College of Social Science
The Young Alumni Award is presented to alumni age 40 or younger who have distinguished themselves through a high level of professional accomplishment early in their career.
He is a trailblazer, a vocal higher education advocate and a Spartan.
Often, our stories lay the foundation for our accomplishments — and Felipe Lopez Sustaita uses his compelling and formative life experiences to inspire and educate others.
Felipe was born in Matehuala, San Luis Potosi, Mexico, where he was the youngest of eight siblings. He immigrated to the United States at a young age and grew up working as a migrant farm worker until he began his college education at MSU. He pursued his B.A. in Criminal Justice and was an active member of the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP). He received his Master of Social Work from MSU and his Doctor of Philosophy in Education from Ferris State University, with a specialization in community college leadership.
Throughout his career, Felipe has been a passionate advocate for higher education and the farmworker community, always acknowledging his roots and striving to uplift others. In 2021, he accepted his current role of associate dean of student support at Lansing Community College (LCC), where he oversees seven departments. Previously, he served as LCC’s LUCERO program coordinator, where he fostered a positive environment for students of color with a focus on Latino students. Felipe has fostered strong connections between LCC and MSU by establishing several partnerships that provide vital support to Latino students.
Prior to his career at LCC, Felipe demonstrated his commitment to advocacy as the executive director of the Hispanic/Latino Commission of Michigan. During his tenure, he founded the Statewide Hispanic/Latino College Graduation Ceremony and worked tirelessly to award more than 100 scholarships to students across the state. He also drove more than 50,000 miles to help increase access to COVID-19 vaccines for the Hispanic and Latino communities.
In 2022, Felipe published his first book, "You Can't Run From Your Destiny: Lessons From A Migrant Worker!" He received the Hispanic Heritage Month Leadership Award from the NFL and the Detroit Lions in 2018.
A proud Spartan for life, Felipe remains actively involved with the MSU community. In 2014, he was honored during MSU CAMP’s recognition ceremony for becoming the first MSU CAMP scholar to earn a doctoral degree. He serves on the MSU Office of Cultural and Academic Transitions leadership panel on inclusive leadership and is a current CAMP volunteer and presenter.
Known for his integrity, honesty and advocacy, Felipe represents the Spartan community through his deep commitment to helping others. His life and career are testaments to the power of education, hard work and a commitment to community.
“I was just a migrant kid that immigrated to this country with no hopes, with nothing, and I was given an opportunity by this university to change the world. . . When you give someone an opportunity, it’s like a plant and the biggest thing for me is that I am still a farmer, I am still planting seeds, but I am doing it in humans instead of in the fields.”
Anna Ludlow