Universities of Wisconsin honor achievements of LGBTQ+ advocates and their allies through 2024 awards

MADISON, Wis.—The Universities of Wisconsin have announced the 13 honorees of the 2024 Dr. P.B. Poorman Award for Outstanding Achievement on Behalf of LGBTQ+ People, an annual honor given to LGBTQ+ people or their allies who have helped to create a safer and more inclusive climate for LGBTQ+ people. The award celebrates the memory and legacy of Dr. Paula B. Poorman, a highly regarded faculty member at UW-Whitewater dedicated to improving the lives of LGBTQ+ people.

This year marks the 16^th anniversary of the founding of the Dr. P.B. Poorman Award. The recipients of the award will be honored on December 4, 2024, in Madison during a ceremony hosted by the Universities of Wisconsin. The awards ceremony and reception will be held in conjunction with the Universities of Wisconsin presentation of the Outstanding Women of Color in Education Awards.

“Honorees are helping build a better experience for our students, faculty, and staff,” said Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman. “This award recognizes their achievements in creating a safer and inclusive climate at our universities.”

The honorees of the 2024 Dr. P.B. Poorman Award for Outstanding Achievement on Behalf of LGBTQ+ People are:

• Dr. Rae Langes (UW-Eau Claire) Assistant Professor of Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
• Dr. William Dirienzo (UW-Green Bay) Chair of Physics, Associate Professor
• Dr. Víctor Macías-González (UW-La Crosse) Professor of History and Advocate, Author
• Dr. Scott Seyforth (UW-Madison) Assistant Director of Residence Life for University Housing
• Nathan Sheppard (UW-Milwaukee) Clinical Case Manager for Student Health and Wellness Center
• Carmen Hetzel (UW-Oshkosh) Program Advisor for Student Organization and Leadership Programs
• Ren Griffith (UW-Parkside) Undergraduate Student, Genders and Sexualities Advocacy Center Advocate
• Isabelle Emerson (UW-Platteville) Undergraduate Student, Vice President of The Alliance
• Dr. Michelle Parkinson (UW-River Falls) Professor of English Literature and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
• Trescha Kay (UW-Stevens Point) Speech Language Pathologist, Clinical Assistant Professor
• Fred Jomo Brown (UW-Stout) LGBTQIA+ Program Manager
• Melinda Yingling (UW-Superior) Housing Coordinator, Free Mom Hugs Area Coordinator
• Dr. Ellie Schemenauer (UW-Whitewater) Associate Professor and Chair of Women’s and Gender Studies Department

Each UW university was invited to select one individual to receive the award, which highlights each recipient’s contributions to advocacy, activism, or scholarship that enhances the experiences of, and improves the climate for, LGBTQ+ people.

Download photos of the 2024 recipients.

For more information about the award and past recipients, see wisconsin.edu/grants-awards/poorman-award/.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.