Twenty-eight people were honored for their service to 51ÁÔÆæ during the 2018 Fall Awards Ceremony Oct. 17.<\/p>\n
Some were recognized for their outstanding teaching and efforts to help students, others for their service to scholarship and toward making the university a better place to work and study.<\/p>\n
David S. Allen, professor, Journalism, Advertising and Media Studies Allen’s knowledge of the material, openness to debate and passionate belief in a bright future for journalism inspires and challenges. \u201cThat class was what I wanted out of a college experience from the moment I applied,\u201d writes one student.<\/p>\n His students study a range of media texts, from news releases to product pitches, and engage in policy conversations that draw upon Allen\u2019s teachings on constitutional law. \u201c(His) assignments turn theory into practice and give students an experience that shows how course concepts matter in the media workplace and broader society,\u201d writes a colleague.<\/p>\n As faculty advisor to the 51ÁÔÆæ Post, Allen helped staff journalists secure a $5,000 grant for a video commenting platform so that more voices can contribute to discussions.<\/p>\n Winson Chu, associate professor, Department of History<\/strong><\/p>\n Even award-winning professors like 51ÁÔÆæ\u2019s Winson Chu can benefit from free advice, like this gem that turned up in one of Chu\u2019srecent course evaluations: \u201cTeach more classes!\u201d<\/p>\n Though his material can be somber, including lectures on the two world wars and smaller courses on Germany during and after World War II, Chu employs a variety of tools to keep students engaged. He plays snippets of songs popularized by soldiers of the time and integrates maps and photos into his lectures to keep students invested and interested in the content beyond note-taking and memorization. Questions that Chu doesn\u2019t get to during class are addressed during his well-attended office hours.<\/p>\n \u201cProfessor Chu has a reputation in our department for encouraging undergraduates to feel responsible for their own progress,\u201d writes a colleague and nominator. \u201cI am pleased that when students who have taken his courses subsequently enroll in mine, they have a firm grasp of the basic questions and methods that are crucial for understanding historical change.\u201d<\/p>\n David J. Pate Jr., associate professor, \u00a0Department of Social Work<\/strong><\/p>\n What makes David J. Pate Jr. an exemplary educator is an unflinching ability to examine society\u2019s most vexing issues in a way that engages students and prepares them for careers addressing poverty, racial segregation, education inequity, crime and homelessness. \u201cHis courses integrate the most recent research into an examination of these issues and how social work can address them individual and collectively,\u201d writes a colleague.<\/p>\n Pate\u2019s research brings the community to 51ÁÔÆæ and has shaped him as an expert on the life course of African-American men. Students are encouraged to benefit from this community orientation by attending colloquia Pate organizes, meeting his research participants on campus, or curating a gallery exhibition in response to the Black Lives Matter movement.<\/p>\n Students compliment Pate as a challenging professor who gives his best and makes similar demands of them. \u201cVery analytical and incredibly challenging\u201d is how one student describes Pate\u2019s course. \u201cDr. Pate is always knowledgeable and pushes us out of our comfort zone,\u201d writes another. \u201cHe makes us think critically about issues of race.\u201d<\/p>\n Vytaras Brazauskas, professor, \u00a0Department of Mathematical Sciences<\/strong><\/p>\n Since arriving at 51ÁÔÆæ in 1999, Vytaras Brazauskas has tirelessly worked through the rigorous criteria necessary to make the university\u2019s actuarial sciences program exceptional. His work, writes a colleague, \u201chas truly put the mathematical sciences department, and 51ÁÔÆæ, on the map.\u201d<\/p>\n His efforts were rewarded in 2016, when 51ÁÔÆæ\u2019s actuarial sciences program received the Center of Actuarial Excellence designation from the Society of Actuaries. Only 224 of the world\u2019s nearly 1,000 actuarial science programs are accredited by the society and only 31 hold the society\u2019s Center of Excellence status.<\/p>\n To accomplish this, Brazauskas initiated an actuarial science BA program in 2006, including creation of eight all-new courses at 51ÁÔÆæ, ranging from foundations of professional practice to actuarial risk theory. He chaired three successful search and screen committees to expand the program\u2019s teaching and administrative ranks. He networked with businesses seeking new actuarial talent, culminating in a $750,000 gift to the program from Northwestern Mutual, whose leaders recognized Brazauskas\u2019 ability to take the 51ÁÔÆæ program from \u201cpromising to full potential.