Professor and internationally recognized scholar Kristen Renn is a recipient of MSU’s William J. Beal Outstanding Faculty Award. Each year, the award recognizes up to 10 faculty for their consistent record of outstanding scholarship in research or creative activities, teaching and community engagement.
MSU President Kevin G. Guskiewicz (left), Kris Renn (center), and Provost Thomas D. Jeitschko (right) celebrate a moment of excellence at the All-University Awards event. Photo courtesy of Derrick L. Turner, Michigan State University Communications
Renn was nominated by Department of Educational Administration Chairperson Sheneka Williams. “Dr. Renn is the preeminent scholar who studies the social contexts surrounding LGBTQIA2S+ students,” wrote Williams in her nomination letter. “As such, colleagues around the world look to her for guidance concerning matters of student success for historically marginalized students in higher education.”
Renn also received letters of support from Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and Dean of Undergraduate Studies Mark Largent and Senior Vice President for Student Life & Engagement Vennie Gore.
Throughout her career, Renn’s groundbreaking research has focused on college students’ educational experiences and identities, with a particular emphasis on diversity and inclusion in higher education. She joined MSU over 20 years ago and has been a tenured full professor in the university’s top-ranked Higher, Adult and Lifelong Education (HALE) program since 2012. She is currently the Dr. Mildred B. Erickson Distinguished Chair in HALE.
Pioneering equity through scholarly work
Capturing the full scope of Renn’s research, which has advanced equity efforts in higher education for over three decades, is a formidable task.
Here are some of her notable accomplishments as a Spartan:
- In 2010, Renn authored a pivotal article in Educational Researcher on LGBTQIA2S+ research in higher education and the integration of queer theory.
- As a graduate of the world’s oldest women’s college, Mount Holyoke, Renn broke new ground with her landmark research on female-only institutions of higher education. She examined the value of 13 colleges and universities across 10 countries, producing a book and numerous articles from her findings.
- Renn has secured approximately $5.6 million in external grants as principal investigator or co-principal investigator.
- Renn has authored or co-authored 43 peer-reviewed articles, 11 books and contributed 41 chapters in edited volumes.
- In 2018, Renn was president of the nation’s leading organization of higher education scholars, the Association for the Study of Higher Education.
- She has chaired 40 doctoral dissertations to completion, with 7 more dissertations underway. She has served on 95 dissertation committees and 92 doctoral guidance committees.
- In 2023, Renn organized a symposium focused on LGBTQIA2S+ and higher education research, attracting over 60 in-person attendees and more than 150 virtual participants.
- For the past decade, Renn has served as the associate dean for undergraduate education at the university.
Renn credits MSU and senior leaders with providing her with an ideal environment in which to thrive.
In May 2024, she was formally recognized with other faculty recipients at the All-University Faculty Awards Ceremony. Renn joins a long list of College of Education faculty who have received the award throughout the years.
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