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

CASSH Faculty Recognition of Excellence, Scholarship/Creative Endeavors

Associate Professor, Department of Music

According to his department, "Jonathan Borja’s creative scholarship combines his performance acumen plus promotion of flute repertoire through his constant schedule of live performances of music across the globe. Dr. Borja’s intellectual contributions cover encyclopedia entries on the Jackson Five and Nirvana to articles for The Flutist Quarterly. His research has led him to a sabbatical to feature thirteen commissioned performances of music for flute and large ensemble throughout the country and Mexico in fall 2023."

CASSH Faculty Recognition of Excellence, Service

Associate Professor, Student Affairs Administration

According to her department, "Becki Elkins’ greatest act of service to UWL may be serving on the Joint Planning & Budget (JPB) committee and chairing this large, high-profile, influential committee for the last three years. As SAA’s Ed.D. Graduate Program Director, Dr. Elkins also helped build and launched UWL’s first dissertation-based doctorate program, which has already gained national attention. She serves the field of higher education through national leadership roles in professional associations and serves students through impeccable advising and teaching. That she has only been tenured for two years is astonishing given how much she has done since joining UWL in 2016."

CASSH Faculty Recognition of Excellence, Teaching

Associate Professor, Department of Music

According to her department, "Tammy Fisher’s record of teaching excellence demonstrates her versatility, spanning the Screaming Eagles Marching Band to applied percussion lessons/performance to music education courses. Dr. Fisher was instrumental (no pun intended) in the revision of the music education curriculum creating one new course and revising six other courses. Tammy is devoted to her students, as they are to her, and she creates opportunities for them to grow beyond the classroom."

CASSH Faculty Recognition of Excellence, Teaching

Associate Professor, Department of Psychology

According to her department, "Katy Kortenkamp is an effective instructor who challenges students to acquire research and empirically-supported decision-making skills that will serve them not only in their future studies/careers, but in their lives in general. Dr. Kortenkamp sets high expectations and provides extensive support to help all students meet the standard. Her work is truly transformational in that it enables all students to experience success."

CASSH Excellence Award for Community Engagement

Assistant Professor, Department of Global Cultures & Languages

According to his department, "Over the course of two years, Antonio Martín Gómez has been working hard finding ways to connect his Spanish classes with local and international communities. Dr. Martín Gómez's professional Spanish courses now include service-learning activities with the Dahl Family YMCA and the La Crosse Public Library, and his upper-level courses have assignments that involve virtual collaborations with students from Ecuador. At present he is designing a virtual internship in Spanish for students who need work experience before graduation."

CASSH Academic Staff Recognition of Excellence, Teaching

Lecturer, Department of Art

According to his department, "Since joining the department in 2019, Marc has been a valuable team player and a strong advocate for students. During this time, the department has seen the unexpected departures of several faculty members. On short notice and often under difficult circumstances, Marc stepped in to fill vacancies in the studio areas of sculpture, printmaking, foundations, and this academic year, graphic design."

CASSH Academic Staff Recognition of Excellence, Teaching

Assistant Teaching Professor, Department of English

According to her department, "Over the course of her time here, Olivia Stoltman has emerged as one of the most beloved first-year writing instructors and one of the most sought-after instructors for her general education literature course "Navigating Trauma in Women's Literature." She has received multiple grants for her teaching work, completed professional development opportunities like the Inclusive Teaching Institute, and has recruited numerous students to her department--all of whom credit Olivia with reigniting their love for English."

CASSH Academic Staff Recognition of Excellence, Service

Lecturer, Department of Art

According to her department, "Deborah-Eve Lombard demonstrates excellence in service in every aspect of her role as director of the University Gallery, a position she has held since 2019. Deborah-Eve gracefully handled a challenging time of transition in gallery staffing, both with an abrupt faculty retirement as well as pandemic-era challenges unique to galleries and visual art."

CASSH Excellence Award for Inclusive Excellence

The Department of Art’s collaborative spirit and intentionality toward inclusive excellence is exemplified through community partnerships; flexible learning, opportunities for students to address their own biases; engagement with the public (free open house events, exhibitions, and workshops); bringing in BIPOC artists for exhibitions and artists whose work may otherwise be marginalized (SUFAC grants); Social justice-related exhibits such as the National AIDS Memorial Quilt Panels for Arts Fest (partnered with Gundersen Health on education HIV/AIDS prevention). 