\u201d<\/p>\n Margaret Noodin, associate professor, Department of English<\/strong><\/p>\n As director of the Electa Quinney Institute for Indian Education, Margaret Noodin carves out spaces for indigenous cultures on campus: supporting a student housing policy that includes the spiritual use of candles, incense, sage and more; securing $2 million in grant funding to mentor indigenous teachers and students; and recruiting, advising and mentoring American Indian graduate students.<\/p>\n A colleague describes her trailblazing efforts as a teacher of Anishinaabemowin (the Anishinaabe or Ojibwe language): \u201cShe\u2019s developed a sequence of six courses, including audio and video instructional files, from introductory to advanced levels.\u201d Co-chair of the Academic Program and Curriculum Committee, she chaired multiple program reviews.<\/p>\n \u201c(Noodin) and her classes translated several songs from Gaelic into Anishinaabemowin,\u201d a colleague writes. \u201cThey spoke about how to translate the words \u2018sea\u2019 and \u2018canoe,\u2019 and how to transplant Irish consonants into long Native-American vowels. All of us were simply transfixed. Truly, the joint chorus in Gaelic and Anishinaabemowin sent shivers down my spine. I believe this may be the one and only time that anyone worked systematically to convert Gaelic into Wisconsin\u2019s native tongue.\u201d<\/p>\n Kimberly Blaeser, professor, Department of English<\/strong><\/p>\n A woman of letters, Kimberly Blaeser\u2019s impact on Native American identity, American poetry and UW-Milwaukee is perhaps best summarized in numbers:<\/p>\n Through this partial list of accomplishments, Blaeser has made Wisconsin her classroom. Her poetry and scholarship, colleagues say, are moving Native American authors beyond the genres of ethnography and minority literature. \u201cTrail-blazing,\u201d \u201ctrue,\u201d \u201cvisionary,\u201d \u201ctremendous\u201d and \u201cheartfelt\u201d are some of the ways colleagues, friends and students describe Blaeser\u2019s myriad contributions.<\/p>\n Julie Bowles, assistant professor, Department of Geosciences<\/strong><\/p>\n To conduct her research, Julie Bowles has participated shipboard on multiple ocean drilling projects that aim to look deeper into the Earth\u2019s crust. Bowles is interested in variations in the strength of Earth\u2019s magnetic field throughout its history, a field called paleo-intensity, and also the \u201crock records\u201d of field variations, called paleomagnetism.<\/p>\n Drilling provides insight into short- and long-term magnetic field behavior, which is used to determine the evolution of Earth\u2019s core. Whether on land or water, she is making new discoveries that have profound implications for paleo-intensity.<\/p>\n Bowles\u2019 record of research and her ability to obtain funding are very impressive for a person at her level, say her nominators. In the last 10 years, Bowles has amassed $2.8 million in research funds from the National Science Foundation, Oceanographic Institutions\/U.S. Science Support Program and NASA.<\/p>\n \u201cHer future is certainly bright, as she has considerable ongoing research, partners with some of the best and brightest in our field and works on difficult but rewarding topics,\u201d says Laurie Brown, emerita professor of geophysics at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.<\/p>\n Winson Chu, associate professor, Department of History<\/strong><\/p>\n Winson Chu\u2019s research lies at the intersection of German and Polish history and cultures during the 19th<\/sup>and 20th<\/sup>centuries,with an emphasis on multicultural populations, ethnic cleansing and diasporas.<\/p>\n His 2012 book, \u201cThe German Minority in Interwar Poland,\u201d examines three historically distinct German communities living in Poland who were brought together only by the revolutionary changes of 1918-1919 that ended multinational empires and re-drew the borders of European nations. It discusses intra-ethnic rivalry, national identity and citizenship under the pressure of international conflicts.<\/p>\n The relevance of his work in today\u2019s world of mobile and refugee populations, ethnic nationalism and minority conflicts has already made him a much-invited speaker.<\/p>\n One nominator,Margaret Lavinia Anderson, emerita professor at UC-Berkeley, describes Chu as a scholar of enviable range with an eye for paradoxes and a rising profile among international scholars. \u201cWinson is on the verge of becoming one of the leading historians of his generation,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n Deborah Hannula, associate professor, Department of Psychology<\/strong><\/p>\n Cognitive neuroscientist Deborah Hannula is an exceptional, independent scholar whose innovative research program has made important strides in understanding the nature of memory. Hannula\u2019s main interest involves episodic memory, or individuals\u2019 ability to retain information about an event and the spatio-temporal context in which the event occurred. Episodic memory is traditionally considered to be conscious recollection, but Hannula has demonstrated that obligatory eye movements can reveal unconscious memories activated in the brain\u2019s hippocampus.