Spartan Geographer earns MSU College of Social Science Dean’s Institutional Access Small Grant Award

September 18, 2026

The Department of Geography, Environment and Spatial Sciences at Michigan State University congratulates dual-major Ph.D. student Yousef Khajavigodellou, on being named a recipient of the 2026 Dean’s Institutional Access Small Grant. 

Administered jointly by the MSU College of Social Science and the Office of Institutional Access, this competitive award program provides funding for innovative social science scholarship and research that actively advances the College’s mission of inclusive excellence. 

Khajavigodellou is a geographer and environmental engineer. He is a member of the MSU Environmental Science and Policy Program and the Center for Global Change and Earth Observations. His research endeavors are deeply rooted in the critical exploration of the water-food-energy nexus, particularly within the environmentally sensitive watershed of Lake Urmia in the west of Iran and the geopolitically complex transboundary river basins across the Middle East and North Africa. His research employs a comprehensive multidisciplinary methodology that weaves together socio-economic factors, environmental dynamics, and geopolitical considerations to confront and solve the pressing issues of water bankruptcy that threaten these vital regions. 

As an awardee, Khajavigodellou will utilize the small grant to expand upon previous access-centered research. Applicants were required to submit detailed proposals demonstrating how their research methodology and implementation plans will creatively advance Institutional Access both within the College of Social Science and across the broader university community. 

Grant recipients were selected by a review committee that submitted final recommendations to Dr. Nwando Achebe, Associate Dean for Access, Development, and Strategic Implementation. Grants are awarded at the start of each academic year to support impactful dissertation research initiatives.