Seven faculty and staff honored at annual Blugold Breakfast

The 2025 excellence awards were presented to:

• Dr. Kyle Whipple, associate professor of education studies.
• Jen Zwicky, instructor in the certificate program for arts administration and department assistant in music and theatre arts.
• Dr. Lisa Schiller, professor of nursing.
• Dr. Chia-Yu Hsu, professor of music composition.
• Rob Nowlan, custodian in Facilities Management.
• Alia Carroll, outreach program manager for the Small Business Development Center.
• Dr. Carolyn Otto, professor of mathematics.

Dr. Kyle Whipple, associate professor of education studies, received the Excellence in Advising Award.

Whipple began teaching at UW-Eau Claire in fall 2018. A core duty for Whipple in the education studies department has been to advise and mentor preservice teachers, averaging an advising load of 25 elementary education students each year.

In 2019, Whipple established the LGBTQ+ Teacher Mentors program to help LGBTQ+ preservice teachers transition to in-service teachers by bringing the two groups together. The groups meet monthly during the school year, either in person or via Zoom. In 2024, Whipple created a branch of this mentor program in the Twin Cities, between preservice teachers in programs at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and in-service teachers in the metro area who are graduates of the education programs at UW-Eau Claire.

The Excellence in Advising Award is student-nominated, and the compilation of submitted letters on his behalf read, in part:

“As the advisor for all current student teachers through our education seminar class, Dr. Whipple provides invaluable guidance on job applications, interviews and professional growth, fostering meaningful conversations about our future as educators. Entering the world of education can be overwhelming and complex, but Dr. Whipple does everything in his power to simplify the journey, ignite our passion for teaching and guide us confidently into the next chapter of our professional lives.”

Jen Zwicky, instructor in the arts administration certificate program and department assistant in music and theatre arts, received the Academic and Professional Academic Staff Excellence in Performance Award.

Zwicky began teaching in 2016 as a lecturer in the arts administration certificate program through the music and theatre arts department, and in 2021, she also became the department assistant. Equipped with undergraduate and graduate degrees in theatre arts, Zwicky has been well positioned to carry out these dual roles with skill and professionalism.

Zwicky is recognized throughout the halls of the Haas Fine Arts Center as a steady presence is a bustling building, known for her ability to communicate effectively and work collaboratively with colleagues, students and community members.

Dr. Nicholas Phillips, chair of the music and theatre arts department, highlights both Zwicky's knowledge of the arts and her essential contributions to growing a strong certificate program that gains student interest thanks to her dedication.

“The arts administration certificate has become a very popular option for students, with enrollment consistently around 25 students,” Phillips says.

“Jen Zwicky is an extremely important part of the program’s success. She teaches the two core courses and administers the internship experience during the academic year. She often facilitates internships over the summer as well, allowing students to maintain their progress toward graduation. Her deep knowledge of arts administration and her clear passion for student success is much appreciated by colleagues and students alike. We literally would not have this certificate without Jen.”

Dr. Lisa Schiller, professor of nursing, received the Faculty Excellence in Service Award.

Schiller joined the nursing faculty at UW-Eau Claire in 2009 and now serves as co-chair of the department and director of graduate programs in the College of Nursing.

Schiller is a longtime advocate of public health and has been a volunteer in nursing practice and advisory roles in such organizations as the Chippewa Valley Free Clinic, the Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center, the International Society for Agricultural Health and Safety Committee and the Midwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety.

Schiller has been an active member of the greater campus community, serving over a decade on the University Senate, and also served on the Graduate Curriculum and Admissions Committee, the Assessment and Evaluation Committee, and most recently, the Nurse Educator Retention and Recruitment Task Force.

One of Schiller’s most noteworthy contributions and visionary leadership roles has been her development of the Compañeros en Salud y Seguridad/Partners in Health and Safety Program — a domestic intercultural immersion experience for undergraduate nursing students. The program offers hands-on experience meeting the healthcare needs of Latinx immigrant dairy farm workers in rural west-central Wisconsin.

Dr. Jeanette Olsen, professor of nursing, has collaborated on this program and evaluated the impact on students and alumni.

“Our study showed that students in the program gained lasting cultural awareness and sensitivity that translated into culturally responsive clinical practices post-graduation,” Olsen says. “The program’s success shows that strategic educational service can profoundly influence both student development and community health outcomes, and underscores Lisa Schiller’s far-reaching impact in service, education and health equity.”

Dr. Chia-Yu Hsu, professor of music composition, received the Faculty Excellence in Scholarship Award.

Hsu joined the UW-Eau Claire faculty in 2012 to teach composition and music theory. An internationally trained, respected and honored composer with over 50 commissioned major works to her name, Hsu is globally renowned for her compositions, performances and recordings — the true measure of scholarship in composition. 