<\/p>\n The work has been supported by a prestigious Early Career Award from the National Science Foundation, the first awarded to a 51ÁÔÆæ psychology faculty member. Hannula\u2019s research papers have been widely cited by other scientists. Simone Ghetti, a professor of psychology at UC-Davis, notes, \u201cHer research is always carefully designed and beautifully described, and some of her manuscripts are on the road to become classics in cognitive neuroscience.\u201d<\/p>\n Hannula has devoted much time to community outreach events like the 51ÁÔÆæ Science Bagshows and Upward Bound Math & Science. She also has been featured in media outlets such as Scientific American, Science Dailyand Science Now.<\/p>\n David Kaplan, associate professor, Department of Physics<\/strong><\/p>\n David Kaplan is a leader in several distinct areas of astrophysics and has been continuously funded by the National Science Foundation since 2010. \u201cKaplan is a gem that any top-tier university would like to have as a member of its faculty,\u201d says nominator Jim Cordes of Cornell University.\u201cI would put him in the same league (but different era) as Shri Kularni, his PhD advisor at Caltech.\u201d<\/p>\n Bryan Gaensler of the University of Toronto says, \u201cKaplan has distinguished himself by becoming a key global leader in the burgeoning fields of time-domain astronomy and multi-messenger astrophysics. He is both the glue that has assembled new teams to pursue new science, and also the individual driving force that has made many recent discoveries.\u201d<\/p>\n An example of this is the findings from a paper published in Science in 2017 that reported on multi-wavelength, electromagnetic observations of the explosion that followed the merger of two neutron stars. The work suggests that most of the gold and platinum in the universe originated in neutron-star mergers.<\/p>\n John Reuter, associate professor, \u00a0Department of Political Science<\/strong><\/p>\n John Reuter is anexample of an early-career scholar making his mark on his field. He uses a range of techniques to ask important questions about the institutions of authoritarian government.<\/p>\n Much of the existing knowledge on these governments comes from descriptive single-nation or single-leader case studies. Reuter uses surveys, causal process tracing methods and cross-national empirical tests to explore hypotheses about how authoritarian regimes work to retain their power. His book, \u201cThe Origins of Dominant Parties,\u201d is a major contribution to the literature on both authoritarian regimes and Russian politics. It asks and answers the question of why dominant parties emerge in some times and places but not in others.<\/p>\n \u201cReuter is one of the most promising young scholars conducting research on the institutions of authoritarian government and among the very top scholars in his cohort working on Russian politics,\u201d says Daniel Treisman of UCLA. Joseph Wright at Penn State University adds, \u201cBy one metric, Google Scholar, Reuter\u2019s publications citation count puts him among the most highly cited scholars in this field at this stage of his career.\u201d<\/p>\n Sandra McLellan, professor, School of Freshwater Sciences<\/strong><\/p>\n Sandra McLellan\u2019s lab explores the links between environmental processes and human health. She has applied next-generation molecular and genomic tools to characterize microbiomes, which are essentially the ecosystems created by microorganisms, in humans and animals as well as water in beaches and sewer systems.<\/p>\n The new information gleaned by this research has enabled her to identify human and animal sources of waterborne pollutants and pathogens. She captured international attention when she and her colleagues found they could monitor the health of the population of a hospital or city by analyzing the microorganisms in raw sewage.<\/p>\n McLellan may be best known locally for identifying sources of E. coli\u2014the main culprit in beach closings. As her School of Freshwater Sciences colleague Ryan Newton observes, \u201cHer work was a primary reason Bradford Beach transformed into a city asset and destination.\u201d She is now focusing on the troubled South Shore Beach.<\/p>\n She is also recognized as a student mentor and advocate for educating the public about science and its role in public policy. Her lab members include postdoctoral scholars, graduate and undergraduate students and research specialists.<\/p>\n Rebecca Dunham, professor, Department of English<\/strong><\/p>\n As described by her 51ÁÔÆæ colleague George Clark, the poems of Rebecca Dunham \u201cbear witness to social injustice, ecological disaster and the human experience.\u201d<\/p>\n In her widely acclaimed book \u201cCold Pastoral,\u201d Dunham traces the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion, Hurricane Katrina and the Flint water crisis. Initially funded by a $40,000 51ÁÔÆæ RGI award in 2011, \u201cCold Pastoral\u201d has been declared one of \u201c40 New Feminist Classics You Should Read\u201d by prominent literary website The Literary Hub. The Colorado Review calls it \u201ca coalescence among artistic purpose, beauty on earth, and the realization of one’s own mortality.