Faculty Awards and Recipients
WMU faculty and staff are recipients of both internal and external funding awards, as well as honors bestowed upon them for outstanding scholarship. This section of our site provides information about recipients of these awards and honors.
Distinguished Faculty Scholar Award
![Professional portrait of Lisa Baker](https://files.wmich.edu/s3fs-public/images/u7465/2024/baker-lisa-min.jpg)
Dr. Lisa Baker
![A professional portrait of Kristina Lemmer](https://files.wmich.edu/s3fs-public/images/u7465/2024/lemmer-kristina-min.jpg)
Dr. Kristina Lemmer
![A professional portrait of Elena Litvinova](https://files.wmich.edu/s3fs-public/images/u7465/2024/litvinova-elena-min.jpg)
Dr. Elena Litvinova
The Distinguished Faculty Scholar Award is among the highest annual honors WMU can bestow on a faculty member. The award recognizes an outstanding record of scholarship across one's career.
![Professional Image of Lisa DeChano-Cook](https://files.wmich.edu/s3fs-public/2024-08/dechano-cook-lisa-min.jpg)
Distinguished Service Award
The Distinguished Service Award recognizes exceptional service through innovative and effective programs which are academic, or related to another facet of University life, such as programs that serve students, faculty or staff in an important and unique way.
![Professional headshot of Whitney DeCamp](https://files.wmich.edu/s3fs-public/images/u7465/2024/decamp-whitney-min.jpg)
![Portrait of Timothy Palmer](https://files.wmich.edu/s3fs-public/images/u7465/2024/palmer-timothy-min.jpg)
![Portrait of Dee Sherwood](https://files.wmich.edu/s3fs-public/images/u7465/2024/sherwood-dee-min.jpg)
Distinguished Teaching Award
The Distinguished Teaching Award is the highest honor given by the University to recognize faculty members for their work.
![Professional Portrait of Daniel MacFarlane](https://files.wmich.edu/s3fs-public/images/u7465/2024/macfarlane-daniel-min_3.jpg)
Emerging Scholar Award
The Emerging Scholar Award recognizes the accomplishments of WMU faculty members who are among the rising stars in the U.S. higher education.
Visiting Scholars and Artists Program
The Visiting Scholars and Artists Program makes important contributions to the intellectual life of Western Michigan University. This program provides funds for academic units to bring distinguished scholars and artists to campus.
Michigan Distinguished Professor of the Year
The Michigan Distinguished Professor of the Year Award is intended for tenured faculty members who demonstrate sustained commitment to undergraduate instruction and who are nominated by their institutions for excellence in fulfillment of the selection criteria.
2022 - 2023 Annual Award Recipient Denise Champion
Make a Difference Awards
Make a Difference is a campus-wide peer-to-peer program that recognizes Western Michigan University staff for their accomplishments and daily investment of energy and creativity. It features semiannual and annual awards available to Staff Compensation System, AFSCME, MSEA and POA employees who provide exceptional services to the University.