Signature awards
Each year, the Mike Ilitch School of Business presents signature awards to Michigan business leaders, alumni and faculty at our Recognition and Awards Program.
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Michigan Executive of the Year
The Michigan Executive of the Year Award recognizes an individual in a senior leadership position at a business, government or nonprofit organization that is based or has a substantial presence in the state of Michigan. The primary criteria for selection of this award are recent or ongoing actions by the honoree and/or his or her organization that are likely to reflect positively on the state of Michigan and the disciplines researched and taught within the Mike Ilitch School of Business.
2023
Larry Brinker Jr.
Chief Executive Officer, Brinker
2022
John Erb
Erb Family Foundation
2021
Cindy Pasky
Strategic Staffing Solutions
2020
Ron Staley
The Christman Company
2019
Frank Venegas
The Ideal Group
2018
Andy Appleby
General Sports and Entertainment
2017
La June Montgomery Tabron
W.K. Kellogg Foundation
2016
Nancy Schlichting
Henry Ford Health System
2015
Andra M. Rush
The Rush Group Family of Companies
2014
Susan T. Mosey
Midtown Detroit, Inc.
2013
Robert G. Riney
Henry Ford Health System
2009
James B. Nicholson
PVS Chemicals, Inc.
2008
Florine Mark
The WW Group, Inc.
2007
George G. Johnson
George Johnson & Company
2006
David A. Brandon
Domino's Pizza
2005
Jay Alix
AlixPartners Holdings, Inc.
2004
Peter Karmanos, Jr.
Compuware Corporation
2003
G. Richard Wagoner, Jr.
General Motors Corporation
2001
Peter Schweitzer
J. Walter Thompson Company
2000
Matty and Nora Moroun and Family
CenTra, Inc.
1999
Michael and Marian Ilitch and Family
Ilitch Holdings, Inc.
Distinguished Alumni Award
The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes alumni of the Mike Ilitch School of Business whose exceptional achievements over a career in business, education or public service have brought honor and distinction to his or her alma mater.
Emerging Leader Award
The Emerging Leader Award recognizes a more recent graduate of the Mike Ilitch School of Business who has already distinguished themselves as a "rising star" in their industry or community and who shows even greater promise for the future.
Outstanding Student Award
Nominated by Ilitch School faculty and staff and selected by the dean's office, Outstanding Student Award winners are chosen based on academic achievement, service to the school and university, and community involvement.
Inspirational Teacher Award
This award provides our proud WSU business school alumni with the opportunity to submit stories about professors who truly inspired them, encouraged them, broadened their horizons or made a lasting positive impact on their lives. Nominees must be living current or former members of the WSU Mike Ilitch School of Business faculty (full time or part-time).
Sue Garr Innovative Teaching Award
This award recognizes outstanding educators that demonstrate extraordinary and/or innovative efforts in teaching. The award was founded by the Sue Garr Innovative Teaching Fund, established in 2007 in memory of Sue Garr, who taught accounting at Wayne State University for more than 20 years
Distinguished Faculty Awards
These annual awards recognize Mike Ilitch School of Business faculty members for exemplary dedication to teaching, research and/or service
2023
Matthew Piszczek
Research
2023
Kevin Ketels
Service
2023
Lori Sisk
Teaching
2021
Kyunghee Lee
Research
2021
Deborah Jones
Service
2020
Abhijit Biswas
Research
2020
Matthew Piszczek
Research
2020
Andrea Tangari
Service
2019
Anand Jha
Research
2019
Scott Tainsky
Research
2019
Lori Sisk
Service
2018
Tingting Yan
Research
2018
Deborah Habel
Service
2017
John Heinrichs
Service
2017
Abhijit Biswas
Research
2016
Alan Reinstein
Research
2015
Santanu Mitra
Research
2014
Frank LaMarra
Teaching
2014
Tingting Yan
Research
2013
Ranjan D'Mello
Teaching
2013
Scott Julian
Research
2013
Mai Iskandar-Datta
Research
2012
Amanuel Tekleab
Teaching
2012
Abhijit Biswas
Research
2011
Richard Beltramini
Teaching
2011
Santanu Mitra
Research
2010
Jia Hao
Teaching
2010
Amanuel Tekleab
Research
2009
Mbodja Mougou
Teaching
2009
Alan Reinstein
Research
2008
Albert Spalding Jr.
Teaching
2008
Sudip Datta
Research
2007
Neveen Farag Awad
Teaching
2007
Abhijit Biswas
Research
2006
Ranjan D'Mello
Teaching
2006
Attila Yaprak
Research
2006
Toni Somers
Research
2005
Margaret Smoller
Teaching
2005
Eric Tsang
Research
2004
Edward A. Riordan
Teaching
2004
Yitzhak Fried
Research
2004
B. Anthony Billings
Research
2003
Richard F. Beltramini
Teaching
2003
Catherine Kirchmeyer
Research
2002
Harish Verma
Teaching
2002
James E. Martin
Research
2001
William H. Volz
Teaching
2001
Richard F. Beltramini
Teaching
2000
Attila Yaprak
Teaching
2000
Richard Osborn
Research
1999
Susan D. Garr
Teaching
1999
Hugh M. Cannon
Research
1998
Margaret Smoller
Teaching
1997
James E. Martin
1996
B. Anthony Billings
1995
James L. Hamilton
1994
Fouad AlNajjar
1993
Albert Spalding Jr.
1992
Yitzhak Fried
1991
John D. Beard
1990
David L. Williams
1989
Hugh M. Cannon
1988
Ishmael P. Akaah
1987
James E. Martin
1986
Jone M. Rymer
1985
Attila Yaprak
1984
Donald E. Gorton
1983
Fred W. Morgan
1982
William H. Volz
1981
James McGuigan
1981
Robert Bushnell
1981
Gerald Alvin
Staff Excellence Award
This award recognizes members of the Ilitch School administrative staff who demonstrate exceptionalism in the workplace in one or more of the following areas: job knowledge, quality of work, teamwork, and innovation and adaptability
2023
Rachel Michalski
Lauren Scott
2022
Pamela William
Linda Zaddach
2021
Patricia Michno
Sabrina Stennis-Jefferson
2020
Lynita Taylor
Steve Townsend
2019
Heather Bonk
Kimberly Swisher
2018
Brandon Wulf
Mary Zinser
2017
Monique Burkman
Louise Moceri
2016
Nicole Winkler
Graduate Programs Office (Detonya Clark, Shanese Ross, Kiantee Rupert-Jones, Veronica Seatts, Melissa Sweda)
2015
Jennifer Cunningham
Ursula Donaldson
