Category: Leadership Message

With Gratitude on National Employee Appreciation Day

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Dear Colleagues,  

At MSU, we all play an essential part in something bigger, driven by purpose, passion, and our collective dedication to excellence. Your contributions make MSU an environment conducive to innovation, learning, and impactful experiences for students, colleagues, and the broader community alike. Your dedication helps shape that experience! 

National Employee Appreciation Day is an opportunity to appreciate all that our amazing workforce contributes every day. MSU thrives because of you and your hard work, creativity, and unwavering commitment to our shared mission. 

Though our appreciation goes beyond what can be expressed in words, we partnered with university supervisors to share just a few of the words that come to mind when considering the positive qualities of our outstanding teams:

Word cloud with the following words: Collaboration, Team work, Trust, Proud, Integrity, Kind, Spartan, Innovative, Dedications, Super Star, Gidinawendimin, MVP, Strong, Admired, Flexible, Fun, Joy, Talent, Thoughtful, Cherished, Inspired, care, Respect, Positive, Generous, Thankful, Real, Amazing, Selfless, Praise, Compassion, Amazing, Friendly, Creative, Calm, Diligent, Mission-drive, HEart, Partners, Persistent, Unlimited, Supportive, Love, Helpful, Gift, Authentic, Camaraderie, Motivated, Synergistic, Top Notch, Problem Solvers, Bright, Valued, Dynamic, Unwavering, Thrilled, Fantastic, Elite, Solutions Oriented, Humble, Appreciative.

While today marks an official recognition of our appreciation, gratitude is something to express on an ongoing basis. Take a moment to celebrate your accomplishments, recognize the achievements of your colleagues, and reflect on the meaningful ways you contribute to MSU’s success. 

Thank you for being part of such an exceptional community! Your participation makes MSU what it is today. 


With Sincere Gratitude,  

Donna Donovan
Interim Associate Vice President for Human Resources

Photo credits: The opening image is a compilation of Spartan Employee Spotlight series photos.
1. (Top left) Landscape Services hosting the “Tree”mendous Care event for students in MSU’s Department of Forestry. Photo by Gabbi Ahlborn. 2. (Bottom Left) Hasina Saraha is an academic specialist teaching chemistry in Michigan State University’s Lyman Briggs College. Photo by Greg Kohuth. 3. (Middle top left) Jainaba Fall, a buyer on the IT Procurement team, works to strategically source, negotiate, and issue orders for IT products. Photo by Derrick L. Turner. 4. (Middle) Stationary engineer Frank Trout (seated) and Tony Mitchner, the skilled trades supervisor for power plant operations, monitor plant operations. Photo by Gabbi Ahlborn. 5. (Middle bottom) Power plant technicians Carl Kobb (right) and Levi Dysinger review online equipment documentation while working to calibrate a new steam flow transmitter. Photo by Gabbi Ahlborn. 6. (Middle top right) Sara Olsztyn is one of seven neighborhood administrative coordinators at Michigan State University. Photo by Greg Kohuth. 7. (Top Right) Communications Manager Dana Whyte spends game day at the MSU Emergency Operations Center. Photo by Derrick L. Turner. 8. (Bottom Right) Sharod Williams is a research assistant in the Genomics Core. Photo by Greg Kohuth.

From the VP of HR: Welcome to a New Academic Year!

Published on by MSU Human ResourcesLeave a comment
Christina K. Brogdon, PHR, Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer
Christina K. Brogdon, PHR, Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer

Dear Spartan Colleagues,

I am excited to welcome everyone to a new academic year! As we embrace a fresh start this fall, I’m reflecting on the outstanding growth we’ve experienced here in HR. We have new leaders and staff in Benefits, Compensation, Employee and Labor Relations, and Talent. This growth allows our team to enhance our services and continue providing the Spartan community with extraordinary experiences every day.

In addition to this growth, I’m proud of many accomplishments from MSU HR in the last year including enhancements that benefit the Spartan Community such as the New Leader Development Program, Modified Operations policy, a new out-of-state health care plan, and an enhanced dental plan. We are here for you!

In the upcoming year, HR will continue its transformation to Produce and Perform with new initiatives that include Total Rewards, Talent Management, a renewed focus on Employee Engagement and Experience, and Operational Excellence. I’m also looking forward to starting a new academic year under the leadership of President Guskiewicz, a Tar-Heel-turned-Spartan like me! He is a strategic and service-oriented leader who will continue moving the university upward in its mission of education, research, and outreach. I share in his excitement for what’s in front of us.

Finally, I’d like to reiterate the message from President Guskiewicz regarding civil discourse in our community. As he mentioned, we all have a role to play in building a more inclusive community. While it’s okay that we don’t all agree, we should always demonstrate empathy and intellectual humility while exercising our freedom of speech. To support our employees as they engage in respectful civil discourse, a page is available on the HR website, Civil Discourse for Employees, with answers to frequently asked questions and additional resources. Let’s go into this new academic year supporting one another and demonstrating our Spartan Will to the community and beyond.

Thank you for your continued dedication to the University, our students, and our land-grant mission. On behalf of Human Resources, I wish you a safe, healthy, and successful academic year in which you take advantage of fresh opportunities and new beginnings.

Go Green!

Christina K. Brogdon, PHR
Vice President of Human Resources