The Michigan State University College of Law is home to eight law clinics, each specializing in a public service area of the law that provides professional legal counsel to the most vulnerable people in society.

Each clinic is directed by licensed attorneys who are members of the MSU Law faculty and staffed by law students who gain critical hands-on research and litigation experience. The clinics provide pro bono legal services and have won important cases for clients across the country.

MSU Law clinics cover the following areas of the law: immigration, family and juvenile law, housing, small business, public defense, Indian law, tax law, and first amendment.

In this new law clinic podcast series, MSU Today explores how our law clinics have won life-changing cases for clients and have given students incredible starts to successful legal careers.

For today’s episode, we talk with Christina Wease, director of the Alvin. L. Storrs Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

Conversation Highlights:

(1:23) - Christina, tell us about your background. How did you get involved in tax law and the Tax Clinic?

(2:07) - What services and work do you provide at the clinic?

(3:05) - Tell us about a case or two that exemplifies the reach of your work.

(5:25) - Are there students who have chosen tax law as their career as a result of working in the tax clinic?

(6:00) - How do you get students interested in the Tax Clinic?

(7:36) - You are celebrating 25 years of operation. Why is this an important milestone?

(8:17) - How do you keep up with changing tax law?

(8:53) - Given laws and political changes in the state and the federal government, how might this change your work?

(9:44) - As many Americans are getting ready to file taxes, do you have any tips or suggestions?

(11:35) - How can people reach out to the clinic?

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Teresa Dunn is a Mexican American artist raised in rural Southern Illinois. Her identity, life, and art are influenced by her racial and cultural heritages and the complexities of being a brown woman in the Midwest.

She came to MSU in 2006 and is a professor of painting and drawing in the Department of Art, Art History, and Design in MSU’s College of Arts and Letters.

On this episode of MSU Today, she talks about her path to MSU and what inspires and motivates her art. And she describes her piece commemorating the inaugural Spartan Bus Tour.

Conversation Highlights:

(0:33) – Dunn elaborates on her background and what motivates her art.

(1:53) – Were you always drawing as a child? When did you begin to express your heritage through your art?

(3:03) – When does the feeling hit you that you want to and can express your feelings in your way?

(5:40) – Did you feel a creative boost after coming to terms with how you want to express yourself through your art?

(6:37) – How and why do you come to MSU in 2006?

(7:39) – What do you enjoy about teaching?

(8:57) – How have you seen students change over the years?

(10:04) – When you create a piece, are there takeaways you hope people feel when experiencing your art?

(11:32) – How did you become involved in commemorating the Spartan Bus Tour?

(13:33) – How did you grasp the feeling and spirit of the tour?

(15:14) – How would you describe your art, and what would like people to know about Teresa Dunn?

Listen to “MSU Today with Russ White” on the radio and through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows.

State of the State is the monthly round up of policy and research for the state of Michigan from Michigan State University’s Institute for Public Policy and Social Research (IPPSR). Matt Grossmann and Arnold Weinfeld from IPPSR are joined by economist Charley Ballard to discuss the latest in politics and the economy.

Former Michigan Congressman and Governor and U.S. Ambassador to Canada Jim Blanchard joins the trio to discuss the impact of potential tariffs on Canada.

Conversation Highlights:

(1:07) – Grossmann on the politics of President Trump’s executive orders.

(2:54) – Which executive orders do you think will be the most impactful?

(3:46) – What is the reaction to the executive orders across the country? Is this what voters wanted?

(4:36) – Charley, what about the impacts on the economy?

(7:28) – Is the American economy working for most Americans?

(9:44) – Matt, what’s the impact of Gary Peters’ announcement that he will not run for reelection to the U.S. Senate in 2026?

(11:00) – How much will the Michigan governor’s race impact the federal race and vice versa?

(12:59) – Governor Blanchard’s perspective on the potential tariffs on Canada.

(17:12) – This isn’t the first time tariffs have the potential to impact the American economy.

(21:00) – Governor Blanchard says the tariffs will be inflationary.

(23:52) – How are the markets reacting?

(25:33) – Is this more bluster than reality? And what will the diplomatic damage be to our relationship with our allies?

(27:13) – Who pays the price for tariffs that will raise the price of what American consumers buy?

Listen to “MSU Today with Russ White” on the radio and through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows.

Michigan State University alumna Heidi Przybyla is an award-winning investigative and television correspondent who is championing new approaches to reporting and delivering news that put the American people first.

She is a veteran journalist who has regularly broken exclusive reporting on how White House, congressional and presidential policy impacts everyday Americans and on the state of democracy at home. Her reporting has spanned leading newspaper, digital, radio and television outlets.

She’s appeared on CNN, PBS, NPR, CBS, ABC, FOX and across NBC News platforms.

