Maxine Berman Academic Achievement Award

Maxine Berman

The Maxine Berman Academic Achievement Award

The Maxine Berman Academic Achievement Award was established in 2018 by Dr. David Jesuit, friends of Maxine Berman and The Department of Political Science and Public Administration.

Maxine was raised in Oak Park and graduated from the University of Michigan. She then taught at Oak Park High School until running for political office. Maxine was an American politician who served on the Michigan House of Representatives between 1983 and 1996. Upon leaving office, Berman established Capitol Strategies, Inc., a consultancy firm, and led the Women’s Health Network of Michigan. Governor Jennifer Granholm appointed Berman as director of special projects in 2003. She left the post in 2008 and became the Robert and Marjorie Griffin Endowed Chair in American Government at Central Michigan University the next year, retiring in 2013. In 2015, Berman was elected to the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame. She died at the age of 71 in 2018 of lung cancer, in West Bloomfield, Michigan.

Criteria

  • The Award recognizes the academic accomplishments and promise of a student enrolled in one or both of the seminar courses taught by the Griffin Endowed Chair (PSC 300/301).
  • Recipients will embody the qualities epitomized by Maxine Berman’s long public service to Michigan and reflect her concerns for social justice.
  • Minimum GPA 3.00 on a 4.0 scale.
  • One scholarship will be awarded.
  • The award will be made only if highly qualified applicants apply.
  • The recipient will be determined by the Griffin Endowed Chair and, if there are multiple nominees, recipients are selected by a committee within the School of Politics, Society, Justice, and Public Service. 

Recipients

  • 2025 - Jordan (Joey) Craighead
  • 2024 - Delayni Brown
  • 2023 - Kyle Cook
  • 2022 - Michael Buzzy and Matthew Campbell
  • 2021 - Kennedy Scott
  • 2020 - Madison Emelander
  • 2019 - Christina Yunan
  • 2018 - Mackenzie Flynn