L&S News

Norman C. Craig Professor of Chemistry Helen E. Blackwell and John D. MacArthur Professor and Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor of Mathematics Jordan Ellenberg have been elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences national honorary society and research center.

Five receive L&S Academic Staff Career Award honors in three categories: Early Career, Mid-Career, and the Judith Craig Distinguished Service Award.

Awards honor faculty and staff who have demonstrated exemplary performance both in terms of their positive impact on students and through distinctive contributions to their department, unit, and/or the College of Letters & Science.

The Dean of the College of Letters & Science honors outstanding instructional academic staff for their excellence in teaching and mentoring undergraduate students.

The University Staff Excellence Awards honor staff members for their excellence in effectiveness, innovation, creativity, originality, leadership, climate, and service to the university.

Research mentorship opportunities are some of the ‘most important learning experiences’ for students in their undergraduate careers. These relationships through Honors in the Major or programs like Undergraduate Research Scholars are beneficial in multifaceted ways for both students early in their careers and for their faculty mentors.

Congratulations to L&S faculty Kathy Cramer, Erika Marín-Spiotta, Jenny Saffran and Dan Vimont for receiving the 2026 Faculty Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Mentoring.

Ilias Diakonikolas Sheldon B. Lubar Professor of Computer Sciences, Randall Goldsmith, Professor of Chemistry and Claire Wendland, Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor of Anthropology were awarded 2026 Guggenheim Fellowships.

Physics Prof. Sau Lan Wu announced her retirement effective January 1, 2026. One of the first two women on the physics faculty when she joined in 1977, her nearly 50-year career stands as one of the most consequential in modern experimental particle physics.