Alumni Accomplishments Pamela Harris (‘12, PhD Mathematical Sciences) was promoted to associate professor with tenure at Williams College in Massachusetts. The Board of Trustees particularly noted Harris’ outstanding mentorship of students, especially firstgeneration students and students of color. Harris is the recipient of the 2019 Henry L. Alder award from the Mathematical Association Pamela Harris of America and the 2019 Early Career Mentor Award from the Council on Undergraduate Research. She has completed prolific research and has many other professional accomplishments.
Brie Schettle (’16, BA Art History and BFA Painting) presented her art at the Spring Resident Show & Tell in January. Schettle is a resident at the Sitka Center for Art and Ecology in Lincoln City, Oregon. https://bit.ly/2RHmQNT
Christopher Medina-Kirchner (’14, BA Psychology) is now a researcher at Columbia University. Years ago, he was under arrest for peddling drugs. Medina-Kirchner was featured in The Verge for his current research on MDMA. The article mentions his time at UWM as a McNair Scholar and his mentor, Krista Lisdahl (Psychology). https://bit.ly/37kUEGW
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Sam Rogers (’19, BA Political Science) was selected as the Coalitions Director to lead Concerned Veterans for America - Wisconsin. He recently kicked off a $1.5 million campaign to leverage non-partisan alliances of veterans, family members, and communities to bring the troops home from Afghanistan and End Endless Wars. While at UWM, he served as President of the Student Veterans of America, served as the Veteran Advocacy Senator in the Student Association, and worked at the Military and Veterans Resource Center.
Laurels and Accolades Jen Gutzman (Biological Sciences) was awarded a $152,000 grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. The monies, to be distributed over two years, will support her project titled, “Developmental models to determine the molecular mechanisms that cause MYH9-related diseases.” The research will generate novel vertebrate developmental model using zebrafish and CRISPR/Cas genome editing to identify how human mutations in the MYH9 gene cause the five clinical disorders that are classified as MYH9related diseases. Lisa Silverman (Jewish Studies and History) was elected to a three-year term on the Board of Directors of the Association of Jewish Studies. Her term began in December 2019 and will run through 2022. The Association of Jewish Studies is the leading learned society in the field. https://bit.ly/2TL7CKa 14 • IN FOCUS • February, 2020
Derrick Harriell
Derrick Harriell (’11, PhD English) won an Edgar Award, a major national award for crime and mystery writers. The honor, the Robert L. Fish Memoriam Award, is presented by the Mystery Writers of America and was given for his short story “There’s a Riot Goin’ On (Sherman Park)” in the anthology Milwaukee Noir published by Akashic Books. http://theedgars.com/ awards
W. Hobart Davies (Psychology) was selected to receive the Society of Pediatric Psychology’s Michael C. Roberts Award for Outstanding Mentorship. Davies was nominated by six former students, who reflected on his positive and lasting impact on their careers and the field. He will be honored at the Society of Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference (SPPAC) in the spring.
Hobey Davies
Kimberly Blaeser (English) and Val Klump (Freshwater Sciences) were selected as 2020 Academy Fellows by the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters. Blaeser will be honored at an April 17 celebration for her substantial contributions to the cultural life and welfare of Wisconsin and its citizens. https://bit.ly/2sSsFj8
