Michigan residents are growing more positive about the economy, and the state's governor is benefiting from the sunnier outlook, says a new Michigan State University State of the State Survey released May 16.
In this latest survey, Michigan residents gave the economy its highest marks since 2005, as 54 percent of those responding called their current financial situation excellent or good. Fewer than 30 percent called their circumstances "just fair," 10.1 percent rated their conditions "not so good" and 6.6 percent considered their circumstances "poor."
"The Michigan economy has added 150,000 jobs since the job market bottomed out at the end of 2009," said Charles Ballard, MSU economics professor and director of the State of the State Survey. "The improvement in the economy is reflected in the brighter mood in our latest survey."
The world’s rubber supplies are in peril, and automobile tire producers are scrambling to seek alternative solutions.
Tom Sharkey, chairperson of the MSU biochemistry and molecular biology department, believes isoprene, a gas given off by many trees, ferns and mosses, could be a viable option. Some plants use it as a mechanism to tolerate heat stress as opposed to most crops, which stay cool through evaporation. More »
For his work on developing new treatments for tuberculosis, an MSU researcher has been named a Grand Challenges Explorations winner, an initiative funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Robert Abramovitch is using a synthetic biosensor that glows green in response to conditions that mimic human tuberculosis infection. He will screen for compounds that target chronic TB infection and may help shorten therapy or treat multidrug-resistant TB, which does not respond well to existing antibiotics. More »
Sharon Butler has been appointed Michigan State University’s assistant vice president for human resources. Her appointment was effective May 1.
Butler comes to MSU from the University of Cincinnati, where she most recently served as senior associate vice president and chief human resources officer. Also at UC she held the positions of executive director for human resources and assistant vice president. More »
Kent Cassella has been appointed assistant vice president for Communications and Brand Strategy and executive director of Media Communications at Michigan State University.
Cassella has served as MSU’s director of media communications since 2007. In his new role, Cassella will serve as primary spokesperson for the university. More »
Dorothy Gonzales, who served for 16 years on the Michigan State University Board of Trustees, has died. She was 68.
Gonzales, who was from East Lansing, served on the board from 1993-2008.
MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon said Gonzales was a "tireless advocate" for students, especially first-generation students and students of color. More »
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Check out the May 2012 HR Source newsletter. Headlines include a new assistant vice president for Human Resources, distinguished staff award recipients and more. Read more here>>
Tim Knight, guest services manager for West Circle Neighborhood, talks about his work as a "connector" to resources to provide a "Spartan experience" for students, parents and summer conference attendees. Watch the video »
Wade Fisher, assistant professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, talks about his research in elementary particle physics. Watch the video »
