WC Wisconsin News

Six faculty members at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls have received awards for research, professional development, and educational innovation. The awards were funded by contributions from university alumni and were presented during the university’s opening meeting on August 25.

The Paul B. and Robert Dykstra Faculty Excellence Award supports faculty research, creative, and scholarly activity. This endowment was created by Paul B. Dykstra, a 1983 graduate and former president and CEO of Viad, and his father Robert Dykstra, a 1957 graduate who served as a faculty member at the University of Minnesota for 33 years. Both are recipients of UWRF’s Distinguished Alumni Award. The award is open to tenured or tenure-track faculty involved in or proposing research projects. This year’s recipients are Shawyn Domyancich-Lee, associate professor of social work, and Brooke Krejci, assistant professor of mathematics.

The Keith Wurtz Award for Teaching Excellence recognizes innovative teaching approaches among tenured or tenure-track faculty. Keith Wurtz, a class of 1941 alumnus, established this endowment to acknowledge outstanding teaching at UWRF. The 2025 recipients are Hannah Freeman, assistant professor of art; Bob Zhiwei Zeng, associate professor of agriculture engineering technology; and Blair Troudt, assistant professor of chemistry and biotechnology.

The Manley Olson Instructional Academic Staff Professional Development Award provides resources for professional development among instructional academic staff. Manley E. Olson graduated from UWRF in 1959 and spent over four decades working in education. This year’s recipient is Rhonda Petree, lecturer of English and teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL).

Chancellor Maria Gallo stated: "These awards highlight our commitment to supporting faculty who drive innovation in research and teaching." She added that alumni support plays an important role in advancing the university's mission.