 100 years served as secretary to MSU President Robert S. Shaw from 1938 to 1941 and secretary/administrative assistant to President John A. Hannah from 1941 to 1969. She served as both greeter and gatekeeper to the numerous students, faculty, and staff seeking to meet Dr. Hannah, as well as dignitaries from around the globe. Ms. Jameyson accepted roles and responsibilities far beyond her formal job description. Having arrived in Lansing with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Coe College, Iowa, Ms. Jameyson pursued a master’s in economics at MSU while working full-time. Learn more on the HR web page, Ruth Jameyson Above and Beyond Award.
This award has been created and funded by friends of Ruth Jameyson: Barbara Sawyer-Koch, MSU trustee emerita, and Donald F. Koch, MSU professor emeritus.
