Women in Science Distinguished Professor Award

Mary Cloninger

Mary Cloninger, professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, is the recipient of the Women in Science Distinguished Professor Award, which supports and recognizes outstanding women faculty in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), and the social and behavioral sciences. She will receive an annual award of $2,000 for two years.

Cloninger, who joined the faculty in 1999, is described by her colleagues as “undeniably one of our very best” and as “the heart and soul of our department.” Her service to the department and the College of Letters and Science has taken many forms, including as a member of numerous boards, advisory councils and committees. She served as head of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry for six years and led MSU’s National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experience for Undergraduates program for 17 years.

Cloninger is known internationally for her study of multivalent interactions between carbohydrates and lectins, especially their roles in tumor formation and cancer progression. Her work has been funded by the National Institutes of Health and the NSF, and she has published more than 40 peer-reviewed papers. Cloninger frequently speaks at other top universities across the country, and she is actively involved in scientific conferences, workshops and symposia around the world.

In a letter of nomination, department head Joan Broderick described Cloninger as an exceptional faculty member, a much-loved teacher, a prolific mentor of graduate and undergraduate students, and a tireless leader with a strong commitment to diversity.