Renner receives 2026 CANR Distinguished Faculty Award
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EmailKaren Renner, Ph.D., will receive the 2026 CANR Distinguished Faculty Award during the ANR Awards on Friday, February 27.
Dr. Karen Renner, a professor in the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, will receive a Michigan State University (MSU) College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) Distinguished Faculty Award at the February 27, 2026, ANR Awards Program.
The Distinguished Faculty Award recognizes faculty members who have brought distinction to the CANR through teaching, research and outreach and provide leadership that has helped others reach their potential for excellence.
Throughout a career spanning more than four decades, Dr. Renner established herself as a prominent national leader in her field. She joined CANR in 1986 as one of the first female weed scientists in the United States. From her earliest years as a Weed Science Extension Specialist, Dr. Renner earned the trust of growers and industry professionals through innovative outreach.
She developed bulletins, newsletters, slide presentations, web content and a pioneering decision-support tool, SoyHerb, to help producers manage herbicide programs. Her ability to translate science into practical solutions earned her Outstanding Extension Specialist Awards from the MSU Extension Specialists Association and the Michigan Association of Extension Agents.
Dr. Renner’s research program advanced weed management strategies for Michigan field crops and positioned her as a national authority on weed seedbanks. More recently, her work has focused on integrating cover crops into cropping systems to improve sustainability. She has authored or co-authored more than 85 peer-reviewed journal articles and was elected Fellow of both the Weed Science Society of America and the North Central Weed Science Society, reflecting her leadership and impact in the discipline.
In 2003, Dr. Renner transitioned to a primary teaching role and transformed CSS 101: Introduction to Crop Science, one of the department’s largest courses. She modernized the curriculum, separated lecture and lab components and introduced new courses to prepare students for careers in agronomy including Crop Scouting and Field Evaluation (CSS 135) and Cover Crops in Agroecosystems (CSS 420).
She also teaches the capstone course for Agronomic Science majors and a graduate course in Weed Biology. Her excellence in teaching has been recognized nationally with Outstanding Teaching Awards from the Crop Science Society of America and the Weed Science Society of America.
Beyond the classroom, Dr. Renner serves as CSS Teaching Coordinator and career advisor for Agronomic Science students and Agronomy minors. She oversees internships, advises on career planning and ensures graduates are competitive in the job market. Her mentorship has guided 29 graduate students to advanced degrees and influenced hundreds of undergraduates, many of whom now hold leadership roles in academia and industry.
Dr. Renner’s career exemplifies the land-grant mission. She has brought distinction to CANR through scholarship, outreach and education while helping students, colleagues and citizens reach their potential for excellence.
