Sparks receives 2026 CANR Outstanding Alumni Award
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EmailAmy Sparks, Ph.D., will receive the 2026 CANR Outstanding Alumni Award during the ANR Awards on Friday, February 27.
Dr. Amy Sparks will receive the Michigan State University (MSU) College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) Outstanding Alumni Award at the February 27, 2026, ANR Awards Program.
The CANR Outstanding Alumni Award honors individuals who have distinguished themselves through extraordinary professional accomplishments and who exemplify the highest standards of integrity and character.
Dr. Sparks grew up on a family dairy farm in Port Austin, Michigan. Dr. Sparks was a member of the Spartan Marching Band, as well as an active participant in the MSU Dairy Club and the Alpha Zeta Sorority during her time at MSU. A second-generation CANR Spartan, she graduated in 1987 with a bachelor’s degree in animal science and went on to earn her master’s and Ph.D. from Virginia Tech.
Today, Sparks serves as director of the In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and Andrology Laboratories at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, a position she has held for more than 30 years. Under her leadership, the IVF program has achieved some of the highest success rates in the country. She has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and delivered lectures at state, national and international conferences.
Dr. Sparks is widely recognized as a leader in the field of assisted reproductive technology. She was elected president of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART), becoming the second Ph.D. and first female Ph.D. to hold this role. She also served as president of the Society for Reproductive Biologists and Technologists (SRBT).
Among her many contributions, Dr. Sparks helped advance the practice of single embryo transfer, which significantly reduces the risk of multiple births associated with IVF. The University of Iowa was the first clinic in the United States to establish a single embryo transfer policy, and Dr. Sparks played a key role in developing this approach. Her work has improved pregnancy rates while ensuring safer outcomes for patients.
Dr. Sparks is also known for her innovation in human embryology and laboratory practices. She has published seminal works and helped pioneer techniques that have led to significant improvements in IVF success rates and safety. Her leadership and expertise have earned her respect nationally and internationally, and she continues to influence best practices across the field.
A passionate Spartan, Dr. Sparks has maintained her connection to MSU, even while living in Hawkeye country. She credits her background training in agricultural sciences at CANR for providing the foundation that shaped her career. She proudly displays her Spartan roots on her Iowa license plate and continues seeking opportunities to champion MSU within her professional network.
