Academic Staff Assembly Minutes 05-11-2026
Approved 09-14-26
ACADEMIC STAFF ASSEMBLY MEETING MINUTES
272 Bascom Hall
Monday, May 11, 2026
3:30 to 5:00 p.m.
Provost John Zumbrunnen called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.
Memorial Resolution for Peter Kinsley (ASA #870)
Jenna Alsteen presented the memorial resolution for Peter Kinsley.
Recognition of Academic Staff Excellence Award Winners
Lorena Kemen, co-chair of the Professional Development and Recognition Committee, announced the winners of the 2026 Academic Staff Excellence Awards. The winners are Tianlu Zhang (Chancellor’s Hilldale Award for Excellence in Teaching), Anna Tumarkin (Mary Lucy Clark Distinguished Teaching Award), Donna Cole (Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Service to the University), Paolo Desiati (Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Research: Independent Investigator), Stephen Jordan (Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Research: Critical Research Support), Katy Oksuita (Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Leadership: Individual Unit Level), Joseph Nosek (Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Leadership: School, College, or Larger University Level), Baoli Liu (Martha Casey Award for Dedication to Excellence), Joe Savard (Martha Casey Award for Dedication to Excellence), and Lisa Jansen (Ann Wallace Career Achievement Award).
Guest: Lori Reesor, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
Vice Chancellor Reesor presented an overview of UW–Madison’s Student Affairs office. The unit is organized into four thematic areas: health and well-being; student success and belonging; student advocacy; and student leadership and community engagement. Over the past year, University Housing transitioned to a dual report structure. Under this model, Residence Life reports to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, while all other University Housing departments continue to report to the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration.
First-Generation and Limited-Income Services, established in Spring 2026, serves as a central hub for student connection, support, and success. For more information, visit fgli.wisc.edu.
Vice Chancellor Reesor shared results of the Healthy Minds Survey conducted in Spring 2025. The survey aims to improve the climate around mental health by better understanding students’ needs and the issues that impact them. Despite remaining at elevated levels, the rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation have decreased compared with previous reporting periods. Loneliness was also identified as a critical issue. A summary of the survey report is available at uhs.wisc.edu/data/healthy-minds. There are several resources available to staff for supporting students, including suicide prevention training, Mental Health First Aid, the McBurney Disability Resource Center, the Office of Student Assistance and Support, and the Student of Concern Referral Form (go.wisc.edu/student-of-concern-referral-form).
Student Affairs partnered with the Division of Enrollment Management to administer the Spring 2025 Basic Needs Survey. The Basic Needs Survey Response Working Group reviewed the survey data and made several recommendations. Survey results indicated that high food costs are a common challenge for many students, with 26.5% reporting experiences of food insecurity. The survey also revealed a disconnect between students’ awareness of available resources and their utilization of those resources. To address these findings, the Working Group recommended increased marketing and outreach efforts, improved administrative processes, and the development of a coordinated, campus-wide strategy for basic needs student support. For information on available basic needs student support, visit basicneeds.students.wisc.edu.
Vice Chancellor Reesor also highlighted the positive impacts of the Wisconsin Exchange on student and professional staff development, pointing to initiatives such as the Deliberation Dinners and Discussion Project. For more information, visit wisconsinexchange.wisc.edu.
Automatic Consent Business
The Academic Staff Assembly minutes of Monday, April 13, 2026, were approved.
Academic Staff Assembly Standing Committee Election Results (ASA #871)
Secretary of the Academic Staff Mallory Musolf presented the 2026 Assembly standing committees election results. Aaron Conklin, Katie Grant, and Typhaine Morrison were elected to the Communications Committee. Stephen Colleton, Angela Ramos, and Mondira Saha-Muldowney were elected to the Compensation and Economic Benefits Committee. Chelsea Martinez and Lindsey Stoddard Cameron were elected to the Districting and Representation Committee. Laura Grady, Roger Hartwell, and Taeli Turner were elected to the Mentoring Committee. Daryl Harrison, John Martin, and Sara Rodock were elected to the Nominating Committee. Brittany Elandt, Peggy Sullivan, and Andrew Turner were elected to the Personnel Policies and Procedures Committee. Carly Andrew, Amy Hartman, Emma Reusch, and Yolanda Shelton-Morris were elected to the Professional Development and Recognition Committee. Terms of office are from July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2029.
Reports/Updates
ASEC Chair Alissa Ewer presented the ASEC report. Chair Ewer thanked the Assembly for sharing valuable insights into the current challenges, opportunities, and areas of importance for academic staff. The themes raised will help inform ASEC’s priorities and engagement activities for the coming year.
Academic Staff Professionals Representation Organization (ASPRO) Board President Jenny Dahlberg presented the ASPRO report. In light of the predominance of UW–Madison membership, the ASPRO Board discussed whether its bylaws should be revised to reconsider current limits on campus representation on the board. Jenny encouraged anyone interested in joining ASPRO to contact her directly.
Academic Staff Executive Committee Candidate – for vote (ASA #872)
The Assembly voted to elect Nancy Kujak-Ford to the Academic Staff Executive Committee.
Resolution to Ensure Educational Continuity for Members of the UW–Madison Community Affected by the Violence of Federal Immigration Agents (ASA #869)
District 300 Representative Barret Elward moved approval of ASA Document #869. Motion seconded. Approved.
Provost Report
Provost Zumbrunnen thanked members of the Assembly, including ASEC, for their ongoing contributions to shared governance and offered special recognition to ASEC Chair Ewer and Vice Chair Diane Stojanovich for their leadership.
Renée Wachter, chancellor of the University of Wisconsin–Superior, was appointed interim president of the Universities of Wisconsin, and will serve while a search is conducted for a permanent president. Provost Zumbrunnen is serving on the Presidential Search Committee.
The search for UW–Madison’s next chancellor is underway. Finalists for the vice provost for enrollment management position are expected to visit campus in June.
Remzi Arpaci-Dusseau, professor in the Department of Computer Sciences, was named the founding dean of the College of Computing and Artificial Intelligence.
Eric Wilcots, dean of the College Letters & Science, will assume the role of interim chancellor of UW–Madison on May 17.
Meeting adjourned at 5:02 p.m.
Minutes submitted by Mallory Musolf, secretary of the academic staff