Provost's Update: Friday, May 1, 2026

Office of the Provost

Good afternoon, colleagues. Here is this week’s update from Academic Affairs.

This is my final update as provost. I want to express my appreciation for the great work happening across the UWM community. Our 2030 commitments are an ambitious framework focused on student success, research excellence, community partnership, and institutional resilience. These commitments emphasize expanding access, improving retention and graduation pathways, and ensuring that every student can see a clear, supported route to opportunity. They build on UWM’s longstanding strengths as a top-tier urban research institution, where students engage in hands-on learning, cutting-edge discovery, and real-world problem-solving from day one.

I appreciate the faculty and staff who work daily to ensure that all of our academic programs are not only academically strong but also relevant and accessible. UWM continues to invest in high-demand academic programs, interdisciplinary partnerships, and innovative teaching models that reflect the evolving needs of students and employers alike. As I reflect on my time at UWM, we are defined not just by what we offer, but by who we serve: a diverse, driven student body and a region that depends on the institution's success. The unique combination of access and excellence is special and one of UWM’s greatest strengths. I am grateful for the time I have been able to be part of this community and to serve in this role.

Correction: Prof. Sam Helwany, PI, and Prof. Hani Titi, Co-PI (Civil and Environmental Engineering), were recently awarded funding totaling $300,000 through the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s Wisconsin Highway Research Program. The research proposal involves monitoring long-term changes in Mechanically Stabilized Earth walls.

The UWM Honors College would like to congratulate Dr. Hilary Snow for her successful promotion to Teaching Professor (No Prefix), a first for the College under the new title and total compensation guidelines, and a recognition of her campus-wide service as well as her scholarship of teaching and learning and disciplinary scholarship and teaching.

Asst. Prof. Kiley McLean (Social Work) was invited to present a “Brief & Brilliant” session at the Society for Social Work Research (SSWR) conference. This prestigious TEDx-style event showcases talented scholars who excel at translating complex research into insightful takeaways. Learn more about McLean’s presentation, “Tackling the Ableism Epidemic.”

Assoc. Prof. Nathan Salowitz (Mechanical Engineering) has been awarded research funding this year from the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium, which is supported by NASA’s National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program. Salowitz's project is titled “Exploring Composite Laminate Design with Generative Artificial Intelligence.”

The UWM Honors College recognizes and thanks Dr. David Southward, an award-winning poet and teacher, who for nearly three decades has been a faculty member in Honors. Dr. Southward joined UWM as a Bradley Foundation Visiting Assistant Professor and worked his way through instructional academic staff ranks to Associate Teaching Professor, while supervising Senior Honors Theses, publishing poetry, and, of course, teaching thousands of UWM undergrads literally over the years. We wish him well as he transitions into retirement and emerit life.

The Accessibility Resource Center (ARC) Excellence Award recognizes instructional staff members who demonstrate exemplary service to ARC students and staff. These instructors go above and beyond what is required to make courses accessible, maintain professionalism while interacting with ARC students and ARC staff, exercise sensitivity to a diverse student population, integrate or apply universal design principles into instruction or service delivery and more. Students nominate their instructors so ARC may honor their dedication and commitment. Congratulations to this year's winners: Kari Dawson, Louis Molina, Kiley McLean, Brady Greenwalt, Mauly Her Lo, Amanda Captain, Alexandra Torinus, and Hayley Nathan.

After a national search and thorough evaluation of exceptional candidates, I am pleased to announce that Dr. Nancy Floyd has been selected as UWM’s director of the Office of Assessment and Institutional Research (OAIR). This important leadership role will focus on advancing UWM’s mission by transforming complex institutional data into timely, accurate and actionable insight that supports student success, strategic planning, resource allocation, accreditation and evidence-based decision-making. Dr. Floyd will begin her position on May 11. Read the full announcement.

NACADA’s (The Global Community for Academic Advising) Global Advising Week runs May 2–8, 2026. This global celebration honors academic advising in all its forms (professional advisors, faculty advisors, coaches, counselors, peer advisors). Advising is one of the highest-leverage touchpoints for student success, persistence, and belonging, and it is core to UWM’s institutional mission. Our advisors don’t just sequence courses, they see students as whole people, connecting academic goals with personal, financial, and career dimensions, and serving as expert connectors across the broader support network. I want to appreciate advisors whose work goes beyond scheduling through listening, referrals, follow-ups, and more. “For the first time in a higher education environment, I felt supported, seen, and heard. I went from believing I didn’t deserve to attend a four-year university to now being confident that I can succeed in graduate school. I’m not alone in this portion of my journey, and I feel safe knowing that I have [my advisor] to help when I need it.” - Student feedback on an advising appointment.

