College of Arts, Social Sciences, & Humanities (CASSH)

CASSH Faculty Recognition of Excellence, Community Engagement

Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science & Public Administration

Dr. Chergosky's commitment to community engagement is demonstrated through his more than 500 media interviews with news outlets ranging from local to national to international, the 21 political debates and forums he has moderated, and the 16 public speaking engagements in which he has participated, the courses he teaches, and more. In addition to this work, Dr. Chergosky's record of service to the college and the university has also reflected his commitment to civil public discourse around politics in the United States. He was instrumental in helping bring speakers like George Will, David Gergen, and Christine Todd Whitman to campus. Each of these events drew 300 attendees from the public to campus, and also included time for small groups of students to engage with these speakers. Simply put, Dr. Chergosky’s record reflects excellence in community engagement that embodies the core values of the Wisconsin Idea.

CASSH Faculty Recognition of Excellence, Service

Associate Professor, History

Dr. Hardy has excelled in all aspects of service to the department, college, university, and to the larger field of the history of science. Moreover, Dr. Hardy has undertaken leadership roles in each. Her self-professed identity as a ‘bridge builder’ accurately describes her efforts to draw connections between myriad departments and colleges at UWL, to connect her scholarship and her teaching, and to demonstrate the value of a scholarly and pedagogical connection between the sciences and the humanities. Dr. Hardy’s commitment to service at the department, college, and university level is admirable, and—as is true of all facets of her work—far exceeds expectations for a pre-tenured Assistant Professor. In this regard Dr. Hardy is a key figure in shaping the future of many facets of campus governance, including a willingness to accept positions of leadership that are usually reserved for professors that have attained tenure and/or full professorship.

CASSH Faculty Recognition of Excellence, Teaching

Associate Professor, Department of Art

Dr. Rooney has made many innovations in the classroom and in the Art History curriculum. She is an educator committed to anti-racist teaching, socially-engaged curriculum, community engaged projects, formative peer review, and a positive classroom climate. Dr. Rooney’s commitments to visual literacy, social justice, community engagement, and transformational education, make her an exceptional educator and scholar. She is student focused and compassionate. She is a rigorous teacher and a proven educational leader. She teaches interdisciplinarily across our university and is committed to inclusive and social justice informed practices. As a colleague and educator, Dr. Rooney sees a bigger picture, works to better the department for the benefit of students, takes initiative, and collaborates easily.

CASSH Faculty Recognition of Excellence, Inclusive Excellence

Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology

Dr. Thakkar is a thoughtful and intentional early career scholar already making significant contributions to scientific and applied knowledge in her field of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Her research program aims to understand the neural and perceptual mechanisms of hearing and how to create better health outcomes for individuals with cochlear implants. Dr. Thakkar is an established leader on diversity in Communication Sciences and Disorders as the co-founder of the BIPOC-Communication Sciences and Disorders collaborative regional network and the Women, Gender Minorities, and Allies symposium at the Association for Research in Otolaryngology annual conference. Supporting the research and professional progress of BIPOC scholars and practitioners in CSD is therefore crucial for advancing social justice and future scientific innovation. Her work is poised to remove barriers for individuals with hearing disabilities, increase representation of BIPOC, women, and gender minority scholars, and broaden learning and career opportunities for UWL students and the availability of needed healthcare services in the La Crosse community.

CASSH Excellence Award for Community Research/Creative Endeavors

Associate Professor, Department of English

Dr. Zamparutti has maintained an incredibly impressive program of scholarship that has resulted in seven peer-reviewed articles, two published book chapters and twelve national or international presentations. In addition, she is currently at work on a co-edited article and a book project which recently received a contract from Lexington Books and is scheduled to published in 2025. Dr. Zamparutti has also given twelve national or international presentations at high-profile conferences since 2019. She has fostered a strong professional partnership with colleagues at the University of Ljubljana (Slovenia) that raises the profile of both the English department and UWL internationally. Her scholarship encourages “critical engagement with global dynamics and systems,” reinforcing CASSH’s strategic commitments to internationalization and global citizenship.

