UW System Outstanding
Women of Color In Education Awards

Joyce Hall, UW Colleges

Kati Johnson, UW Colleges

Tess Onwueme, UW-Eau Claire

"Playwright Novelist Scholar Cultural Activist International Speaker Performer Internationally renowned for her award-winning plays, and novels, Dr. Tess Onwueme is the literary soul-mate of Chinua Achebe, Wole Solyinka, and Ngugi wa Thiongo. She is the first African woman dramatist to break into their ranks, so that What Mama Said, Tell it to Women, Shakara: Dance-Hall Queen, The Missing Face and The Reign of Wazobia became staples of international college and university curricula inthe 21st century"--(Dr. Sonja Darlington, Beloit College, 2004).
Awriter with an active conscience, Dr. Onwueme's provocative and humorous writing and speaking, often poke into taboo and controversial subjects, which reveal the untold hidden stories of young women and the poor, who are caught in various crossfires with family, tradition, race, class, gender, culture, and politics. But then, they still remain unheard in today's stampede for money and power in the contemporary global community as exemplified in her award-winning play, Shakara Dance-Hall Queen, which kick off the BBC World Drama Service international features for the Fall of 2004. Since joining the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire Wisconsin in 1994 as a Distinguished Professor of Cultural Diversity and Professor of English after her years of teaching in both Nigerian and American universities, Dr.Onwueme continues to serve as a role-model for women and youths through her inspirational writing and speaking that are steadily shaping and transforming public consciousness of issues impacting black women and youths in postcolonial societies today.

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Johnnie Johnson, UW- Extension

Johnnie Johnson, an associate professor in the UW-Extensions Department of Youth Development, is an outstanding educator with at 14-year record of building community of coalitions throughout Milwaukee County to prevent high-risk behaviors among adolescents between the ages of 12 and 19 years old. Johnnie was the first person of color to be tenured at UWEX. She also earned her Ph.D. in Urban Studies from UW-Milwaukee during her 14 year tenure with UWEX. Her research interest include closing the academic achievement gap between black and white students, equality and full citizenship for youth of color, particularly African American youth. These efforts have led to the establishment of a variety of community-based resources as preventative strategies to reduce and/or eliminate first and foremost school failure/dropout among female students. However, newly established community-based resources were also used to prevent other high-risk youth behaviors such as; youth-on-youth homicides, drug use/abuse/dealing, teen pregnancy, shcool bullying, early unprotected sexual actvity, and gang-banging/affiliation. Her youth-at-risk prevention/intervention work was conducted in at least five different ethnic communitites-African American, Latino, Indian, Hmong, and Russian. Her work has led to many presentations within and out of state, the authoring and co-authoring of man department and journal published articles. Johnnie has an outstanding record of campus service. She has served on numerous department and university committees, including Plan 2008 and Native American Taskforce. She is know for her generosity, teamwork, and tenacious quest for knowledge and willingness to share it with those who request it. She is an advisor to the Carter Charter School of Excellence located in Milwaukee's inner city.

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Denise Sweet, UW-Green Bay

Denise Sweet is an Anishinaabe (White Earth) poet and a tenured professor of Humanistic Studies. She was awarded the first of UW-Green Bay's Women of Color Awards in 1995. Denise coordinated a symposium entitled "Those Who Will Listen and Remember: A Symposium of Anishinaabe History, Culture and Contemporary Issues". Her efforts brought together international speakers and attendees to share information about scholarly endeavors as well as language and cultural preservation projects in a first of its kind gathering. Professor Sweet finds time to work with new generation writers and put together a young writers workshop that has broadened the university's community outreach to rapidly increasing African American, Latino and Southeast Asian populations. Most recently Professor Sweet was appointed Wisconsin Poet Laureate by Governor Doyle for the next four years.
 

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Angie Kellogg, UW-La Crosse

Mercile Johnson Lee, UW-Madison

Diane S. Pollard, UW-Milwaukee

Murial Hawkins, UW-Oshkosh

Renee Sartin Kirby, UW-Parkside

Kathryn Lomax, UW-Platteville

Carmen Coballes-Vega, UW-River Falls

Carmen I. Coballes-Vega is Dean of the College of Professional Studies and Professor of Education at the Metropolitan State University, St. Paul, Minnesota. She was former Dean of the College of Education and Human Services at University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and chair of Elementary Education at University of Wisconsin River Falls. Carmen is a former recipient of the UW River Falls College of Education Outstanding Teacher Award. Her research interests include technology integration in teacher education, reading education, and second language pedagogy. Carmen's research has led to national juried presentations and publications in reading education and instructional technology. In addition, she has published book chapters, book reviews and several monographs.

