More than two dozen members of the faculty and staff were honored Wednesday for their efforts to make UW-Milwaukee a better place for its students and the UWM community, and for contributing research to advance human knowledge.
The winners, who were nominated by their peers and managers, were honored at the 2026 Employee Excellence Awards in the ballroom of the UWM Student Union.
Faculty Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Award
Jocelyn Szczepaniak-Gillece, professor, Department of English
Jocelyn Szczepaniak-Gillece has been teaching undergraduates at UWM since 2013 and considers undergraduate education her greatest calling at the university. Her course subjects include the history of special effects, the history of animation, horror films from 1985 to the present, classical Hollywood and trash cinema, among others. She has overseen multiple undergraduate honors projects, independent studies and SURFs, and currently serves as director of the Film Studies program and director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of English. Szczepaniak-Gillece is proudest of the environment she works to cultivate in the classroom, which she develops using the most ancient and most effective educational strategies of lectures and conversation paired with innovative writing assignments and deep listening to students from all walks of life. In a moment where AI threatens traditional humanities education and critical thinking, she champions the low-tech classroom as a place of real and true learning.
Faculty Distinguished University Service Award
Jennifer Gutzman, associate professor, Department of Biological Sciences
Dr. Jennifer Gutzman is an associate professor of biological sciences whose exceptional service has strengthened the university’s research, education and student support missions for more than a decade. She currently serves as co-chair of UWM’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, providing leadership in research compliance, animal welfare and the maintenance of the university’s prestigious AAALAC accreditation. She has played a key role in shared governance through service on university curriculum committees (APCC and GCC), 2030 strategic planning initiatives and departmental policy development.
Deeply committed to student success, Gutzman has mentored more than 20 undergraduate research fellows, supported students from historically underrepresented groups through the former WiscAMP STEM-Inspire program and co-developed an NSF I-Corps-inspired graduate training program that has prepared more than 250 graduate students for diverse career pathways. Recognized for her collaborative leadership and dedication to others, Gutzman exemplifies the highest ideals of university service.
Faculty Distinguished Public Service Award
Christine Cheng, associate professor, Department of Computer Science
Christine Cheng is an associate professor of computer science. In 2016, she co-founded UWM’s Girls Who Code program, building it into a supportive community that has introduced hundreds of middle and high school students from the greater Milwaukee area to computing. As the main site administrator, Cheng manages enrollment, coordinates promotional efforts, recruits and supports instructors and teaching assistants, and partners with UWM Advancement on grants. She has designed the program’s curriculum and traditions, including a pathway for advanced students to return as volunteer teaching assistants and instructors.
Beyond Girls Who Code, Cheng has judged regional science and hackathon competitions, reviewed for the NCWIT Aspirations Award, served on a high school IT academy advisory board, and spoken on panels addressing women and underrepresented groups in technology. Cheng’s decade of service has strengthened UWM’s reputation among Milwaukee families as a welcoming place to learn technology skills.
UWM Office of Research/UWM Foundation Research Award
Caitlin Bowman, associate professor, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences
Caitlin Bowman is an associate professor of psychological and brain sciences at UWM. She is a cognitive neuroscientist studying how the brain forms, stores, and retrieves memories and how those processes change in older age. She uses functional MRI and computational modeling to better understand how we both remember specific, unique experiences and how we combine across related experiences to build general knowledge of how the world works. She has published 30-plus empirical articles, reviews and book chapters, including six publications with UWM trainees. Her work has been funded by the National Institute on Aging, the American Psychological Association and Bader Philanthropies. She serves on the leadership team for UWM’s Success Through Aging Research (STAR) Program, an undergraduate training program funded by the NIA. She has mentored four PhD students and more than 30 undergraduate research assistants since joining UWM in 2021.
Linda Wesp, assistant professor, School of Nursing
Linda Wesp has been an assistant professor in the School of Nursing since 2022. Her program of research includes theoretical framework development, empirical qualitative research and the advancement of nursing care aimed at generating new knowledge to address health inequities among LGBTQIA+ populations. She is a recipient of the Hillman Foundation Emergent Innovation Grant and previously received a UWM Discovery and Innovation Grant to support community-led interventions addressing urgent health needs in Milwaukee. She has contributed as a co-author and editor to national and international clinical guidelines on evidence-based care, as well as the 2022 textbook Clinician’s Guide to LGBTQIA+ Care: Cultural Safety in Sexual, Reproductive, and Primary Healthcare. She has also guest edited special issues for two nursing journals focused on LGBTQIA+ health. She also was recently inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, one of the highest professional honors in nursing.
