The Charles A. Gliozzo International Award for Public Diplomacy recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to public diplomacy through educating, training or promoting knowledge and understanding between MSU faculty and staff, community members and international students, scholars and visitors. Recipients receive a cash award, but financial need is not a criterion for this award.

Eligibility Requirements

Nominees must:

• be affiliated with MSU, a partner institution, or a national or international institution that promotes public diplomacy;
• demonstrate leadership in public diplomacy initiatives or activities that impact MSU.

Submit a Nomination

Complete the online nomination form and include:

• the nominee's curriculum vitae or resume;
• a letter of nomination, no longer than two pages, that provides evidence of the nominee's commitment to promote and enrich international educational exchanges and cultural exchanges within the greater MSU community.

This award was established in 2009 to honor Charles A. Gliozzo, former director of the MSU Office of Study Abroad and professor emeritus in the Department of History, who helped establish MSU as a national leader in education abroad.

The Gill-Chin Lim Award for Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation in Global Studies recognizes one graduate student each year for their outstanding MSU doctoral dissertation focusing on global studies, completed the preceding year. The award is funded through an endowment and carries a cash stipend. Although a GPA above 3.5 is preferred, more weight will be given to the intellectual contribution of the dissertation and the innovative methodology used to carry out the research.

Eligibility Requirements

Nominees must:

• be a Michigan State University graduate who earned a doctoral degree in any discipline during the preceding year;
• have completed a dissertation with a substantial international dimension; the focus of the research should be a region/country outside of the United States.

Submit a Nomination

Complete the online nomination form and include:

• a letter of nomination, no longer than two pages, which includes evidence of the dissertation's contribution to global studies;
• a copy of the dissertation, to be returned (if written in a language other than English, include an English translation of the abstract and research hypothesis).

Nominations are invited from MSU faculty, as well as from deans, directors, chairpersons, and academic advisors.

This award is named for the late Dr. Gill-Chin Lim, MSU Professor of Geography and Urban Planning and former dean of International Studies and Programs.

The Glen L. Taggart Award for Community Contributions to International Understanding is given to one or more residents of the state of Michigan who have made a distinct and sustained contribution to international understanding in their respective communities or in the state at large.

The aim of the award is to extend public recognition to people not employed by MSU who give their time, energy, and imagination to the work of promoting knowledge of and concern for all the peoples of the world.

Eligibility Requirements

Nominees must:

• be a resident of the state of Michigan;
• not be employed by Michigan State University;
• have a demonstrated impact on international understanding in their community and/or the state of Michigan.

Submit a Nomination

Complete the online nomination form and include:

• the nominee's curriculum vitae or resume;
• a letter of nomination, no longer than two pages, which describes the nominee's leadership and community contributions to international understanding.

This award is named for Glen L. Taggart, the first dean of International Studies and Programs at MSU

The Homer Higbee International Education Award recognizes MSU students and other individuals who have made significant contributions to the support of international awareness at Michigan State University through involvement in programs that promote cross-cultural understanding on campus and in the community. Recipients receive a cash award, but financial need is not a criterion for nomination.

Eligibility Requirements

Nominees must:

• be a full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate or graduate student at MSU who is either:
• an international student who has been actively involved in leadership roles in planning, implementing and evaluating programs and activities that promote international understanding at MSU and/or the surrounding community; or
• a domestic student who participated in or has developed an independent education abroad program.
• -OR- a member of the community who has been active in promoting and supporting international exchange of students at MSU; preference will be given to community members who are involved with Community Volunteers for International Programs who also meet the other selection criteria.

Submit a Nomination

Complete the online nomination form and include:

• the nominee's curriculum vitae or resume
• a letter of nomination, no longer than two pages, that includes:
• a description of the nominee's contributions to international communication, understanding, and cooperation.
• specific examples of how the individual meets the award criteria including the setting, duration and impact of the nominee's service and activities.

The Homer Higbee International Education Award was established to honor the memory of Homer Higbee, who dedicated his professional life to international education exchange during the 25 years that he served in the Office of International Studies and Programs at Michigan State University.

The John K. Hudzik Emerging Leader in Advancing International Studies and Programs Award recognizes an early-career faculty member who is making a significant impact on the advancement of international scholarship, teaching, and/or public service and outreach at Michigan State University. Recipients receive a cash award, but financial need is not a criterion for nomination.

Eligibility Requirements

Nominees must:

• be in a tenure-stream or fixed-term faculty position at MSU;
• have been in a tenure-stream or fixed-term faculty position for no more than ten years.