CASSH University Staff Excellence Award

Academic Department Associate, Department of English

According to her department, "Kelly is the heart of the English department. She balances the needs and demands of a large department effortlessly and compassionately. She plays a vital role on the department's administrative team, imagining creative solutions to long-standing problems and collecting, organizing, maintaining, and analyzing an enormous archive of data on our students and programs. She is a mentor to department interns, modeling what collaborative and feminist workspaces can be. She is an amazing team player and often offers the administrative team perspectives and solutions to issues that her colleagues would not have imagined otherwise. And, Kelly is the kindest, most sincere, and most thoughtful colleague."

Friend of the College Award

Budget Director, Budget Office

Through various roles in the UWL Budget Office, particularly during her time as CASSH liaison, Emily Roraff provides empathetic and supportive guidance to members of the CASSH Dean’s Office staff in all financial and budgetary matters allowing the College to move forward with priorities, goals, and the CASSH mission. Emily offers consistent support to the College as we operate within UWL and UW System guidelines to request, seek approval, and provide CASSH small grants programs, one-time equipment purchases, special college and department initiatives, proposed course fees, and setting annual budget lines for all CASSH units. Her support is central to the conversion of the Student Affairs Administration program to a self-sustained model. Further, she was instrumental in providing timely and reliable budget information and guidance during the challenges faced by the College during the COVID pandemic. Our collaborative partnership with Emily facilitates the accomplishment of CASSH priorities tremendously benefitting our students, faculty, and staff.

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of Archaeology and Anthropology

According to her department, "Erin has thrived in the Cultural Anthropology Emphasis and is currently conducting ethnographic research on the Hmong Education Project at the Hmong Cultural and Community Center. Upon graduation, Erin will be working with City Year, Milwaukee, an AmeriCorps program designed to create opportunities for students to thrive inside and outside the classroom. Her experience working with Hmong students is preparing her well to work with kids in the multicultural neighborhoods in Milwaukee."

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of Archaeology and Anthropology

According to his department, "In addition to excelling in his coursework, Dom has taken the initiative to gain practical experience that is informing his senior thesis research and that will serve him well as he advances within the discipline in graduate school and beyond. In particular, he participated in an international field school in Serbia, he excelled as Teaching Assistant in the demanding Archaeological Research Methods course, and he is a servant leader, regularly mentoring less experienced students during weekly Open Lab times."

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of Art

According to her department, "Madison has been part of several art department projects and events such as Leslie Iwai’s, Clouds Project (as a studio assistant, 2021-2022), Visual Arts Classic High School Art Competition (2022 & 2023), and most recently the Sewn in Memory National AIDS Memorial Quilt Panels Audio Guide (UWL, Arts Fest Exhibition). Additionally, she was awarded the Richard Koehler Art Award in 2023 (UWL), and volunteers with youth art camps at the Rochester Art Center."

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of Art

According to his department, "Ryan’s dedication to the Department of Art is recognized and greatly appreciated. Ryan has served as a student representative on the CASSH Student Advisory Board for the past two years. Ryan has been employed as a gallery assistant since 2020, and we rely heavily on his assistance to install and de-install exhibitions in order to meet the deadlines of our exhibition schedule. He has positively represented the Department of Art as President (and a founding member) of the recently formed Free Art School. This student organization has created a much-needed sense of community for our creative students, especially after the challenging pandemic."

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of Communication Studies

According to her department, "Bri is a double major in CST: Organizational and Professional Communication emphasis and Biology. She is a lead tutor in the Public Speaking Center in charge of hiring, as well as president of the Communication Club. She is a Vanguard, an Eagle Guide, and is currently working in her third communication-related internship. Bri excelled in her undergraduate research experience and presented her work at the NCUR conference this April. She is an excellent example of what the department wants CST students to be."

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of Communication Studies

According to her department, "Emma is very involved in the department, ensuring she is a high-quality candidate for graduate school. She is a member of the CASSH Student Advisory Board, served as a student member on CST’s most recent Hiring Committee, is completing PR work for the Leadership Development minor, and attended the Central States Communication Association conference to network and learn more about the research process. Emma shines as a CST student and truly defines excellence."

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of Communication Studies

According to her department, "Kate is committed to social justice and civic engagement. She works elections on campus, is an active student senator, and is a lead in the Public Speaking Center. Kate has been instrumental in implementing inclusive tutoring practices and mentoring her fellow tutors. She also organized the campus Earth Day activities last spring. In class, Kate asks thoughtful, research-based questions, and is a mentor to her classmates. She is a joy to have in class."

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of English

According to her department, "Amari has demonstrated her skill as a writer, researcher, and information designer. She has an interest in how scientific knowledge emerges in technical genres, and how that information changes as it is translated for non-expert audiences. She has weaved together her coursework, her tutoring at the University Writing Center, and her internship work in very deliberate and unique way. She designed her internship at the Gundersen Medical Foundation from scratch, and her internship site supervisor was so impressed with her work there that she hopes Amari continues to stay on."

