Communication Arts is excited to celebrate Sophie Hougland as a 2024-2025 recipient of a University Staff Excellence Award from the College of Letters and Science. Each year, the Dean of L&S awards five University Staff members within the college with this honor. The whole Communication Arts community is ecstatic to congratulate Sophie on this well-deserved recognition.
To be nominated for a University Staff Excellence Award, staff members must have two years of consecutive service within L&S and demonstrate effectiveness, innovation, creativity, and originality in their role, as well as provide effective leadership and service to the L&S community.
“I was so surprised to find out I was a recipient of the University Staff Excellence Award,” Sophie said. “It’s been wonderful to be a part of the Communication Arts community and help support such a great department. I’m grateful every day for the people I work with—thank you all so much!”
Sophie is a Communication Arts alum and has worked in the department as the Administrative Assistant since 2022. She is extraordinarily gifted at planning impressive events on small budgets and highlighted the organization of yearly department receptions and board meetings for the Communication Arts Partners as her favorite accomplishments.
Sophie was nominated for this award by her colleagues Derek Johnson, Lynn Malone, Allison Prasch, and Marit Barkve.
“Sophie has been an influential member of the Communication Arts team these last few years,” said Derek Johnson, Communication Arts Department Chair. “She has provided administrative support for our program review, facilitated surveys and focus groups to assist with the structuring of our 20024-29 strategic plan, and even resolved a recurring incidence of theft to our department’s UPS account that added up to roughly $9,000 in fraudulent charges. This award is highly deserved.”
To learn more about the award, visit: https://kb.wisc.edu/ls/page.php?id=45182