Three MGI Professors honored with university-wide awards
Three members from the Department of Microbiology, Genetics, & Immunology, or MGI,
were recently recognized with university-wide awards: MSU Research Foundation Professor
Shannon Manning was awarded the William J. Beal Outstanding Faculty Award; Assistant
Professor Andrew Olive was selected for the MSU Teacher-Scholar Award; and University
Distinguished Professor Edward “Ned” Walker received the 2024 Ralph H. Smuckler Award
for Advancing International Studies at MSU.
Shannon Manning honored with William J. Beal Outstanding Faculty Award
Manning was awarded the William J. Beal Outstanding Faculty Award for "outstanding
total service to the university” in the areas of teaching, research, service, and
community outreach, among others.
2024 William J. Beal Outstanding Faculty Award recipient
Shannon Manning
“An award that seeks to recognize faculty for ‘outstanding total service to the university’ is perfectly suited for Shannon, considering her outstanding work,” says MGI Chair Victor DiRita, “She is an exceptional colleague in the department and for others across the university and in her field fortunate to work with her, including her students and trainees … Shannon is as high an achiever as there is at Michigan State.”
Manning’s research focuses on infectious diseases and microbial pathogenesis.
“The Manning group has made major inroads in understanding the transmission and virulence of bacterial pathogens,” said Chris Waters, a professor in MGI, in his nomination letter for Manning. “Whereas many microbiologists study a limited number of bacterial strains in the lab, Dr. Manning’s centers around large-scale studies of hundreds of bacterial pathogens in the real world.”
Additionally, Manning is a devoted teacher and mentor to her lab trainees.
“Illustrative of her exceptional mentoring activities, she received the 2016 Best Mentor Award from the National Postdoctoral Association and the 2017 Outstanding Academic Advisor Award from the College of Natural Science,” Waters said. “Furthermore, she has been highly supportive of the many postdocs (18), graduate students (25), and undergraduate students (33) associated with her lab over the years, including their receipt of over 80 mentee awards and honors due, in part, to her efforts.”
Manning also excels in the level and quantity of service she provides.
“She has served on the thesis committees of 52 students since 2009, which is the most in the MGI department,” Waters said.
She has also served on and chaired multiple departmental and university-wide committees and volunteers at local elementary schools, giving a presentation entitled, “What does a scientist look like?”
This is the latest award in a decorated career for Manning. She earned the 2024 American Society for Microbiology, or ASM, Alice C. Evans Award for the Advancement of Women. ASM also selected Manning for the ASM’s honorary fellowship group, the American Academy of Microbiology, in 2023 and named her an ASM Distinguished Lecturer in 2021 — the same year she received the MSU College of Natural Science Meritorious Faculty Award.
Andrew Olive selected for MSU Teacher-Scholar Award
Olive is this year’s honoree for the MSU Teacher-Scholar Award, bestowed upon a young faculty member who demonstrates exceptional skill and devotion to teaching.
2023-2024 MSU Teacher-Scholar Award recipient
Andrew Olive
“Dr. Olive has transformed the teaching of immunology at Michigan State University with an emphasis on critical thinking and active student engagement that has inspired many students and garnered enthusiastic praise at all levels,” said Jonathan Hardy, an associate professor in MGI, in his nomination letter.
“Students themselves frequently describe how Dr. Olive’s course emphasizes learning rather than memorization with comments such as: ‘Dr. Olive is an excellent instructor. One of the few instructors who is truly a master of the material he teaches. No question is too big for him, and his intelligence shines in the way that he teaches.’ ‘…this was the most well organized and taught class in my entire undergraduate career.’ ‘I love, love, loved this course! Challenging material but Dr. Olive presents information in an engaging way that helps you to effectively learn.’”
Olive joined MSU in 2018 and has been teaching Microbiology and Molecular Genetics 451 Immunology every fall for the past five years and also lectures in Osteopathic Medicine 520 Behavioral Medicine System.
“There is often a perception that faculty members can be great at teaching or research, but not both,” says Hardy, “Dr. Olive clearly shows this is not true. His research laboratory is funded with over half a million dollars in annual grants and has 15 members from undergraduate students to postdocs. Yet, he is a passionate, engaging teacher who not only utilizes the most current teaching pedagogy, but also is able to integrate cutting-edge immunology research from his own laboratory into the classroom.”
"I view teaching undergraduates to think critically and understand immunology as one
of my greatest responsibilities as a faculty member in MGI,” says Olive. “I am beyond honored to be selected for this award as it reflects my efforts to support student
learning, to help students learn to think like scientists, and to prepare students
for their future careers. I am so thankful for the support I have received from MGI,
MSU and most importantly, the undergraduates who have helped me to develop a cutting-edge
educational experience that drives true learning rather than just memorization."
Manning and Olive will receive their awards at a ceremony on Wednesday, May 1, 2024,
from 3:30-5:30 p.m. at the Kellogg Center.
Edward “Ned” Walker awarded Ralph H. Smuckler Award for Advancing International Studies at MSU
Walker is this year’s recipient of the Smuckler Award, which recognizes a faculty
or staff member who has demonstrated significant and sustained commitment to international
activities.
2024 Ralph H. Smuckler Award recipient
Edward “Ned” Walker
Walker is an internationally recognized expert in illnesses borne by insect vectors,
specifically those transmitted by mosquitoes, ticks and tsetse flies. His research
focuses on understanding the processes involved in disease development and transmission,
and he couples that with efforts to monitor the spread of the diseases and to minimize
transmission. He has worked in Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Honduras, Madagascar, Puerto Rico, the Philippines and Papau
New Guinea.
“MSU is justifiably proud of its reputation as a land-grant university with a global
impact, and no MSU faculty member embodies this value more than Ned,” said DiRita
and Manning in their nomination of Walker.
“He continually steps forward to serve his home departments, the institution and the broader scientific community,” they said. “His scientific offspring will amplify his impact on microbiology and the world at large for many years. Without question, Ned has distinguished himself, and richly deserves recognition for his important international work and accomplishments.”
“I regard internationalism as a personal philosophy,” Walker said. “I work to promote it, and I view humanity as globally connected citizens of one common home, our shared planet earth. This higher calling supersedes the contending nationalistic allegiances. I find international programs to be extraordinarily challenging to initiate and sustain, often requiring great sacrifices, but at the same time highly rewarding. I am grateful that Michigan State University supports and encourages international programs, and that it recognizes and rewards individual and programmatic efforts in this regard.”
Walker’s award will be conferred at a ceremony on Wednesday, April 24, at 3:30 p.m. in the MSU Federal Credit Union Club on the fourth floor of Spartan Stadium.