Submit a Nomination

Complete the online nomination form and include:

• the nominee's curriculum vitae;
• a letter of nomination, no longer than two pages, which provides evidence of contributions and achievements which:
• demonstrate promise of outstanding international scholarship, impact and/or influence;
• demonstrate a commitment to international activities at MSU and beyond the campus;
• reach beyond the expectations of the nominee's position at MSU;
• demonstrate recognition for international efforts beyond the primary unit; and
• demonstrate collaboration and cooperation with faculty, staff, and students at MSU and elsewhere.

This award was established in 2006 to honor John K. Hudzik, former dean of International Studies and Programs, acting provost of Michigan State University, and vice president for Global Engagement and Strategic Projects.

The Joon S. Moon Distinguished International Alumni Award recognizes alumni who came to MSU as international students for their outstanding leadership and contributions in or to the international field or international communities, organizations, companies, agencies, individuals, and/or governments.

Eligibility Requirements

Nominees must:

• be alumni who came to MSU as international students;
• demonstrate sustained commitment to international activities and public service.

Submit a Nomination

Complete the online nomination form and include:

• the nominee's curriculum vitae or resume;
• a letter of nomination, no longer than two pages, which describes the nominee's leadership and contributions to the international sphere which:
• demonstrate distinguished achievement in their profession;
• demonstrate leadership internationally;
• demonstrate sustained commitment to international activities;
• has contributed internationally to communities, organizations, agencies, individuals and/or government;
• has been a credit to MSU through personal achievements and character.

This award is named after Joon S. Moon, an MSU international alumnus and prominent Korean-American businessman.

The MSU Award for Outstanding Service to Education Abroad recognizes MSU faculty members and academic staff who give their time, energy, and creativity to the development and implementation of education abroad programs that support MSU's commitment to providing students with high quality international education opportunities.

Eligibility Requirements

Nominees must:

• demonstrate sustained commitment to education abroad;
• provide consistently excellent service in one or more of these areas:
• advising for education abroad;
• preparation of students for education abroad;
• teaching on one or more education abroad program(s);
• development and/or maintenance of one or more education abroad program(s);
• overall attention to high quality programming, including attention to academic, intercultural, health and safety concerns on site;
• support of education abroad programs in general at the department, college or university level.

Submit a Nomination

Complete the online nomination form and include:

• the nominee's curriculum vitae or resume;
• a letter of nomination, no longer than two pages, which provides evidence of the nominee's contributions to MSU's education abroad program and its student participants.

This award was established in 2003 to increase the visibility of MSU faculty and staff who provide high quality education abroad programs and services to Spartan students.

The Ralph H. Smuckler Award for Advancing International Studies and Programs at MSU recognizes long-term distinguished achievement in the promotion of international activities (research, teaching, and outreach) by faculty and staff members at Michigan State University. The award is made to individuals who are recognized widely for having made major international contributions which enhance MSU's education and public service functions both nationally and internationally. Recipients receive a cash award, but financial need is not a criterion for this award.

Eligibility Requirements

Nominees must:

• be a faculty or staff member at MSU;
• demonstrate significant and sustained commitment to international activities.
• Those whose primary appointment is as an administrator with international responsibilities will not be considered for this award.

Submit a Nomination

Complete the online nomination form and include:

• the nominee's curriculum vitae or resume;
• a letter of nomination, no longer than two pages, which provides evidence of contributions and achievements which:
• impact the international community at MSU and beyond;
• reach beyond the expectations of the nominee's position at MSU;
• have been recognized beyond the primary unit department, school, and college;
• reach beyond individual performance, demonstrating collaboration with other faculty, staff, and students;
• demonstrate sustained commitment to international activities.

This award is named after Ralph H. Smuckler, former dean of International Studies and Programs and an acclaimed international scholar, who led Michigan State University to worldwide recognition in the field of international education and public service.

The Special Recognition Award for Promoting International Understanding recognizes MSU faculty and staff who have contributed to internationalizing the campus and MSU programs globally, but who do not meet the criteria for other International Awards. The award is presented as warranted and is not necessarily given every year.

Eligibility Requirements

Nominees must:

• be current MSU staff, faculty or those with emeritus status;
• have made significant contributions to MSU’s international engagement;
• not meet the eligibility for other award categories.  

Submit a Nomination

Complete the online nomination form and include:

• the nominee's curriculum vitae or resume;
• a letter of nomination no longer than two pages, which provides evidence of significant contributions to international engagement.