\u201d<\/p>\n Her numerous distinctions and honors include the prestigious T.S. Eliot Prize for her 2006 dissertation \u2014 a book titled \u201cThe Miniature Room\u201d \u2014 and a National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowship in Poetry in 2007, the year she began at 51ÁÔÆæ. Her forthcoming book, \u201cStrike,\u201d has earned the Editor\u2019s Choice Award from its publisher, New Issues Press.<\/p>\n Chris Cornelius, associate professor, Department of Architecture<\/strong><\/p>\n Chris Cornelius, an enrolled member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, focuses his research and practice on the architectural translation of Native American culture.<\/p>\n Cornelius is widely acclaimed for his drawings, as evidenced by awards from the prestigious KRob Architectural Delineation Competition, the American Society of Architectural Illustrators, and the American Institute of Architects, whose 2009 Design Excellence Award recognized his work as collaborating designer of Indian Community School of Milwaukee. Cornelius also earned the J. Irwin and Xenia S. Miller Prize, which recognizes international leaders in their fields who bring unique perspectives in connecting people to place and community. His drawing \u201cWiikiaami\u201d \u2014 designed as a gathering place and to mark the autumnal equinox \u2014 was built in 2017 outside the First Christian Church in Columbus, Indiana.<\/p>\n Cornelius has also designed several buildings at the Oneida Nation near Green Bay.<\/p>\n As Karl Wallick, associate professor and chair of the Department of Architecture, points out, \u201cThis drawing research has crossed over into the realm of physical construction where his ideas are being tested in new scales and dimensions.\u201d<\/p>\n Kimberly Cosier, professor, Department of Art & Design<\/strong><\/p>\n Kim Cosier\u2019s research addresses the interconnected issues of anti-racist and anti-biased teacher education, urban education, alternative education for at-risk youth and underserved populations, and art and education for social justice.<\/p>\n Programs she has established include ArtsECO, which partners with nonprofit arts organizations and schools to develop teachers as change-makers; the Milwaukee Visionaries Project, an award-winning media literacy, video, and animation production project for middle and high school students in Milwaukee; and the Kenilworth Gallery Community Engagement Initiative, an arts-based community engagement laboratory in the Kenilworth Square East gallery. Professor and chair of the Department of Art & Design Kyoung Ae Cho observes, \u201cThese programs have been … building the reputation of the Peck School as one that is committed to arts and social justice through service and art-making within the community.\u201d<\/p>\n Cosier\u2019s work is supported by grants from such organizations as the Wisconsin Arts Board, Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies, Greater Milwaukee Foundation Nohl Fund, and Milwaukee Public Schools Arts and Humanities Partnership. She also co-edited the 2016 book \u201cRethinking Sexism, Gender, and Sexuality.\u201d<\/p>\n Monica Rausch Camacho, senior advisor, Sheldon B. Lubar School of Business<\/strong><\/p>\n Applications to the Lubar Business Scholars program are rising, international students have a knowledgeable go-to point person and sophomore students are better informed of their requirements to declare a major in one of the state\u2019s top business schools.<\/p>\n On all these fronts and more, Monica Camacho has been a results-driven leader and trusted team member, making her the university\u2019s 2018 outstanding service awardee. In addition to supporting her 1,300-plus advisees, she has paid particular attention to the needs of international and high-achieving students. She has served as volunteer teacher of a noncredit course for international students adjusting to college life in the U.S. All programming, from admission to graduation, of the school\u2019s Lubar Scholars falls under her direction. With her close-knit team of fellow Lubar advisors, Camacho helped identify new ways to support the school\u2019s sophomore students. The proposal that she helped write was implemented by Lubar administration, with 88 percent attendance by invited students.<\/p>\n \u201cHer university service (including six committee memberships) exceeds my high expectations,\u201d writes one nominator. \u201cMonica serves as a dynamic supporter of the Lubar and 51ÁÔÆæ communities.\u201d<\/p>\n Rebecca Freer, interim dean of students<\/strong><\/p>\n In her role in the Dean of Students Office, Freer has worked hard to support and encourage students. \u201cAs interim dean of students, Becky has overseen sweeping changes in the way that office operates, moving that office into new territory to deal with a changing student demographic,\u201d writes Rob Longwell-Grice, recruitment and scholarships coordinator in the School of Education.