Danielle Benden (center), senior academic curator, shows undergraduates Danielle Zwang (right) and Jacquelyn Bonavia (left) a collection of stone artifacts that are housed in the in the Department of Anthropology. Benden is a recipient of a 2013 Academic Staff Award. (Photos by Bryce Richter, University Communications)
The 2013 Academic Staff Excellence Awards honor staff members representing a broad spectrum of fields and duties at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Ten individuals have been selected to receive recognition for their achievements in leadership, public service, research, teaching and overall excellence. Two recipients are from the College of Letters & Science.
This year, a new award was created, thanks to a donation from Margaret Harrigan, senior policy and planning analyst in the university’s Office of Academic Planning and Institutional Research. After Harrigan received a 2011 Champion Award, presented by the Women’s Philanthropy Council of the University of Wisconsin Foundation, she designated the university’s academic staff as the recipient of the accompanying $5,000 grant. The new award honors excellence in research in the arts, humanities and social sciences.
The Academic Staff Assembly honored the recipients on April 8; a reception with Interim Chancellor David Ward is scheduled for April 23.
“Whether contributing to research, teaching, outreach or administration, each member of our academic staff plays a critical role in the university’s success,” says Ward. “I offer my sincere thanks and congratulations to the recipients of these awards. Their dedication and insight facilitates the collaborative innovation for which UW-Madison is known.”
The two L&S recipients are:
Danielle Benden, senior academic curator, Department of Anthropology
Award for Excellence in Research in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
Benden
“Danielle has far exceeded the high expectations we had when we hired her as UW-Madison’s first permanent anthropology curator,” says Sissel Schroeder, professor of anthropology. “Most importantly, she is making substantial contributions to the principles that guide the management of archaeological collections at the national level, and has established a cutting-edge research trajectory on the archaeology of Wisconsin.”
A tireless advocate for collections-based research, Benden is an outstanding teacher, trainer and mentor for undergraduates, demanding the highest standards from herself and her students. She describes Native American artifacts as “living” objects, clearly conveying the care and consideration these materials deserve.
“I thoroughly enjoy the thrill of archaeological discovery in the field and lab,” says Benden. “It’s rewarding to put the archaeological puzzle together, explore how material culture informs about human behavior, share these discoveries with my students, engage them in meaningful dialogue and impart a sense of ethical conduct in caring for artifacts once unearthed.”
Ilia Guzei, director, Molecular Structure Laboratory, Department of Chemistry
Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Research: Critical Research Support
Guzei
“Ilia trains and advises X-ray crystallography facility users on projects, manuscript preparation, structural analysis and material crystallization,” says James Weisshaar, professor and chair of chemistry. “His enthusiasm has been a tremendous asset to the department, the university and the crystallographic community at large.”
Each year, Guzei’s lab analyzes more than 300 samples from research groups within the department and from outside collaborators. He has also spearheaded proposals that have significantly expanded the facility’s experimental capabilities and contributed valuable data interpretation for publications and grant proposals.
Guzei is also one of the world’s top crystallography experts, moderating an international crystallography forum and teaching courses in South Africa and Mexico.
“The chemistry department is an exceptionally collegial place,” says Guzei. “Collaborative projects are particularly rewarding, thanks to the diversity and breadth of ongoing research. Association with motivated scientists makes everyone perform at the highest level.”
To see the full list of award recipients, click here.