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2024 Recipients

2024 International Awards: Edward D. "Ned" Walker

Ralph H. Smuckler Award for Advancing International Studies and Programs at MSU

 

Published: Tuesday, 26 Mar 2024   Author: Jonathan Gibson

 

Headshot of Edward Walker
Edward D. "Ned" Walker

Edward D. "Ned" Walker is the 2024 recipient of the Ralph H. Smuckler Award for Advancing International Studies and Programs at MSU, which recognizes long-term, distinguished achievement in the promotion and advancement of international scholarship, teaching and public service.

Walker is a University Distinguished Professor with a primary appointment in the Department of Microbiology, Genetics and Immunology in the College of Natural Science.

Throughout his career, Walker has developed and emphasized international programs - including research, graduate student and postdoctoral training, outreach and service. For more than 30 years, he has worked on human malaria-related issues, as well as filariasis, tsetse and dengue in Honduras, the Philippines, Uganda, Kenya, Papua New Guinea, Madagascar, Malawi and Puerto Rico.

One of his primary interests has been developing and evaluating effectiveness of interventions that reduce transmission by mosquitoes, and how malaria is resilient to such efforts. Another has been analyzing intersectoral relationships - particularly how agriculture and human malaria relate to each other. He has worked tirelessly with with organizations, such as the World Health Organization, the Gates Foundation, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Fogarty International Center of the National Institute of Health, Centers for Dieases Control and Prevention Global Health, and the National Science Foundation, to help improve the lives of some of the most disadvantaged people throughout the world. 

“The earth is one country, and all members of the human race are its globally-connected citizens.” - Edward D. Walker

 

Walker was nominated by Victor DiRita, chairperson in the Department of Microbiology, Genetics and Immunology. “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. He has made fundamental insights into the basic biological principles underlying vector-borne disease and, with his work, consultation, and public education, he has directly saved lives,” said DiRita.

2024 Award Recipients

 

Headshot of Edward Walker

Edward D. Walker

University Distinguished Professor, Department of Microbiology, Genetics, and Immunology


College of Natural Science

 

Ralph H. Smuckler Award for Advancing International Studies and Programs at MSU

Headshot of Yadu Pokhrel

Yadu Pokhrel

Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering


College of Engineering

 

John K. Hudzik Emerging Leader in Advancing International Studies and Programs

Headshot of Jing Wang

Jing Wang

Ph.D., Physics (1999)


Cofounder and Chairman, FinTell Inc.

 

Joon S. Moon Distinguished International Alumni Award

Headshot of Lei Chen

Lei Chen

Ph.D., Statistics (1997)


Managing Director, Head of Fraud Risk for Lending and Fraud Data Science for the Consumer and Community Banking, JPMorgan Chase

 

Joon S. Moon Distinguished International Alumni Award

Headshot of Peter Lemmer

Peter Lemmer

Executive Vice President & Chief Legal Counsel


GreenStone Farm Credit Services

 

Glen L. Taggart Award for Community Contributions to International Understanding

Headshot of Katie Carline

Katie Carline

Ph.D., History (2023)


College of Social Science

 

Gill-Chin Lim Award for Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation in Global Studies

Headshot of George Bird

George W. Bird

Professor Emeritus, Department of Entomology

 

College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

 

Special Recognition Award for Promoting International Understanding

Headshot of Callisto Rakhmatov

Callista B. Rakhmatov

Global Network Specialist


College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

 

Charles A. Gliozzo International Award for Public Diplomacy

Headshot of Rochisshil Varma

Rochisshil Varma

President, International Students Association

 

Undergraduate student, College of Engineering and Honors College

 

Homer Higbee International Education Award

Headshot of Ishwari Kapale

Ishwari Kapale

Vice President, International Students Association

 

Undergraduate student, College of Engineering

 

Homer Higbee International Education Award

Headshot of Mary Hennessey

Mary Hennessey

Past Director, Volunteer English Tutoring Program

 

International Studies and Programs

 

Homer Higbee International Education Award

Headshot of Gail Vander Stoep

Gail A. Vander Stoep

Associate Professor Emeritus, Department of Community Sustainability

 

College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

 

MSU Award for Outstanding Service to Education Abroad

Headshot of Jonathan Choti

Jonathan Choti

Associate Professor, Department of Linguistics, Languages, and Cultures


College of Arts & Letters

 

MSU Award for Outstanding Service to Education Abroad

Headshot of Lisa Tiemann

Lisa Tiemann

Associate Professor, Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences


College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

 

Carl K. Eicher International Development Award