<\/p>\n Among her recent accomplishments were organizing a team to apply for a grant from the Great Lakes Student Loan Association that has provided $630,000 in funding for emergency aid to students. That fund helped 244 students in the fall semester of 2017 who faced sudden financial crises that jeopardized their ability to complete their degrees.<\/p>\n In addition to serving on numerous campus committees, she has also helped establish a response to support students and families affected by a death, and worked with other campus leadership to address disruptive student conduct. Having completed her own doctorate in Urban Education-Adult and Continuing Higher Education, she now teaches online courses in that area, and mentors graduate assistants and interns.<\/p>\n Bairbre N\u00ed Chiardha, lecturer, Department of Celtic Studies<\/strong><\/p>\n Colleagues of N\u00ed Chiardha cite her outstanding organizational abilities, promotion of Irish language and culture, service to the community and dedicated teaching in nominating her for this award.<\/p>\n \u201cBairbre stretches the Center\u2019s relatively limited resources with inventiveness, networking and collaboration with other entities within and outside of the university, and extraordinarily hard work. She is one of the main reasons why the 51ÁÔÆæ Center for Celtic Studies is able to punch well above its weight and has an outstanding reputation far beyond Wisconsin\u2019s borders,\u201d the center\u2019s co-director, Professor of English Jos\u00e9 Lanters, wrote in nominating her.<\/p>\n In addition to teaching Irish language classes at 51ÁÔÆæ, she has been instrumental in writing a grant for Irish government funding to support the program. She encourages students to study abroad in Ireland and welcomes visiting educators and artists from Ireland.<\/p>\n She also organizes Irish language immersion weekends and a well-received national Irish language teaching workshop. She serves as a liaison to Milwaukee\u2019s Irish Fest, teaches Irish language courses and promotes 51ÁÔÆæ and its Celtic Studies program at that event.<\/p>\n Vicki Bott, senior lecturer, Department of English<\/strong><\/p>\n Bott\u2019s student evaluations routinely characterize as \u201cthe best teacher ever,\u201d S. Scott Graham, associate professor of English, writes. Graham says that when he asked a colleague for any notes on Bott, the reply was: \u201cI\u2019m sorry I don\u2019t have more detail than this. There wasn\u2019t much point in documenting one \u2018best teacher ever\u2019 after another.\u201d<\/p>\n Bott has encouraged her students in English 430 and 102 to write for publication and submit their work to a trade or professional publication or website. Her students in English 430 wrote a brief handbook called \u201cA Student\u2019s Guide to Revising,\u201d which four of them presented at the Midwest Modern Language Association conference in 2017. Three of those students continued developing it, under her supervision, with funding from 51ÁÔÆæ\u2019s Support for Undergraduate Research Fellows program, and it may be included in a future textbook.<\/p>\n Beyond the university, Bott works with the M-cubed project, a collaboration of 51ÁÔÆæ, MATC and MPS. As part of pilot grant, she worked with MPS seniors, going above and beyond to provide on-site tutoring at MPS schools.<\/p>\n Kelly Kohlmetz, senior lecturer, Department of Mathematical Sciences<\/strong><\/p>\n Kelly Kohlmetz, who has taught mathematics at 51ÁÔÆæ for more than 20 years, has been instrumental in helping the mathematics department in its developmental mathematics reform.<\/p>\n \u201cShe cares passionately about her students, working with them both in and out of class to help them succeed,\u201d says Kevin McLeod in his letter of recommendation. \u201cShe has been using active-learning, student-centered pedagogy as long as I have known her, and when you observe one of her classes you understand why this approach, done right, produces results.\u201d<\/p>\n As the coordinator of Math 092\/102, Kohlmetz has helped increase the percentage of students passing these key pathway courses to more than 75 percent, much higher than the rate for the previous traditional algebra courses.<\/p>\n She regularly attends workshops to improve her teaching, and helps coordinate mathematics book clubs. \u201cShe is consistently reading to find more ways to help students that have had trouble with mathematics their entire life,\u201d writes Leah Rineck, senior lecturer in mathematics.<\/p>\n Tony Ally, student services examiner, Office of Undergraduate Admissions<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cAs a senior member of the Application Review and Residency Specialist Team, he\u2019s a quiet leader who has a huge impact on his colleagues, and provides extraordinary customer service for the students and families that we serve,\u201d writes Kristin Boehm, his supervisor.