Jan Alleman is a Michigan State University celebrity. Known these days as the dancing lady on the jumbotron at MSU men's basketball games, Jan is often stopped by her fans for chats and photos. What not many Spartans realize is that Jan is professor emeritus at MSU, a global leader in teaching and education, and a generous donor to the arts, athletics, and more on campus. What began as a profile for our Spartan alumni magazine, which is largely engaged donors, turned into a feature that reached and inspired MSU’s larger alumni and fan bases, as well as the Lansing community. Through interviews, multiple meetups to swap historical photos, and a custom photoshoot (we even followed her into the MSU student section, the Izzone, where she was met with great fanfare), we created a piece that combines athletics, philanthropy, faculty, global reach, and a local Spartan celeb into one story that truly only Michigan State can tell. Jan’s story was among our most popular of 2025, racking up thousands of reactions and hundreds of shares on social media. Response also came in the form of letters and emails from Jan’s fans, former students, and teachers. And the photoshoot was so genuine and Spartan-flavored that Jan's image made the cover of the Winter 2025 issue of Spartan.
From the Judges
This story has it all—nostalgia, sports, a legend on campus, alumni, donors, and educators. A really great home run!
