Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week

Sehar Virani

Sehar’s dedication and enthusiasm keep collaborations and research projects about health disparities and global oncology moving forward. “The [research] environment [at UW–Madison] supports both independence and collaboration, and the Master of Science in Clinical Investigation program provides the formal training I need to build a career in academic surgical oncology,” Sehar said.

Jessamine Kuehn

When Jessamine couldn’t find an existing program to participate in as a graduate student mentor, she created one. “I think the most important contributions I made towards this program’s success were taking initiative when I saw an unrealized opportunity, and connecting mentors and mentees based on career areas as closely as possible,” Jessamine said.

Anna Moyer

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.

Savannah Finley

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.

Pablo De Caso Udave

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.

Paloma Frautschi

Paloma overcame many obstacles to get to graduate school. As a PhD student, she stands out for her commitment and drive. “The fact that this opportunity existed, and that I found a mentor who not only was interested in my research topic, but also who encouraged me to become a stronger scientist, and continues to do so, has made it easy to want to excel here,” Paloma said.

Beatrice Severance

Beatrice volunteers as a coach for the Wisconsin Science Olympiad, where she meets with middle school students to teach them about genetics while fostering their interest in science, technology, engineering, and math. “The students are so smart that it inspires me to continue fostering this interest in STEM for the next generation,” Beatrice said.

Zach Lewis

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.

Zach Holden

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.

Marie-Thérèse Jasperson

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.

Ryan Martinez

Ryan has an impressive list of accomplishments as a fifth year PhD student, including a patent and multiple prestigious fellowships. What’s driven him to do all this? “For the most part, I think it’s just because I love what I do,” Ryan said.

Joel Beier

Joel’s experiences as a high school science teacher motivated him to pursue a graduate degree. “I felt dissatisfied with my understanding of how people learn and wanted to understand how pedagogical practice can be guided by mechanisms that explain learning processes,” Joel said.

Catherine Pettinger

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.”

Alia Jones

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.

Andrew Wilcox

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.

Rachel Tan and Lisa de Sousa Dias

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.

Campus-wide Teaching Assistant Awards

In order to recognize excellence on the part of TAs across campus, each year the Graduate School, with administrative and financial assistance from the College of Letters & Science and the Morgridge Center, sponsors awards for exceptional teaching by graduate students.

TA Awards Ceremony:
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
3 – 5 pm
By invitation only.

Meet the 2025-26 Teaching Assistant Award winners.

Graduate Peer Mentor Awards

The Graduate Student Peer Mentor Awards recognize graduate students who exhibit stellar mentorship qualities. These graduate students are selected based on their ability to mentor undergraduate and/or graduate students, on or off campus.

Bucky Awards Ceremony:
Sunday, April 12, 2026
6 – 8:30 pm
Varsity Hall, Union South

Meet the 2026 Peer Mentor Award winners.

Faculty Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Mentoring

This award for faculty recognizes those who demonstrate exceptional commitment to supporting the growth, success, and well-being of UW–Madison graduate students. It highlights faculty whose engagement goes beyond standard advising expectations and reflects exemplary, evidence-based mentoring practices.

Faculty Awards for Excellence in Graduate Student Mentoring
Monday, April 13, 2026
3 – 5 pm
Tripp Commons, Memorial Union

Meet the 2026 Faculty Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Mentoring winners.