College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Fisheries and Wildlife

The 2026 award winners for eight graduate fellowships will be presented on April 10, 2026 at the Annual Fisheries and Wildlife Awards Banquet. Each fellowship award was created in honor of leaders and educators who were dedicated to research and public service. These awards recognize student excellence and an active commitment to supporting the mission of the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife. Award details and winners are listed below.

Robert C. Ball and Betty A. Ball Fisheries and Wildlife Fellowship

About the award: The purpose of this award is to recognize students committed to the study of fisheries, limnology, or water quality. 

Winners: 

• Hannah Brown (Gill), M.S. student advised by Tyler Buchinger
• Erin Globensky, M.S. student advised by Jared Homola and Michael Booth
• Corbin Harnden, M.S. student advised by Emily Pomeranz
• Sarah Menzl, M.S. student advised by Dana Infante
• Justin Miller, Ph.D. student advised by Dana Infante
• Tessa Tormoen, M.S. student advised by Jared Homola

Hal and Jean Glassen Conservation Medicine Fellowship

About the award: The purpose of this award is to recognize a student committed to the study of Fish and Wildlife Disease Ecology and Conservation Medicine.

Winners: 

• Arpita Nayak (CMIB), Ph.D. student advised by Jean Tsao
• Mike Shaw, Ph.D. student advised by Sonja Christensen
• Michelle Volk, M.S. student advised by Jean Tsao

Joseph Laurence Maison Fellowship for Wildlife Conservation

About the award: The purpose of this award is to recognize a student who is committed to pursuing a career in wildlife conservation.

Winner: 

• Eric Branch, M.S. student advised by Brett DeGregorio

Dr. Howard A. Tanner Fisheries Excellence Fellowship

About the award: The purpose of this award is to recognize a student who is committed to fisheries research related to the Great Lakes, connecting waterway or tributary stream research.

Winner: 

• Joel Betts, Ph.D. student advised by Dana Infante

John Peters and Marietta Peters Endowed Fellowship

About the award: The purpose of this award is to recognize a graduate student who seeks a career in aquatic biology related to fisheries and wetlands resources, an interest in the protection and management of aquatic habitats dealing with issues related to physical changes of channels, water quality, and the allocation of water resources.

Winners: 

• Marinna Guzy, Ph.D. student advised by Mark Axelrod
• Kristina Hefferle, M.S. student advised by Angela Burrow
• Meghana Karumuri, M.S. student advised by Abigail Bennett
• Erik Pawelski, M.S. student advised by Jared Homola and Samantha Brunner
• Emily Tryc, M.S. student advised by Jared Homola

The Vera M. Wallach Graduate Fellowship

About the award: This award is for Michigan State University graduate students studying wildlife management, wildlife ecology, or natural resource management, or conducting Arctic and Antarctic research, with emphasis on the protection and preservation of wildlife in those regions.

Winners: 

• Dayaram Pandey, M.S. student advised by Jerry Belant
• Sarah Scheitz, M.S. student advised by Rique Campa and Jean Tsao
• Cori Sharp, Ph.D. student advised by Jack Liu

The Annual Ambrose Pattullo Fund for Environmental Issues Graduate Fellowship for Literary Work

About the award: The purpose of this award is to recognize students who are interested in current environmental issues and who have written about these issues for possible publication in a literary outlet.

Winner: 

• Tyler Swanson, Ph.D. student advised by Doug Bessette (CSUS)

Theodore Roosevelt Conservation and Environmental Leadership Fellowship

About the award: This fellowship was established to enable graduate students from a variety of disciplines to build their leadership capacity early in their career. Fellowships are intended to help recipients achieve a level of professional and personal growth that prepares them for leadership roles in natural resources and conservation-based organizations and agencies.

Winners: 

• Hannah Bey, M.S. student advised by Angela Burrow
• Gia Haddock, Ph.D. student advised by Emily Pomeranz
• Vincent Ogweno, Ph.D. student advised by Nathan Moore (GEO)

Congratulations to all award winners!