CASSH Academic Staff Recognition of Excellence, Service

Assistant Teaching Professor, Department of Philosophy

Dr. Eskew engages in sustained, dynamic, and exemplary service at all levels. His diverse contributions have clearly led to the improvement of our department, college, and university. He is the philosophy club co-advisor, the department’s Equity Liaison, and the director of the Ethics Minor. Dr. Eskew’s University service includes the Chancellor’s Ethics Committee and the Academic Policies and Standards Committee. Maintaining his consistent commitment to service, Stewart initiated contact with Pearl Street Books to create a “Philosopher’s Community Circle.”  All members of the public, including university citizens, are encouraged to attend and are invited to submit topics for discussion. This circle provides members of the community with a rich opportunity to engage in intellectual discussion about various topics. It demonstrates how and why philosophy and our department are relevant.  Finally, Dr. Eskew provides significant professional service in co-organizing the 2024 Wisconsin Philosophical Association conference.

CASSH Academic Staff Recognition of Excellence, Service

Assistant Teaching Professor, Department of Race, Gender, & Sexuality Studies

According to her department chair: "Dr. Illahe is an accomplished teacher and scholar and is one of the most dedicated and empathetic colleagues I have ever had the pleasure to work alongside. She is an exemplary ambassador for our department, college, and the university as a whole and has my enthusiastic support for this honor. Dr. Illahe provides invaluable service to our department and is among the first to volunteer for projects. She currently acts as our department’s Equity Liaison, steers a subcommittee aimed at developing a series of collective readings for our introductory course with an eye toward accessibility, and also serves as Faculty Advisor for the Asian Students Organization. In addition to serving our department, the college, and the university, Dr. Illahe provides service to the broader community through her work on the City of La Crosse Arts Board. In each case, the contributions of Dr. Illahe are always marked by thoughtfulness, thoroughness, and creativity."

CASSH Academic Staff Recognition of Excellence, Teaching

Assistant Teaching Professor, Department of Psychology

Jessica has been a member of the Psychology department since the fall of 2019, during which time she has quickly emerged as one of our department’s top teachers. She has applied expertise in mental health counseling and is currently working towards a doctorate in developmental psychology. Given her interdisciplinary background, she has truly been a utility player for Psychology over the last five years. She has taught many different courses and repeatedly offered to expand her teaching repertoire to teach whatever is needed. Feedback about Jessica’s teaching is exceptional. Students and colleagues note that she is a creative and flexible instructor who can pivot instruction based on student needs. She offers learning challenges and provides subsequent contingent feedback to grow student knowledge and skills. She sets high standards and expects students to meet them with her support. Feedback from students affirm her creation of a learning space where students feel challenged, inspired, listened to, and cared for. 

CASSH University Staff Excellence Award

Academic Department Associate, Department of History

Amy consistently goes above and beyond her basic job description, including: taking the lead on aspects of the department’s budget and course scheduling; supervising the department’s student worker; representing the department on several staff committees; organization of the Department of History’s twice annual department meet and greet; and serving on search committees, including the 2023 SOE Associate Dean search. It’s not that she’s just involved, but that she excels in each facet of these duties, often in positions of leadership. Every student or visitor to the department is greeted with equal good tidings and respect. Her attitude is infectious, and she is vital to the department’s ability to function. 

Friend of the College Award

UWL Class of 1987

Douglas Geiger is a UWL alum from the graduating class of 1987. He received his undergraduate degree in Arts, Letters & Sciences with a double major in Mass Communications and French. Doug recently established the “Douglas Geiger Opportunity Fund” at the UWL Alumni & Friends Foundation. This endowed gift will support the needs of the Global Cultures and Languages program within the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities. Dr. Geiger has spent his professional career in higher education. He currently serves as the Dean of Student Development at City Colleges of Chicago: Daley College. He also serves as an adjunct faculty member in the higher education administration program at Loyola University Chicago. 

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of Archaeology and Anthropology

Sabrina is a leader and role model who served as a teaching assistant and student field laboratory manager, obtained research grant funding, and excelled in collaborative, community-engaged learning.

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of Archaeology and Anthropology

Sidney is a stellar student! Her research with working students gives us insight on the struggles many of our students face, and demonstrates how anthropology can help solve real-world problems.

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of Art

Ellen’s inquisitive drive and leadership are exemplified in her work on the AIDS Memorial Quilt Exhibition and service as student ArtsFest Coordinator. She is a valued member of UWL’s arts community.

