Michael Walter receives 2026 Thomas L. Reynolds Leadership Award

The department is excited to announce that Michael Walter has been recognized as this year’s GPD recipient of the Thomas L. Reynolds Leadership Award. This award honors excellence in graduate program administration. The award is presented annually to a Graduate Program Director (GPD) and Graduate Program Administrator (GPA) selected by a committee of previous winners, the Graduate Council chair and Graduate School staff. 

Michael has been the GPD for the Nanoscale Science Ph.D. Program since 2023. In the three years he has held this position, he has initiated many substantial, positive changes to the program.

Photo: 2026 Fall Graduate Summit (9/23/2026) – Michael Walter receiving the Thomas L. Reynolds Leadership Award with Dean Emeritus Tom Reynolds, along with Bill Tolone (Associate Provost and Dean of the Graduate School) and Katherine Hill-Hartell (Associate Dean of the Graduate School).