Three current or former Honors College students (John Rood, David Brumbaugh and Sherman Garnett, who is currently professor and dean of James Madison) nominated Professor Zinman for the Award.

This award was established in cooperation with the Honors College Student Advisory Committee and the Alumni Association to recognize exceptional contributions to Honors College students through teaching, advising or mentoring. The award is presented once each year during the spring semester, and this is the seventh year the award has been offered.

Zinman is also executive director of the LeFrak Forum/Symposium on Science, Reason and Modern Democracy, a research center in the Department of Political Science. At James Madison, he also serves as chair of its program in political theory and constitutional democracy. He specializes in political philosophy and American political thought, with special interest in the intersection of philosophy and public policy. For the past 36 years, Zinman has been an acclaimed adviser, dedicated and honored teacher, and encouraging mentor to Honors College students in James Madison.

A variety of students easily recall his “powerful” classes, which have introduced classical political philosophy to generations of unsuspecting – and subsequently exceedingly appreciative – students.Zinman has also provided superb guidance and support to countless Honors and Madison students seeking the most appropriate graduate or law schools, or competing for major national and international scholarships. In doing so he has contributed greatly to the career successes of so many MSU students.

One former student summed up these contributions in noting that Dick Zinman “…helped us understand that political philosophizing does not happen in a vacuum, that it can powerfully influence public affairs – and ourselves.”

“We are very pleased to recognize a faculty member who has affected so many students so positively,” noted Ronald Fisher, director of the Honors College. “Professor Zinman has made these contributions over a long and distinguished career, during which he has greatly affected the lives of Honors College and Madison students, as well as the educational environment at Michigan State.”

The award is being presented at the University Undergraduate Scholarship Recognition Dinner on Thursday, May 5.In addition to a certificate, the award recipient receives an honorarium of $1,000, and all the recipients of this award are identified on a permanent display located at the Honors College in Eustace-Cole Hall.