LANSING, MI — Patsy Hendy is among seven recipients of the 2026 Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Director's Award, the department's highest employee honor. MDOT established the annual award nearly 40 years ago to recognize those who exhibit leadership and exemplary public service.

"As an exceptionally organized and resourceful professional, Patsy improves executive office operations by creating effective tools and resources and strengthening communication across MDOT. She also shares her knowledge and guidance with fellow employees to make everyone better," State Transportation Director Bradley C. Wieferich said. "Dedicated employees like Patsy help make MDOT the responsive and inclusive organization that it is, and we are grateful for her public service."

Hendy's dedication to professional growth and her commitment to advancing MDOT's mission are evident through her educational and outreach efforts. While working full-time, she earned her Master of Public Administration from the University of Michigan. During her graduate studies, she developed a strong interest in MDOT's work with Michigan Native American tribal nations and pursued an independent study to support the department's tribal liaison. Through this project, Hendy updated outdated program guidelines to align with the Section 106 programmatic agreement, improving the accuracy and clarity of MDOT's communication on tribal affairs. Her work modernized key documents and strengthened the department's ability to engage reliably and respectfully with tribal partners.

Hendy also strengthened MDOT's digital accessibility by attending accessibility forums and coaching fellow employees on designing accessible presentations. Through these efforts, she has improved the accessibility of departmental communications while supporting the professional development of her colleagues.

The MDOT Director's Award program represents the various work categories within the department. While MDOT employees nominate their peers, committees comprised of workers from each category make the final recommendations to the department.