Madison Reporter

New UW–Madison faculty members and their families were welcomed by leadership and enjoyed brats and burgers at the annual new faculty picnic hosted by Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin on the grounds of Olin House Wednesday. Many of the faculty members had recently moved to Madison, and they were treated to a nearly perfect summer day.

Andrea Buhler Wasmann, an assistant professor of human development & family studies, expressed her appreciation for the city's surroundings. “I’ve already gone swimming and boating on Lake Monona, and I live right on Lake Mendota,” she said.

The event featured interactions between new faculty members, their families, campus leaders, and other attendees. Chancellor Mnookin and her husband Joshua Foa Dienstag greeted guests. Among those present were Mallika Nocco, assistant professor in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering; Hasmeena Kathuria, director of the Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention at the School of Medicine and Public Health; Alison Rollins, assistant professor of English; Quentin Dudley, assistant professor of chemical engineering; Eric Wilcots, dean of the UW–Madison College of Letters & Science; Xiuyuan Mi, Anna Julia Cooper Fellow in Asian languages and cultures; Yang Li, Anna Julia Cooper Postdoctoral Fellow in history; Fran Vavrus, vice provost and dean of UW–Madison’s International Division; Xiao Kuang, assistant professor of mechanical engineering.

Attendees shared positive sentiments about their experiences in Madison. “I feel that (Madison) is a really walkable city,” Li noted. Kuang mentioned feeling "welcomed and supported" as a new faculty member.

Children were entertained with bubbles on the lawn while adults engaged in conversations. The picnic provided an opportunity for new connections among faculty members who have recently joined UW–Madison.