<\/p>\n While Boehm was on maternity leave, Ally took the lead in working with colleagues in evaluating admission requirements, including the complex residency issues that affect tuition. \u201cHe navigated some very difficult and trying cases with students and families, and did so with an understanding, solution-focused attitude and a calm nature and admirable ability to explain complex regulations in a way students could understand and navigate,\u201d says Boehm.<\/p>\n Ally also took on a new role as admissions officer and helped the office deal with an influx of admissions, a data systems outage and staff transitions. \u201cHis willingness to take on extra tasks and his optimistic attitude made for a lasting positive impression on students and families,\u201d Boehm writes.<\/p>\n Bron Nehring, legal support staff confidential, Office of Legal Affairs<\/strong><\/p>\n Bron Nehring did everything in her power to keep the Office of Legal Affairs running smoothly after one of the attorneys retired. As the office manager and intake coordinator, she worked to pick up slack and assist others in updating contracts and routing legal documents, so the office\u2019s attorneys have more time for casework.<\/p>\n She is the first point of contact for many visitors, and sometimes has to quickly arrange meetings between administration and attorneys to address urgent legal matters in a timely fashion.<\/p>\n As one nominator writes, \u201cShe is friendly, enthusiastic and helpful. Whether she is addressing a dean or a student, she always communicates in a respectful, empathetic manner and exhibits a remarkable degree of professionalism.\u201d<\/p>\n On a faculty investigative committee, she proved invaluable in organizing meetings and proofreading reports. The committee chairperson writes, \u201cBron did outstanding work and assumed duties with professional grace and excellence that reflected well on the Office of Legal Affairs and the university.\u201d<\/p>\n Monica Rodriguez, IS business automation specialist, Business & Financial Services\/Accounting Services<\/strong><\/p>\n Monica Rodriguez led the Process Improvement and Training team that streamlined accounting procedures at 51ÁÔÆæ and helped create the Integrated Support Services hub. The project created long-term efficiencies, increased effectiveness, implemented cutting-edge technology and enhanced professional development in 51ÁÔÆæ\u2019s finance and accounting, procurement, human resources and information technology services.<\/p>\n As a business automation specialist for 51ÁÔÆæ Accounting Services, she was not initially familiar with all aspects of the processes she was tasked with streamlining. However, she put in extra time outside working hours to learn as much as she could.<\/p>\n She also volunteered to participate in E-Workflow training to help implement the processes designed by her team, and has since trained her coworkers to use the new system.<\/p>\n As one of her fellow team members writes, \u201cOur team owes much of its productivity to Monica\u2019s dedication, organization, motivation, determination and sheer talent. Her contributions to the team have a far-reaching, positive impact on campus.\u201d<\/p>\n Angela Schmocker, financial specialist senior, Business & Financial Services\/Pre-Audit<\/strong><\/p>\n Angela Schmockerwas involved in creating the Integrated Support Services hub from the very beginning. She put in extra hours outside her job as a financial specialist senior for 51ÁÔÆæ\u2019s Business & Financial Services to make sure that the ISS hub was successfully implemented. She served on the project\u2019s design committee for procurement to improve purchasing processes and save money.<\/p>\n She has also worked to implement E-Workflow processes for direct payment forms and miscellaneous refund forms. These forms allow all campus divisions in the ISS hub to quickly process purchasing orders and payments. She has taken extra time to train her colleagues in the new system.<\/p>\n The nominator writes, \u201cAngie\u2019s outstanding contribution will benefit the entire 51ÁÔÆæ campus on a daily basis by improving efficiencies and cost savings for the university. Without her input, these projects would not have been completed in a timely manner.\u201d<\/p>\n Brian Williams, senior advisor, School of Information Studies<\/strong><\/p>\n Brian Williams is dedicated to fostering student success in the School of Information Studies and across campus. As a senior advisor in the school, he has gone above and beyond to support and advocate for students.<\/p>\n One student writes, \u201cBrian is deeply committed to building relationships with students. He always greets students with a smile and makes a point to learn every student\u2019s name. He treats everyone with dignity and respect.\u201d<\/p>\n He took the initiative to create an advising internship for 51ÁÔÆæ students, and as an active member of his school\u2019s undergraduate program committee, he has worked to review and revise the information studies undergraduate curriculum.