ComArtSci Community and Friends,
Campus feels different once commencement passes. The pace doesn’t slow — not here — but the rhythm shifts. Hallways quiet. Students head off to internships, education abroad programs, summer jobs and new opportunities that will stretch them in new ways. And for the more than 1,300 graduates who crossed the Breslin stage earlier this month, the shift is even more profound. They are stepping into the next chapter of their lives with confidence, resilience and a sense of purpose shaped by their time at ComArtSci. And I couldn’t be more proud of all they have achieved. Congratulations to all our Spring 2026 graduates!
As I watched them celebrate with family, friends and faculty, I was reminded that commencement is never a solitary achievement. It is the culmination of countless conversations, challenges, breakthroughs and moments of support. Faculty and staff who pushed them to grow. Alumni who opened doors. Donors who invested in their potential. Families and friends who believed in them long before they believed in themselves.
Two stories from this spring captured that truth beautifully. At our annual alumni awards celebration, Outstanding Alumni Award recipient Martin Brodsky described being an undergraduate student still needing to declare a major when he signed up for an Intro to Communication Disorders class in Brody. He said that class, along with conversations with CSD Professor Paul Cooke, changed everything. He found his direction and purpose.
Just two weeks later at commencement, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer shared a remarkably similar reflection, crediting COM Professor Sandi Smith for believing in her and helping shape her trajectory.
Different careers. Same starting point: ComArtSci. And the same pattern we see repeatedly: a relationship, a mentor, a moment that alters the course of a student’s trajectory.
Students stepping onto bigger stages
Last month, I saw our students experiencing those turning‑point moments for themselves. Students in the School of Journalism earned national recognition through 16 Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence Awards, including the award for Best All-Around Student Newspaper (congrats State News!). Junior Maya Kolton also placed in the top five nationally in the Hearst Journalism Awards, dubbed the Pulitzer Prize of collegiate journalism.
ComArtSci students presenting their research posters at UURAF.
Meanwhile, students in advertising and public relations earned 86 honors at the American Advertising Awards, and 90 students from across the college presented research on media, technology, health and communication at the University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum, nine of whom received top awards. Special congratulations to Communicative Sciences and Disorders Associate Professor Bridget Walsh, named Undergraduate Mentor of the Year.
And Across the Department of Media and Information, students earned national recognition at leading competitions, including Best Paper Honorable Mention at the ACM CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems.
These experiences extended far beyond East Lansing, too.
Last week I had the opportunity to join students as they connected with our alumni and industry leaders through our annual industry immersion trip to Los Angeles. They gained valuable insights that can only come from stepping into professional environments and hearing directly from those who once stood where they stand now. And miles away back here in Michigan, students were doing the same in Detroit, too.
Excellence that elevates the college
Standing between incredible ComArtSci faculty and graduate students recognized at the All-University Awards ceremony.
This season also offers a moment to pause and recognize the people whose work makes these students’ stories possible. At this year’s All-University Awards Ceremony, ComArtSci faculty were honored for their scholarship, mentorship, teaching and service, with a depth of representation unmatched by any other college. It was a powerful affirmation of our excellence.
At the college level, we celebrated faculty and staff whose contributions shape the culture and impact of ComArtSci. Among those recognized were Dani Brown, Pat Huddleston and Ashley Wilson, each nominated by their peers for their outstanding leadership, service, and dedication to the college and its mission.
Standing alongside this year’s honorees at the ComArtSci Celebration.
And our alumni continue to inspire. Hearing story after story from this year’s outstanding and young alumni honorees about how ComArtSci launched their careers was deeply moving. One especially meaningful moment was recognizing Matt and Kathleen Davis with our inaugural Philanthropist Award. Hearing how a young boy’s first steps near Beaumont Tower grew into a lifetime of generosity felt like the very definition of a full‑circle Spartan story.
Leading the conversations shaping the future
Even amid the celebrations, we intentionally took time to engage with the forces reshaping communication and society in real time. Last month, we launched the Deans’ Distinguished Conversation, a signature initiative designed to bring critical, future‑focused dialogue to our community. I see this initiative as an opportunity to bring these critical conversations to our community annually as part of our efforts to lead important dialogues and bring insights to our communities
I joined the Deans’ Distinguished Conversation Panelists and moderator and partner in the effort, Law School Dean Michael Sant’Ambrogio
Our inaugural event explored AI, and its intersection with law and the creator economy. It was a timely conversation that sparked thoughtful discussion about trust, creativity and responsibility. I am grateful to our partners in the College of Law, including Dean Sant’Ambrogio, for their collaboration in making this interdisciplinary conversation possible.
Looking ahead
This time of year can feel like an abundance of riches for ComArtSci. As we head into the summer, I hope we all take pride in what we’ve accomplished together. And remember that the most meaningful parts of a ComArtSci experience are often the ones you only fully appreciate later. A professor who expanded your view. A conversation that changed your confidence. An opportunity that expanded your sense of what was possible.
Onward,
Heidi