Renn receives prestigious ASHE Mentoring Award

October 24, 2024

Professor and internationally recognized scholar Kristen Renn is a recipient of the Association for the Study of Higher Education’s (ASHE) Mentoring Award. Each year, the award recognizes up to two scholars who excel in mentoring, fostering inclusivity, contributing to higher education and serving as role models of integrity and collaboration across diverse identities.

A portrait of Kristen Renn standing outdoors with a background of lush green trees. She is wearing a light blue button-up shirt and has short, light brown hair. Renn is smiling softly and has her arms crossed, conveying confidence and approachability in the natural setting. The lighting highlights her face, and the overall mood of the image feels peaceful and professional.
Professor Kristen Renn

Renn’s pioneering research centers on the educational experiences and identities of college students, with a strong focus on diversity and inclusion in higher education, especially among LGBTQIA2S+ students. Throughout her career, she has chaired 40 doctoral dissertations to completion, with 7 more dissertations underway. In addition, she has served on 95 dissertation committees and 92 doctoral guidance committees. Renn is a professor of Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education (HALE).

She becomes the fifth Spartan to win the award, following Professor Marilyn Amey (2009), Professor Emeritus Roger Baldwin (2017), alum and former HALE faculty member Christa Porter (2023) and HALE Ph.D. alum Pamela Eddy (2023).

“Kris has mentored many students who have become influential scholars in higher education,” said one of the nomination letters. “Her mentees have significantly expanded our understanding of student development, experiences and socialization.”

She was nominated by scholars from seven different higher education institutions.

“Professor Renn’s dedication to fostering inclusivity and guiding the next generation of scholars has left an indelible mark not only on her students but on the entire field,” said Jerlando F. L. Jackson, dean and MSU Research Foundation Professor of Education. “Not only does she mentor; she empowers.”

A group of diverse students is gathered around a circular table in a classroom, engaged in a discussion with a faculty member. The professor, standing at the center, is gesturing as she speaks, and all the students are focused on her. Some students are taking notes on laptops, while others have notebooks in front of them. The classroom is well-lit, and the background shows blank whiteboards and empty chairs, suggesting an interactive and collaborative learning environment.
Kristen Renn (standing in center, wearing a blue top) leads a group discussion with doctoral students. Photo courtesy of Derrick L. Turner.

Accolades

Renn’s research has driven equity initiatives in higher education for more than three decades.

A few of her remarkable achievements as a Spartan include:

  • 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.
  • 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. The symposium was hosted on MSU’s campus.
  • For the past decade, Renn has served as the associate dean for undergraduate education at the university.

Renn will be honored at the 49th Annual ASHE Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota on November 22, 2024.

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