2023-24 Recipient
Jerry Kooiman, Assistant Dean and Chief External Relations Officer at the MSU College of Human Medicine, epitomizes exceptional leadership and dedication, making him an outstanding candidate for the Simmons Chivukula Award for Academic Leadership. Throughout his 16-year tenure at MSU, Jerry’s transformative impact has been undeniable, shaping the college’s trajectory and fostering invaluable partnerships that extend far beyond the confines of academia.
Jerry’s journey with the College of Human Medicine began with a clear vision of community integration and collaboration. His instrumental role in securing the first grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation laid the foundation for expanding the college’s footprint into Flint, personifying his commitment to community-based participatory research. His tireless efforts engaging in over 80 community meetings and collecting extensive feedback underscore his dedication to inclusive decision-making and partnership building.
Jerry’s leadership extends far beyond Flint, as evidenced by his pivotal role in establishing new campuses across Michigan, including Traverse City, Midland, and Detroit. His ability to forge meaningful connections and navigate complex partnerships has been instrumental in these expansions, enriching both the educational experience and research opportunities for students and faculty alike.
Furthermore, Jerry’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is exemplified through initiatives such as the Early Assurance Program, aimed at increasing student diversity and accessibility. His advocacy for disadvantaged students and his efforts in negotiating matriculation agreements with numerous institutions underscore his dedication to equity in education.
In addition to his groundbreaking work in community engagement and campus expansion, Jerry has been a driving force behind the development of innovative initiatives such as the Grand Rapids Innovation Park. His collaborative approach in bringing together stakeholders, securing funding, and recruiting tenants has been pivotal in shaping this transformative project, marking a significant milestone in advancing health innovation and research.
Jerry’s leadership extends beyond his formal roles, as evidenced by his active involvement in various committees and strategic planning initiatives at both the college and university levels. His unwavering commitment to collective wisdom and collaboration embodies the spirit of academic leadership, driving meaningful change and fostering a culture of excellence.
In recognition of his exceptional leadership, dedication, and profound impact on the College of Human Medicine and beyond, Jerry Kooiman is unequivocally deserving of the Simmons Chivukula Award for Academic Leadership. His legacy of innovation, collaboration, and community engagement serves as an inspiration to us all.
2022-23 Recipient
The 2022-23 honoree for the Simmons Chivukula Award for Academic Leadership is truly a man for the moment. Stepping up and stepping in to take on a leadership role as the Chairperson of the Department of Theatre as an assistant professor was the start of the exceptional journey of Kirk A. Domer.
In his ten years as chairperson, Professor Domer devoted his life to the department’s expansion and building recognition of its indispensability to the university and the community. Assuming responsibility for the department as a junior faculty member demonstrated his commitment to the department and demonstrated that his leadership style was born from a deep understanding of faculty and staff needs at various stages in their careers and lives. His mantra of innovation and renovation inspired the department’s growth in new faculty, professional development, and increased enrollment in degree programs in Theatre and Dance.
A multidisciplinary award-winning professional, Professor Domer was willing to risk, reexamine, and recreate theatre at MSU as a designer, educator, and administrator. He succeeded in facility (re)design, imaginative curriculum development, and integrative academic, professional, and community-based service. His vision and commitment to the disciplinary needs and safety concerns for faculty and students inspired the Friends of Theatre at MSU to raise $1,150,000 to create a permanent home for Summer Circle Theatre, and the Kirk A. Domer Summer Circle Fellowship. Known as a financial whiz, he succeeded in optimizing limited resources to improve productions and expand programming. As an ambassador for the department, the College of Arts and Letters (CAL) development team fundraising achieved unparalleled growth in giving.
Professor Domer championed the development of innovative educational opportunities at MSU, co-designing the inaugural CAL Study Away in NYC, serving as the inaugural Creative Director for the CAL Creativity Exploratory which combines the diverse strengths of faculty and students to create unique digital projects, and co-created the Certification in College Teaching for Performing Arts. He nurtured strong relationships with community groups and professional theatres to enhance opportunities for students and community members, including the Friends of Theatre at MSU, Williamston Theatre, OpenSpot Theatre Company, Michigan Educational Theatre Association, Kennedy Center American College Theatre. OpenSpot Theatre, a theatre program for neurodiverse children and the ĭmáGen program with Wharton Center connecting Broadway professionals with MSU students stand as remarkable accomplishments that enrich MSU for the long term. Professor Domer collaborated across campus, serving as a board member for the MSU Employee Pride and Inclusion Coalition, coordinating inclusive excellence initiatives through the Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion and serving on the CAL Inclusive Practices Committee.
Students and faculty success are tangible results of his leadership. Professor Domer’s supervisory style of respect and trust, along with his investments in their development, allowed students and faculty to grow, advance and become award winning professionals in their own rights. His collaborative spirit and interest in championing individuals is truly remarkable.
Professor Domer’s leadership is a gift. His journey to serving as Acting Associate Dean for Academic Personnel and Administration, College of Arts & Letters, department chair, author, artist, advocate and educator is a celebration of inclusion and accomplishment. Dr Kirk Domer’s success comes down to his commitment to listen and then encourage participation from all corners of the department, the community and the university, and this makes him a most worthy recipient of the this year’s Simmons Chivukula Award for Academic Leadership.
2021-22 Recipient
Dr. Victor J. DiRita has been recognized for his work as the chairperson of the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, where he also instructs. The award recognizes consistent excellence in leadership as measured by a variety of attributes including collaboration, empathy, humility, and transformation.
