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.

Watch Dana’s surprise reveal video on YouTube.

Lisa Laughman

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.’

Watch Lisa’s surprise reveal video on YouTube.

Murtaza Lokhandwala

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.

Watch Murtaza’s surprise reveal video on YouTube.

Jamie Lynn Marks

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.

Watch Jamie’s surprise reveal video on YouTube.

Katie Pease

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.

Watch Katie’s surprise reveal video on YouTube.

Mark Rokita

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.

Watch Mark’s surprise reveal video on YouTube.

Congratulations again to all award recipients! Learn more about the Jack Breslin Distinguished Staff award on the HR webpage, Jack Breslin Distinguished Staff Award, where you can also view the event program and a recording of the full event.

All photo credits: Dane Robison/TimeFramePhoto

All video credit: Cheeney Media Concepts

A 2024 report by SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) revealed the critical importance of prioritizing a positive workplace culture to motivate and retain employees. SHRM’s report reveals that “83% of those who rate their workplace culture as good or excellent are motivated to produce high-quality work as compared to 45% of those in poor or terrible cultures.”

Michigan State University’s “MSU 2030” Strategic Plan acknowledges the imperative of “attracting and retaining top talent in an environment where staff and faculty can do their best work, individually and collaboratively.” MSU is also committed to a “best-in-class workplace culture and welcoming environment in which excellence and opportunity thrive.”

Knowing the importance of a positive workplace culture, how it’s prioritized in MSU 2030, and fueled by data from our recent workplace climate surveys, MSU Human Resources formed a committee representing the many business areas within MSU HR to focus on tangible ways to prioritize and improve workplace culture and communication within our unit. Formally connected last fall, the committee has worked closely with MSU HR staff and leadership to begin implementing systems and processes that promote a positive workplace culture and enhanced communication. We are still learning, taking input from our colleagues, and developing more ideas, but this article shares how we started for those who might be looking for inspiration on how to boost culture and communication within their own teams.

Internal Photo Directory & Knowledge Framework – We put faces to names, learned who to contact for what, and how each of the many teams within MSU HR support other HR teams, systems, processes, and the university. Better access to this information has a positive impact on both communication and culture.

Peer to Peer Recognition: Spartan Snaps – We use a digital platform accessible to onsite and remote staff to recognize one another for outstanding work in big and small ways on a platform visible to everyone in MSU HR. This fun form of public recognition helps motivate and connect staff in valuable ways.

Events and Gatherings – Last fall, MSU HR enjoyed a weekday tailgate where they enjoyed a break from work, good food, and each other’s company. We’ve also participated as a team in the Izzo Legacy Foundation’s 5k event the last two years, seeing a jump in participation this year. We also prioritize regular opportunities to meet as a department to share important updates from leadership and all areas within MSU HR at regular All-Staff meetings. Finally, our new MSU HR Teams channel has allowed everyone to connect in a new way, getting updates from leaders that don’t get lost in our inboxes, and enjoying a “watercooler” space where we share fun updates like photos from Take Your Child to Work Day, plant propagations to take home, takeaways from conferences and more.

Through contributions like these from our committee and the efforts of HR leadership and staff, MSU HR’s next climate survey results improved by 16% overall, with the most significant improvement in areas of communication and culture, including a 63% improvement in the belief that there is honest communication within HR and a 43% improvement in HR being considered a great place to work.

These are just some of the ways MSU HR has recently made strides toward a more positive workplace culture and enhanced communication within our department. We also acknowledge that each workplace and department has people with a variety of needs and preferences, resulting in different interpretations of the ideal culture. We continue to seek ways to address the diverse needs of our talented team and we will continue to implement new ideas, processes and systems that fit MSU HR.

Sources:

• SHRM Report: Workplace Culture Fosters Employee Retention Worldwide (December 12, 2024)
• MSU 2030 Strategic Plan: Staff and Faculty Success