Former Islander Lori Strom Wins Prestigious Breslin Award
By Leslie Rott

Former Island resident Lori Strom (center) receives the prestigious Jack Breslin Distinguished Staff Award for her work as coordinator at Michigan State University’s Family Resource Center in East Lansing. With her are Michigan State University’s Vice-President of Finance and Operations Fred Poston (left) and Michigan State University President Louanna K. Simon.

Former Island resident Lori Strom received the prestigious Jack Breslin Distinguished Staff Award for her work at the Family Resource Center at Michigan State University in East Lansing Monday, May 16.

Originally from Birmingham, Ms. Strom began her stay on the Island more than 30 years ago. In 1974, while she was a student at Michigan State University, she began working on the Island as a tour guide at Fort Mackinac.

She said that her experience as an historical interpreter for the Park is what made her fall in love with the Island. She lived here year-around from 1979 until 1983 and was one of the founders of Mackinac Island Recreational Development, Inc. (MIRD), which built Great Turtle Park.

With a bachelor’s degree in gerontology and community service from the University of Oregon and a master’s degree in public administration from Western Michigan University, Ms. Strom began working at the Family Resource Center at Michigan State University in 1997.

As the coordinator for the Family Resource Center, her job is to support students, faculty, and staff with balancing their personal and professional responsibilities. She helps members of the campus community deal with life issues such as obtaining flexible work schedules and with child and elder care issues, and she advises students who have children.

“If we support families, we will be a healthier society,” she said.

Ms. Strom understands what it is like to have to balance personal and professional responsibilities. She said her priorities are her sons, Jeremy Ravitz, 18, and David Ravitz, 10. Jeremy works with his father, Hugh Ravitz, at Mackinac Marine Supply and Outfitter in the summer and will attend Michigan State University in the fall.

Of her job, Ms. Strom said that she “tries to humanize the [campus] environment. It’s real and it’s genuine and it makes a difference,” she said of her position.

Recipients of the award are chosen by the Jack Breslin Distinguished Staff Awards Committee based upon their excellence and overall job performance, outstanding interpersonal skills and working relationships, contributions to department operations, and contributions to the University community, said Mike Rice, the committee chair.

The award is given to six support staff (nonacademic) members each year who have worked at the University for at least five years.

Since 1978, its first year, the award has gone to 169 people.

Mr. Rice said Ms. Strom was chosen because “she fulfilled those four qualities extremely well. She does her job well on a daily basis.”

Winners of the Jack Breslin Distinguished Staff Award receive $2,500.

Ms. Strom said that she is honored, humbled, and flattered for being selected as a recipient of this year’s award and said that she was simply doing her job. “I’m usually the one giving out awards,” she said.

Family and friends attending the ceremony in East Lansing included Islanders Pam Finkel and Barb Fisher.