By Sloane Barlow
When they met on the Holmes Hall Honors floor in 1994, Randy and Michelle Kimple would never have guessed they would both be leaders at a research-intensive university 31 years later.
Randy and Michelle met during their first year at Michigan State, both members of Lyman Briggs and the Honors College. Michelle studied biology and Randy studied environmental science, but they ended up taking many of the same courses together.
“The flexibility that the Honors College provided for me was really instrumental for being able to explore some different areas in my undergraduate years,” Randy said. “It provided this breadth of undergraduate education that I think is really critical in teaching people how to think, how to problem solve, and how to take advantage of the opportunities that you get.”
Randy began working in Professor Al Tulinski’s chemistry lab early on as an undergraduate, and later Randy connected Michelle with faculty members looking for research assistants. By their third year at MSU, they were both working in Professor Jim Geiger’s lab and started dating.
“We both look at Jim Geiger – who’s still a faculty member in the chemistry department – as being a really critical mentor playing an important role really early on for us,” Randy said. “Research experiences in undergrad really sort of set us on a path that ultimately led to where we are today.”
After graduating from Michigan State in 1998, Randy and Michelle were both accepted to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for doctoral programs.
“The flexibility that the Honors College degree provided was absolutely critical in my career progression,” Michelle said. “I think obviously having that distinction made me more competitive for graduate school and fellowships that I’ve applied for and received over the years.”
At UNC Chapel Hill, Michelle pursued a Ph.D. in biochemistry and biophysics before moving to Duke University for postdoctoral training. She is now a tenured professor of endocrinology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she researches proteins involved in the regulation of insulin secretion in metabolic health and diabetes.
At UW-Madison, Michelle runs a lab full of trainees, inspired by her research experience. She credits her passion for teaching and mentoring to her undergraduate research experience and work as a teaching assistant.
“It really gave me a snapshot of what the life of a tenure-track faculty member at a research-intensive institution would really be,” Michelle said. “Teaching and mentoring the next generation of scientists and physicians is the biggest reason why I’m in this career.”
Randy pursued medical school at UNC Chapel Hill and eventually added a Ph.D. in pharmacology. Like Michelle, he is now also a tenured professor at UW-Madison and he works with cancer patients in a radiation oncology clinic.
Randy also runs a research lab that is attempting to develop new treatments and therapies to improve the outcomes and side effects of cancer for patients.
“We do a lot of clinical trials and we work with a lot of patient samples in our research,” Randy said. “And we are really focused on how can we most rapidly, effectively, and efficiently move new discoveries into impactful changes for our patients.”
Considering all that they have accomplished in their research careers, Randy and Michelle look back and reflect on the opportunities MSU and the Honors College provided that led them to where they are now – and they have been inspired to give back.
Together, Randy and Michelle are regular donors to a scholarship fund through their hometown organization, the Holland Community Foundation. Founded by Randy’s brother, the Ted and Yuki Yamaoka Scholarship Fund supports first-generation students attending MSU.
“I just think it’s wonderful that now that we’re in a position to be able to help support those students and their success, and I’m sure that some of them end up being Honors College students,” Randy said. “One of the things we value is giving back to the university, to Lyman Briggs, to the Honors College, and to helping the next generation reach their goals.”