Office of Research/Senior Faculty Award
Robert Cuzner, Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering
Rob Cuzner is the Joanne and Richard Grigg Professor in UWM’s Department of Electrical Engineering. He leads the Center for Sustainable Electrical Energy Systems and is site director for the I/UCRC on Grid-Connected Advanced Power Electronic Systems. Cuzner’s prior industry experience includes 24 years of developing energy conversion, power generation and distribution systems. His 12-year career at UWM focuses on research on energy secure power delivery systems for naval ships, microgrids and transportation systems, and the development of metaheuristic modeling methodologies to assess emerging technologies within a systems context. He oversees microgrid, electromagnetic interference, and high voltage laboratories at UWM. Cuzner also teaches courses on power electronics, drives, electromechanical energy conversion, and electromagnetic compatibility. He has directly advised and funded more than 30 master’s and PhD graduates, who now work at companies, government agencies and utilities globally, with many employed in the greater Milwaukee area.
Hanjoo Lee, professor, Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences
Hanjoo Lee is a professor and director of graduate studies in the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences. As director of the UWM Anxiety Disorders Laboratory, his research focuses on the neurocognitive mechanisms of anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and trauma-related conditions, as well as the development of scalable, remote-accessible digital therapeutic interventions.
Lee’s heavily published research program has been supported by extramural and institutional funding exceeding $5 million, including grants from the National Institute of Mental Health, the Clinical & Translational Science Institute of Southeast Wisconsin and the UWM Research Foundation. He serves as an associate editor for the Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders and as an editorial board member for several other psychology and psychiatry journals.
His commitment to student success has been recognized by the 2025 Accessibility Resource Center Excellence Award, UWM Office of Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year nominations in 2024 and 2025, and the 2015 Stellar Student Affairs Partner Star Award.
Office of Research/Outstanding Research Achievement Award
Jesse McLean, associate professor, Film, Video, Animation & New Genres
Jesse McLean is a filmmaker who explores hybrid forms that blur documentary, narrative and experimental modes. Her work expands everyday gestures into reflections on memory, desire and the human relationship to the nonhuman. She is an associate professor and chair of Film, Video, Animation & New Genres at UWM.
Her films have screened at museums, galleries and film festivals worldwide, including the New York Film Festival, International Film Festival Rotterdam, Venice Film Festival, Kassel Dokfest, Impakt Festival and Yebizo Festival of Art + Alternative Visions. McLean received an International Federation of Film Critics prize and other awards for editing and sound design. She has been a featured artist at the Flaherty Seminar, a MacDowell Fellow, a Nohl Fund Fellowship awardee, and a fellow at the UWM Center for 21st Century Studies.
Her feature film “Light Needs” is distributed by Veritá Films and streaming on True Story, a platform devoted to documentary storytelling.
Alvaro Saar Rios, professor, Theatre Department
Alvaro Saar Rios’ primary research explores Latinx theater, theater for young audiences and adaptation. His plays have been staged in New York City, Mexico City, Hawaii, Chicago, Seattle, St. Louis, Milwaukee and throughout Texas. He has received commissions from leading organizations, such as the Kennedy Center, Chicago Children’s Theatre, Houston Grand Opera and the Zoological Society of Milwaukee. His award-winning works include ”Luchadora!” and the adaptation of the New York Times bestseller “Carmela Full of Wishes.” As head of the BA Practices program, he guides aspiring theatermakers who seek not only to participate in theater but also to shape its future. He founded New Dramaworks, an innovative series designed to introduce undergraduates from diverse academic backgrounds to the process of new play development.
