Overview

Established in Fall 2022, the university awards the title "Red Cedar Distinguished Professor" to selected current and new faculty to assist MSU in recruitment, recognition, and retention of outstanding faculty at all academic ranks, with the primary aim of enhancing the stature of the institution in research and creative activity. Successful candidates tend to be associate and full professors, though more senior assistant professors about to go up for tenure may also be successful.

There are two tracks for this award:

1. Research-intensive track, for which the candidate must combine externally recognized, exemplary scholarly accomplishment with clear professional relevance to specific areas of MSU scholarly need, disciplinary development, or research or creative emphasis. This track should also demonstrate research leadership in their discipline.
2. Balanced track, for which the candidate must demonstrate proof of excellence in research, teaching and service.

Requests for this title are made by a college Dean and approved by the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, and the Vice President for Research and Innovation. Once submitted, the form below will be routed to the Office of Research and Innovation.

Evaluation Criteria

Nominations for the Red Cedar Professorship are evaluated based on the nominee’s accomplishments across several domains. Criteria vary by track:

Red Cedar Professorship – Balanced Track

• Research: Evidence of exemplary scholarly accomplishments.
• Service: Evidence of exceptional service in departmental and college roles, and in local, national, or international settings that build upon the faculty member’s professional and scholarly expertise.
• Teaching: Evidence of exceptional contributions to the teaching mission, including national recognition of pedagogy contributions.
• Other Contributions: Including service, academic administration, and governance.

Red Cedar Professorship – Research Track

• Research: Evidence of exemplary scholarly accomplishments.
• Service: Evidence of exceptional service in departmental and college roles, and in local, national, or international settings that build upon the faculty member’s professional and scholarly expertise.
• Other Contributions: Including service, academic administration, and governance.

Nomination Process

Submission materials for the online form should include:

1. Letter of nomination from the Dean(s).
2. Substantial and laudatory written assessment of the accomplishments and/or prospects of the awardee from external peer reviewers.
3. Current CV of the nominee.

Support for item #2 may include evidence such as:

• Letters of recommendation
• Referee reports from scholarly publications and grant proposals
• Published critical reviews of professional books, film, art exhibits, musical, dance or theatre performance, or other similar creative activity.
• Citations from externally awarded prizes or honorary degrees.

Upon selection, the nominating dean and awardee will be notified of approval by the Office of Research and Innovation, and the home college of the professor will prepare an announcement to the University community. Nominations for Red Cedar Distinguished Professorships are accepted throughout the year and reviewed by committee in the Fall and Spring semesters. New Red Cedar Distinguished Professors are invited to the university investiture event held in the fall.

The next deadline for nominations will be September 30, 2025.

For any questions, please contact:

Brooke Gallagher-Rademacher
Chief of Staff
Office of Research and Innovation
Email galla106@msu.edu
517-355-0306

Red Cedar Distinguished Professors

Year designates the fiscal/academic year of the appointment.

Ángel Abuelo, 2025, College of Veterinary Medicine, Large Animal Clinical Sciences

Kriste Cetin, 2025, College of Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering 

Michael Dease, 2025, College of Music, Jazz Studies

Patrick Edger, 2024, College of Agriculture and Natural Science, Department of Horticulture

Kevin Elliott, 2025, Lyman Briggs College, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife

Sarah Evans, 2024, College of Natural Science, Integrative Biology, Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Program

Marisa Fisher, 2025, College of Education, Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology & Special Education

Aline Godfroid, 2025, College of Arts & Letters, Department of Linguistics, Languages, and Cultures 

Jackie Goodway, 2025, College of Education, Department of Kinesiology

Gina Leinninger, 2024, College of Natural Science, Department of Physiology

Zhaojian Li, 2024, College of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Michelle Moyd, 2023, College of Social Science, Department of History

Karin Pfeiffer, 2024, College of Education, Institute for the Study of Youth Sports

Yadu Pokhrel, 2025, College of Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Kristen Renn, 2025, College of Education, Department of Educational Administration (Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education)

Phillip Rumrill, 2026, College of Education, Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology & Special Education

Shin-Han Shiu, 2024, College of Natural Science, Department of Computational Mathematics, Science and Engineering, Plant Biology

Irving Vega, 2023, College of Human Medicine, Department of Translational Neuroscience

Minami Yoda, 2024, College of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Elise Zipkin, 2024, College of Natural Science, Integrative Biology, Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Program