Feb. 24, 2026 | Read time 1 min

Transfer Champions of the month

February 2026

Summary

Each month, we celebrate faculty and staff who go above and beyond to support transfer students at MSU. These champions help create smoother pathways, foster belonging, and ensure Spartans feel at home—no matter where their journey began. This February, we feature two Transfer Champions, Jessica Gray and Kara Swain. 

Portrait. Subject is seen from the shoulders up. They are wearing a blue sweater with a black shirt, smiling and looking directly at the camera. Long braided hair is coming down their shoulders.

Jessica Gray

Jessica Gray is the Student Wellness Coordinator for the Broad College of Business at Michigan State University, where she is passionate about creating supportive, accessible spaces that help students thrive both personally and academically. Her work focuses on reducing barriers to success and building a strong culture of care across the Broad community.

Jessica leads initiatives that support students’ basic needs and overall well-being, including the development of the Broad Care Center, a resource hub that provides free personal hygiene, household, and essential items. Through this work, she strives to ensure every student feels supported, seen, and able to focus on their goals without added stress.

Beyond resources, Jessica designs programs and events that foster connection, belonging, and balance, creating meaningful opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to come together. She is especially passionate about normalizing help-seeking and making wellness an everyday part of the student experience.

Jessica is committed to expanding holistic wellness efforts so every student feels empowered, supported, and at home at MSU.

 

Portrait. Subject can be seen from mid-chest up. They are standing outside against a tree. They are wearing a mauve colored sweater, looking at the camera and smiling, with short curly brown hair that lands just past their ears.

Kara Swain

Kara Swain is the Food Bank Coordinator with the MSU Food Bank and Basic Needs Program and Chair of the Hunger Free and Basic Needs Task Force, where she leads campus efforts to reduce food insecurity and expand equitable access to basic needs for students.

A proud Spartan and first-generation college student, Kara transferred from Lansing Community College to Michigan State University in 2016 and earned her undergraduate degree in Sociology. Having navigated the transfer process herself, Kara understands the challenges students often face when transitioning from other colleges or universities to MSU, from learning new systems to finding community and support. In her role, she works intentionally to connect with transfer students, empowering them with information, resources, and encouragement to help make their transition smoother and more comfortable.

Kara’s approach to student support is grounded in the belief that we are all human before we are scholars or professionals, and that students cannot thrive academically without their basic needs being met. Her work is rooted in social justice and lived experience, with a focus on reducing barriers, building community, and breaking down stigma around asking for help. Kara is currently enrolled in the MSU Master of Social Work (MSW) program and is working toward becoming a clinical social worker.