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of Art

Marlie’s accomplishments include developing curricular materials for local projects Mason Jars & Moleskins and Hear, Here, and two accepted works in a national printmaking exhibition in Houston, TX.

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of Communication Studies

Marti is an exceptional, engaged student. She is third-year PSC tutor, presented on a panel for Social Justice Week, and blends her passion for public advocacy with her commitment to public health.

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of Communication Studies

Sophie personifies excellence-she is curious, dedicated, and engaged. She has been accepted to grad school, where she will advocate for student success and structures of empathy in the university. 

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of Communication Studies

Kaytlin is a fantastic student, outstanding writer, and critical thinker. She pursues projects that are thoughtful and socially relevant, providing novel insights on femininity. She is exceptional.

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of English

Annika has served as our department's Hyde intern since Spring 2021, and in that time she completed the following projects:

* researched, wrote, and designed a public tribute website to honor William J. Hyde, our faculty emeritus whose $1.1 million donation the department received in 2021;

* conducted detailed research on humanities majors, promoting the undergraduate study of English, and created videos, presentations, and research archives to share her findings;

* researched and presented the feasibility of a sportswriting microcredential in English to the department's Recruitment, Retention and Public Relations committee.

These are all in addition to the day-to-day expectations of her job. Annika's professionalism, brilliance, and warm personality have made her a fixture of the department and an ambassador for the English department. We have been so fortunate to have worked with Annika these past three years, and can't wait to see what she does next: Annika truly embodies the notion that English majors can do anything.

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence, English

Maddie is an outstanding student: she is charismatic, deeply curious, and passionate about the law. Unlike many other students, Maddie has known exactly what she wants to do from the moment she arrived on campus, and she has been relentless in pursuing this goal. She has made every decision--what to major in, what classes to take, which instructors to work with, what extracurricular work to pick up--with the end goal of law school in mind. Maddie possesses a keen desire to inspire others with the same love of reading that has infused her undergraduate work.

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of Global Cultures & Languages

Noelle represents the ideal global citizen of the 21st century, one that uses her foreign language and intercultural skills in the multicultural place and fosters greater understanding across peoples

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of Global Cultures & Languages

We celebrate Liv’s commitment to social justice language teaching, passion for inclusive education, and service as an advocate for adults and children with disabilities in our local community.

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of Global Cultures & Languages

Bri Whitt is currently a senior at UWL majoring in general studies, with a Chinese studies minor. In the year of 2022, Bri participated in the Wisconsin Chinese Language Speech Contest and was awarded first place. She was also awarded with the Excellence in Chinese Learning Award from WACLT (Wisconsin Association of Chinese Language Teachers) in the same year. In Spring 2023, she was granted membership of the National Collegiate Chinese Honor Society.  She worked with other lower-level Chinese students in 2023 to help them practice Chinese outside of class. In addition to her passion for the Chinese language, Bri has also been passionately involved in Chinese culture. As the president of the Chinese Culture Club, she has organized bi-weekly meetings with activities to give other students more experience with Chinese culture. She will complete her college life with a study abroad program in China this summer.

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence, Department of History

Riley has excelled in all aspects of his academic career. As a teacher candidate, he has exceeded all expectations set for future educators, ensuring that he will be a successful classroom teacher. Riley has also been exemplary in his service as tutor for the Department of History, a position he has held since 2022.

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of Philosophy

One faculty member writes:  "she is one of the best students I've taught."   Whether in online or face to face classes, her excellent contributions always improves the work of her classmates.

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of Political Science & Public Administration

Ms. Hameister’s service as a representative on the City of La Crosse Common Council and myriad commissions, as well as within the campus community on Student Association, epitomizes what we hope of a Public Administration major. She deftly balanced this impressive service with her academic pursuits, to include undergraduate honors research.

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of Political Science and Public Administration

Grace is outstanding student both inside and outside the classroom. She is the director of sustainability for UWL's Student Association, and chaired the Green Advisory Committee, a student-led sustainability committee. With a major in Political Science and minors in Environmental Studies and Professional and Technical Writing, Grace also made a large impact in the community through her work as a Development Fellow with WisCorps and The Nature Place.

