UWRF Faculty given awards for excellence, research and development

Six UWRF Faculty members were presented awards at the University's opening meeting on Aug. 25. These awards, funded by donations by alumni, are intended to support research, innovation, and professional development.

The Paul B. and Robert Dykstra Faculty Excellence Award is for tenured or tenured track faculty members who are currently involved in or have proposed research. This award was given to Shawyn Domyancich-Lee, assistant professor of social work, and Brooke Krejci, professor of mathematics.

“I think being able to be recognized for my research is incredibly meaningful,” expressed Domyancich-Lee.“But I think that my interest really is in sustainability and environmental justice and making those issues and topics a part of, you know, curricula across programs at any college or university. And so I hope to continue to be able to do that at UW River Falls.”

“It's nice to be recognized and have support for the work that I do outside of the classroom,” Krejci said, “I just want to share ways that help improve students' learning experiences of math, and hopefully we can get rid of the stigma around fractions being such a challenge or difficult.”

The Keith Wurtz Award for Teaching Excellence is for tenured or tenured track faculty members who demonstrate trailblazing approaches to education, outreach and collaboration. This award was given to Hannah Freeman, assistant professor of art, Bob Zhiwei Zeng, assistant professor of agriculture engineering technology, and Blair Troudt, assistant professor of chemistry and biotechnology.

“I feel this award is really not a reflection of my work, but, but also the journey I have been through with students and colleagues as well” said Zeng “I guess I just feel honored to be recognized by this award.”

“It's nice to see that my effort I'm putting in has been recognized. And in that class I really try to focus on preparing them as students and not as much on preparing them as chemists” said Troudt. My point in that class is to teach them good study techniques, like note taking techniques and just other techniques that hopefully they can carry through to the other classes.

Even though I know that chemistry might not be their favorite subject. . . It's nice to see that my effort I'm putting in has been recognized.”

English lecturer Rhonda Petree was presented with the final award, the Manley Olsen Instructional Academic Staff Professional Award, which is presented to an academic staff member in order to support professional development.

Petree was honored to have received this award and is looking forward to attending the National Council of Teachers of English conference, in Denver, Colorado.

“I'm excited for myself, but what I'm really happy about is the possibility of my UWRF students also attending this conference.”