Academic Staff Outstanding Teaching Award
Jacqueline Bradway, teaching professor, Department of Journalism, Advertising, and Media Studies
Jackie Bradway brings decades of public relations and marketing experience into her classroom. Named JAMS Teacher of the Year in 2025, she helps students understand the human side of communications, the importance of ethics, and the power of storytelling. She stays current on industry trends and reviews what she teaches to reflect what’s happening “in the real world.” For example, she was anti-AI until industry professionals explained how they use the technology. Bradway created a lecture and assignment to replicate how AI is being used in the workplace.
In addition to teaching, Bradway’s service to UWM is defined by her leadership within the JAMS program. Bradway navigated the program’s merger into the Communication Department. Serving as program director since 2021, Bradway is responsible for coordinating all aspects of JAMS including curriculum, scheduling, and budget management. Over the last few years, Bradway has served on a promotions committee, reviewed L&S scholarship applications, and served on a university-wide Scenario Planning Work Group.
Ralph Janes, program director, Department of Theatre
Ralph Janes has been teaching for about 50 years, along with directing and designing theater.
When asked what he teaches, Janes has a hard time answering: “I work in theater and always have done since a teenager, but I am loath to say I teach theater,” he says. “I think I work with people, usually younger than me, to help them grow well. Theatre is a tool.
“I hope I have done some good things for and with people along the way.”
He adds: “There are no secrets, no magic advices; there is an acceptance of working to learn each day about what you can do better than yesterday, acknowledging that you make mistakes and celebrating the victories in all forms.”
Renee Scampini, teaching faculty, Zilber College of Public Health
Renee Scampini’s excellence in teaching is both visible and deeply intentional. Sharp yet deeply approachable, she teaches with a rare combination of rigor and warmth. Students consistently describe her as someone who “genuinely cares about their success.” She notices when students are struggling before they say a word, meets them where they are, and starts each semester with a reminder that everyone, herself included, is human first. As a reflective educator, Scampini continually refines her practice and strengthens learning experiences. Her innovative pedagogy includes hands-on archival work connecting historical and contemporary public health issues, as well as redesigning courses for high-quality asynchronous online delivery. She extensively pursues professional development in equity and pedagogy while expanding her impact through service, including UWM’s sustainability practices and community partnerships. Whether in a lecture hall or a hallway conversation, people say the same thing about her: She makes everyone feel seen.
Academic Staff Outstanding Performance and Service Award
Jenny Nemke, animal care manager, Office of Research Integrity & Compliance
For Jenny Nemke, serving as UWM’s animal care manager — a position she has held for more than 25 years — is truly a full-time job. She takes very seriously the responsibility of overseeing animal welfare on campus, often sacrificing evenings, weekends and holidays to care for the animals.
One of Nemke’s biggest accomplishments was maintaining animal care when campus closed for the COVID-19 pandemic, working seven days a week at a moment when the university lost all its student staff members. She also took on additional program responsibilities during an extended vacancy in the full-time veterinarian position.
Nemke said it has been an honor and a privilege to care for the animals and work with faculty, staff, and students on campus.
Kristin M. Miller Woodward, teaching and learning team lead, UWM Libraries
Kristin M. Miller Woodward is the teaching and learning team lead at UWM Libraries. Throughout her 23 years of service, she has been an advocate for UWM’s access and research missions. She has created high-quality information literacy learning experiences that support traditional and online students at all levels. She leads the Open Textbook Initiative, reducing the cost of textbooks for thousands of UWM students.
Miller Woodward proactively engages with campus partners and aligns the library’s student success priorities with the needs of UWM students and faculty. She consistently seeks service opportunities on campus and currently serves on the Academic Budget and Planning Committee.
Miller Woodward is active in state and national organizations and currently serves on the Universities of Wisconsin Open Educational Resources (OER) Advisory team and the Midwest Higher Education Compact OER action team for Wisconsin. She is a long-time member and past chair of the Association of College and Research Libraries Distance Learning Section.
Max Yela, head of special collections, UWM Libraries
Recently retired, Max Yela was head of the Special Collections Department at the UWM Libraries from 1994 to 2026. Prior to this, he was the public services librarian for Special Collections at the University of Delaware from 1985 to 1994. Yela is an adjunct instructor in the UWM School of Information Studies where he has taught History of Books and Printing every semester since 2009. He also taught book arts concepts and practice from 2004 to 2015 in the UWM Department of Art & Design, where he continues to serve as an adjunct faculty member. His research includes history of the book as a media presence in human cultures, art mediation and especially the book as an art medium. Yela has been active in the Wisconsin arts community for more than 30 years and was honored for his contributions with a 2017 Wisconsin Visual Art Achievement Award.