<\/p>\n Another student writes, \u201cBrian is always quick to respond to my needs. He answers all my questions completely and explains the options available to me by looking at the positive and negative outcomes to help me make good decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n Outside his school, he has been a campus leader by co-chairing 51ÁÔÆæ\u2019s Advisors & Counselors Network, volunteering on the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Mental Health and mentoring students through the 51ÁÔÆæ Association of Student Affairs Professionals.<\/p>\n Gary Hollander, lecturer, Department of Psychology<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cDr. Hollander has spent 50 years teaching that each person has value and rights, irrelevant of gender orientation,\u201d writes Stephen Berman, one of those who nominated Hollander for this award. \u201cLeading by example, he has allowed his students to understand, support and defend the rights of the LGBTQ community. The lesson taught are an integral part of the tools that future psychologists and social workers will need to successfully serve this community.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGary\u2019s teaching style is fabulous,\u201d writes Linda Berman, who audited one of his classes. \u201cI wish he wasn\u2019t retiring because he has so much to offer but know he will continue to be actively involved with the LGBTQ community forever more.\u201d<\/p>\n Hollander\u2019s research and publications have helped shape public policy around LGBTQ+ issues. Even in retirement, he plans to continue serving on committees to improve lives in the LGBTQ community such as 414ALL and Diverse and Resilient. \u201cHe works on many committees in Milwaukee to improve the lives of not only the LBGTQ community, but minority communities such as the African-American and Latin American population,\u201d Berman says.<\/p>\n Philip Chang, associate professor, Department of Physics<\/strong><\/p>\n For students in the science and engineering fields, introductory physics with calculus is a rite of passage, and for many it is a tortuous journey. Philip Chang, associate professor of physics, has used technology to help them.<\/p>\n Chang, who has received an NSF Early Career Award, was already combining online homework and materials in his teaching. However, because solving physics problems from start to finish often involves a lengthy process, Chang felt students needed more help.<\/p>\n His solution was to record video tutorials as examples that are similar to, but not the same as, their homework. Since Chang started using the tutorials, which he uploads to YouTube, he has compiled an online library of more than 100 examples that receive thousands of views. The number of students continuing from the Physics 209 to 210 courses has increased, and surveys showed students found the videos very helpful.<\/p>\n \u201cProfessor Chang has correctly observed that students who begin to struggle early in the course often never recover, and he has imaginatively addressed this issue,\u201d writes Robert Wood, associate chair of the Physics Department, in recommending Chang for this award.<\/p>\n Karen Brucks (1958-2017), assistant professor, associate professor emerita and department chair, Mathematical Sciences; and associate dean of Natural Sciences, College of Letters & Science<\/strong><\/p>\n Service to UW-Milwaukee: 1990-2015<\/em><\/p>\n Karen Brucks served 51ÁÔÆæ for 24 years as a dedicated instructor, researcher, mentor and advocate. She had a distinguished service record, serving as the first female chair of the Department of Mathematical Sciences for four years, as associate dean of natural sciences in the College of Letters and Science for seven years, and managing campus space for three years.<\/p>\n She exemplified ethical and collegial qualities throughout her career, and at many junctures, otherworldly patience. This was particularly evident during the five-year planning effort for 51ÁÔÆæ\u2019s largest academic construction project \u2013 the Kenwood Interdisciplinary Research Complex. Brucks\u2019 assiduous efforts to find common ground led to a final product that delivered the facilities that were most critical to 51ÁÔÆæ\u2019s mission.<\/p>\n Colleagues recall Brucks as a decent, kind, fair-minded individual who handled challenging circumstances with equanimity and grace. Her ability to defuse potentially contentious issues in a quietly powerful and inclusive manner made an impact that paved the way for relationships and progress that would not have happened without her influence.<\/p>\n Devoted to service on behalf of STEM students and women, Brucks is remembered as a champion for those from underrepresented groups. She set an enduring and powerful example with her intensive and personal mentorship of many who now carry forward that same dedication to and support of the next generation.<\/p>\n She was instrumental in procuring and administering two high impact National Science scholarship programs \u2013 Computer Science, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences and COMPASS \u2013 that provided an enhanced foundation for mentorship and professional development for underrepresented, academically talented and financially needy STEM majors.