Chantal McWillie receives 2026 Naomi & Donald Hack Award
Chantal McWillie is many things to MSU Chemistry students — a counselor, a friend, and a self-described “auntie” who’s often given shout-outs during final defense exams.
Now, those who know her best can add another title to that list: Naomi and Donald Hack Distinguished Staff Awardee.
McWillie, who joined MSU Chemistry in 2022, is the latest recipient of an accolade that honors the unique and ceaseless efforts of staff in supporting our department.
Created in memory of Physical Chemistry secretary Naomi Hack whose two decades of generosity and advocacy are
still felt within the community today, McWillie was chosen because of the similar qualities she brings to the bustling General Chemistry program — enthusiasm, empathy, and excellence.
For McWillie, the honor is the culmination of a lifelong commitment to professional achievement, a drive she attributes to her father.
A Grammy-winning Motown songwriter and producer, you’ll find some of his gold records adorning her Chemistry office walls.
“I inherited my passion for learning from him,” McWillie shared. “I’ve always been an achiever, personally and professionally, just as he was. This award comes as a milestone marker for me."
McWillie’s journey at MSU spans 13 years, having joined Chemistry after nearly a decade of work at the Veterinary Medical Center. Despite her long record of service, news of the Hack Award still came as a shock.
“I had to read the email once to make sure it appeared authentic, twice to make sure I saw the word ‘winner’ and not just ‘nominee,’ and third just for vanity purposes,” she joked. “I really felt like I had won the lottery.”
While the award recognizes her wide-ranging administrative contributions, including coordinating Chemistry exams by the thousands, McWillie identifies the heart of her work as the relationships she builds with young Spartan scientists.
Just as Naomi Hack befriended and supported generations of graduate students and post-docs, McWillie sees these connections as the true center of MSU Chemistry.
“Without the students, there is no me or us,” she said. “Getting to know and serve them makes everything worth it.”
