Ron Bray | building sanitation worker, MSU Union

Bray’s many responsibilities include keeping the 176,000-square-foot Union building clean and tidy for its customers.

Bray considers the cleanliness of the building to be very important and makes sure it appears that way for its customers.

Marc Conlin | administrative assistant, Department of Physics and Astronomy

With more than 500 faculty, staff, graduate and undergraduate students in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, Conlin oversees all business functions of the department and building facilities and supervises all accounts.

Conlin has assisted the department in many projects, including upgrades in computer facilities and helping the department’s transitional move into the Biomedical and Physical Sciences building.

Says Conlin: “I’m grateful and thankful to the people who nominated me, provided supporting letters, and who responded to questions from members of the selection committee with words of support. Much of what I’ve achieved and accomplished at MSU could not have happened without the faculty, staff and students that I’ve worked with in many departments over many years and I believe that this award also honors them.”

Gail Ehret | research assistant II, Plant Pathology Department

Ehret, who is lead research technician for the Tree Fruit Pathology Laboratory, conducts research experiments, collects and analyzes data, writes reports for publication, grows and tends various types of orchards for use in research, and maintains agricultural equipment.

Ehret has contributed to numerous outreach efforts, passing on his knowledge about fruit tree planting and care to the public, organizing volunteers to pick apples resulting in more than 733,000 pounds being donated to the Greater Lansing Food Bank, and providing tours to chemical companies who often support his research efforts by donating fungicides and insecticides. Ehret also has contributed to worker safety by helping design and plan a new pesticide storage building.

Christine Keyes | office assistant III, Undergraduate Academic Services Department, the Eli Broad College of Business

Keyes offers assistance in database support, serves as assistant to the coordinator of admissions, maintains academic orientation check-in sheets and coordinates course and instruction preparation for several business college courses.

She also serves as the unit activities and events planner and assists in planning many of the departments’ programs.

Says Keyes: “I truly enjoy my job, my co-workers, and the students we serve in the Eli Broad College of Business Undergraduate Academic Services Office.”

Peter McGhee | research assistant III, Department of Entomology

McGhee researches insect biology on tree fruit crops in Michigan. He analyzes scientific data, written and oral information exchanges, designs experiments and mentors students.

In 2007 McGhee was recipient of the Michigan Pomesters Fruit Person of the Year for exceptional service to Michigan’s apple industry. He also received a shared award in 2005 for Outstanding Ornamentals Publication. He helped develop and lead the codling moth area-wide project, resulting in reductions in fruit injury and net returns exceeding net costs in project versus non-project blocks. He has also has enhanced partnerships among growers, producers, consultants, extension agents, specialists and researchers.

Says McGhee: “I am greatly honored to receive the Jack Breslin Distinguished Staff Award. It is a great honor to share this recognition with other outstanding staff. To live up to the standard associated with Jack Breslin is very humbling. I will continue working hard to support Michigan's tree fruit industry and growers and maintain the high caliber recognition set forth by Michigan State University.”

Thomas Reeves | landscape services equipment mechanic II, Landscape Services Department

Reeves is responsible for diagnosis and repair of equipment along with researching new equipment purchases. Using his personal experience, Reeves has taken a leadership role in training programs, helping others to expand their abilities.

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