In this issue of Learning Connections, we are celebrating the beginning of an exciting new era for our School of Education: the tenure of our 10th dean, Marcelle Haddix. Since Dean Haddix joined the School in August, it has been a pleasure getting to know her and supporting her introduction to our community. From her first week on the job, which included an overnight trip to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, to highlight UW–Madison’s impact across the state (and a sunrise TV interview about the Teacher Pledge!), Dean Haddix has embraced exploring and celebrating what makes our School so special and where we’re headed in the future. It has been exciting to see her commitment to building upon the School’s excellence, impact, and sense of community.
The Q&A with Dean Haddix featured in this issue (page 4) offers some insight into those commitments — that we will continue to highlight and share more about in the days, weeks, and years to come. We also hope you enjoy learning about her Wisconsin roots and, as a lifelong book lover and leading literacy scholar, some of her favorite reads (page 7).
This issue also offers a window into “Art in Action” — spotlighting the innovation and creativity of our Art Department, where faculty member Darcy Padilla is teaching students how to recognize and craft deeply impactful photos (page 14) and where students across disciplines are showing us what the next generation of industry-leading artists has in store (page 12). We also get a look at one of our notable Art Department alumni — nationally renowned font designer David Berlow, whose work you have likely encountered in daily life, from Rolling Stone magazine to The New York Times Magazine, Apple computers, Netflix, and beyond (page 8).
As you will read, the artists we highlight in this issue speak of how their work grapples with some of the biggest questions facing society and the human experience. Such problemsolving and exploration is a calling for many here in our School, across the arts, health, and education. You’ll also see this in the lifelong passion of one of our exceptional former Department of Kinesiology faculty members, Betty Roberts (page 19). Roberts’ work offered (literally) gamechanging insights to athletes as her research ushered in new ways of approaching hockey slap shots, football f ield goal kicks, and more.
Learning Connections is all about highlighting what connects us across our incredible, wide-ranging School: our commitment to learning, to growing, and to making a difference. As we enter a new year, we hope this issue connects you to those commitments, more than ever.