Thanks to the generosity of alumni John and Tashia Morgridge, UW–Madison in February announced a new $70 million matching opportunity to support faculty recruitment and retention.
The match was made be available to donors who would like to establish or enhance an endowed professorship or chair fund. An endowed professorship or chair distributes income annually in perpetuity to support faculty salary and research.
Both John and Tashia Morgridge graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1955. Tashia earned her bachelor’s degree from the School of Education and is a longtime member of the School’s Board of Visitors. A retired special education teacher, she has supported literacy programs in schools and in disadvantaged communities in California. In addition, she is active in encouraging civic engagement among students at Stanford University and at UW–Madison. John went on to become the chairman of Cisco Systems, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of networking hardware and telecommunications equipment.
This one-to-one match provides private support to help UW–Madison recruit and retain world-class faculty. A previous Morgridge match generated $250 million in endowed support and has already had a major impact on the university.
Overall, UW–Madison has 300 endowed professorships and chairs, more than doubling the number prior to the launch of the university’s All Ways Forward campaign. One example of top talent brought to and retained by the university through previous faculty match opportunities is Lynda Barry. The associate professor of interdisciplinary creativity now holds the Chazen Family Chair in the School of Education’s Art Department. Barry in 2019 was awarded a MacArthur Foundation “genius grant” for “inspiring creative engagement through original graphic works and a teaching practice centered on the role of image making in communication.”
“On behalf of all of us in the Badger family, we want to say thank you once again for the continued support and generosity of the Morgridges,” says UW–Madison chancellor Rebecca Blank. “Their positive impact on this university will extend for generations to come.”
Alexander takes over as president of Oregon State University
UW–Madison alumnus F. King Alexander in on July 1 became the new president of Oregon State University.
Alexander earned his PhD from the School of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis in 1996.
He was previously serving as the president and chancellor of Louisiana State University. He was announced as Oregon State’s 15th president on Dec. 13 at a meeting of the OSU Board of Trustees, which voted unanimously to confirm the appointment.
“I think you will agree that, today, we found the best of the best,” Chair Rani Borkar said, according to the Corvallis Gazette-Times, in announcing the board’s decision. “From our perspective, Dr. Alexander is the total package.”
Alexander succeeds Ed Ray, who stepped down on June 30 after 17 years as OSU’s president.
Alexander had been president of LSU since 2013. His resume also includes stints as president of California State University at Long Beach from 2005 to 2013 and Murray State University in Kentucky from 2001 to 2005. Prior to that, he held administrative and teaching positions at the University of Illinois and the University of North Carolina-Greensboro.
Marri named dean of Ball State’s Teachers College
UW–Madison alumnus Anand R. Marri was named dean of Ball State University’s Teachers College, BSU announced in a news release on Jan. 7. Marri started his post at Ball State on July 1.
Marri earned his PhD from the School of Education’s highly ranked Department of Curriculum and Instruction in 2003. He also is a member of the School of Education’s Board of Visitors.
Marri says he admires how Ball State provides a high-quality postsecondary education and serves its neighbors, near and far.
“Ball State serves the needs of all students, particularly first-generation college students who might not otherwise have access to postsecondary education,” says Marri. “In doing so, Ball State also improves lives in both the local community and the state of Indiana. I am excited to work with our community partners, especially Muncie (Ind.) Community Schools.”
To learn more about Marri and his appointment, check out the full Ball State University news release here.
Smith to become dean of Southern Illinois University’s School of Education
M. Cecil Smith, an alumnus of UW–Madison, will become the dean of Southern Illinois University (SIU) Carbondale’s reorganized School of Education on July 13, pending approval of the SIU Board of Trustees.
The announcement came via this SIU news release on May 20.
Smith earned his PhD from the human development program within the UW–Madison School of Education’s Department of Educational Psychology in 1988.
Smith was serving as graduate program coordinator and professor in the Department of Learning Sciences and Human Development within the College of Education and Human Services at West Virginia University.
“Our students, faculty, and staff will benefit from his extensive teaching, administrative, and research experience in the field of education,” Meera Komarraju, SIU’s provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, said in the news release. “His expertise, experience at two different universities, collaborative synergy, and focus on student success will ensure that we continue preparing excellent teachers.”
Smith served as associate dean for research and graduate education at West Virginia from 2013 to 2018 before assuming his current position with the university. Between 1988 and 2013, Smith held various positions at Northern Illinois University.
