The Exceptional Service Support Program acknowledges and supports faculty members, especially women and those from historically underrepresented groups, who are sometimes asked to service roles disproportionate to those of other faculty. Such service promotes the university’s interest in having a broad range of perspectives represented on important committees, engaging in governance, and taking on roles to support the university as an inclusive institution. The consequence for the faculty members providing disproportionately heavy service responsibilities, however, is that they have less time to satisfy the individual research requirements for promotion and professional advancement. The program seeks to address unintended consequences of exceptional service, through funding support for release time from teaching.
Monica is an Associate Professor of Sociology and serves as the department’s Director of Graduate Studies. Her numerous contributions to the department include overhauling an introductory course in the graduate program and offering a new Master’s Thesis Workshop; teaching, mentoring, and developing innovations within Soc 170; her service in international policy conversations within the discipline; and working with joint department chairs to develop strategies of support for graduate students during the COVID-19 and racial equity pandemics.
Her work is invaluable to UW-Madison, and part of what makes our community so great. Thank you Monica and congratulations!