Conversation Highlights:

(0:58) - Describe your background and career path.

(3:14) - What attracted you to MSU, and how did your MSU experience impact you?

(6:12) - Did you always know you wanted to be a journalist? Why are you passionate about journalism?

(9:03) - Talk about the now-more-than-ever importance of journalism. What is its role in today’s world and how is the mission evolving? How would you like to see journalism evolve? What are some of the “new approaches to reporting and delivering news that put the American people first?”

(13:57) - What is the state of democracy at home? Do we need media literacy education? How does journalism need to evolve?

(18:56) – What’s your advice for today’s journalism students?

(21:51) – What do you want us to keep in mind about democracy and journalism and where it’s all going?

Listen to “MSU Today with Russ White” on the radio and through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows.

Teresa K. Woodruff joined an elite group of Americans who have received two national medals of honor when President Joe Biden announced the latest recipients of the National Medal of Science on Jan. 3.

Arati Prabhakar, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, presented Woodruff with the medal at a ceremony at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C., on the same date.

The first person from Michigan State University to receive the National Medal of Science, Woodruff has made significant global contributions in scientific research, improvements to the scientific process and diversification of research teams. Woodruff is an MSU Foundation professor in both the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology at MSU’s College of Human Medicine and the Department of Biomedical Engineering at MSU’s College of Engineering. She was named provost of MSU in August 2020 and served as interim president of MSU from 2022-2024.

Established in 1959 by the U.S. Congress, the National Medal of Science is the highest recognition the nation can bestow on scientists and engineers. Teresa is the first MSU faculty member to receive the recognition.

President Barack Obama presented Woodruff with the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring in an Oval Office ceremony in 2011. It is very rare to receive two presidential honors.

Conversation Highlights:

(1:36) - Congratulations! How does it feel?

(2:30) - You’re one of the world’s leading fertility experts, and you pioneered the science of oncofertility in 2006 that has helped thousands of cancer patients protect their reproductive futures. Talk about how your interest in this area developed and describe your research interests.

(4:43) - How is your research evolving? Findings lead to more questions, right? What is the zinc spark?

(6:37) - Teaching and mentoring are important to you. You’re an advocate for women in science and led efforts to change federal policy to mandate the use of females in fundamental National Institutes of Health research.Your students inspire you. Why is mentoring important to you and how are they helping carry on your work?

(8:57) - Why MSU? You could do this research anywhere.

(9:57) – The burgeoning MSU Health Sciences.

Listen to “MSU Today with Russ White” on the radio and through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows.

State of the State is the monthly round up of policy and research for the state of Michigan from Michigan State University’s Institute for Public Policy and Social Research (IPPSR). Matt Grossmann and Arnold Weinfeld from IPPSR are joined by economist Charley Ballard to discuss the latest in politics and the economy.

MSU sociologist Stephanie Nawyn joins the group to discuss Michigan residents’ attitudes on immigration and refugees.

Conversation Highlights:

(2:15) – Ballard on impacts on the economy – tariffs, EV subsidies, and public health. Michigan has the busiest border crossing in North America.

(7:45) – Grossmann on the impact on politics and policy. “Most things require bipartisan cooperation.”

(9:36) – There will be unified government at the federal level and divided government at the state level.

(14:26) – Nawyn describes her findings. What did you find about attitudes toward immigration and refugees?

(16:52) – Is President-elect Trump reading the public correctly?

(17:35) – What do you make of the differing views of Christians in places like Grand Rapids?

(24:11) – Michigan has a long history of accepting and supporting refugees. “It’s not just immigrants who will suffer. Pocketbooks will be impacted.”

(26:23) – Ballard on economic impact. The biggest impact might be on the construction industry.

(28:11) – Will the political winds ever change?

Listen to “MSU Today with Russ White” on the radio and through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows.

Michigan State University has announced the appointment of Alan Prather as director of the Beal Botanical Garden and Campus Arboretum. Prather has served as interim director since October 2021.

Morgan Butts is director of communications and marketing for University Arts and Collections.

Conversation Highlights:

(0:43) – Describe your background and scholarship.

(2:02) – Talk about the history and evolving mission of the garden. And what is rewilding?

(3:23) - Beal Scholars Internship Program

(4:47) - Red Cedar Riverbank Restoration research

(5:39) - New Botanical collection database

(6:29) - Strategic Plan/Land Use Plan

(7:12) – What is University Arts and Collections?

(8:08) - Do you have a favorite memory of the garden?

(9:37) – What are you most excited about for 2025?

(10:48) – What would you like the campus community to know about “the interconnectedness of people, plants and place?”

(12:03) – How can people support the garden?

Listen to “MSU Today with Russ White” on the radio and through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows.