Walker honored for international engagement in university-wide awards
Edward "Ned" Walker, professor of microbiology, genetics, and immunology, and
entomology, is this year’s recipient of the Smuckler Award, which recognizes a faculty or staff
member who has demonstrated significant and sustained commitment to international
activities.
Walker is an internationally recognized expert in illnesses borne by insect vectors,
specifically those transmitted by mosquitoes, ticks and tsetse flies. His research
focuses on understanding the processes involved in disease development and transmission,
and he couples that with efforts to monitor the spread of the diseases and to minimize
transmission. He has worked in Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Honduras, Madagascar, Puerto Rico, the Philippines and Papau
New Guinea.
“MSU is justifiably proud of its reputation as a land-grant university with a global
impact, and no MSU faculty member embodies this value more than Ned,” said DiRita
and Manning in their nomination of Walker.
“He continually steps forward to serve his home departments, the institution and the broader scientific community,” they said. “His scientific offspring will amplify his impact on microbiology and the world at large for many years. Without question, Ned has distinguished himself, and richly deserves recognition for his important international work and accomplishments.”
“I regard internationalism as a personal philosophy,” Walker said. “I work to promote it, and I view humanity as globally connected citizens of one common home, our shared planet earth. This higher calling supersedes the contending nationalistic allegiances. I find international programs to be extraordinarily challenging to initiate and sustain, often requiring great sacrifices, but at the same time highly rewarding. I am grateful that Michigan State University supports and encourages international programs, and that it recognizes and rewards individual and programmatic efforts in this regard.”
Walker’s award will be conferred at a ceremony on Wednesday, April 24, at 3:30 p.m. in the MSU Federal Credit Union Club on the fourth floor of Spartan Stadium.
