Professor Marilyn Amey was posthumously awarded the MSU Robert F. Banks Award for Institutional Leadership at the 2026 All-University Awards.
Amey was the assistant provost for the MSU Office of Faculty and Academic Staff Development when she died in November 2025. She was also a faculty member in and former chair of the college’s Department of Educational Administration. She had held varying professorial and administrative roles (including as the Dr. Mildred B. Erickson Distinguished Chair in Higher, Adult and Lifelong Education from 2017-20) during her service with the college from 1997-2025. She was a nationally and internationally recognized academic leader in higher, adult and lifelong education. Learn more about her distinguished career.
“Marilyn contributed significant scholarly work that advanced knowledge and practice through her writing and editorial roles, especially focusing on leadership in higher education, teamwork and collaboration, the important contributions and issues associated with community colleges and the experiences of women administrators,” University Distinguished Professor Ann Austin shared.
“Yet the core of her work could be summarized as supporting others to do their work—whether she was guiding her graduate students (who loved her), leading the Department of Educational Administration as its chairperson for many years, or designing and offering professional development opportunities to administrators and leaders across MSU.”
The Robert F. Banks Award, distributed by the Office of the Provost, “recognizes the commitment and dedication that MSU faculty, academic staff and support staff leaders demonstrate by their extraordinary and sustained efforts. The award was established in honor and recognition of Robert Banks for his 40 years of service to Michigan State University, including seven years as Dean of James Madison College and 28 years as Associate Provost and Associate Vice President for Academic Human Resources.”
Amey was one of two MSU honorees in 2026.
She is the first from the College of Education to receive the accolade.
Continuing her legacy
Amey co-created the Marilyn J. Amey Scholarship Endowment Fund, which supports graduate students. To learn more about the fund and how your contributions will support student success, contact our Office of Development & Alumni Relations at educdev@msu.edu, or consider making a donation today.