Michigan State University’s Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion will present two of the Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Awards to ComArtSci recipients, February 6, 2025.
Celebrating Excellence in DEI: ComArtSci Honorees Shine
ComArtSci is proud to celebrate two outstanding recipients of MSU’s Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Awards (EDEIA). This program recognizes innovative and sustained efforts in advancing DEI across teaching, research, programming and organizational change — reflecting MSU’s commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable academic community.
Established in 1990, the EDEIA program is among the first of its kind nationwide. This year, ComArtSci’s Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Professor Susan McFarlane-Alvarez received top honors in the unit and individual categories, respectively, for their impactful work.
Unit Award: ComArtSci DEI
The ComArtSci Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion has been instrumental in creating pathways for students and supporting a college-wide culture of embracing diverse perspectives. Led by Director Lauren J. Gaines, Ph.D. and Project and Events Coordinator Jada Flowers, this dynamic duo have evolved the program from a grassroots effort into a leading force for inclusive excellence.
Nominees cited two major initiatives in their recommendation for the Unit EDEIA. “The MSU Ignite and Ignite the Future programs exemplify the power of intentional, student-centered education, equipping students transitioning to ComArtSci with the tools, confidence, and support to thrive academically and professionally,” said Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Education, Kari Schueller Lopez.
The MSU Ignite summer bridge program is a week-long residential experience for incoming first-year students, while the larger Ignite the Future (ITF) initiative builds on this foundation, offering a multi-year career pipeline program that connects students with professional development and industry opportunities. Gaines noted that this holistic model has increased student success, retention and a strong sense of belonging among participants and throughout the college.
“The scale and impact of the MSU Ignite and ITF programs demonstrate the commitment of our faculty and staff to ensuring our students thrive during their time at MSU,” remarked Heidi Hennink-Kaminski, Dean of the College of Communication Arts and Sciences. “We’re grateful for the support of our community and corporate partners that make the significant investment of time, resources, and expertise possible.”
Indeed, leading these programs is just a part of what the ComArtSci DEI office does. In addition to regularly hosting student-centered events like “Love, ComArtSci,” Healthy Homecoming and providing an inclusive annual calendar of celebrations and observances, the office collaborates with faculty and staff to provide professional development, implement inclusive hiring practices, cultivate equitable teaching, and nurture college climate and culture.
“There is a trickle-down effect in how we approach professional development opportunities and education for faculty and staff, particularly those who are student-facing,” said Gaines. “We focus on equipping our community to support our students and each other because that’s what makes an impact when we’re looking at the climate and culture of a college, of an organization.”
“Everything that we do and have been doing is trying to open doors; for us to be able to support more students and to really broaden our reach around the college and the university,” said Flowers. “That really is our goal.”
Download the 2025 ComArtSci Celebration and Observance Calendar
Individual Award: Susan McFarlane-Alvarez
Earning the Individual-Level EDEIA is Department of Advertising + Public Relations Professor Susan McFarlane-Alvarez, whose colleagues praised her ability to foster inclusive spaces and amplify a diverse range of voices. They noted that McFarlane-Alvarez, who is the founding director of the Communication Solutions for a Diverse Society (CS4DS) consortium, bridges academia and practice through initiatives like the CS4DS Symposium as well as her co-edited textbook, “Different Together,” which examines the history and challenges of representing diverse identities in the field of advertising and public relations.
“She is a talented educator, an imaginative researcher, and a caring citizen of our MSU academic community,” said Associate Professor Anastasia G. Kononova. “She consistently shows dedication, the ability to work through difficulties, and an innate capacity to focus on outcomes and change within the community and beyond.”
Her contributions have been enriched through collaboration within the CS4DS consortium she facilitates — which is comprised of 12 faculty members throughout the college. “I want to give recognition to our collective, transformative work in both research and practice.” said McFarlane-Alvarez. “Together, we share insights on issues related to equity and inclusion and consider the unique position of Communication Arts and Sciences to co-create solutions to today’s challenges, whether it’s within our college, across campus, or with our global partners.”
This year, CS4DS will examine the intersection between access, inclusion and sustainability. “As are our industry partners, we are very interested in the fact that the quest for the Triple Bottom Line — people, planet and prosperity — by corporations and institutions is directly affecting vulnerable populations,” McFarlane-Alvarez said. The consortium plans to host an upcoming panel and workshop “exploring what this means in the areas of communication arts and sciences research, and our areas of industrial professional practice.”
“As we talk about sustainability, access, and inclusion, we keep coming back to the idea of resilience,” said McFarlane-Alvarez. “We recognize the value of persistence, and responsiveness to the changing world around us. That sense of resilience emerges because of the support we bring to each other, and in recognizing the significance of our collaborative work.”
The EDEIA ceremony will take place on Thursday, February 6, 2025, at the University Club in Lansing, Michigan, where recipients will be honored for their work.
By: Jessica Mussell