College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Community Sustainability

The 2026 Endowed Fellowship Award winners were presented on March 20th for the seven endowed graduate awards within the department. These awards have been created throughout the years from generous members, friends, and families of the Department of Community Sustainability- and previous iterations of the department- to support graduate students in their pursuit of their scholarly work to advance the mission of CSUS. Below, the graduate recipients share what receiving the award means to them in terms of their professional development and their future pursuits.

Nancy and George Axinn Award in International Scholarship

About the award: Professors Nancy and George Axinn were committed to international development, and to improving life conditions of poor people in developing countries. Professors George and Nancy Axinn endowed this scholarship to support graduate students who are pursuing careers in international development.

• Winner: Rafael Lembi
• "As an international student in CSUS doing research abroad, challenges are numerous, due to visa bureaucracies, expenses associated with international traveling and conducting research in different languages. Being awarded the Axinn Fellowship for International Scholarship is a recognition that this hard work pays off! I am grateful for the Axinns for uplifting international development research, and CSUS for providing an institutional home that values international research and recognizes that sustainability challenges know no borders."

Gilbert W. Mouser Memorial Scholarship in Conservation and Environmental Education

About the award: The Mouser Memorial Scholarship was established by Dr. John McVickar to recognize outstanding graduate students in CANR who focus on the study of conservation and environmental education.

• Winner: Eva Roos
• "I am so honored and grateful to receive the Gilbert W. Mouser Scholarship in Conservation and Environmental Education. I feel deeply supported by the CSUS community to continue exploring my passion for environmental education, both in research and practice. Conservation and environmental education has been my guiding compass for over a decade. Receiving this award feels like affirmation that I'm on the right path.”

Harriette Barbara Sherman Scholarship in Recreation and Tourism Systems

About the award: The Harriette B. Sherman Fellowship was created by Mr. Robert Ruigh to recognize non-traditional students who are enrolled in the Department of Community Sustainability and who are working toward a graduate degree in Sustainable Tourism and Protected Areas Management.

• Winner: Lydia Kiewra
• " Receiving the Harriette B. Sherman Scholarship has been especially meaningful to me during these times that have felt uncertain and overwhelming. This award has given me a sense of peace and clarity by allowing me to deepen my focus on the work I care about the most-- understanding and supporting recreation systems that connect people to the outdoors. Through my research and in my own time spent recreating in these spaces, I have found a great deal of comfort, grounding, and purpose. This award strengthens my dedication to protected areas management and supports my commitment to advocating for the role these spaces play in fostering well-being, connection, and collective care for the places we value and protect.”

The Frank Fear Fellowship for Excellence in Community Engagement

About the award: The fellowship fund has been created in honor of Frank Fear by his colleagues and friends to recognize outstanding graduate students in the Department of Community Sustainability who excel in scholarship that reflects the democratic practice of community engagement.

• Winner: Rina Jowei
• "I am deeply honored to receive the 2026 Frank Fear Fellowship for Excellence in Community Engagement. My doctoral research focuses on gender, access, and institutional rules within Indonesia’s Social Forestry program, examining how they shape inclusion, participation, and justice in practice, particularly for women, whose essential roles are often overlooked. I am committed to conducting research that amplifies community voices and strengthens inclusive forest governance. This award means a great deal to me because, beyond financial support, it acknowledges and values a way of conducting research that I have practiced and continue to pursue."

Mllton H. Steinmueller Fellowship in Natural Resources and Environmental Policy

About the award: The Milton H. Steinmueller Fellowship was established with gifts from alumni, colleagues, and friends wishing to honor the career of Dr. Milton Steinmueller, who served for over 30 years as Professor in the Department of Resource Development (now CSUS).

• Winner: Titas Dutta
• “Receiving the Steinmueller Fellowship is a rewarding milestone in my academic journey at CSUS. It is a recognition of my effort and research at MSU while also enabling me to continue growing as a researcher at CSUS. The fellowship provides valuable encouragement and support as I work toward advancing policy‑relevant research in natural resource management and environmental justice.”

The Malcolm and Ann Kerr Award for Excellence in Scholarship

About the award: Malcolm and Ann Kerr devoted their professional careers to improving people’s lives through education and understanding. This commitment was based on a belief that education helps us to see ourselves and our humanity through understanding others.

• Winner: Lydia Kiewra 
• “Receiving the Malcolm and Ann Kerr Award is incredibly meaningful to me, both personally and professionally. This award affirms my commitment to becoming a scholar who integrates applied research, teaching, and mentorship. Over the past several years, I’ve invested deeply in supporting students and building my identity as an educator. This recognition strengthens my confidence as I prepare to step into an instructor-of-record role and pursue a career in academia. It also reinforces the importance of creating supportive learning environments where students can grow into confident professionals—something that has been especially meaningful to me through my own mentorship experiences. I am so very grateful for the mentorship I have received at MSU and this award and am looking forward to continuing this legacy into the future. 

The Jon F. Bartholic Award for Ensuring the Future of Michigan’s Natural Resources

About the award: Dr. Jon Bartholic created this award to support MS and PhD graduate students in CSUS who embrace the role of scholar-practitioner modeled by Dr. Bartholic throughout his career. The fund supports students who identify and study natural resource problems in Michigan and work toward their resolution through collaborative efforts with community leaders, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and industry.

• Winner: Sarah Krzemien 
• "I am honored to receive the Jon F. Bartholic Ensuring the Future of Michigan's Natural Resources Award. I have always held a special place in my heart for Michigan's beautiful lakes and forests, and this award recognizes the importance of caring for and conserving these landscapes for current and future generations of humans and non-humans."

Congratulations to all award winners!