The UWM Honors College would like to congratulate our 110+ graduating seniors, from departments across the whole of UWM, whose academic excellence, service activities, and future plans will be celebrated on Saturday, May 9, at the Zelazo Center.
Creating a culture of care is a shared responsibility that supports learning. Even small actions can make a meaningful difference in students’ lives. The Chancellor's Advisory Committee on Mental Health invites you to consider this list of strategies to support student mental health and wellbeing. You may find some new ideas! We encourage you to focus on the suggestions and resources that feel natural and appropriate for you. Thank you for your care and commitment to our students!
The Student Health and Wellness Center (SHAW) invites your help in encouraging students to apply for the new Student Wellness Advisory Group (SWAG). This advisory group will provide input on SHAW programs, services, policies, and communications to ensure they are student-centered, inclusive, and responsive to student needs. SWAG members will offer feedback, identify gaps in awareness or access to services, and share perspectives that reflect the broader student experience. SHAW is seeking engaged students with an interest in health, wellness, advocacy, or campus improvement. Please share this opportunity with UWM students you advise, teach, mentor, or supervise. See more information.

The Division of Community Empowerment and Institutional Inclusivity is seeking applications for the fifth cohort of the Mosaic Leadership Academy! The 2026-2027 Mosaic Leadership Academy is designed to create community and leverage campus resources to foster the knowledge, skills, and networks of UWM employees. The overall goal of this academy is to support the promotion and retention of UWM employees by identifying pathways to administrative and academic leadership positions and providing leadership-focused professional development and coaching. Applications, due May 31, are available at this link.
Beginning May 25, the UWM Libraries will merge Archives and Special Collections into a single department: Archives and Special Collections. The UWM Libraries are continuously evolving and always evaluating how to operate and fulfill their mission. The merger of Archives and Special Collections will better align the Libraries' workforce while maintaining high-quality services for users. See full information about this merger.
This June, UWM will launch a new Wi-Fi network for guests and retire the UWM Visitor Wi-Fi network. As part of this change, all students, faculty, and staff at UWM should double-check that their personal devices are connected to Wi-Fi through either UWMWiFi or eduroam—not the Visitor network. Many personal devices automatically connect to Wi-Fi, so it’s important to check your network connection before June. UWM-managed devices should require no change. See more information.

Maura Lucking, assistant professor of the history of architecture in the UWM School of Architecture & Urban Planning, is the recipient of the 2026 Morris Fromkin Memorial Grant. Lucking’s project is titled “Contested Sovereignties: Visions of Land and Housing Reform by Wisconsin Oneida Activist Laura Cornelius Kellogg.” The Fromkin Grant will be used to examine archival materials in Washington, D.C., Madison, and the Oneida Nation, as well as conduct community-engaged interviews with Indigenous scholars and thinkers. Lucking will use the Fromkin Memorial Collection at UWM to explore the housing reform work Kellogg participated in as a student in Milwaukee. Lucking will present the results of her research at the Morris Fromkin Memorial Lecture at the UWM Libraries in fall 2026. Read the full story.
Students and faculty from the College of Engineering & Applied Science were featured in a contributed story in April’s MKE Lifestyles magazine. The story highlighted how 3D printing is used in orthopedics and in biomedical engineering research and included faculty members Qingsu Cheng, Priya Premnath, and Habib Rahman.
Join the Center for 21st Century Studies for concluding presentations from our 2025-26 cohort of research fellows on Friday, May 15, 3-5 p.m. at 939 Curtin Hall. Open to the public; light refreshments will be served. Centering the humanities in the belief that groundbreaking ideas come from diversity of opinions, disciplines, and experiences, each year, C21 offers fellowships that provide the time, space, and collegial support to generate new knowledge and ideas. This year’s cohort conducted research and developed interdisciplinary projects that aligned with Slow Care, C21’s 2025-26 research and programming theme.
Join the Center for 21st Century Studies and the Muslim Milwaukee Project for the launch of a new book on the Muslim communities in Milwaukee by UWM professors Anna Mansson McGinty, Caroline Seymour-Jorn, and Kristin Sziarto, including a panel talkback featuring prominent members of Milwaukee’s Muslim community, on May 20, 7-8:30 pm, at the Islamic Resource Center.