Stamps Students, Faculty, and Staff Honored at the 2024 North Campus Deans’ MLK Spirit Awards

Stamps School of Art & Design community members were recognized for their work and achievements at the 2024 North Campus Dean’s MLK Spirit Awards ceremony on January 18, 2024.

Faculty members Emilia Yan, Hannah Smotrich, Stephanie Rowden, graduate student Simranpreet Anand, undergraduate students Laila Burke-Graves, Elsa Olander, and Naomi Rodriguez were each honored during the event.

John Luther, who has served as the career development coordinator at the Stamps School since 2001, received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his commitment and advocacy of the ideals and vision set forth by Dr. King.

Lifetime Achievement
John Luther, Career Development Coordinator

Learning & Scholarship
Emilia Yang, Assistant Professor

Institutional Change & Advocacy
Laila Burke-Graves (BFA ​‘26)
Hannah Smotrich, Associate Professor
Stephanie Rowden, Associate Professor

Activism Awareness & Organization
Simranpreet Anand (MFA ​‘24)

Community Building & Impact
Elsa Olander (BFA ​‘25)
Naomi Rodriguez (Interarts BFA ​‘25)

The North Campus Deans’ MLK Spirit Awards are given to students, student organizations, staff, and faculty in North Campus schools and colleges at the University of Michigan who exemplify the leadership and vision of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through their commitment to social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion, including within the context of the pandemic and our reignited sense of urgency to address root causes of social injustice.

The annual awards are hosted by the A. Alfred Taubman College of Architecture + Urban Planning; College of Engineering; Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design; and School of Music, Theatre & Dance, in collaboration with ArtsEngine and the Duderstadt Center as part of U‑M’s MLK Symposium to honor and commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. King.