Dean and professor Rebecca Klaper has been named one of the sixteen 2026 Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters Fellows. These fellows have demonstrated a lifelong commitment to intellectual discourse and public service to receive the 2026 Fellows Awards. The Wisconsin Academy Fellows Award recognizes educators, researchers, mentors, artists, and civic or business leaders from across Wisconsin who have made significant accomplishments in their fields and substantial contributions to the cultural life and welfare of the state and its people. Fellows are selected by committee through a rigorous process every two years. Being selected as a Fellow offers unique recognition across diverse fields and amplifies the extraordinary work of Wisconsinites. Honorees will be inducted at a ceremony in the Fall of 2026.
“When we are looking for inspiration and a vision for what is possible, the Wisconsin Academy Fellows program serves as a light, showcasing bright minds and creative voices from every corner of our state,” says Wisconsin Academy Executive Director Erika Monroe-Kane. “Academy Fellows are groundbreakers who have had a deep, meaningful impact and significantly contribute to a vibrant and brilliant Wisconsin. Reflecting the extraordinary in Wisconsin, this 2026 Wisconsin Fellows Class connects us to what is special about Wisconsin and its people.”
Established in 1982, the Fellows program is the only Award that recognizes outstanding work across the sciences, arts and Letters in Wisconsin. The 2026 Class of Fellows will join over 100 current Fellows from around the state. New Fellows include infectious disease researcher and healthcare leader Dr. David Andes; nonprofit executive and visionary urban planner Dr. Ruben Anthony; visual artist and master printmaker Emily Arthur; STEM equity advocate and psychologist Dr. Angela Byars-Winston; pioneering choreographer and dancer Li Chiao-Ping; celebrated actor, director, and novelist James DeVita; choreographer and dance educator Simone Ferro; sculptor, curator, and visual artist Martha Glowacki; performing artist and psychologist Dr. Frederick Heide; environmental toxicologist and educator Dr. Rebecca Klaper; urban ecology pioneer and author Ken Leinbach; legendary broadcaster and life sciences communicator Larry Meiller; distinguished attorney and civil servant Lester Pines; Indigenous artist and cultural educator Melanie Tallmadge Sainz; surgical oncologist, innovator, and educator Dr. Sharon M. Weber; and multi-disciplinary artist, mentor, and curator Jason Yi.
About the Fellows Program
Since its founding in 1870, the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters has been dedicated to the belief that the health of our state depends on the free exchange of ideas. The Academy Fellows program is the heartbeat of this mission, serving as the common ground where Wisconsin’s most influential thinkers, creators, and problem-solvers meet. In a time of increasing fragmentation, these Fellows create a vital statewide network that unites our rural landscapes with our urban centers, bringing together leaders from across the sciences, arts, and letters to navigate our most complex challenges. These individuals are the modern stewards of the Wisconsin Idea. Together, they remind us that our greatest resource is our shared curiosity and our dedication to making this state a place where everyone can truly find a home.
About the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters
A champion of independent thought, creativity, and civil discourse, the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters connects people from across the state and builds common ground. Through exhibitions, publications, and initiatives, the Wisconsin Academy sparks curiosity, creativity, and dialogue across the state. The James Watrous Gallery celebrates contemporary Wisconsin artists, while Wisconsin People & Ideas magazine explores the intersections of science, culture, and the humanities. The Climate and Energy Initiative advances pathways to a sustainable future, and public talks foster meaningful connections among engaged and inquisitive people. The Academy also honors excellence through the Fiction & Poetry Awards and Fellows Awards, supports the Wisconsin Poet Laureate, and nurtures ideas and conversations that shape a better future for Wisconsin.