In Memoriam

October 17, 2023

Margaret “Peggy” Baldwin died August 5, 2022. Baldwin joined the Department of Education Administration as an assistant professor in 2014. Baldwin was with the College of Education from 2014 to 2017. Baldwin was a teacher and school administrator in Newport News, Virginia and Lansing and Okemos, Michigan. 

June Benson died August 5, 2022. Benson was a retired secretary with the Department of Teacher Education. She worked at MSU from 1979 to 2006. 

Gloria Boodt, an instructor with the Department of Teacher Education, died December 8, 2022. Boodt taught at Battle Creek Public Schools while also serving as an adjunct professor for Michigan State University. Boodt taught students at the main campus in East Lansing and other MSU locations in Michigan. 

Black and white photo of Banks Bradley. Bradley is wearing a dark suit jacket tie and glasses. Bradley is smiling.

Banks T. Bradley was an associate professor in the College of Education for 25 years. Bradley died October 12, 2022. Bradley was part of the Department of Teacher Education from 1970 to 1995.

Yvvone David, an assistant professor with the Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Special Education, died September 16, 2022. David, M.A. ‘88 (Education), was a special education teacher before becoming a professor. David was with the College of Education from 1993 to 1994. 

Don Elliot died April 8, 2023. Elliot joined the faculty in 1985 and retired in 1991. Elliot was an adjunct assistant professor for the Department of Educational Administration at MSU, while also serving as a lobbyist and, later, executive director of the Michigan Association of School Administrators (MASA). 

Black and white photo of Betty Louise Giuliani. She is wearing a light colored jacket and shirt. She is smiling.

Betty Louise Giuliani, a professor with the Department of Lifelong Education, died April 19, 2023. Giuliani joined the faculty in 1966 and retired in 1990. In 1968, Giuliani received her doctorate in Counseling, Personnel Services and Educational Psychology from MSU and was employed with the College of Education for the remainder of her career. 

Black and white photo of John Haubenstricker. He is wearing a dark suit jacket, a light colored shirt and a dark tie with dots. Haubenstricker is also wearing glasses.

John Haubenstricker, a professor emeritus with the Department of Kinesiology, died March 13, 2023. Haubenstricker became a member of the faculty at MSU in 1973 and remained at MSU until his retirement in 2003. Haubenstricker coordinated the Motor Performance Study program from 1978 to 1999 and directed the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports from 2000 to 2002. Haubenstricker was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from the Michigan Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (1987); the Distinguished Faculty Award from the MSU College of Education Alumni Association (1991); and the Midwest Scholar of the Year Award from the Midwest District of the American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (2000). 

Black and white photo of Willard E. Kenney. He is wearing a polo and a baseball cap whole standing on a sports field.

Willard E. “Gene” Kenney died June 8, 2022. In 1970, Kenney was named MSU assistant athletic director and also served as an associate professor. During his tenure, Kenney oversaw the construction of the Munn Ice Arena and the Breslin Student Event Center. Kenney founded and directed the MSU Summer Sports School. After his retirement in 1994, Kenney was inducted into the Michigan State Athletic Hall of Fame. 

Marjorie Masters was an adjunct assistant professor for the Department of Teacher Education. Masters died August 25, 2022. She was employed with MSU from 1983 to 1987. 

Black and white photo of James McCray. He is wearing a dark suit jacket, light colored shirt and a light colored tie. He also is wearing glasses and smiling.

James McCray died July 31, 2022. McCray was an associate professor from 1968 to 1985 with the Department of Teacher Education.

Black and white photo of Roger Niemeyer. He is wearing a dark suit jacket, light colored shirt and a tie with stripes. Niemeyer is smiling.

Roger C. Niemeyer died October 17, 2022. Niemeyer joined the faculty in 1972 and retired in 1993 with full emeritus status. During Niemeyer’s tenure, he taught all over the world, including Egypt, Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Japan, Brazil, England, Thailand and Hong Kong. Neimeyer won the Crystal Apple Award in 1996, and again in 2004. This award was given by College of Education donors to recognize educators who have made an impact in the donor’s life and represent excellence and commitment. 

Susan Peters is smiling. She is wearing a bright colored jacket with earrings, with trees in the background.

Susan Peters, associate professor of special education, died April 17, 2023. She joined the faculty in 1985 and retired in 2011. Peters’ central research concerns were issues of disability, inclusive education policy and practice, and urban education. She had collaborated extensively with teachers in urban predominantly African-American schools in the U.S., and with teachers in Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. She was particularly interested in improving instruction and service delivery for at-risk students and students with special needs.

Black and white photo of B. Bradley West. West is wearing a light colored suit jacket, light colored shirt and a dark tie. He also is wearing glasses. Bradley is smiling.

B. Bradley “Brad” West died April 15, 2023. West joined the MSU College of Education as a graduate research assistant in 1966 and retired as a professor emeritus in 2008. At MSU, West supervised the field experiences of 900+ interns and student teachers and conducted 100+ pre- and post-in-service workshops and seminars for students, teachers and administrators. West served as assistant director of the Division of lntern Teaching and Professional Development and taught in England, Scotland, Poland and the Netherlands. 

Francine Williams died February 8, 2023. Williams was an instructor in the Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Special Education. Williams started working at MSU in 2012. 

George VanDusen, retired assistant dean and former interim dean of the MSU College of Engineering, died June 1, 2021. He earned a Ph.D. in 1969 in Educational Administration from the College of Education, and served on the faculty in various roles from 1969 until his retirement in 2000. While his main area was in the College of Engineering, VanDusen held an appointment in the College of Education’s Administration and Curriculum unit. VanDusen is known for his work in developing several programs to boost academic success, including the Engineering Equal Opportunity Program (now Diversity Programs), Women in Engineering, the Engineering Arts Program (now Applied Engineering Sciences) and the High School Engineering Institute. 

Theresa Yuncker smiling. She is wearing a white sweater with a bright colored shirt. She is also wearing glasses.

Theresa “Terry” (Edwards) Yuncker died April 4, 2023. Yuncker was seen as a “community mama” to all, including to the many students she interacted with in her role at MSU. Yuncker started at MSU in 2007 and worked her way to become the administrative assistant to the Chair of the Department of Teacher Education, a role from which she retired in 2022. In 2020, she was awarded the prestigious Jack Breslin award.

Bradley, Giuliani, Haubenstricker, Kenney, McCray, Niemeyer, West photos: Credit Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections