2024 Faculty and Academic Staff Awards
It is with great pride that we congratulate the 2024 Faculty and Academic Staff Awardees. We acknowledge and thank all of the amazing nominees for their service and contribution to student success at UW-Whitewater. Bravo, Warhawks!
W.P. Roseman Excellence in Teaching Award – L. Roger Yin
Outstanding Research Award – Teresa F. Faris
Everett and Ellen Long Award for the Advancement of General Education – Jessica L. Bonjour
Dr. Elmer G. Redford '59 Faculty Service Award – Gregory Porcaro
Sally Bean Academic Advising Award Nominees – Molly Goecks
Excellence Award for Instructional Academic Staff – Anne C. Mancl
Excellence Award for Academic Staff – Kim Apel
Roseman Excellence in Teaching Award Nominees
The W. P. Roseman Excellence in Teaching Award is presented annually to a faculty member in recognition of outstanding teaching and the improvement of student learning.
Kim Kostka
Kim Kostka is currently a professor of chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Kim has developed many courses for both in-person and online chemistry learners including lab-based online courses. Kim has served in a variety of administrative roles as well, including leadership roles at the Rock County campus, and for the UW-System. Kim earned an MS (1991) and a PhD (1993) in Chemistry from Carnegie Mellon University and a BS in Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls (1986). Kim earned the 1999 Green Chemistry Challenge Award from the EPA, the Women of Distinction Award from the YWCA of Rock County, and the Excellence in Instruction Award from the University of Wisconsin-Rock County. Kim enjoys traveling, fiber arts, language studies, gardening, attending live performances, walking, hiking, TikTok cat videos, and virtual reality games.
Julie Minikel-Lacocque
Julie Minikel-Lacocque, Professor in the department of Curriculum & Instruction, has been a faculty member at UW-Whitewater since 2011. She has taught courses related to race and racism in schools, bilingual and ESL education, and student teaching. In her teaching, she strives to create three interdependent spaces: a safe space, brave space, and grace space. Through cultivating these spaces she guides her students to step out of their comfort zones and explore concepts such as identity, connection across difference, and social justice in educational spaces. Minikel-Lacocque also directs the UW-W National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI) team and facilitates workshops across campus focused on inclusivity and belonging and sees her role of workshop facilitator as a central part of her teaching. The goal of creating equitable and just educational spaces- and teaching others to do so- is the foundation of her teaching within and outside of the classroom.
Steven Sahyun
Dr. Steven Sahyun is an Associate Professor in the Physics Department and has been at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater since 2001. He received his Ph.D. in Physics from Oregon State University, an M.S. from Montana State University - Bozeman, and a B.A. from Grinnell College. His broad teaching portfolio spans from introductory courses such as Physics For Everyday Thinking and From Einstein to Star Trek to advanced courses of Optics and Modern Physics. His commitment to advancing physics education is also shown by his research with 3D printing of physics tactile learning objects and developing Web-accessible physics simulators in HTML5. Dr. Sahyun actively participates in local and professional organizations including the Fort Atkinson Science Fair, the Wisconsin Association of Physics Teachers (WAPT), the Advanced Laboratory Physics Association (AlPhA), and the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT).
L. Roger Yin
Dr. L. Roger Yin is a Professor of Information Technology in the College of Business and Economics at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Roger earned a B.E. in Environmental Engineering and holds both M.S. and Ph.D. in Instructional Systems Technology from Indiana University, Bloomington. Roger has more than 24 years of teaching IT and Cybersecurity related courses at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Dr. Yin helped develop and teach in UWW’s Master of Science in Cybersecurity program. Roger was awarded more than US$3M of federal grant funding as a Co-PI from DOD, DOL, and NSA for Cybersecurity training and education. Since 2015, Roger has been the faculty advisor for the UWW Student Chapter of Information Systems Audit and Control Association (HIMSS). Dr. Yin has published more than 40 refereed journal articles and presented 50+ papers in national and international conferences on and related to Information Technology.
Keith Zukas
Dr. Keith Zukas is an associate professor of journalism teaching courses such as Writing and Reporting for News Media, Sports Journalism, Feature Writing, and Public Affairs Reporting, among others. He is adviser of the Royal Purple newspaper where he guides students in the creation of editorial, advertising and multimedia content for print and online issues throughout the academic year. Zukas conducts journalism research in both qualitative and quantitative studies. With a focus in framing theory, he is particularly interested in textual and content analyses of newspaper coverage. He studies Wisconsin energy and environmental issues such as wind farming, fractured sand mining and nuclear power. Zukas has experience working in newspapers, magazines and book publishing, which provides first-hand knowledge of the media industry. Sergeant Zukas is a United States Army veteran, having served as a combat medic in Operation Noble Eagle and Operation Enduring Freedom.
Outstanding Research Award Nominees
The Outstanding Research Award is given annually in recognition of a single faculty member making significant advances to knowledge, technique, or creative expression in her/his professional discipline.
Yamin Ahmad
Yamin Ahmad is the Wahlin Foundation Distinguished Fellow and Professor of Economics at the College of Business and Economics. He holds a PhD and a MA in Economics from Georgetown University, and a MSc in Econometrics from the University of Bristol. He has been a visiting scholar at UW-Madison, Northwestern University, and at the Research Division of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.
His research is a mixture of theoretical and applied work, focusing on understanding the dynamics of macroeconomic and financial variables using state of the art methods. He has published within the top peer reviewed journals in his field, including the Journal of International Economics, Journal of International Money and Finance, Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, and Economics Letters among others. He is a previous recipient of the College of Business and Economics Research and Teaching awards and a prior nominee for the University Outstanding Research Award.
Jennifer Betters-Bubon
Dr. Jennifer Betters-Bubon is an Associate Professor and Department Chair in Counselor Education at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. She received a Ph.D from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a M.Ed from Boston University and a B.S. from the University of Wisconsin. Her work includes teaching clinical and school counseling courses and focuses on the barriers that impact K-12 student success, including the impact of trauma. In addition, she is passionate about examining the role school counselors have within multi-tier models of support (MTSS) and working with public schools to help student services teams align their work within a trauma informed MTSS framework. Prior to her role in academia, Dr. Betters-Bubon spent 11 years working as a school counselor and one year as a special education teacher. She is co-editor of The School Counselor's Guide to Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (2nd edition, Routledge, 2023) and Making MTSS Work (ASCA, 2020) and has published in numerous peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Betters-Bubon is a licensed professional counselor and school counselor in Wisconsin.
Xueqing Chen
Dr. Xueqing Chen graduated from Shaanxi Normal University, Xian, China in 1993. He received the M.Sc. from Beijing Normal University in 1996 and the Ph.D. from Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada in 2002. During 2002-2004, as NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow, Dr. Chen worked at University of Ottawa, Canada. He then spent one year at University of Windsor, Canada as an assistant professor before he joined the UW-Whitewater Department of Mathematics in 2005. He was promoted to associate professor in 2010 and professor in 2016. Dr. Chen’s research focused on representation theory of algebras, in particular for the objects closely related to quivers, Hall algebras, cluster algebras, triangulated categories, and quantum groups. His works were published in international prestigious journals such as “Compositio Mathematica”, “International Mathematics Research Notices”, and “Journal of Algebra”.
Teresa Faris
Teresa Faris is Professor and Area Head of the Metals program at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater where she received the Women in Leadership Award. Teresa co-authored of the Women of Metal Exhibition and Oral History Project, and has received numerous awards including: ENJOIA’T Award 2022, National Endowment for the Arts 2008 Grant Award: Access to Artistic Excellence. Teresa participated in the Artist in Residence program at John Michael Kohler Arts Center, WI and, exhibits extensively in Europe and the US. Selected Publications: Jewelry and Metals Survey, Volume 1,2,3. Society of North American Goldsmiths, 2018. Animal Influence, American Craft April, 2018. Contemporary Jewelry Design. Schiffer Publishing, 2019. The Biennial Jewelry Issue of American Craft. Oct/Nov 2015, Metalsmith. Exhibition in Print. 2014, New Necklaces: 500 Designs from Around the World. Promopress. Barcelona, Spain, Jewelbook 12|13, Stichting Kunstboek Publishers, Belgium. 500 Necklaces, 500 Bracelets, and 500 Plastic Jewelry. Lark Books/Sterling Publishing Co.
Ibrahim Saleh
Ibrahim Saleh is a Mathematics professor at UW Whitewater in the Integrated Studies College. He earned his PhD degree from Kansas State University. Ibrahim is a dedicated mathematician with a passion for teaching mathematics at all levels of courses. His journey of teaching college-level math in Wisconsin spans over a decade. Ibrahim's goal is to impart to students the core principles of Mathematics and illustrate how mathematical concepts are interconnected, serving practical needs in our daily lives. With a deep commitment to teaching, Ibrahim is also an active Math researcher, specializing in Cluster Algebra and Representation Theory. He has introduced and studied several new concepts in these areas, contributing to the development of the theory.
Everett and Ellen Long Award for the Advancement of General Education Nominees
The Everett and Ellen Long Award for the Advancement of General Education is awarded annually to a faculty member who has been vital in advancing the centrality of general education.
Jessica L. Bonjour
Dr. Jessica Bonjour, an associate professor in the Department of Chemistry, earned her Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin - Madison in 2010. Her research delves into Chemical Education, particularly exploring science outreach and assessment techniques. With a strong commitment to service, she dedicated nearly a decade to the General Education program as a General Education Review Committee Member before assuming the role of General Education Coordinator in 2021. Her teaching portfolio primarily caters to non-science majors, emphasizing accessibility and engagement in her courses.
Dr. Elmer G. Redford '59 Faculty Service Award Nominees
D'Arcy Becker
Dr. Becker has taught accounting in the UW System for 30 years; 22 years at UW Eau Claire and 8 years at UW Whitewater. She was the Chair of the Department of Accounting at UWEC and came to UWW as Department Chair in 2016. Her areas of teaching expertise include financial accounting, auditing, and accounting fraud. She lives in Madison.
Karl Brown
Dr. Karl Brown graduated with a PhD in Modern European History from the University of Texas at Austin in 2008. He has been teaching at UW-Whitewater since 2012. Karl lives in Whitewater with his wife and children.
Lynn Gilbertson
Lynn Gilbertson, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders with an expertise in hearing health and cognition. Her service work largely falls in the categories of assessment, recruitment, retention, and outreach. The goal of her service work is to improve programs and processes to support access and effectiveness. She strives to add value in the greater community and promote the impact of higher education.
Greg Porcaro
Gregory Porcaro is an Associate Professor of Art and has been teaching at UW Whitewater since the fall of 2001. Professor Porcaro is the head of the Painting and Drawing programs and his regular teaching responsibilities are Painting One (beginning Painting), Advanced Painting, Watercolor, Drawing One and Two-Dimensional Design. He received his BFA degree from UW Parkside in 1994 and his MFA from the University of Arizona in 1998. He continues to exhibit his creative research nationally and internationally, in group and solo exhibitions, and currently lives in Whitewater with his family.
Rimi Zakaria
Rimi Zakaria, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Management at the College of Business and Economics. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in strategic, global, and behavioral domains. Dr. Zakaria is passionate about educating her students through experiential, technology-forward, feedback-driven, and inclusive pedagogy. As a faculty senator, she advocates for an organizational culture of collaboration and shared governance at UWW. Dr. Zakaria's research examines questions at the crossroads of strategy, sustainability, and international business. She focuses on explaining inter-firm cooperation, cross-border mergers and acquisitions, employee well-being, and business's environmental impact and social purpose. Her work received many campus and external nominations and awards for teaching, research, and leadership excellence.
Sally Bean Academic Advising Award Nominees
The Sally Bean Academic Advising Award recognizes a faculty member or instructional academic staff member who has demonstrated excellence in the academic advising of students.
Molly Goecks
Molly attended UWW for her Communication and Psychology undergraduate degrees as well as her graduate degree. After graduating, she taught Communication classes at UWW before heading into the corporate world as a medical software trainer. She was able to travel all over the country, working with other trainers and end users at some of the top-ranked healthcare systems in the world. UWW has always felt like home though, so she returned in 2018 to teach and begin her advising adventure. Advising students has become a true passion of hers. She believes helping students define what their own “success” looks like is essential to their well-being. She especially enjoys the relationship building aspect and can be seen jumping around her office when excited students share their successes.
Rowand Robinson
Rowand is entering his 24th year as a faculty member in the Department of Special Education, where he advises all incoming majors before they are admitted to Professional Education and through the student teaching semester. While most advising occurs in face-to-face sessions, he uses other opportunities (e.g., before/after class, via email, via WebEx) to meet student needs. He also mentored in the McNair Scholar program, advised a social fraternity at UWW, and has served as a Master Advisor from 2008-2022. Other advising occurs within the framework of the Learning Community that he coordinates which represents an opportunity to connect with advisees in more relaxed environments. He strives to maintain a focus on the unique needs of his advisees, such as the unique circumstances created by student athletes’ schedules. Outside of the university, Rowand spends time with his family and enjoys lots of waterskiing in the summer months.
Asmahan Sallah
Dr. Sallah teaother t of Literature, Writing, and Film. She teaches World of Ideas, writing, and literature. Her advisees include students of English Education majors and students in the Middle Eastern Studies minor which she also coordinates. Her research interests include comparative literature and translation.
Excellence Awards for Academic Staff Nominees
Two academic staff members are honored each year, one from the instructional/teaching staff, for their contributions to the University.
Excellence Award for Academic Staff
Kim Apel
Kim Apel graduated from UW-Green Bay in 2007 with a Bachelors degree in Communication and is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Business Administration from UW-Whitewater. Since joining UW-Whitewater in 2008, she has dedicated over 15 years of service to the university. She worked in the Andersen Library for 7 years before moving to Career Services in 2015, where she coordinates the Hawk Career Fair, manages Handshake and other technology platforms, supervises student employees, and oversees departmental marketing. She is dedicated to connecting students with employers so they can find meaningful on-campus jobs, internships, and jobs after graduation. Additionally, Kim serves as Technology Chair and member of the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Association of Colleges & Employers and won the organization's 2023 Outstanding Professional Award. Outside of UW-Whitewater, Kim is an active member of local community bands and recently coordinated the 2024 Wisconsin Academic Decathlon Regional Competition.
Jessica Berge
For over 25 years, I dedicated myself to a career in marketing. Ready for a change, I left the corporate world behind to explore higher education. Today, I am celebrating my 5th year at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, and my passion for the profession burns brighter than ever. As the Director of Marketing for the College of Business and Economics, I take pride in showcasing Wisconsin's premier business school and sharing the story of this university. Collaborating across our institution, serving in the Academic Staff Assembly, and driving applications are invigorating pursuits, but it is the students who make this job special. Watching them learn and guiding them toward becoming future marketing leaders has revitalized the passion that led me to choose UW-Whitewater for my master's degree all those decades ago. Thank you for this nomination and know that, in return, my appreciation extends to all who contribute to making UW-Whitewater not just a workplace but an extraordinary place to transform lives.
Jess E. Clayton
Jess Clayton is the Assistant Director in the Office of Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning (IRAP) at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Dr. Clayton holds a PhD in International Relations from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, an MSc from the London School of Economic in the Political Economy of European Integration, and a BA in both European History and German language from Wittenberg University in Ohio. As an institutional researcher, Dr. Clayton’s work focuses on student success measures, particularly factors influencing undergraduate attrition. She has recently completed a project tracking participation in high impact practices (HIPs) and she acts lead on campus climate studies at UW-Whitewater. Dr. Clayton also works as a European regulatory consultant, where she specializes in the analysis of German, Swiss and European chemical and environmental legislation. She is the co-author and editor of a textbook on European integration entitled: The Student's Guide to European Integration (Polity Press, 2004).
Marsha Goodell
Marsha L. Goodell, BS-Chemistry, Dickinson College. MS-Chemistry, George Mason University. Marsha came to UW-Whitewater in 2004 and serves as the laboratory manager for the Department of Chemistry and as the Chemical Hygiene Officer for Upham Hall providing technical chemical support and consultation to her department, other departments in Upham Hall and the greater UWW community as needed. She enjoys being able to share her enthusiasm for the field of chemistry with students, faculty and staff. She has recently begun serving and collaborating on a UW System Safety Subcommittee reviewing and evaluating safety concerns for select chemistry experiments.
Sarah Harvey
I have had the privilege of working in admissions, advising, adjunct instruction, and academic program management for over 10 years. I have worked with a wide range of institutions, which has helped me gain an understanding on navigating higher education. I strive to be an advocate for students by putting access to higher education and achievement of educational goals as a focus in my daily work.
Chris Skrandzius
Chris Skrandzius graduated from UW-Whitewater with his BA in Information Technology in 2017. Shortly after graduating, Chris started working alongside IT Services and created a project focused on search engine optimization by building out Google Map locations with professional photographs, along with adding 360° panoramas to aid in the discoverability and navigation across campus locations. Currently, Chris works with the Web Team to maintain UW-W website information and accessibility, as well as helping to mentor students and provide guidance at the Help Desk in his role as Front-Line Quality Assurance. Outside of work, Chris enjoys building websites, working on computers, and spending time with friends and family.
Marianne L. Wolc
Marianne's return to the School of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education in 2016 marked the beginning of a thrilling chapter in her career. With a passion for innovation and a keen eye for detail, she oversees GCETech, ensuring the registration systems operate seamlessly. Her role extends to the management of departmental websites, marketing project management, and new software implementation. Marianne meets the department's tech needs with unwavering dedication and enthusiasm. Marianne honed her diverse skill set at the Savannah College of Art and Design, and the Department of Corrections, where she left a lasting impact through her commitment and drive.
Excellence Award for Instructional Academic Staff
Christine L. Hoover
Christine Hoover is passionate about creating an engaging classroom experience for students. Her graphic organizers and flipped classroom techniques prepare students so they arrive in class ready to learn. She wants students to learn to be better managers and leaders because of what they have learned in her class. Most importantly, she wants students to understand who they want to be as managers and leaders, which is not the same for every student. With over 20 years of experience that includes recruitment, training/development, budgeting, operations, and strategic planning, her management experiences bring theory to life in her classroom. Christine holds bachelor degrees in Psychology and Business Administration (majors in Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management) and an M.B.A. (concentration in Project Management). Christine is ABD on her Doctor of Education (EdD) in Interdisciplinary Leadership. She joined UW-W’s Management department in 2017 and teaches Organizational Behavior, Leadership and Strategic Management courses.
John Klinger
John Klinger is a Senior Lecturer in the College of Integrated Studies. He earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering from UW-Madison and an MS in Mechanical Engineering from The Ohio State University. John worked in industry for over twenty years designing and developing various products, including inkjet printheads, surgical instruments, and robot vision systems for automated manufacturing. In 2011, John transitioned to academia, joining UW-Whitewater at Rock County to teach the foundational engineering courses and help advise students. He has taught in a variety of modalities and is currently teaching a course jointly between the campuses. He takes great pride in witnessing the growth and development of his students during their two years in the classroom.
Anne Mancl
Anne Mancl has been an instructor in academic and business settings for more than 20 years. She is a life-long learner who is passionate about teaching and creating learning experiences that spark user curiosity, encourage collaboration, nurture knowledge, and engage the heart. In addition to being a faculty member in the Department of Communication since 2008, Anne has also been recognized as a corporate trainer who has coached thousands of learners, including two Olympic athletes! In recent years Anne was competitively selected to be a participant in the esteemed Courage to Teach program founded by Parker Palmer through UW-Madison. She was the 2003 Community Teacher of the Year, the 2008 recipient of the University’s Outstanding Thesis Award, and received the 2010 UWW Chancellor’s Award for Disability Advocacy. She is a co-contributor to the book, Spirituality, Ethnography, and Teaching: Stories from Within (Lang, 2007) and Professional Civility (Lang, 2013).
Kim Naber
Dr. Kim Naber is a UW-W alumni and is thrilled to be sharing her passion and enthusiasm for Chemistry with current students at UW-W. Teaching is not a profession that can be mastered but can continually be honed and improved through continued education which Kim pursues through multiple avenues including on campus programing and external activities. She focuses on continually improving pedagogy, accessibility, and course materials for classes she teaches and for other courses and labs in the department, hoping to spark curiosity in the students. Her goal is to repay the generosity and inspiration provided to her through her experiences at UW-W by paying it forward to the University and students through her teaching and service.