University Service Award – Jennifer Collins, political science
Data from the National Study for Learning, Voting, and Engagement and Tufts University shows that only 48.5% of eligible UW-Stevens Point students voted in the 2016 election, a decline of 5% from 2012. Jennifer Collins' efforts sought to change that in 2020.
Collins, professor and chair of the Department of Political Science, served as campus champion with the Andrew Goodman Foundation and as a faculty mentor to students involved in the Campus Election Engagement Project during the hotly contested election. These and other efforts were recognized through Collins' recognition with the University Service Award.
"Over nearly 14 years at UWSP I have sought through my service work to enhance the student experience, contribute to our community, do my part to strengthen governance, and contribute to the academic disciplines of political science and peace studies," Collins says. "I believe that my service has helped bring greater attention to diverse and marginalized voices, experiences and issues."
Since 2007 Collins has been involved in hosting 16 separate events, including guest speakers, panels, film screenings, musical presentations and one conference. The majority of these were done as part of the Latin American/Caribbean Speakers Series. A noteworthy LACSS event was the address by Pulitzer Price-winning journalist Sonia Nazario, a talk attended by more than 250 students, faculty, staff and community members.
Collins also spearheaded and moderated a panel discussion with six faculty members from the School of Behavioral and Social Sciences on the January 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. capital, which was attended by more than 50 students, faculty, and staff.
Collins has also been active in university governance, perhaps most impactfully as chair of the Faculty Council from 2018 to 2020. She has also served as an officer for the Stevens Point Academic Representative Council.
"Service work impacts an institution more than just a line on a CV," says Nerissa Nelson, librarian, professor and chair of the UW-Stevens Point Common Council. "Professor Collins has a consistent and growing service record from the department level to the university level, mentoring students, organizing conferences, establishing community partnerships, bringing experts to our campus for events, and garnering grants and awards related to service."
See also:
Excellence in Teaching, Scholarship and Service Award - David Barry
Carolyn Rolfson Sargis Award - Tina Rajski
Excellence in Teaching Award - Lauren Gantz, Kyle Herrman, Kate Kipp, Erin Speetzen
University Scholar Award - Chris Diehm, Alex Ingersoll
University Service Award - Shelly Janowski, Kathryn McGarry
Academic Staff Spirit of Community Service Award - Lisa Golda
Outstanding Work Performance Award - Janette Baumann, Corinna Neeb, Lisa Nelson, Heather Springer
Skip to main content
