Alumna Susan Strouse Receives Outstanding Faculty Award for Contributions

Michigan State University College of Nursing faculty member and alumna Susan Strouse (CON BSN ’89) recently received the Outstanding Faculty and Staff Award from the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities.

This award, generally given upon nomination from students with disabilities, recognizes outstanding contributions to equal opportunity for achievement and fostering an environment of excellence. Nominees are identified as individuals who maximize opportunities for academic or extracurricular achievement.

Strouse was nominated by Susan Bylsma, a student in the RN to BSN program in the College of Nursing. As a student with disabilities, Bylsma came to Strouse, who was an advisor in the College of Nursing, with many concerns. The support and feedback Strouse gave was frequent, helpful, and caring.

“She made the experience personal for me,” Bylsma said. “If she didn’t know the answer to a question I had, she found it.” Bylsma found that Strouse was not only prompt and helpful, but a great source of support, as well. “She always told me, ‘You can do this. I know you can,’” Bylsma said.

Strouse is an instructor in the College of Nursing and has worked in the past as an adviser for incoming students, which is how she came to work with Bylsma. She provided Bylsma with course schedules, prerequisites, and information about transferring from Lansing Community College.

“I have been blessed in my life to have many who encourage and motivate me to not only set lofty goals, but also provide me with means to accomplish these goals,” Strouse said upon receiving this award. “It is very humbling and rewarding to know that I have been able to pass this along to others to help them achieve their goals.”

As an alumna of Michigan State, Strouse is dedicated to giving as much as she can back to the university. “The fact that I am a Michigan State University College of Nursing alumna and can give back to my Spartan family in this way makes this award all the more special,” Strouse said.

Strouse feels that receiving this award is about more than her contributions to the university. She recognizes that others have helped her become a caring faculty member. Strouse praised the efforts of Student Services, which creates an environment where students can succeed. She thinks Bylsma deserves credit for this award, as well.

“She was so humble about it, but she deserves this award,” Bylsma said of Strouse’s modesty. “She is truly one of the selfless people in the world who go out of their way to help someone, in spite of any adversities in their own lives.”