2026 Annual Initiation Ceremony
2026 Annual Initiation Ceremony
Michigan State University's Chapter 041 Annual Initiation and Awards Ceremony was held on Saturday, April 11, 2026. The event marked the Chapter's 99th year at MSU, and featured a reception, annual induction ceremony, presentation of several awards and distinctions, and talks by special guests. A total of 98 new members were initiated.
This year's invited speaker was:
Marcio Oliveira (he/him) is the vice provost for academic innovation at Michigan State University, where he leads transformative initiatives that advance academic innovation and student success.
With over 25 years of experience in higher education, his distinguished career spans roles focused on integrating technology with innovative educational practices and shaping collaborative learning environments.
A dedicated advocate for inclusive excellence in education, Oliveira is renowned for forging strategic partnerships with internal stakeholders and external leaders to create scalable programs that meet the evolving needs of modern learners. His work in academic innovation, learning analytics, and educational technology has garnered international recognition and has significantly influenced transformative practices within the higher education landscape.
Prior to joining MSU, Oliveira served as the assistant vice president of the Teaching and Learning Transformation Center & Academic Technology and Innovation at the University of Maryland, where he championed comprehensive strategies bridging academic affairs and information technology.
New Initiates
In accordance with national standards for membership in Phi Kappa Phi, student candidates must have completed 24 semester hours, or the equivalent, at Michigan State University. Students are selected from the upper 10% of the senior class; the upper 7.5% of students with junior standing upon completion of 72 hours; and graduate or professional students who rank in the upper 10% of all enrolled graduate students at Michigan State University.
In addition to students, the Chapter is permitted to elect annually a small number of outstanding faculty, professional staff, and alumni chosen on the basis of academic record, professional achievements, and service to higher education. These persons are nominated by chapter members and, as with the student candidates, are discussed and voted on by the members. The Chapter is also permitted to nominate persons for distinguished and honorary memberships. These prestigious distinctions require the review and approval of the Society's National Board of Directors.
View List of 2026 Student Initiates
View Gallery of 2026 New Initiates (Thumbnail images will open up into high-resolution images for download)
2026 Excellence Award in Interdisciplinary Scholarship Recipient
Excellence in interdisciplinary research, instruction, or the application of such knowledge to problems and opportunities in society, is more difficult to perform and less frequently recognized and rewarded, than is excellence in the more traditional disciplines.
Yet many of the most intractable problems of society and the academy demand the insights and innovations only made possible by weaving together the very best thinking and work from across several domains of knowledge. The MSU Chapter's “Excellence Award in Interdisciplinary Scholarship” recognizes the outstanding interdisciplinary work of scholarly teams, in teaching, research, service, or a combination of these activities. This year’s award recognizes the Careers In Real Life: Bridging the gap between students’ disciplinary learning and career pursuits through integrated interdisciplinary collaboration.
Core Leadership Team:
Shahnaz Masani, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Physiology Department and at Lyman Briggs College, Michigan State University with expertise in biology and STEM education research. A major focus of her lab involves expanding access to career exploration through designing and assessing purpose-driven curricula that help students align their interests, skills, and values with meaningful STEM careers.
Krysta Foster is the Associate Director of Career Services at Lyman Briggs College at Michigan State University. In this role, she oversees the development and implementation of curriculum, programs, and advising initiatives that support STEM and pre-med students in exploring and pursuing their career goals. Her work is driven by her mission to help all students navigate the higher education environment and achieve their potential.
2026 Phi Kappa Phi National Graduate Fellowship Nominee
Every year, the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi awards fifty Fellowships of $8,500 each, six at $20,000 each, and two at $35,000 each to members entering the first year of graduate or professional study. Each Phi Kappa Phi chapter may select one candidate from among its local applicants to compete for the Society-wide awards.
Jenus Shrestha is a senior at Michigan State University in the Lyman Briggs College and Honors College, majoring in human biology with a minor in bioethics. At Michigan State, Jenus has been involved in interdisciplinary research spanning neuropsychiatry, public health, and biomedical sciences, including work with researchers from Johns Hopkins University and McGill University addressing health disparities and community well-being in low-resource settings. He also serves as an undergraduate research ambassador, helping students explore research and discover their academic interests. Shrestha founded The Unseen Hours, an initiative dedicated to raising awareness of mental health and other unseen struggles. In addition, he is currently leading sports medicine research at MSU and collaborating with surgeons at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York on orthopedic research initiatives. Following graduation, Jenus will attend the MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine, and he plans to pursue a career in orthopedic surgery with a focus on spine and sports-related injuries.