Dr. Coballes-Vega provides professional service through her participation as chair of the Committee for Professional Development of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education and chair of the Deans of Color Special Study Group of the organization. In addition, she is a member of the Unit Accreditation Board of the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education. She has served at the state level as president of the Wisconsin State Reading Association and board member of Wisconsin Women in Higher Education Leadership (WWHEL). Carmen also served as co-project director of the UW System PT3 Catalyst Grant (VIVA- Vital Issues in Virtual Assemblies). Her volunteer experiences have included serving on the board of directors of the Girl Scouts of St. Croix Valley and the National Board of the YWCA of the USA. Carmen often shares personal stories on her life growing up in New York City and the impact of family literacy on children's lives.

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Sharon Cloud, UW-Stevens Point

Sharon Cloud, Director of the UW-Stevens Point Native American Center, is an enrolled member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin and a recognized leader, role model, and educator among American Indians in Wisconsin. Her efforts have led to several presentations at local, state and national conferences, the co-authoring of a NARCH Grant (Native American Research Center for Health) with Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council and recent acceptance as a teacher for a new course at UWSP called, "Wisconsin Indians: Cultural Perspectives on Educational Issues".

In the area of American Indian Studies, Sharon's most recent contribution at UW-Stevens Point has been her work in helping to revise a minor to what is now called "American Indian Studies" with an emphasis on promoting information for teachers about the 1989 law referred to as Wisconsin ACT 31. She has been employed at the Native American Center for 25 years and has been Director since 1995. She has served on numerous department and university committees, including the 2008 Planning committee, Faculty Senate, the Academic Staff Remediation sub-Committee, and the Gender, Race, and Equity Appeals committee. Sharon is a role model for diverse students on the campus. She is a co-advisor to two student clubs (AIRO and AISES) and has been acknowledged on three occasions by them as Student Mentor of the Year.

An emphasis on family, longevity, service, and community are a few words that come to mind when describing her career in Indian education. While over the years she has received various awards and recognition, she says the most rewarding moments are those when she has personally observed the various American Indian students who have successfully completed their degrees -- both at UWSP and on other campuses. Looking forward, she hopes to continue promoting the value of higher education among American Indians in the future, as a means to improve and enhance their quality of life -- for themselves, their families, and within tribal communities as a whole.

Gladyce Nahbenayash, UW-Superior

Elizabeth Ogunsola, UW-Whitewater

Elizabeth S. Ogunsola is Executive Director of the Office of Pre-College Programs, Academic Support Services, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Ogunsola is the principle officer responsible for the supervision, general and fiscal management of Federal TRIO and state funded programs: Upward Bound Program, Educational Talent Search Program, Summer Academic Camps, and Saturday College Programs. Ogunsola has been employed at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater for 15 years working with pre-college and college students. She has been in her current position for eight years and served formerly as the Director of Student Retention Services at Whitewater for seven years.

Ogunsola formerly served as an academic coordinator for the High Potential Students Program for 10 years at Illinois State University. Ogunsola is also a former high school counselor and middle school teacher. She earned a Doctor of Education in Educational Administration, EdD (1987) and Master of Science in Education (MS in Ed) from Illinois State University (1976). Ogunsola completed her undergraduate degree at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois (1971).

Ogunsola received the Outstanding Women of Color Award from the University of Wisconsin System, October 26, 1995. Her other recognitions/awards include:
Appreciation Award - UW-Whitewater Gospel Choir, 1997
Certificate of Appreciation - Blue Key National Honor Fraternity, 1995, 1997
Outstanding Faculty of the Year Award - Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc & Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., 1993-1994
Leadership Award - African-American Educator Committee, 1991-1992
Outstanding Advisor Award Campus Wide, UW-Whitewater, 1991-1992
Illinois Consortium for Educational Opportunity Program (ICEOP) Award, 1986-1988