Chippewa Valley Times

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire has recognized several faculty members with the University Fellows and Karlgaard Faculty Excellence Awards for their contributions to education and research. Julia Diggins, vice president of the Foundation and University Advancement, highlighted the impact of alumni support on faculty and student experiences.

“Alumni who choose to support faculty at UW-Eau Claire do so because it directly impacts the quality of education and the overall student experience for our current students,” Diggins stated. She emphasized that supporting faculty helps maintain a focus on teaching and learning at the university.

Dr. David Jones, a professor of English, received the Blugold Excellence in Teaching University Fellow award. His work includes projects like “Racing Toward Injustice” and “Life is a Love Mix.” Dr. Joanne Jahnke-Wegner praised Jones' transformative impact on the university.

“David Jones' legacy of excellence in teaching, administration, research and service has transformed this regional university into a destination for students committed to learning to think more creatively and critically about the world,” Jahnke-Wegner said.

Dr. Frances Hawes was named Blugold Faculty Fellow in Business for her contributions as an assistant professor in health care administration. Her award will fund professional development focused on grief support initiatives.

“Dr. Hawes is always seeking new ways to connect with students and get them engaged in creative learning practices,” noted Dr. Kristy Lauver, chair of management and leadership programs.

Dr. Tyler Doyon received recognition as Grace Lau Early Career STEM University Fellow for his work in chemistry and biochemistry. His efforts include mentoring students like Goldwater Scholarship winner Devin Sobottka.

“Tyler’s mentorship is second to none,” said Dr. Bart Dahl, praising Doyon's commitment to student success.

The Karlgaard Faculty Excellence Awards honored three professors: Dr. Mounika Vanamala from computer science, Dr. Nathan Miller from physics and astronomy, and Dr. Sam Scholze from mathematics.

“All three faculty recipients this year were selected because they epitomize our commitment to high-quality teaching,” said Dr. Aleks Sternfeld-Dunn, dean of Arts and Sciences.

Vanamala's research focuses on cybersecurity while Miller's work spans stellar X-ray studies among other topics; Scholze specializes in computational harmonic analysis.

Each recipient was commended by colleagues for their dedication to teaching excellence and student engagement through various innovative approaches within their respective fields.