We’re delighted to announce that Charlotte Frascona has received the College of Letters & Science Graduate Advising Award. While it honors her achievements from the past year, it ultimately recognizes her incredible service to students spanning more than four decades.
Charlotte started as a lecturer in 1985, though her UW experience began as a graduate student earning a Ph.D. in modern literature before she joined the Sociology Department as a Graduate Program Manager in 2012. Charlotte firmly believes that her experience as a doctoral student enabled her to understand the challenges Sociology and Community & Environmental Sociology grads face. Charlotte is an outstanding advisor who has a unique ability to reconcile the sometimes byzantine policies of a PhD program at one of the best schools in the world with a sincere and heartfelt concern for her students. Her “superpower” lies in a unique combination of institutional knowledge, courage, and genuine care, allowing her to guide students through the often-difficult journey of graduate school with both logic and empathy. By consistently going above and beyond the norm, she has earned the lifelong gratitude of generations of scholars. Through every policy shift or departmental challenge, Charlotte remains unflinchingly focused on the mission and the well-being of the students she champions.
Perhaps the most striking part of Charlotte’s nomination was the emphasis on “love”—a word not often found in university commendations. Whether she is listening and offering the tissue box to students experiencing a personal problem, organizing meal trains for students in need, or celebrating a successful dissertation defense with the enthusiasm of a family member, Charlotte treats every student as “her” student.
Tina Hunter, Charlotte’s supervisor, adds, “Charlotte’s dedication to the students, the Sociology community, and to the UW mission make her a beloved advisor, a cherished colleague, and a tremendous asset to the University community.”
Generations of Sociology alumni have gone on to successful careers because they had Charlotte in their corner. Please join us in congratulating Charlotte Frascona on this well-deserved honor. The Wisconsin Idea is brighter because of her dedication.