DEAN’S NOTE

Happy end of semester, everyone! I hope to see lots and lots of you at Winter Commencement this Saturday, December 14, at 10 am and at the COLS holiday open house later that day. Also please take note of the guidelines for “Operation Conservation,” which is an energy conservation measure to turn down the heating at times and in spaces where there will be little occupancy over the holiday break. The linked file contains information regarding which buildings are being turned down and to what temperature. Please reach out to our office if you are in need of alternate workspace in January. As for the dean’s office, we are taking a “wait and see” approach. Swart Hall, where we are located, is being turned down to 62 degrees. Some of us will be remote part or all of the time. And others of us may just break out the Wisconsin winter wardrobe and bundle up. As always, we are all available via email and Teams.

DEPARTMENT UPDATES

• Jane Purse-Wiedenhoeft (Theatre) has been named a 2025 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Gold Medallion Award for Region 3. The Medallion honors individuals or organizations that have made extraordinary contributions to the teaching and producing of theatre and who have  significantly dedicated their time, artistry and enthusiasm to the development of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. Most importantly, recipients have demonstrated a strong commitment to the values and goals of KCACTF and to excellence in educational theatre. It is the most prestigious regional award given by KCACTF and is considered one the great honors in theatre education. She will be recognized as one of two winners in Madison in January.

FACULTY RESEARCH

• Margaret Huettl (Indigenous Studies/History) has published Sandoz and the Battle of the Little Bighorn (Sandoz Studies, Volume 2), coedited with Renee Laegreid and Leisl Carr Childers (University of Nebraska Press).