SJMC Weekly Announcements

Mike was awarded the 2024 Alliant Energy James R. Underkofler Excellence in Teaching Award from the Universities of Wisconsin. The award recognizes extraordinary teachers in UW schools that are within Alliant Energy's service area. UW-Madison put forward Mike as its nominee. From the UW: "The award pays tribute to your dedication as a teacher and to your ability to communicate your subject matter effectively and inspire in your students an enthusiasm for learning." An award ceremony will take place in October. Congratulations, Mike!

Murv and Nathan's (BA'21) project for PBS Wisconsin, "Wisconsin in Black and White," was honored with a regional Edward R. Murrow award for Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The project was a four-episode special focusing on the Nehemiah Center for Urban Leadership's "Justified Anger: Black History for a New Day curriculum which aims to "understand how the African-American experience has shaped the world we all live in, and how allies can find roles supporting racial justice today.

Nathan received an advance contract for his next book with University of Chicago Press. The book, titled "How to make American democracy: Historic victories & paths to a democratic future," will provide an interdisciplinary, theory-driven synthesis of past successes and failures of U.S. democratization around equal representation and rights as well as lay out goals, theories of change and roadmaps for U.S. democratization in the future. Nathan expects to finish writing the book in Summer 2025, with a Fall 2026 publication date. Congratulations, Nathan!

Jing and Sijia were selected to participate in the 2024 Wisconsin Idea Seminar, a five-day study experience for faculty and staff to learn about the social cultural contexts that shape the lives of many of our Wisconsin students and to see the Wisconsin Idea in action. the seminar was May 13–17 and below are photos from their trip across the state.

Nathan contributed to a new report organized by Daniel Kreiss & UNC's CITAP titled "Preventing Tech-Fueled Political Violence: What online platforms can do to ensure they do not contribute to election-related violence." In response to far right extremist militias organizing on Facebook ahead of the 2024 presidential election, the report provides realistic and effective recommendations to platforms on steps they can take to ensure their products do not contribute to the potential for political violence, particularly in the lead-up and aftermath of the U.S. general election in November, but with implications for states around the world.