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 16th 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.
For more information about the award and past recipients, see wisconsin.edu/grants-awards/poorman-award/.
2024 recipients
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- Rae Langes
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- William Dirienzo
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- Víctor Macías-González
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- Scott Seyforth
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- Nathan Sheppard
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- Carmen Hetzel
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- Ren Griffith
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- Isabelle Emerson
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- Michelle Parkinson
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- Trescha Kay
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- Fred Jomo Brown
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- Melinda Yingling
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- Ellie Schemenauer
The Universities of Wisconsin serve approximately 164,400 students. Awarding nearly 37,000 degrees annually, these 13 public universities are Wisconsin’s talent pipeline, putting graduates in position to increase their earning power, contribute to their communities, and make Wisconsin a better place to live. Nearly 90 percent of in-state Universities of Wisconsin graduates stay in the state five years after earning a degree. The universities provide a 23:1 return on state investment. The Universities of Wisconsin also contribute to the richness of Wisconsin’s culture and economy with groundbreaking research, new companies and patents, and boundless creative intellectual energy. Learn more at wisconsin.edu.