2025 Advisor of the Year Award
Kelsi Faust, academic advisor, Zilber College of Public Health
Kelsi Faust is a dedicated academic advisor and educator committed to advancing student success through innovative programming, collaborative leadership and exceptional student support. Since joining the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2019, she has advised diverse student populations, developed and taught courses that strengthen academic success skills, and led initiatives to improve student retention and engagement.
Faust is recognized for building meaningful relationships with students, faculty and campus partners while contributing to institutional committees, policy development and cross-campus collaborations. She consistently goes beyond her core responsibilities by creating new academic support resources, mentoring students inside and outside the classroom, and leading high-impact initiatives that enhance the student experience. Her passion for service, continuous learning and commitment to excellence have earned her a reputation as a trusted colleague, innovative educator and student-centered leader.
University Staff Newcomer Award
Emily Schirmacher, Off-Campus Resource Center manager, University Housing
Emily Schirmacher was nominated for the University Staff Newcomer Award for her infectious positivity, initiative and dedication to building a supportive campus community. Shortly after joining UWM, she transformed the vision of a campus Free Store into a thriving program that provides free household essentials to students. She also launched the Green Neighbors Initiative, an effort to connect students and the community with eco-friendly living practices.
Beyond her environmental leadership, Schirmacher is known for her vibrant, collaborative spirit across campus departments and her warm mentorship of student Outreach Educators. Her uplifting approach, passion for basic-needs security, and collaborative drive continue to cultivate a more inclusive, sustainable and connected UWM community.
Collin Schulz, library assistant III, UWM Libraries
Collin Schulz manages the processing and preservation of library materials for the UWM Libraries and is responsible for hiring, training and supervising a team of student employees. He works with several campus departments to provide dissertation binding services for UWM graduates and receives print serials into the library system. In the last four years, Schulz has studied book preservation, staffed the Library Welcome Desk and taken on responsibilities related to electronic resources. He also has become a part of the Library Staff Association Committee, working with peers across library departments to plan and execute library staff events. Schulz values his coworkers and is always willing to lend a hand.
University Staff Outstanding Service in a Single Year Award
Christopher Baxter, building assistant, UWM Libraries
Christopher Baxter made an extraordinary contribution to the Golda Meir Library in 2025 through his leadership, hard work and commitment to improving both operations and student spaces. He played a key role in preparing the Graduate Student Commons for its grand opening and led several major facilities projects. He coordinated office relocations, assisted with the relocation of the Equipment & Reserve service point, and helped reconfigure workspaces across departments while minimizing disruption and saving the library thousands of dollars through in-house work.
A major accomplishment was his leadership in repurposing furniture from the UW-Waukesha campus. Baxter identified, transported, and arranged furnishings that transformed study areas throughout the building. Beyond his duties, Baxter voluntarily assisted with custodial and maintenance tasks, demonstrating professionalism, teamwork and an unwavering commitment to the UWM community.
Stephanie Ruditys, administrative assistant III, Environmental Services/Facilities Services
Stephanie Ruditys has become an indispensable resource to multiple departments across campus, identifying cost savings and improving operational efficiency across several areas of campus.
Originally serving Environmental Services, Ruditys took on additional responsibilities supporting the Central Heating Plant, the Office of Sustainability and UWM’s waste management operations. She became the university’s primary liaison with Waste Management while providing expertise in payroll, scheduling, human resources and Workday administration.
When departments encountered challenges during the transition to Workday, Ruditys organized training sessions, solved complex problems and helped ensure employees were paid accurately and on time.
Beyond her formal responsibilities, Ruditys serves as a wellness ambassador and a representative on the University Staff Committee, where she ensures her colleagues feel supported and valued.
University Staff Lifetime Achievement Award
Steve Kennedy, department business manager, Department of Physics
Steve Kennedy came to UWM in November 2003 as a limited term employee in the English Department. He didn’t think he’d be at UWM for long, anticipating going back soon to the business world. But 23 years later, he’s still at UWM, happily.
