October 24, 2025 | By Nick Pfost
We're delighted to share that Spectrum Center has received the inaugural Simone Himbeault Taylor Spirit of Inquiry Award, presented recently at the Student Life Research Symposium Awards Celebration. The honor recognizes our team’s commitment to building a culture of inquiry and using data-driven insights to strengthen programs, policies, and the student experience at the University of Michigan.
The Himbeault Taylor Award celebrates a unit that routinely seeks to learn more about its work and impact on students, employing varied assessment methods both independently and in partnership with others.
"I'm really proud of what we're doing together," says Jesse Beal, Spectrum Center's director. "As a scholar-practitioner, I believe it's important that our work with students is grounded in theory and guided by real data. Over the past four years, our team has worked tremendously to create a culture of curiosity and assessment, and it's what has made it possible for us build out our own original research to serve and support our communities."
The award is named for Simone Himbeault Taylor, who served as U-M’s interim Vice President for Student Life and led with a focus on student-centered values and assessment throughout her career.
We are grateful for this recognition and remain committed to fostering an environment where curiosity and continuous improvement shape our work.
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