School of Education alumnus David J. O’Connor is a recipient of a 2022 Forward Award from the Wisconsin Alumni Association this past August.
The Forward Award acknowledges rising stars in various fields who exemplify the Wisconsin Idea through an emphasis on service, discovery, and progress. Young alumni within 15 years of graduation who have demonstrated exceptional early-career achievement and a positive impact on their professions or communities are eligible for this award.
O’Connor holds a bachelor’s degree in history from UW–Madison, and earned his master’s degree from the School of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis. In his work as the American Indian Studies consultant with the Department of Public Instruction, O’Connor trains educators about how to infuse their lessons with knowledge about First Nations’ histories, treaties, sovereignty, languages, and cultures.
“I want people to understand that as Indigenous people, as Native people, we have shaped the state long before the state was even a thought,” he says. “And more importantly, we’ll shape Wisconsin tomorrow.”
Working with various state partners — including the UW–Madison School of Education — O’Connor was instrumental in creating WisconsinFirstNations.org, a collection of resources about the 12 American Indian Nations present in the state. Last year, the National Indian Education Association named O’Connor Educator of the Year. He’s also received the association’s Leo Reano Memorial Award, as well as numerous other honors from local, state, and national organizations.
Read more about O’Connor’s work and accomplishments in this story at uwalumni.com.