LBC Alumni eNewsletter
August 2022
Join us for a Holmescoming Tailgate back at Holmes Hall the weekend of Homecoming! Tailgate time is to be determined as the football game time has yet to be announced, however the tailgate will begin 3 hours before game time. (Football game tickets will NOT be provided, however a live stream of the game will be available to watch in C106 Holmes Hall if interested.)

This event is free, but advance registration is required.
Meet our Director of Advancement: Liz Ivkovich
Liz hails from Horton, Michigan. She is the Director of Advancement for LBC. She has previously worked in fundraising at UtahPresents, the University of Utah's multidisciplinary arts presenter, the University of Utah's Global Change & Sustainability Center, and a grassroots community development organization. Outside of philanthropy, Liz is an artist working at the intersection of performance + environment + community.
Volunteer as a Mock Interviewer
Help provide students with practical interviewing experience by volunteering as a general mock interviewer. Provide real, honest feedback to help students improve their interviewing skills as they prepare to take on the real world!
Volunteer as Multiple Mini Interviewer
Help the next generation of Briggs physicians to prepare for med school Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs)! Guide students through answering sample questions, provide insight on interview tactics, and help them to develop strategies for interview success.
Volunteer as a Career Coach
Are you interested in connecting 1:1 with Briggs students virtually? This upcoming fall, we are hosting Briggs Career Chats where students chat with several alumni for 15-minute sessions each, discussing career aspirations and goals. We are looking for alumni from many different industries and there is limited capacity for each session, so sign up below as soon as possible.
Volunteer as a Virtual Mentor
Lyman Briggs is proud to provide a platform for students, alumni, faculty, and staff to connect through mentorship and career discussions. This platform, similar to LinkedIn, offers the opportunity for Briggs alumni to meet and mentor students organically at their own pace. Students and alumni are matched based on interest areas designated.
Join Briggs Connect! https://msuconnect.msu.edu/hub/BriggsConnect/
Spring 2022 Commencement Speaker
Dan Chu, LBC Class of 1984
Dan Chu is the Acting Executive Director for the Sierra Club, the nation's largest grassroots environmental organization in America and the Executive Director of the Sierra Club Foundation. He has been an environmental leader for over 30 years, and has a Master of Science from University of Colorado. 
A look back on Spring LBC events
LBC Research Symposium

Last spring LBC welcomed alumni back to campus to help judge the annual LBC Research Symposium. Congratulations to Victoria Fex for being the MSUFCU Grand Prize winner ($1,000) for her presentation "Characterizing midbrain dopamine projections to the insular cortex in Disrupted-in-Schizophrenia-1 mice."
ETERNAL: BLOOM

Alumni and friends were invited back to Holmes Cafeteria where artist (and scientist, educator, and LB alum) Maris Polanco created a powerful exhibit featuring recycled plastic bags. At this event Dr. Muhammad Rabnawaz also shared expertise surrounding plastics and packaging from a sustainable materials researcher perspective.
Alumni Spotlight Stories:
Heather Sowinski, D.O.
Pediatric Cardiologist
LB Class of 2004

Favorite LBC Memory:
"The professors helped me to understand how the human body also was a machine that you could apply physics concepts to. This shift in perspective peaked my interest in the physiology of medicine."
Del DeHart, M.D.
Doctor of Infectious Disease & Internal Medicine
LB Class of 1979

Favorite LBC Memory:
"Our calculus professor coming into lecture with his boots on, straight from his farm, and using a fencing project he was working on as the practical illustration of the day."

Russ Lampen, D.O.
Infectious Disease Specialist
LB Class of 1997

Favorite LBC Memory:
"I remember an extremely spirited snowball fight that erupted between Holmes Hall and Akers Hall during a snow storm just before everyone went home for the semester break." 
Alum Pays it Forward: Dr. Michael Carron matches scholarship that he was first to receive
Dr. Michael Carron was classmates with Brian Falzon and was the first student recipient of the Brian Falzon Book scholarship. "As a student these funds were a tremendous help", says Dr. Carron who has decided to match this scholarship moving forward! Brian Falzon was a bright, creative and energetic student as well as a generous friend. Brian always had a smile for everyone, hence his nickname "Cloud". Brian loved life at MSU and considered Lyman Briggs College his second home and the students in Holmes Hall his extended family. Brian's parents and sister created a book award in Brian's memory so that he may never be forgotten. Thank you to the Falzon family and Dr. Carron for your investment in Briggs!

