Each year the Wisconsin School of Business recognizes faculty members for their leadership and impact in research, teaching, and educational innovation. The research and teaching awards are given to two recipients annually—one junior faculty member and one faculty member of any rank. The educational innovation award is open to faculty of all ranks. Below are highlights of the 2017 award recipients.
Faculty Research Awards
The Erwin A. Gaumnitz Distinguished Research Award recognizes vital research taking place within the School. Faculty members are nominated and selected by peers based on the quality, significance, and productivity of recent research.
Gaumnitz Junior Faculty Research Award
Jordan Tong, assistant professor of operations and information management
Assistant Professor Tong conducts research at the intersection of supply chain management, behavioral operations, and decision-making. Since completing his Ph.D. in 2012 from Duke University, he has published five papers in leading journals that include Management Science, Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, and Production and Operations Management.
Gaumnitz Distinguished Faculty Research Award
Russ Coff, professor of management and human resources and senior associate dean for faculty and research
Internationally recognized as a leading scholar in strategic human capital, Professor Coff’s research focuses on the role of human assets in innovation, creativity, and competitive advantage. His work has been cited more than 5,300 times, and he is the past recipient of best article awards from multiple top journals. He has served on the editorial boards of many leading publications and is president of the 3,000-member Strategic Management Society.
Faculty Teaching Awards
Recipients of the faculty teaching award are selected based on their innovative course design, curriculum improvement, student satisfaction, and support of the School mission.
Mabel W. Chipman Outstanding Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching
Jordan Tong, assistant professor of operations and information management
Recognized for his teaching excellence and significant contributions to course development, Assistant Professor Tong takes an approach that encourages students to discover concepts for themselves. In the past year, he is credited for evolving OTM 300—a foundational operations management course taken by 400 students per semester—and for creating a new operations analytics course. He designs course projects that tackle real-world issues, providing optimal learning opportunities for WSB students.
Gaumnitz Distinguished Faculty Teaching Award
Justin Sydnor, associate professor of risk and insurance
Associate Professor Sydnor is honored for his teaching excellence, as well as his impact on course development, educational initiatives, and doctoral education. His newly-created risk analytics and behavioral science course has been transformational for students, with one saying, “I think in a new way about everything now.” A mentor to Ph.D. students, Sydnor’s innovations in the risk and insurance doctoral program have enhanced the research mindset.
Educational Innovation Award
Margie Rosenberg, professor of risk and insurance
An innovator throughout her academic career, Professor Rosenberg is known for inspiring students to take ownership of their learning. Her innovative initiatives in healthcare, business analytics, and applied learning have advanced School priorities, as have her contributions to creating flexible teaching and learning environments. Professor Rosenberg builds capacity for more innovation within WSB and across campus by openly sharing her ideas, connecting across courses, and mentoring younger faculty.
Read about Assistant Professor Tong’s research on the Forward Thinking blog: Can a Company Prepare its Supply Chain for a Random Demand Surge?
Watch Professor Coff’s research video: