2 nominated for system teaching award

Two faculty have been nominated for the Alliant Energy Underkofler Teaching Awards.

• Bassam Z. Shakhashiri is William T. Evjue Distinguished Chair for the Wisconsin Idea and professor of chemistry.
• Ronald Wallace is Halls-Bascom Professor of English and Felix Pollak Professor of Poetry.

The Encyclopedia Britannica describes Shakhashiri as “the reigning dean of lecture demonstrations.” He wrote a now-classic four-volume series, “Chemical Demonstrations” (UW Press), and has delivered an annual holiday lecture and demonstration, “Once Upon a Christmas Cheery in the Lab of Shakhashiri” since 1970.

In its more-than-30 year history, the event has been presented to Congress, the National Academy of Sciences and at the Smithsonian Institution, and has been broadcast on public television. The demonstrations also inspired an interactive chemistry exhibition at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. Shakhashiri has been on the UW–Madison chemistry faculty since 1970.

Wallace has been a champion of creative writing on campus. With accomplishments as diverse as designing an undergraduate English major with an emphasis in creative writing, establishing a literary journal, bringing visiting writers to campus for residencies, and working with the UW Press to create the Brittingham and Felix Pollak Prizes in Poetry.

Wallace was one of the driving forces behind the Wisconsin Institute for Creative Writing, which funds new writers working on first books. He also worked with colleague Jesse Lee Kercheval to plan and implement the MFA in creative writing; the first students will be admitted into the program this fall.

A prolific and acclaimed poet in his own “write,” Wallace has penned over 600 poems and works of short fiction. In addition, he has published a dozen books of poetry, fiction and literary criticism. He also is the author of articles about the relationship between teaching and writing, as well as study guides, handbooks and other resources for creative writing instructors. He joined the UW–Madison Department of English in 1972.