Vivier named Grisham Master Teacher, Young receives Zacharias Early Career Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award

Contact: Allison Matthews

MSU President Mark E. Keenum congratulates Associate Professor of English Eric Vivier, the university’s newest Grisham Master Teacher.
MSU President Mark E. Keenum congratulates Associate Professor of English Eric Vivier, the university’s newest Grisham Master Teacher. (Photo by Beth Wynn)

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Two Mississippi State faculty members are being celebrated today [Aug. 22] with two of the university’s most prestigious teaching honors.

Eric Vivier is MSU’s newest Grisham Master Teacher, while Danielle Young is this year’s Zacharias Early Career Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award winner.

MSU President Mark E. Keenum said that while he often touts MSU’s standing as a leading land-grant and research university, he said providing excellence in classroom teaching is among the institution’s most important functions.

MSU President Mark E. Keenum congratulates Danielle Young, an instructor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, for receiving this year’s Zacharias Early Career Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award.
MSU President Mark E. Keenum congratulates Danielle Young, an instructor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, for receiving this year’s Zacharias Early Career Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award. (Photo by Beth Wynn)

“These are two extremely high honors—two of the highest honors we can bestow to our faculty for their achievements in the classroom,” said Keenum, adding that Vivier’s and Young’s awards are considered lifetime awards.

Vivier is an associate professor of English in MSU’s College of Arts and Sciences, as well as a Faculty Fellow within the Shackouls Honors College. He joined MSU’s faculty in 2014.

Young is an instructor who began teaching in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, also in the College of Arts and Sciences, in 2017. She holds the prestigious role of mace bearer at this evening’s fall convocation.

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