Hsu’s award-winning music is regularly performed and commissioned by acclaimed ensembles across the U.S. and abroad, and in 2021 her works earned first prize at the Fem Festival in Italy, a global competition celebrating women composers.

A recent collaboration commissioned by the San Francisco Choral Society gave Hsu the chance to put words to her music, lyrics she says were “masterfully written” by UW-Eau Claire colleague B.J. Hollars, professor of English. Titled “To a Lost Year,” the piece is a musical reflection on the shared experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hollars says he still relishes the memories of that important collaboration. 

“Chia-Yu is beloved and admired by her peers throughout the country,” Hollars says. “She doesn’t just compose music; she invites others in — opening the door wide so that we might all come to know the professional world that she inhabits.”

Rob Nowlan, custodian in Facilities Management, received the University Staff Excellence in Performance Award.

Nowlan began working at UW-Eau Claire as a custodian for the fourth floor of Phillips Hall. His dedication, professionalism and attention to detail have earned him not just the admiration of students, faculty and staff, but also a rightful place in the eyes of the chemistry and biochemistry department as a “valued member of the team.”

Nowlan is known for going above and beyond in the execution of his official duties. He reaches out with novel ideas about organization, carefully plans his work to minimize disruption to the learning environment, and serves as a compassionate ear to students, according to Dr. Jennifer Dahl, professor and chair of the chemistry and biochemistry department.

“Rob provides amazing social support to our students,” Dahl says. “He knows most of their names, chats with them routinely, and is especially keen to alert us when he observes a student in distress.”

This sentiment is echoed by Dr. James Phillips, former department chair in chemistry and biochemistry.

“Rob is much more than the person who cleans and maintains our facilities incredibly well,” Phillips says. “He is a supportive colleague to the faculty and staff, he is a friendly and encouraging presence for our students. Overall, Rob is a highly valued team member.”

Alia Carroll, outreach program manager for the Small Business Development Center, received the Excellence in Community Building Award.

Carroll joined the Small Business Development Center in 2018. As outreach program manager, Carroll helped the center director, Harlie Juedes, spearhead the establishment of the SBDC Capital Access Clinic, which launched in 2021. This initiative has since served more than 1,900 small businesses at no cost, resulting in over $127 million of capital infusion into the statewide economy. It also created an unparalleled intern experience for more than 20 UW-Eau Claire students so far.

Carroll also prioritized fostering connections between the SBDC CAC and economic development organizations across the state to best serve shared clients. A key collaborator includes the Construction Business Group, aimed at providing equity and opportunity for socially and economically disadvantaged individuals working in the Wisconsin Department of Transportation road construction industry. Carroll’s leadership brought additional partnerships to the CAC, now the primary business technical assistance provider for indigenous small businesses participating in the Oneida Nation's State Small Business Credit Initiative program.

Joint nomination materials from campus colleagues read, in part, “Alia’s tireless dedication to supporting the success of diverse businesses shows her commitment to a strong business community. She actively participates in and develops programs to bring about a more inclusive environment for entrepreneurs in Wisconsin.”

In addition to her exceptional client support record, Carroll is seen as an invaluable asset to her coworkers and the broader team.

“One of Alia’s outstanding traits is her ability to provide colleagues with constructive feedback, direction and mentoring,” says Nikki Andrews, executive director of enrollment management. “In addition, she actively explores training opportunities that promote diversity awareness and other ways to make everyone feel valued.”

Dr. Carolyn Otto, professor of mathematics, was UW-Eau Claire’s nominee for the UW System Board of Regents Excellence in Teaching Award.

Otto began her Blugold career in 2011, teaching mathematics. She has also served as interim director of the Robert E. McNair program and as an online course and curriculum developer for UW-Extension. Otto spent three summers teaching an intensive algebra program for graduate students in mathematics at Brown University, Oxford University and the University of Minnesota. 

Otto’s formal teaching philosophy states that the four central goals of her career have been:

• To inspire a love for mathematics.
• To develop and implement instruction strategies that meet the diverse needs of students.
• To advance students' critical thinking, logical reasoning and analytical skills.
• To foster a deep understanding and appreciation of math.

One former student, now pursuing a Ph.D. in mathematics, wrote that “Dr. Otto’s classroom is one where students feel challenged and supported. Her influence on my path to graduate school was instrumental — she is the type of educator one encounters only once in a lifetime.”

Dr. Chris Ahrendt, professor of mathematics, says that Otto’s contributions in the department and to the university are phenomenal, and that she is “an exemplar of what it means to be a truly excellent teacher, a compassionate mentor, an impactful researcher and a dependable colleague.”