University of Wisconsin–Madison

Category: School News

School of Education student Benjamin Lebovitz receives campus Graduate Peer Mentor Award

UW–Madison doctoral student Benjamin Lebovitz was selected as a recipient of the Graduate Peer Mentor Award at the 2026 Bucky’s Awards Ceremony on April 12. Lebovitz is a PhD student in the School of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis (ELPA). The Graduate Peer Mentor Award recognizes graduate students who demonstrate strong mentorship …

University Theatre presents Shakespearean rom-com, ‘Much Ado About Nothing’

University Theatre opens “Much Ado About Nothing” this week, bringing William Shakespeare’s sparkling romantic comedy to the stage in a lively, student-driven production. The play centers on Beatrice and Benedick, two strong-willed characters who insist they have no interest in love or marriage — especially not with each other. As their friends scheme to push …

UW–Madison’s Burt pens commentary urging faculty and students to tend their well-being

By Laurel White In a new Teachers College Record commentary, a School of Education faculty member shares his reflections on how to maintain personal well-being while pursuing a successful career in academia. Brian Burt, a professor in the School of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis and director of Wisconsin’s Equity and Inclusion Laboratory (Wei LAB) in …

School of Education alumna Erin Gill wins national honor for dissertation on LGBTQ+ youth in rural areas

An alumna of the UW–Madison School of Education has been awarded the American Educational Research Association (AERA) 2026 Dissertation of the Year Award from the organization’s Rural Education Special Interest Group. Erin Gill, who graduated with her doctoral degree from the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis in 2025, is now a postdoctoral researcher …

UW–Madison’s López voted vice president-elect of AERA’s Division C

UW–Madison’s Francesca López is one of four education researchers voted as division vice presidents-elect of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). López will represent Division C (Learning and Instruction) and will join AERA’s 2027-28 Council following the organization’s 2027 Annual Meeting, serving a three-year term. López is the Jim and Georgia Thompson Distinguished Professor in …

Art in Focus: Q&A with MFA candidate Kate Flake

Throughout the semester, we’re shining a light on the Art Department’s graduating MFA candidates as they present their final thesis exhibitions. These exhibitions are the culmination of years of dedicated study and artistic exploration, showcasing our students’ diverse talents and innovative approaches to art-making. Kate Flake is an interdisciplinary artist working with photography and printmaking …

UW–Madison School of Education ranked No. 1 by U.S. News for third straight year

For the third consecutive year, UW–Madison is home to the top-ranked school of education in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report’s Best Education Graduate Schools rankings published on Tuesday. In addition to the overall ranking, 12 graduate programs housed within the UW–Madison School of Education were also highly rated by U.S. News in its …

UW–Madison alumna wins Dissertation of the Year Award

UW–Madison alumna Nicole Contreras-Garcia is the recipient of the Richard M. Romano Dissertation of the Year Award from the Council for the Study of Community Colleges (CSCC). Contreras-Garcia earned her PhD from the School of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis in 2025 and is now an assistant professor of higher education leadership …

UW–Madison launches new teacher licensing pathway in dance education

By Kari Dickinson Beginning in fall 2026, the UW–Madison Dance Department will launch a new Dance Education minor designed to expand access to dance in Wisconsin’s public schools and help rebuild a statewide pipeline of licensed dance teachers. When paired with an existing teacher education major, the minor provides a pathway to teacher licensure in dance. …

UW–Madison alumna receives AERA dissertation honor

UW–Madison alumna Bethany Sansing-Helton has received an honorable mention for the 2025–26 American Educational Research Association (AERA) Division J Dissertation of the Year Award. Sansing-Helton earned her PhD in 2025 from the School of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis. Her dissertation, “Toward a New Theoretical and Empirical Understanding of Faculty Engagement with …