The Lilly Teaching Fellows Program began in 1991 and has served as an opportunity to engage in a year-long exploration of the robust scholarship on effective practices in university teaching. The program has supported fellows to become future faculty leaders and inspired a broad range of faculty to pursue teaching excellence.
After two years of redesigning the original program, the current rendition focuses explicitly on leadership development for educators who see teaching and learning as core to their path toward leadership.
The Lilly Fellowship is a cohort program for established educators who are ready to expand their influence beyond the classroom and contribute to institutional excellence through data-informed and iterative teaching and learning. Rather than focusing on foundational skill building, the Lilly Fellows Program supports educators in refining their practice, strengthening their voice, and contributing to a culture of learning that is equitable, reflective, and future-focused. Participants think about university priorities, engage in peer-driven dialogue, and refine their practice with the help of mentors, applied unit-level projects, and interaction with Lilly Alumni and educational leaders. Participants are committed to positive change in their MSU unit-level community as well as public sharing for the benefit of the broader MSU educator community. They are willing to try on new pedagogical approaches, connect their values to their classroom practice, and document their experience as reflective, growth-minded educators.
All tenure-system and fixed-term faculty, academic specialists, and librarians are invited to apply. As of the application date, all applicants must be in at least the fifth year of their appointment or have worked for MSU for at least five years as a faculty member, academic specialist, or librarian.
The application process for 2025-26 is now closed. Please note that the coordination and facilitation of the Adams Academy Fellowship, the Lilly Teaching Fellowship Program, and Learning Communities are transitioning to CTLI from the Office for Faculty and Academic Staff Development. If you are interested in these opportunities, watch for upcoming announcements from CTLI regarding application details and timelines. If you have any questions in the meantime, please contact Makena Neal, assistant director of educator community and cohort initiatives.
Assistant Dean of Instructional Design and Assessment, College of Osteopathic Medicine, wickjes@msu.edu
There was not a cohort of Lilly Fellows in the 2016-17 academic year.