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Environmental Studies Program

According to her department, "For her Environmental Studies minor, Liberty collaborated with The Prairie Enthusiasts on hill prairie management within Hixon Forest.  She communicated the ecological relevance of prairie restoration, participated in steep fieldwork, and created GIS maps of changing vegetation. During classes, Liberty deepened her awareness of vulnerable populations and raised meaningful questions about our responsibilities as citizens of the world.  She takes on challenges with authentic curiosity and applies her learning to complex environmental studies issues."

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

According to her department, "Kirsten Amann has been an invaluable member of the German Studies program during her time at UWL. She has volunteered her time each week as a friendly and compassionate Conversation Partner for lower-level German students, she has helped foster an ongoing collaboration with university students in Germany by actively engaging in COIL projects, and she has represented the entire Global Cultures and Languages department as GCL’s student representative on the Deans Advisory Group. Danke!"

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

According to her department, "Sabrina arrived at UWL in the Fall of 2020 and since she has demonstrated excellence (4.0 grade point average) in her knowledge of culture and proficiency of the Spanish language. In addition, we celebrate her engagement with our language communities such as the Spanish Club, the Tertulia, and our honor society, Sigma Delta Pi, where she has served in various leadership roles. Sabrina is responsible, reliable, and a joy to work with!"

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of History

According to his department, "Sean Stank is an excellent student who has grown in his development as a history teacher and historian. He is by far the most energetic and engaging student within class discussions and activities. He is very invested in being a history teacher and is improving every day. His students and cooperating teacher can attest to that. One of his most impressive accomplishments was taking his capstone project on La Crosse local history and using that content to create a high school multi-lesson unit plan with debates, simulations, and primary sources analysis. Sean envisioned incorporating local history into a U.S. history and civics class at the secondary level."

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of Music

According to her department, "Mackenzie Taylor has been an outstanding flutist for the past four years in the music program. By audition, she has received multiple music scholarships annually. She has been a member of the Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Scholarship Chamber Wind ensembles and performed excellently at the La Crosse New Music Festival. She has been recognized for her outstanding performances by being selected for multiple Honors Recital and as a soloist with the UWL Symphony Orchestra."

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of Philosophy

According to her department, "Brooke is a complete Philosopher. She excelled in all of her philosophy courses, regularly demonstrating excellent argumentative skills and displaying a powerful grasp of an assortment of theories and concepts. Moreover, Brooke is a creative thinker in that she is able to bring a fresh perspective to a complex array of philosophical problems, often pushing ideas in new and exciting directions. Brooke contributed significantly to the philosophical culture of our program by leading the undergraduate Philosophy Club and presenting her own research at academic conferences along with UWL philosophy faculty."

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

According to his department, "Matthew Gast will graduate in May of 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration and two minors: Economics and Legal Studies. He has experience in local government, working as the Marketing Coordinator for the City of La Crosse Parks, Recreation, & Forestry Department. Matthew also is a Democracy Fellow with Campus Vote Project and works on the Election Engagement Team which advocates for student voting and helps inform the student body on elections and voting guidelines. He is also involved with several on-campus organizations such as Eta Phi Alpha Honor Society, National Society for Leadership & Success, and Pre-Law Society, serves Co-President of the Political Science and Public Administration Association and is an at-large member of the Segregated University Fee Allocation Committee. In 2023, he also recently presented his research on Supervised Injection Sites: A Response to the Drug Epidemic at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research."

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

According to her department, "Abi Reiter served as the Political Science and Public Administration Association President from 2022-2023 after spending her earlier college years as a member. Her work as a student leader was key in bringing back the Annual Alumni Day in Madison for the first time since the pandemic. Abi's success academically is reflected in her accomplishment as a researcher, with an Honors project presented at the Midwest Political Science Association Conference. At the University level, Abi works with the Election Engagement Team to promote civic engagement across campus. She also served as the UWL Women's Rugby Club Vice President from 2019-2022 and has represented club athletes on the Sport Club Executive Council since 2021. Abi currently serves on the Student Association's Election Commission."

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of Psychology

According to her department, "Kathleen will graduate with a B.S. in Psychology in May. At UWL she was a member and captain of the women’s swim and dive team. Additionally, Kathleen worked as a tutor through the Psychology Department and as a part of the UWL Upward Bound Program. She completed an undergraduate project on the perception of mental health disorders in the courtroom through the Psychology Honors Program. In the fall she will be attending law school."