DiRita has served as chairperson since 2015, when he came to MSU from the University of Michigan’s Medical School where he had served as first Assistant and then Associate Dean. During his time as chairperson, DiRita has sought to improve DEI practices among both students and staff at the committee and individual levels. Together with the faculty advisory committee, DiRita created a new annual review form geared towards teaching faculty after recognizing that the existing form was slanted towards faculty members who conduct research. Dr. DiRita also created the Work-In-Progress Seminars, where graduate and postdoctoral students hone their oral presentation skills while enhancing faculty engagement with student projects. DiRita has also fit the award’s criteria of promoting the success of others, having consistently encouraged department staff to nominate their deserving colleagues for university and national awards.
Describing his leadership philosophy, DiRita says “Everyone should feel included and recognized for their work, and if not, that is a failure of leadership”. Over the past seven years that DiRita has been chair, he has created and bolstered numerous department initiatives designed to serve the needs of students, researchers, and instructors. In addition to his work as chairperson, DiRita also researches, in conjunction with several other scholars, the pathogenicity of microbes that cause human disease. DiRita was also the 2020-2021 president of the American Society for Microbiology and has served as an editor for multiple journals in the industry. The university thanks Dr. DiRita for his substantial contributions as a faculty member and academic leader.
2020-21 Recipient
Dr. Alan Smith is the Chairperson for the Department of Kinesiology at Michigan State. In the department, he leads a significant undergraduate (≈1300) and graduate student enrollment (≈100), 18 tenure-stream and 4 fixed-term faculty, 4 support staff, and a large number of instructional staff composed of graduate teaching assistants and part-time instructors. This department represents a very diverse and highly complex unit.
The common themes that emerge regarding Dr. Alan Smith’s leadership are his vision, humility, the way he treats others with dignity, respect, and compassion, and how much he cares about the success and growth of others. Other remarkable qualities are Dr. Smith’s attention to detail, inclusion, openness, honesty, and transparency in decision making and his capacity to bring others together around a common purpose. These attributes and many more make Dr. Smith an excellent fit for the Simmons Chivukula Award for Academic Leadership.
Steadfast and even-handed in his support of department faculty, staff and students, Dr. Smith demonstrates his commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion by fostering an inclusive and equitable environment in student recruitment, faculty hiring, committee assignments, and workloads. Regularly consulting with faculty to assess and appreciate their needs, as well as the demands placed on them, Dr. Smith takes these factors into account when he allocates tasks and does so with the highest level of transparency. He never hesitates to seek counsel on various issues, an indicator of continuous learning and improvement.
Within the realm of empowerment, success, and development of others, Dr. Smith expanded faculty and student research productivity in the Kinesiology department. He achieved this by promoting and leading a culture of 100% faculty participation in submitting external grants. This led to increased resources for faculty research and a corresponding increase in research productivity. Overall, Dr. Smith exceeds the criteria for the Simmons Chivukula Award for Academic Leadership. He is an inspiring advocate for the Kinesiology department within the College of Education, across the MSU community, and the greater field of Kinesiology. Dr. Smith is an exceptional leader with great vision, leading by example and inspiring others to succeed.
2019-20 Recipient
Dr. David Rayl is the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research in the College of Music, a role he has held since 2006. He is also the college’s Faculty Excellence Advocate. Dr. Rayl’s responsibilities involve working directly with graduate students, faculty, academic specialists, and support staff. His nominators highlighted the range of areas in which he both leads and manages, including curriculum, mentoring, and budget, as well as his coordination of the college’s early music concert series and directorship of their choral programs. The committee was particularly impressed with Dr. Rayl’s scope of influence, which extends into the community and is exemplified by the 18 individuals in diverse roles who signed his nomination letter. The letter described Dr. Rayl’s intelligence and ability to see the “big picture”. It thoughtfully described the characteristics he displays when dealing with individuals – exhibiting respect, compassion, integrity, and openness to new ideas, as well as his advocacy for diverse students in the College of Music. The nomination noted that “the reason [he] should win this award is people: all of the people whose work is better because of Dr. Rayl’s mentoring, who graduate and succeed professionally because of his advising and support, who benefit daily from his wisdom and fairness, and who aspire to be future academic leaders because they have witnessed how astonishingly well the job can be done and how much of a difference it can make.”
2018-19 Recipients
Rex LaMore is Director of the Center for Community and Economic Development in MSU’s Office of Outreach and Engagement, a role he has held since 1977. He has been responsible for planning and supervising the development of numerous training, applied research, technical assistance, and community development projects. This leadership involves federal, state, and privately funded research and outreach partnerships, and has had substantial impact on international community development activities. Rex advances MSU’s land-grant mission by creating, applying, and disseminating valued knowledge through responsive engagement, strategic partnerships, and collaborative learning. He focuses on empowering students, faculty and staff in partnership with public and private entities to create sustainable prosperity and an equitable society. His nominators highlight that “his leadership style creates a feeling of teamwork, and he seeks to elicit the best from everyone.”
Kelly Millenbah serves as Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. She has been in this role since 2013, and is responsible for a very wide range of activities associated with research, outreach, budget, and academic programming. Prior to this position, she was an Associate Dean in Lyman Briggs College (2010-2013). According to her nominators, Kelly “believes that to succeed, you must value, empower and enable the people surrounding you. [She] does this selflessly, lacking any reservation or insecurity. With this approach she progresses not only the vision she has established for [her office], but serves as an integral leader for CANR, MSU and the higher education industry.” Kelly recognizes the substantial challenges facing MSU and our students, and works tirelessly toward improvement across numerous types of initiatives and programming, always placing an emphasis on listening and taking into account diverse perspectives and opinions.