College of Social Science
The Alumni Service Award is presented to alumni who have demonstrated service to MSU and/or meritorious public service on a local, state, national or international level.
She is an activist, a trailblazer and a Spartan.
As a psychotherapist, advocate and two-time alum of MSU, Rachel Crandall-Crocker has dedicated her life to service that transcends local boundaries, impacting national and international communities. As the visionary founder of the International Transgender Day of Visibility, her work has played a pivotal role in raising awareness to the lived experiences of the transgender community.
Using the skills she learned as a Spartan, Rachel’s career in service began in social work. Her career as a psychotherapist evolved to specializing in transgender issues and educating other therapists about the transgender community. After meeting her now wife, Susan Crocker, Rachel co-founded Transgender Michigan in 1997. Transgender Michigan provides advocacy, support and education while creating coalitions across the state to unify and empower transgender and gender non-conformist communities.
Rachel was a trailblazing advocate for the transgender community long before the community achieved the visibility it has today. To honor the joy and love she found in the transgender community, she founded the International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV). Founded in 2009, TDOV is annually held on March 31. This crucial initiative highlights the significant challenges faced by transgender communities worldwide, including elevated risks of suicide, homelessness, assault and murder, along with various socially determined health issues such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, HIV/AIDS and substance abuse. TDOV serves as a milestone in LGBTQ+ history, and since its founding, has been observed worldwide by a growing number of countries each year. Every year since 2021, President Joe Biden has officially proclaimed March 31 as Transgender Day of Visibility.
Beyond her career as an activist, Rachel contributes her expertise to the Lansing Association for Human Rights, Affirmations LGBTQ+ Community Center and the Human Rights Campaign of Michigan’s Steering Committee. Her advocacy extends to representing and supporting communities with disabilities, particularly within the LGBTQ+ spectrum, drawing from her own experiences living with Tourette's Syndrome.
Rachel’s relentless efforts continue to inspire and drive positive change for transgender and disabled individuals, making her a truly distinguished figure in the fight for equality and visibility. From her work here in Michigan to the global initiative she piloted, Rachel’s career in service to others is a moving example.
“Transgender Michigan came to be right after I was fired from my job for being transgender, and I thought, ‘What do I do now?’ Then I came up with the idea – I wanted to create a statewide organization so everyone doesn’t have to be so isolated and lonely anymore.”
Anna Ludlow