Alumni Grand Award Recipients
The Alumni Grand Awards program is one of the most prestigious awards ceremonies at Michigan State University. It recognizes exceptional alumni who are making an impact in their companies, communities and for Michigan State University. The Honorary Award is presented to non-alumni candidates who have made an outstanding impact on behalf of Michigan State University on a local, state, national or international level. The Young Alumni Award is given to Spartans age 40 or younger who have distinguished themselves through a high level of professional accomplishment early in their career. The Service Award is presented to Michigan State University alumni who have demonstrated service to MSU and/or meritorious public service on a local, state, national or international level.
Pat Merry
Honorary Alumni Award Recipient, 2021
Farhan Bhatti, M.D.
Young Alumni Award Recipient, 2022
Tamika Payne
Alumni Service Award
Recipient, 2022
Briggsies on 2022 Homecoming Court
Harsna Chahal
Okemos, MI
Ishaan Modi
Fishers, IN
Two Briggs Students Receive Prestigious National Goldwater Scholarship
Bailey Bowcutt
Microbiology
Class of 2022
Calista Busch
Genomics and Molecular Genetics
Class of 2022
LETS CELEBRATE | LBC Faculty Notes
Congratulations to Dr. Kevin C. Elliott, whose book "Values in Science," part of the Cambridge Elements Philosophy of Science series, was just published by Cambridge University Press.

Congratulations to Dr. Abe Edwards, Lyman Briggs College mathematics faculty member, who has received the Distinguished Teaching Award from the Mathematical Association of America, Michigan Chapter.

Congratulations to Dr. stef shuster, assistant professor in Lyman Briggs College and Michigan State University Sociology, who is the recipient of a 2022 MSU Teacher-Scholar Award. 

Congratulations to Dr. stef shuster, assistant professor in Lyman Briggs and Michigan State University Sociology, for winning the MSU Center for Gender in Global Context’s 2022 Inspiration Award for MSU Professional Achievement.

Congratulations to Dr. Vashti Sawtelle for receiving the 2022 Michigan Distinguished Professor of the Year Award from the Michigan Association of State Universities.
Dr. Sawtelle is an associate professor of physics in Lyman Briggs College and the MSU Department of Physics and Astronomy in the MSU College of Natural Science.
LETS CELEBRATE | LBC Class Notes
Congratulations to Denny Martin, D.O. '99 who was named Interim President of E.W. Sparrow Hospital in April 2022. Dr. Martin previously served as Chief Medical Officer of E.W. Sparrow Hospital.

Congratulations to Mark DeLano, M.D. '85, who was selected to be the chair of MSU College of Human Medicine's Department of Radiology starting September 2022. Mark has been the director for the college’s Division of Radiology and Biomedical Imagining.

Congratulations to Joanna Colovas '21 who has recently accepted a new role in a fellowship program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison with the Center for Disease Control.

Congratulations to Zaria Contejean '20 who was named a National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellow. Zaria is an MSU graduate with a bachelor’s degree in genomics and molecular genetics in Lyman Briggs College. Zaria is pursuing a PhD in genetics at Stanford University.

Congratulations to Brianna Martinez '19 who was named a National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellow. Brianna is an MSU graduate with a bachelor degree in chemistry from Lyman Briggs College. Brianna is pursuing a PhD in chemistry at Florida International University.

Have a Note to Share? Send your life changes, job updates and accomplishments to the Engagement Team so we can celebrate with you. 
LBC REMEMBERS | Thaddeus Lupina
1953 - 2021
LBC is saddened by the passing of one of our alumni Ted Lupina. Ted loved his experience at Michigan State University and Lyman Briggs College. Even the two children who lived next to him and his wife in Kalamazoo went to Michigan State University. Ted liked to think it was his influence. He had a MSU shrine in his office at work so everyone knew his allegiance. Ted was a very cheerful and optimistic person, even in the toughest of times he said, "I'm not putting up with this nonsense. I have places to go, and things to do."
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Lyman Briggs College | Michigan State University | lbc@msu.edu