He later moved to the Physics Department despite a knowledge of physics limited to knowing how to spell the word, he says. He soon learned about grants administration and how to work accounting systems for the benefit of the department. He was appointed building chair in both the Physics Building and KIRC, became a founding member of University Staff Governance, had lunch several times at the system president’s home, and got to know people like Ray Cross, Mark Mone and Phil Chang.
“So, did things work out the way I anticipated?” Kennedy asks. “Nope. I got a better deal at UWM!”
Larry Linvik, lab manager, Language Resource Center, College of Letters & Science
Larry Linvik has served as the Language Resource Center’s lab manager for four decades, dedicating his career to supporting excellence in foreign language teaching and learning at UWM. Linvik plays a central role in designing, developing and maintaining language labs and technology-enhanced classrooms, while providing multimedia tools and innovative learning opportunities that enrich student engagement.
He has collaborated closely with faculty to develop instructional materials, support language testing and assessment, troubleshoot technology and implement new instructional technologies. He also installed and maintained the Curtin Hall digital signage to promote language programs and campus events.
Throughout his career, Linvik has been committed to providing timely, dependable and proactive support, often anticipating challenges before they arise, to ensure that faculty can teach effectively and students have the best possible learning experience. His greatest satisfaction has always come from helping others succeed by making language teaching more efficient, innovative and engaging.
Joanne Lazirko Award for Innovative Use of Learning Technologies
Joseph O’Halloran, teaching faculty, Department of Physics & Astronomy
Joseph O’Halloran is recognized for his innovative and intentional use of learning technologies to enhance student engagement and learning in Physics. He integrates the polling platform Vevox into his lectures, embedding interactive questions directly into presentation slides so participation and formative assessment become a natural part of the classroom experience. O’Halloran uses Vevox to support active learning strategies, including think-pair-share activities, while providing instant feedback that helps gauge student understanding in real time.
He also leverages the platform’s multimedia capabilities, incorporating animations and visual demonstrations that make complex physics concepts more accessible and easier for students to grasp. Through Vevox’s anonymous Q&A feature, he has fostered a more inclusive learning environment, dramatically increasing student participation and encouraging questions from those who might otherwise remain silent. His thoughtful combination of technology, pedagogy and student-centered teaching exemplifies how learning technologies can meaningfully enrich education and improve student success.
Ernest Spaights Plaza Awards
The Ernest Spaights Plaza award is named in honor of the late Professor Ernest Spaights and is dedicated to individuals who have made significant, enduring and campuswide contributions to the growth and development of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Judith Beall, director emerita, Religious Studies Program, College of Letters & Science
Judith Beall arrived at UWM in 1998 as a part-time history instructor. She eventually became a full-time adjunct assistant professor and the director of the Religious Studies Program, which, as one alumnus said, she “built with dedication and love.” Beall assembled a multidisciplinary steering committee and attracted faculty from various departments to offer courses in the program. She also established a student organization, launched an annual undergraduate research conference and organized a separate religious studies graduation ceremony.
Beall is remembered most of all as an outstanding instructor and mentor. Alumni recall how she taught them “to think clearly, argue honestly and confront life directly.” Many describe her advice and example as life changing. In the words of a colleague: “Judith was simply the best. The university would be hard-pressed to find another instructor who impacted the lives of her students as she did.”
Paul Fischer, emeritus professor of accounting, Lubar College of Business
Paul Fischer’s most coveted honor is to mentor others as he was once mentored by UWM accounting professor and fellow Spaights Plaza awardee Jerry Leer. Through Leer’s influence, Fischer encouraged thousands of students to become CPAs and more than 20 former students to also become professors.
Fischer built a nationally recognized accounting faculty at the Lubar College of Business and reached beyond UWM by offering a statewide CPA review program that helped thousands pass the CPA Exam. He extended his teaching methods through publishing 13 editions of the nation’s most-adopted advanced accounting textbook. He also had the opportunity to teach executives accounting decision tools through the UWM Executive MBA program and through presentations at major Wisconsin corporations. Fischer also was able to teach long enough to have his grandson as a student in spring 2026.