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of Psychology

According to her department, "Cassidy is a December 2022 highest honors graduate with a degree in psychology. In college, she was a TA for Dr. Quartiroli, a member of the Psi Chi Honor Society, and completed an internship at Aptiv utilizing psychology knowledge gleaned from classes. She is currently working as a behavioral technician, providing ABA therapy to children with autism."

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of Psychology

According to her department, "Erin Greschner graduated with her B.S. in Psychology in December 2022. While attending UWL, she was named “Outstanding Psychology Student of Fall 2022”, was President of the Student Physical Therapy Club, and was able to graduate early. Erin was part of the Psychology Honors Program in which she did research that looked at the potential connection between athlete mental health and their relationship with their coach. Erin will start UWL’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program in late May."

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of Psychology

According to his department, "Stevan Lazic will graduate in May with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Biology. At UWL, he participated in faculty research in psychology and biology and conducted two independent psychology studies. Stevan was among the first recipients of the Chancellor’s Volunteer Service Award. He was the vice president of the Psychology and Psi Chi clubs. Stevan worked two clinically related mental healthcare jobs while at UWL. Stevan plans to pursue graduate studies this fall."

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of Psychology

According to her department, "Lauren Roff graduated with honors with her B.S. in Psychology and Gerontology Certificate in December 2022. During her undergraduate career, she served as a Research Assistant for the Psychology Department and was an active member in many on-campus organizations, including serving as Volunteer Coordinator for the Student Physical Therapy Club. She will be continuing her education at UWL in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program beginning in May 2023."

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of Psychology

According to her department, "Breckin Sargeant will graduate with her B.A in Psychology and a minor in Ethnic and Racial Studies in May. During her undergraduate career she created and led a peer mentoring program for multicultural students in the Psychology department. As a McNair Scholar, she completed an undergraduate research project examining the impacts of racial microaggressions on the academic performance of students of color. Breckin will attend Northwestern University for graduate school in fall." 

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of Psychology

According to her department, "Mayachel Schaller will graduate with her B.S. in Psychology in May. During her undergraduate career, she has been active in DREAM and DOC, served as spokesperson for the ACCESS Center and Student Support Services, and maintained employment in healthcare and retail. She recently completed a humanitarian aid agency internship in Ireland that expanded her interests and abilities in interpersonal communication, a field Mayachel intends to explore prior to obtaining a master’s degree in behavioral analysis."

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of Psychology

According to her department, "Amy Sloan will graduate in May with her B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Leadership Development. During her non-traditional undergraduate career, she balanced many roles including parent and employee. She completed a research paper exploring the correlations between parental stress, support, and well-being. Finding her role as a leader, she added a unique perspective and depth to classroom discussions. She will attend the School Psychology graduate program at UWL starting in the fall."

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

According to their department, "Ash is a pleasure to have in class. Rarely do students bring their whole selves to class and so honestly draw from their past knowledge and personal experiences to inform their work in such a meaningful way. They bring critically insightful dialogue to [the senior capstone class] and a level of knowledge and self-awareness that serves as a model for their classmates and peers."

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

According to his department, "Zach is an exemplary student, with a 3.98 GPA. Additionally, Zach has distinguished himself outside of the classroom, conducting research on underserved populations and working with CouleeCap in their Tenant-Landlord Resource Office as a Housing Navigator Intern. Zach also volunteers as a running coach at Aquinas middle school and serves as co-president of the Sociology Club at UWL. Zach is a model student and member of his community with a promising career ahead of himself."

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

According to her department, "Kayla is an exceptional student with a 3.75 overall GPA. In addition to outstanding work in her classes, Kayla has served as the co-president of the Sociology Club since 2021, is currently a behavior therapist at Partners in Excellence, and has an impressive resume of experience for a student in their junior year."

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

According to his department, "In addition to his coursework and an extremely impressive academic record, Grady, has been working as a paralegal at a local law firm, where he worked with French Island residents and helped allay some of their fears about the water contamination by providing information about the history and effects of PFAS. Outside of the classroom as well as within, Grady demonstrates integrity and a commitment to helping others. Upon graduation, he plans to attend law school and become an attorney."

CASSH Undergraduate Recognition of Excellence,
Department of Theatre & Dance

According to his department, "Adam Bloom is a senior Musical Theatre Major and has acted in several plays and musicals while at UWL. He was nominated by the Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival and became a finalist in both the Irene Ryan Acting competition as well as in the Music Theatre Intensive. Adam served twice as a Teacher’s Assistant, as a student representative, and is a true mentor to early-career students. He is well respected by both students and faculty."