Honored formally at the 15th annual Graduate Student Association Awards Banquet, they are among more than 65 cited for various personal accomplishments during the 2016-17 school year at the recent campus event sponsored by the GSA and the Graduate School. MSU Vice President for Student Affairs Regina Young Hyatt was featured speaker.

MSU Associate Professor of History James C. “Jim” Giesen received the Outstanding Graduate Student Mentor of the Year Award. A University of Georgia doctoral graduate, he also holds a master’s degree from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, and a bachelor’s degree from DePauw University. His research interests are the agricultural, rural and environmental histories of the U.S., with a particular focus on the South in the 20th century.

Giesen was nominated for the award by several of his graduate students. A committee of faculty selected Giesen as extraordinary from a pool of many fine applicants.