University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Kudos to Aditya Simha, associate professor of management, and K. Praveen Parboteeah, professor of management, whose co-authored research paper, “The Big 5 Personality Traits and Willingness to Justify Unethical Behavior—A Cross Nation Examination,” was published by the Journal of Business Ethics and considered as a top-five finalist for the GLOBE Robert J. House Best Research Paper Award.

Kudos to Chris Lindeke, assistant athletic director for strategic communications and branding, who was named one of four winners of the Division III U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Excellence in Communications Award. Lindeke oversees all facets of the athletic department's communication efforts and manages the statistics and results for each of the Warhawks' 22 sport programs. Lindeke was also recognized for his commitment to outstanding coverage and support of collegiate cross country during the 2019 season.

Kudos to communication sciences and disorders majors Sarah Roddy and Sara Klimisch, who will receive the Wisconsin Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Association (WSHA) 2020 Student Leadership Award. The mission of the WSHA is to provide leadership and support to speech pathologists and audiologists. The award ceremony will be held Feb. 27-29 at the Ingleside Hotel in Pewaukee, Wisconsin.

Kudos to Lei Xu, assistant professor of management, who was recently published in Research Policy for the study he co-authored, “Organizational innovation efforts in multiple emerging market categories: exploring the interplay of opportunity, ambiguity, and socio-cognitive contexts.” The study attempts to address the effects of multiple emerging market categories on incumbent firms’ innovation efforts.

Kudos to Carol Brunt, assistant professor of nonprofit management studies, and Joshua Knapp, associate professor of management, who presented the conclusion of the first Junior Faculty Fellowship program at the African Academy of Management conference in Lagos, Nigeria, on Jan. 8-11. On Jan. 10, Brunt facilitated a caucus to showcase the past two years of collaboration between Knapp and the program’s first Fellow, Dr. Juliana Namada (USIU-Africa, Kenya).

Kudos to Bob Barry, executive director of the University Center, who earned re-certification as a Certified Auxiliary Services Professional (CASP) through the National Association of College Auxiliary Services (NACAS). This certification attests that the individual has met a standard for higher education service professionals in management, leadership, marketing, student development and other campus services.

Kudos to Jo Ann Oravec, professor of information technology and supply chain management, who will present the paper “Emergence of Technologically-Supported Lie and Cheating Detection in Educational Contexts: The New Academic Polygraphs” at the Fourth Annual Post-Human Symposium in Tempe, Arizona, on Feb. 21.

Kudos to Chamomile Harrison, a junior English and psychology major, who received the 2019 Council Scholarship from the Wisconsin Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired and was the subject of a student spotlight. Harrison’s career goal is to work as an advocate for the blind and visually impaired. She said, “I want to go into a field where I am helping people and making a difference and making the world a better place.”

Amazon will soon be hiring 500 workers to staff its new distribution center in Beloit, but with a 3 percent unemployment rate in Rock County, there may not be people to fill those spots. The starting wage of $15 is lower than other warehouse positions in the area, but Amazon hopes its benefits package will entice new employees. As Russ Kashian director of the UW-Whitewater Fiscal and Economics Research Center said, “At the end of the day, your primary consideration when you’re making $15 an hour is how I pay the bills today. Benefits are wonderful, but they don’t pay the bills today.” Janesville Gazette »

Brian Bentel, lecturer of sociology, criminology and anthropology at UW-Whitewater, presented “Why We Have Liberals and Conservatives and Why We Need Them Both” to Whitewater seniors on Friday, Jan. 3, as part of the ongoing lecture series, “Seniors in the Park.” Bentel aimed to answer the question: Are the values of either side reflected in the policies enacted by our two dominant parties? Daily Jefferson County Union »

Russell Kashian, professor of economics and director of the Fiscal and Economic Research Center at UW-Whitewater, offered his opinion and research on the effects of banking deserts, or areas with inadequate banking services. Kashian’s research has found a link between banking deserts and demographics saying, “Your population in your neighborhood, as the African American percentage increases, so does the distance to the bank branch.” Delaware Public Media »

Bethann Moran-Handzlik, lecturer of art and design, was the subject of an artist profile on Jan. 2 for her oil painting of the Whitewater Community Garden. In reference to her art, Moran-Handzlik said, “Painting is mesmerizing. The complexity of tracking the edge of a leaf or plowed field in changing light into daubs of color is endlessly engrossing.” The featured painting, "Community Garden New Year’s Day,"" was also the first overall winner of the bi-monthly Plein Air Salon. Fine Art Connoisseur »

Frank Burns, UW-Whitewater alumnus and former wheelchair basketball coach, passed away at the age of 67 at the University of Chicago Medical Center on Jan. 8. During his time as a student at UW-Whitewater, Burns was heavily involved in the Students for an Accessible Society. After returning to UW-Whitewater in 1982, Burns led the Warhawks to their first wheelchair basketball national championship. Chicago Sun Times »

Brian Dennis, director of cyber security for small business at UW-Whitewater, presented to Fort Atkinson small businesses in September to give advice on how to protect against a cybersecurity threat. Ninety percent of data breaches will affect small businesses, according to Dennis. Fort Atkinson businesses are feeling the effects of a gift card scam that targeted multiple businesses earlier this month. Daily Jefferson County Union »

UW-Whitewater at Rock County is opening the New Year with a gardening workshop series led by horticulturist, Mark Dwyer. The event, hosted by the continuing education program, is the first in a series of three and it will focus on three different topics: gardening as we age, sensory gardens and container gardening. It will take place from 8:40 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Jan. 18, on the Rock County campus in Hyatt Smith room 120. Tickets are $25 for individual workshops or $60 for all three.

The City of Whitewater is looking for partners to help clear brush and fallen trees and spread wood chips along the pathways at Effigy Mounds Preserve. Studies suggest these mounds were a gathering place for several Midwestern Native American tribes; the oldest mounds are geometric shapes, and the more recent ones resemble animal shapes ranging in size from 60 to 300 feet. For questions or to sign up for the events, you may reach out to Eric Boettcher, parks and recreation director, at EBoettcher@whitewater-wi.gov or 262-473-0122.