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of Psychology

Nick Bruder will graduate with his B.S in Psychology in May. In his time at UWL he has worked as an EMT, assisted cancer survivors at the YMCA, volunteered as a first responder, and is the President of the Ski and Snowboard Club. Nick has upheld a 3.98 GPA and conducted his own research project examining cold water facial exposure. He is currently applying to Physician Assistant programs around the country.

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of Psychology

Maren Hale will graduate with her B.S. in Psychology in May with highest honors (3.93 GPA). She minored in Sociology and Criminal Justice. During her undergraduate career, she completed her internship at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater La Crosse and was recognized as one of the university's top interns. She presented her experience at UWL’s 2024 Internship Showcase. After graduation, she will complete her social work certification and continue working with at-risk youth.

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of Psychology

Abigale Hartwig will graduate with her B.S. in Psychology in May. At UWL, she engaged in multiple research projects, tutored for the MLC, and was both a Research Assistant and a Teaching Assistant. For her honors project, she focused on finding a relationship between disordered eating tendencies and friendship dynamics. Moreover, as an RA, she developed a performative activism scale. She is taking a gap year before she pursues a PhD in Clinical Psychology.

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of Psychology

Mikayla Kurzinski will graduate with honors in May with her B.S. in Psychology and minors in neuroscience and criminal justice. Throughout her undergraduate career, she completed an internship at a behavioral health clinic with a licensed clinical social worker and has shadowed professionals in the field of neuroscience. After graduation, Mikayla plans to pursue either graduate studies or legal studies.

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of Psychology

Araceli Rodriguez will graduate with her B.A. in Psychology and a minor in legal studies in May. She served as president to both the UWL Psychology club and the UWL Psi Chi chapter. She will be continuing her academic journey towards a master's in industrial organizational psychology.

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of Psychology

Katie Sartori graduated with her Psychology B.S. in December with highest honors (3.94 GPA). During her undergraduate career, she was in the Psychology Honors Program, a TA, a tutor, and an intern. She completed a project examining passenger attitudes based on status and race toward airline employees. This will be published in UWL’s Undergraduate Journal in May. She will attend Northern Illinois University in the Fall to obtain her PhD in Industrial Organizational Psychology.

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of Psychology

Jaden Stanelle will graduate with her B.A. in Psychology and Spanish in May. During her undergrad career she developed a research project that examined a mindfulness-based intervention on dispositional mindfulness and mindful smartphone use which she presented at multiple occasions. She also spent a semester studying abroad in Costa Rica to refine her Spanish-skills. She is planning to attend graduate school this fall in a Clinical Mental Health Counseling master’s program.

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of Psychology

Breanna Weiland graduated with her B.S. in Psychology in December with highest honors and the runner-up Psychology Department Outstanding Student Award. As an undergraduate, she completed an internship as an Outreach Advocate at New Horizons Domestic Abuse Shelter, worked as a Direct Support Professional at Chileda, and is currently a Youth Mental Health Technician at Innovative Services. Breanna will be completing a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at an undetermined school this fall. 

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of Race, Gender, & Sexuality Studies

Katherine is an extraordinary, dedicated, and thoughtful student who has been regarded as a thought leader in every class she has taken with me. She is currently serving as a TA for Dr. Sona Kazemi.

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of Sociology & Criminal Justice

While maintaining a 3.9 gpa every term with clear dedication to her academic work, Sophia has interned at both the Milwaukee and the La Crosse Public Defender's Office, aids other students as a Sociology Peer Tutor, and is an accomplished goalie for the UWL women's soccer team.

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of Sociology & Criminal Justice

Achieving a 4.0 gpa, Ellie is an exceptional student who inspires both students and faculty. She is a Teaching Assistant for Dr. Bakken's advanced methods course, and is examining how factors related to physical and mental health have changed over 20 years.

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Program of Sustainability & Environmental Studies

Blythe puts learning into action as a dedicated co-chair of Students for Sustainability, head of the JCES sub-committee for a pesticide-free campus, and through their extensive community service.

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of Theatre & Dance

Brodyn has a major in theatre design & technology and minors in stage management & astronomy. He is a a mentor to younger students, and a multi-faceted artist both on campus and throughout La Crosse.