Marilyn Amey, chairperson of the Department of Educational Administration in the Michigan State University College of Education, will receive accolades as part of the NASPA Class of 2017 Pillars of the Profession on March 13, 2017. The honor recognizes those in the profession who have sustained distinction and significant lifetime contributions in the higher education field.
Amey will receive the award from the NASPA Foundation among 13 other nominees in San Antonio, Texas, during the annual conference of NASPA: Student Affairs Professionals in Higher Education.
A member of NASPA since the early 1990s, Amey has been recognized by the organization several times. She was part of the inaugural Class of Faculty Fellows to encourage more faculty to get involved in organizational leadership roles; served an editor for the NASPA Journal About Women in Education; served as chair of the Dissertation of the Year Committee and chair of the Doctoral Student Seminar, among other roles. In 2014, she was honored with the Robert H. Shaffer Award for her commitment to graduate students.
Amey was nominated for the award by:
- MSU Associate Professor Matthew Wawrzynski. Amey and Wawryzynski, who is coordinator of the Higher, Adult and Lifelong Education (HALE) program, have worked closely together for over a decade at MSU.
- Lori Reesor, vice provost for student affairs and dean of students at Indiana University. Reesor introduced Amey to the NASPA organization, and is Amey’s “NASPA mentor.” Together, Amey and Reesor co-edited: “Beginning Your Journey: A Guide for New Professionals in Student Affairs,” published by NASPA and now in its fourth edition.
- Stan Carpenter, dean of the Texas State University College of Education. Carpenter, a former executive director of the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE), was instrumental in bringing ASHE to MSU from 2003-08. He also instituted the Faculty Fellows of NASPA.
Though the award highlights the duration of Amey’s career, she is particularly proud of her time with and the products of MSU.
“The Student Affairs Administration program was one of the first such programs in the nation,” Amey said. “You are always going to need people who have to work with and support students, so I am glad we are really committed to it at MSU. The university has been great about its support.”
Amey went on to celebrate the achievements of the graduates of the program. “Our alumni are terrific; they fundamentally believe in the importance of their role, and they are out in the world doing so many great things.”
For the nomination, a $2,500 gift in Amey’s name will be made to the NASPA Foundation to further research and scholarship in student affairs.