In mid-December, Michigan State University’s Board of Trustees approved the appointment of History Professor Glenn Chambers to serve as dean of MSU Honors College.
“Dr. Chambers possesses a clear and progressive vision for our Honors College as an intellectual hub of the university, along with a strong understanding of the college’s foundational role at MSU and its potential for advancing our future,” said Provost Laura Lee McIntyre.
“His considerable experience and vast knowledge of the Honors College, stemming from his previous leadership experience as associate dean and interim dean, provide him with valuable insight regarding the college’s strengths and challenges. Deeply committed to student success — and with a demonstrated record of addressing factors that contribute to student success — he is a proven collaborative leader who centers the needs of students and champions opportunities for them, at MSU and beyond.”
A professor in MSU’s Department of History, as well as a historian on the modern Caribbean and the African diaspora, Dr. Chambers is well acquainted with navigating eras of change.
“I am excited about the opportunity to serve Michigan State University as the dean of the Honors College,” Dr. Chambers said. “The college and its amazing students are some of the most innovative that I have encountered over the years. I look forward to assisting in their continued development as scholars and leaders, and expanding our programs to enrich the broader campus community.”
As interim dean, Dr. Chambers helped the Honors College exceed its $3.1 million funding goal for Campbell Hall, which reopened August 2025 and has already hosted more than 50 student-facing events to foster a welcoming, innovative community.
He has worked with deans of undergraduate degree-granting colleges to enhance Honors course offerings for students and aided the Distinguished Student Awards Office, or DSAO, in its mission to support eligible students across campus in pursuing more than 20 competitive awards. The DSAO recently celebrated its first Voyager Scholarship for Public Service recipient in university history, as well as a record five Goldwater Scholars.
Dr. Chambers has aided the Honors College in recruiting and retaining a membership of roughly 4,000 top students, including through the Alumni Distinguished Scholarship competition. This year, the competition grew to include the Joseph R. and Sarah L. Williams Scholarships, which were introduced by President Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D.. As a result, the university granted a record total of 50 full-cost awards.
Dr. Chambers has held MSU administrative appointments as director of the African American and African Studies program, associate dean in the Office of Undergraduate Education and associate dean of the Honors College.
A doctoral graduate of Howard University, he bears strong historical, familial and cultural ties to southwest Louisiana and its vibrant Afro Creole communities. Dr. Chambers has authored two books on Caribbean immigration/migration, co-edited a volume on the African diaspora and published various articles in academic and popular journals.
The original version of this story appeared in MSUToday.