Smith’s research centers on the areas of adult learning, literacy, and continuing education.
Green receives 2020 William T. Grant Scholars award
UW–Madison alumnus Terrance L. Green is one of five early career researchers from across the nation to receive a 2020 William T. Grant Scholars award.
Launched in 1982, this program supports the professional development of promising researchers in the social, behavioral, and health sciences who have received their terminal degrees within the past seven years. Green received his PhD in 2013 from the School of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis.
Scholars receive $350,000 to execute rigorous, five-year research plans that stretch their skills and knowledge into new disciplines, content areas, or methods. As they commence their projects, they build mentoring relationships with experts in areas pertinent to their development, and further their research and professional development through annual retreats and workshops with fellow Scholars, Foundation staff, and other senior researchers.
Green is an associate professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy at the University of Texas. His research being supported by this new award will examine whether and how local racial equity policies can address persistent and unequal educational outcomes for black students.
Green’s three-phase study will: analyze 160 districts’ racial equity policies to determine whether policy components cluster in certain districts and the extent to which district characteristics predict classes that share similar racial equity policies; estimate the associations between racial equity policies and black students’ educational outcomes; and explore how racial equity policies were developed and implemented, as well the various school contexts that support their impacts.
Green is a qualitative researcher with expertise on school leadership, family-community engagement, and gentrification. To develop expertise in quantitative methods and content knowledge in educational policy analysis and effects, he will confer with an advisory panel on quantitative methods and meet monthly with his mentors, Robert Crosnoe, professor of sociology at the University of Texas at Austin, and Janelle Scott, professor of education policy at the University of California, Berkeley.
Navarro named athletic director at UW–Platteville
UW–Madison alumna Kristina Navarro was named the new director of athletics and assistant chancellor for sports administration at UW–Platteville in March.
Navarro earned her PhD from the School of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis in 2012, and received the School’s 2014 Outstanding Recent Graduate Award.
Most recently, Navarro served as the senior associate athletic director for leadership and development, and strategic partnerships at Rutgers University, which is a member of the Big Ten Conference. She was also an assistant professor of practice at Rutgers.
“Dr. Navarro brings extraordinary experience in athletics, having been a student-athlete herself and having advanced degrees in sports administration and educational leadership,” said UW–Platteville Chancellor Dennis J. Shields. “She has also had tremendous success in developing leadership programs and positions. I’m excited to bring her energy and expertise in designing academic programs that focus on athletic leadership.”
Navarro aims to build a collaborative, transformational student-athlete experience, drawing on her nearly 15 years of sport management experience and dedication to the field.
“The ability to develop cross-campus synergy and high-impact experiences championed by athletics at the Division III level aligns with my passion and purpose,” Navarro said.
Read the news release here.
Madison365.com highlights ‘Wisconsin’s 38 Most Influential Native Americans’
In March, Madison365.com put the spotlight on “Wisconsin’s 38 Most Influential Native Americans,” a report that showcased several alumni of UW–Madison’s School of Education.
This is the first list of its kind for Madison365.com, which over the previous five years has recognized Wisconsin’s most influential Black and Latino leaders. “This list represents something that’s never been done,” explains Madison365.com, which is now shining “a statewide spotlight on the dedicated leaders of Wisconsin’s indigenous communities. The people we highlight … are elected leaders, business leaders, community leaders, doing difficult, important work, often in the face of discrimination and literally generations of oppression.
Among those who studied with the School of Education receiving this special recognition are:
- Aaron Bird Bear (master’s degree, Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, 2010)
- Rebecca Comfort (bachelor’s degree, Art Department, 2014)
- Laura Laitinen-Warren (educational specialist certification, Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, 2007)
- David O’Connor (master’s degree, Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, 2013)
Learn more about each of these alumni via this report.
Wills named to Board of Regents in New York
UW–Madison alumna Frances Wills was chosen in March by the New York state legislature to represent the 9th Judicial District on the state Board of Regents.
Wills earned her PhD from the School of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis in 1990.
Retiring in 2019, Wills served in education for more than 50 years. For 16 of those years, she was Briarcliff Manor’s schools chief. She also spent six years as the superintendent of the Putnam Valley school district.
Wills will succeed Judith Johnson, who held the Board of Regents seat from 2015 until her death in October 2019. Regents serve five-year, unpaid terms and work with the board to make statewide education policy.
For Wills, mental health support is crucial to modern education. She says that some schools need trauma-informed classes, and all schools must counter cruel and hateful social media.