<\/p>\n The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and its Honorary Degree Committee are proud to recognize Karen Brucks for this award \u2013 an everlasting tribute for her significant impact and contributions to the university and its people.<\/p>\n Ewa Barczyk, associate provost and director, 51ÁÔÆæ Libraries<\/strong><\/p>\n Service to UW-Milwaukee: 1985-2016<\/em><\/p>\n Ewa Barczyk\u2019s deep commitment to transforming the 51ÁÔÆæ Libraries through advances in technology and the changes in how learning occurs are well-known at UW-Milwaukee and globally. She believed that libraries are the convening spaces of the world, and this passion fueled significant advancements during resource-challenged times.<\/p>\n Described as an exceptional leader, partner and colleague, Barczyk was the major force behind fundraising efforts for several successful evolutionary and growth aspects of the 51ÁÔÆæ Libraries. Of note is her leadership in the planning and creation of the Daniel M. Soref Learning Commons, which transformed the library into the vibrant, intellectual center that it is today. She presided over the rapid digitization of scholarly resources and the creation of the 51ÁÔÆæ Digital Humanities Lab, and she increasingly distinguished 51ÁÔÆæ through the Libraries\u2019 rare and unique holdings.<\/p>\n Under her leadership, the 51ÁÔÆæ Libraries continued to grow in importance \u2013 both for its contributions to the instructional mission of the university and to the research mission. Colleagues identify Barczyk\u2019s work as an important contributor for 51ÁÔÆæ\u2019s growth into a R1 doctoral research university. With additional curation in the 51ÁÔÆæ Digital Commons, the work of UW-Milwaukee students is now available worldwide and is downloaded by current and budding scholars thousands of times annually.<\/p>\n In addition to her 51ÁÔÆæ Libraries role, Barczyk was at the helm of the Wisconsin Women in Higher Education Leadership as the state level board officer and as chairperson of the 51ÁÔÆæ section.<\/p>\n Her impact extended well beyond the 51ÁÔÆæ Libraries. She fostered global connections, hosting international interns and graduate students, visiting scholars and foreign dignitaries; and traveling as a 51ÁÔÆæ representative to deliver presentations in numerous countries. She was and remains a markedly positive influencer for libraries. In her retirement, Barczyk serves as president of the Polish American Librarians Association and is editing a travel guide to Polonia historical sites.<\/p>\n Barczyk has been a remarkable contributor to UW-Milwaukee and its communities. 51ÁÔÆæ and its Honorary Degree Committee are proud to recognize Ewa Barczyk with the Ernest Spaights Plaza award.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Those honored during the 2018 Fall Awards Ceremony include some who were recognized for their outstanding teaching and efforts to help students, others for their service to scholarship and toward making the university a better place to work and study.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":40008,"featured_media":63766,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","uwm_wg_additional_authors":[]},"categories":[174],"tags":[249],"section":[122,126],"display_categories":[115,116],"related-coverage":[207],"uwmnews-feed":[167,344,347,149,158,155,162,118,164,152,165],"class_list":["post-63754","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-community-engagement","section-campus-community","section-campus-news","display_categories-top-story-secondary","display_categories-top-story-section","related-coverage-teaching","uwmnews-feed-alumni-association","uwmnews-feed-arts-architecture","uwmnews-feed-community-engagement-professions","uwmnews-feed-engineering-applied-science","uwmnews-feed-letters-science","uwmnews-feed-social-welfare-criminal-justice","uwmnews-feed-business","uwmnews-feed-chancellor","uwmnews-feed-arts","uwmnews-feed-freshwater-sciences","uwmnews-feed-information-studies"],"yoast_head":"\n
\n<\/strong>A professor whose expertise is rooted in experiences as a reporter, David S. Allen has created innovative courses and new ways to teach foundational courses in media writing, ethics and law. Allen was the first in JAMS to offer courses through 51ÁÔÆæ Online and integrate podcasts into his teaching.<\/p>\n51ÁÔÆæ Faculty Distinguished University Service Award<\/h2>\n
\u00a051ÁÔÆæ Faculty Distinguished Public Service Award<\/h2>\n
\n
Office of Research\/51ÁÔÆæ Foundation Research Award<\/h2>\n
Office of Research\/51ÁÔÆæ Foundation Senior Faculty Research Award<\/h2>\n
51ÁÔÆæ Outstanding Creative Research Achievement Award<\/h2>\n
51ÁÔÆæ Academic Staff Outstanding Performance & Service Award:<\/h2>\n
51ÁÔÆæ Academic Staff Outstanding Teaching Award:<\/h2>\n
51ÁÔÆæ University Staff Outstanding Service Award<\/h2>\n
51ÁÔÆæ\u00a0Advisor of the Year Award<\/b><\/h2>\n
LGBTQ+ Champion of the Year Award<\/h2>\n
Joanne Lazirko Award for Excellence in Teaching with Technology<\/h2>\n
Ernest Spaights Plaza honorees<\/h2>\n