Universities of Wisconsin 2026-2027 Wisconsin Teaching Fellows & Scholars announced

MADISON, Wis.-Today, the Universities of Wisconsin announced the selection of the 2026-2027 Wisconsin Teaching Fellows & Scholars.

The upcoming Wisconsin Teaching Fellows and Scholars (WTFS) participants include 23 faculty and instructors from 12 universities, nominated by Provosts for their excellence in teaching and learning.

The WTFS program provides UW faculty and teaching academic staff a unique opportunity to collaborate with other exceptional teachers from across the Universities of Wisconsin and from various disciplines. In addition to discussing effective evidence-based teaching and learning approaches, participants are guided through systematic research focused on improving student learning through a Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) project. The yearlong program begins in May and will culminate with a research presentation in Spring 2027.

Wisconsin Teaching Fellows & Scholars is one of three programs offered by the Universities of Wisconsin's Office of Professional and Instructional Development (OPID). OPID supports the UWs' 13 Centers for Teaching and Learning in fostering a culture of teaching and learning excellence in Wisconsin. Together they offer professional development programs that seek to enhance student learning in face-to-face, online, and blended learning environments.

The Wisconsin Teaching Fellows & Scholars program is directed by two faculty leaders, Sarah Riforgiate, a communications professor at UW-Milwaukee, and Georjeanna Wilson-Doenges, a psychology professor at UW-Green Bay.

The 2026-2027 Wisconsin Teaching Fellows & Scholars, who each will receive a $4,000 stipend from their university, are:

• Alexander Bozzo. UW-Stout, English, Philosophy, and Communication Studies
• Anjuli Joshi Brekke, UW-Parkside, Communication
• Xinghui Chen, UW-Platteville, Marketing
• Jennifer Collins, UW-Stevens Point, Political Science
• Meg Chrusciel, UW-Superior, Legal Studies and Criminal Justice
• Natalie Cummings, UW-Stevens Point, Voice
• Anita Davelos, UW-La Crosse, Biology
• Ashley Edwards, UW-La Crosse, Communication Studies
• Benjamin Fine, UW-Eau Claire, Computer Science
• McLean Gunderson, UW-Madison, Comparative Biosciences
• Edina Haslauer, UW-Platteville, Teacher Education
• Nick Hwang, UW-Whitewater, Communication
• Dani Kvam, UW-Oshkosh, Communication Studies
• Aubri McDonald, UW-Parkside, Criminal Justice
• Md Tarique Newaz, UW-Green Bay, Marketing
• Elizabeth Novotny, UW-Whitewater, Literature, Writing and Film
• Ismaila Odogba, UW-Stevens Point, Geography
• Rhonda Petree, UW-River Falls, English
• Gregory Ruegsegger, UW-River Falls, Health and Human Performance
• Michael Weinstein-Reiman, UW-Madison, Music Theory
• Rojoba Yasmin, UW-Green Bay, Electrical Engineering
• Juan Zhang, UW-Eau Claire, Marketing & Supply Chain Management
• Yuxuan Zhao, UW-Stout, Psychology

About the Universities of Wisconsin

The Universities of Wisconsin serve more than 164,600 students. Awarding more than 37,000 degrees annually, these 13 public universities are Wisconsin's talent pipeline, putting graduates in position to increase their earning power, contribute to their communities, and make Wisconsin a better place to live. Nearly 90 percent of in-state Universities of Wisconsin graduates stay in the state five years after earning a degree. The universities provide a 23:1 return on state investment. The Universities of Wisconsin also contribute to the richness of Wisconsin's culture and economy with groundbreaking research, new companies and patents, and boundless creative intellectual energy. Learn more at wisconsin.edu .