Jackson Bestowed a Named Professorship and National Research Award

Dr. Jerlando F. L. Jackson was named the Vilas Distinguished Professor of Higher Education effective July 1, 2012. The newly-created Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professorships recognize professors whose distinguished scholarship has advanced the confines of knowledge, and whose excellence has also included teaching or service. Dr. Jackson will hold this distinction for the remainder of his career at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Recently, Dr. Jackson was also selected as the 2012 recipient of the Dr. Carlos J. Vallejo Memorial Award for Exemplary Scholarship. This award is given annually, on behalf of the Multicultural/Multiethnic Education (MME) Special Interest Group (SIG) of AERA, to one exemplary scholar/practitioner based upon the following criteria: (a) illustrating effort in producing scholarship which advances multicultural and multiethnic education (broadly defined), within all educational, cultural, societal and social settings, contexts, levels and locations; and (b) a demonstrated commitment to underserved communities beyond scholarship with evidence of improving the practical conditions experienced by multicultural/multiethnic communities.

Wei Lab and Athletics form Partnership

The University of Wisconsin-Madison has developed an initiative to strengthen the post-graduation trajectories for student-athletes. The University's “Beyond the Game Initiative" confronts the challenge of student-athletes who face the end of their eligibility to play without identifying viable careers beside professional sports. The program is open to all student-athletes. Black Male student-athletes are strongly encouraged to participate as research has shown that they are less likely to graduate than their peers. The initiative results from collaboration between WCER's Wisconsin's Equity and Inclusion Laboratory (Wei Lab) and the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics. The "Beyond the Game Initiative" is funded by the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics, the Lumina Foundation, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Division of Diversity, Equity and Educational Achievement.

Photos by Jeff MIller, UW-Madison University Communications.