Featured Students

As the Political Science Department’s Teaching Assistant (TA) mentors, Rachel Tan and Lisa de Sousa Dias bring incredible passion and dedication to the work of teaching. Between them, they have taught an estimated 700 students, mentored dozens of Political Science TAs, and built a powerful and lasting friendship. “Before graduate school, a professor and mentor once told me that it would be my peers who would shape my experience most profoundly, and that has stayed with me,” Rachel said.

Before starting her PhD at UW–Madison, Thérèse had a long career as a Hmong language consultant for school districts with Hmong bilingual education programs, while also starting a family and raising children. That experience is vital to her work as a scholar and researcher who can connect the dots between theory and practice. “I think it was a blessing in disguise that I took the time to raise my children, but also utilize that time for me to really grow and to develop this really strong connection with Hmong literacy,” Thérèse said.

After earning his undergraduate degree at UW–Madison, Andrew stayed to pursue a master’s in bacteriology. In addition to his master’s research, he works at the Food Research Institute to help prepare articles for journal publication. “I really value the community of scientists in the Bacteriology department,” Andrew said.

Pablo is the glue that holds the Cabrera research lab in Animal and Dairy Sciences together, whether it’s informing lab mates about important events, sharing growth opportunities, or even remembering birthdays. “I aim to give back this sense of community that I experienced when I first arrived at Madison,” Pablo said.

Alia wants everyone to read more books for fun. She loves libraries and museums, and helps sustain spaces like these through her work as a children’s librarian. “I am encouraged by the joy, wonder, and learning that happens in these spaces,” Alia said.

Savannah says yes to opportunities on a campus brimming with them. In her five years as a PhD student, she’s built a community of support by attending events, volunteering, and making space for others to find belonging on campus. “I can show up so people will think, ‘Oh, I’m a first-gen female in engineering too.’ We can bond over that,” Savannah said.

Zach’s research and outreach explore how community engagement with music can empower people to develop agency in a collective musical environment. He said this community-engaged work feels like it makes the world a better place. “I’ve really found what I think I might do for the rest of my life, here,” Zach said.

To Catherine, UW–Madison is a place of opportunity. “If there is something you want to see, do, or experience in graduate school, you can,” Catherine said. “Whether that is organizing an entire event so you can compare and contrast career opportunities or to try sailing with Hoofers, you can try almost anything here.”

Zach Lewis created the ACORNS program (Activities for Community OutReach in STEM) to build partnerships between STEM departments at UW–Madison and community centers throughout Dane County. “There are graduate students with a wealth of knowledge who are eager to share their enthusiasm for their field just blocks away from children with intense curiosity about the world around them,” Zach said.

Anna plays a huge role in making graduate school more fun in her department, coming up with a Lab Olympics with games like pin the flagella on the bacteria. Her vision was to create a safe environment where graduate students could connect and be silly. “I believe that collectively, we — academia as a whole — take life too seriously,” Anna said.