Letters & Science Academic Advising Awards
Students studying chemistry and psychology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison reap the good advice of Gery J. Essenmacher and Keith Kluender, and to recognize their talent and commitment, these two have won the UW–Madison College of Letters and Science 1998 Academic Staff and Faculty Academic Advising Awards.
Chosen for exemplary advising practices, student development, ability to work across structural lines to meet student needs and sustained contributions, the winners were nominated by students, faculty and staff.
Gery J. Essenmacher
General Chemistry Coordinator
Department of Chemistry
Essenmacher’s considerable job duties range from the educational and emotional support of a pool of 5,000 undergraduates every year to office management to working with chemistry students transferring from other colleges to outreach activities and more. In addition, he works closely with the university’s Student Orientation, Advising and Registration program and created the General Chemistry Handbook, a guide to requirements for the major, course descriptions and a suggested course schedule for a four-year undergraduate program, which Essenmacher recently made available on the Internet.
Heather Stenmark met Essenmacher when she changed majors two years ago. “He did everything he could to get my credits transferred from the School of Pharmacy to the College of Letters and Science,” she says. “Despite the problems we encountered, Gery remained positive and helped me work through the situation.” Another student, junior chemistry major Paula Gunawan, found Essenmacher a valuable resource in helping her discover research opportunities, even at other institutions.
In addition to his advising load, Essenmacher also assists with the department’s teaching-assistant training program. Last fall he and colleague Joe March revised the program to emphasize interactive group activities to support an overall curricular reform.
Keith Kluender
Professor of Psychology
With one out of 10 students in the College of Letters and Science majoring in psychology, the department has a need for a vigorous and growing honors program. Between eight and 10 percent of the majors are honors students, which makes Kluender, who serves as the department’s honors coordinator and advisor in addition to teaching the sophomore honors seminar, a busy man.
Lori Holt, now a graduate student, took the seminar six years ago and came away impressed, not only with the course, but with Kluender’s advice about the overall path of her studies.
“I’ve earned my undergraduate degree, began graduate studies and progressed to dissertator status — all under Keith Kluender’s direction,” she says.
On her graduation, Natalie Monarch wrote to thank Kluender for his efforts on her behalf: “You’ve given me good (although often cynical) advice for all aspects of my life,” she wrote.
Kluender also maintains an active research program on speech perception, winning recognition last spring from the National Academy of Sciences for outstanding research by a faculty member under the age of 40.