It is unlikely the College of Letters and Science has a more dedicated, knowledgeable, proactive, and savvy problem solver than Peter Sengstock in its midst. Since 2007, Sengstock has excelled in creating and maintaining the essential technological infrastructure with which Comm Arts accomplishes its research, teaching, and outreach missions. Sengstock is the recipient of a 2026 L&S Mid-Career Achievement Academic Staff Award, and Communication Arts is honored to congratulate our beloved colleague on this esteemed recognition.
As an alumnus of the department, Sengstock has been a member of the Communication Arts community for over two decades. As a student, he was drawn to editing courses and was interested in becoming a nature documentary editor for PBS. He always had a strong grasp of technology and a desire to work with it, ultimately deciding to explore that interest. He began his career in the department at a time when computing and media production technology were quickly evolving, and he has worked tirelessly ever since to ensure the department stays on top of new innovations in the field.
“I’ve always considered myself an IT staff person through and through, but I’ve also always considered myself a Comm Arts person,” Sengstock said. “I enjoy diving headfirst into triaging different situations, figuring different things out, or trying to understand how things work.”
When someone in the department wants to launch a new project, Sengstock is there to guide them. He researches and implements advanced equipment and software, helps maintains servers, lab spaces, and other technical services in Vilas Hall, and assists faculty, staff, and students with innovative technology needs that are essential for their research and teaching. He has assisted with transformative projects like the Hamel Family Digital Media Lab, the projection system in 4070, the department’s archival film scanner, and modernization of classroom and meeting spaces. He trudged through water and directed emergency response efforts to save equipment and department property after a pipe burst and flooded Vilas Hall in 2019. One year later, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he heavily contributed to the department’s remote learning plan, ensuring instructors were able to successfully transition their classes online without sacrificing the excellence of their teaching. Sengstock describes Communication Arts as “tenacious,” but it is very likely that the department owes much of this credit to Sengstock’s own efforts and dedication.
“He is also preternaturally knowledgeable,” Professor Jonathan Gray wrote in his award nomination letter for Sengstock. “In the very rare instance that Pete doesn’t know exactly what the problem is, or exactly which item of software or hardware to buy, etc., he manages to do volumes of research in a short time and return with the answers.”
“While all departments make use of IT, our specific subject matter expertise in communication platforms and technologies depends on Pete having a particularly broad and detailed body of knowledge,” said Communication Arts Department Chair, Derek Johnson. “If provided externally, the research support Pete provides in-house would cost millions of dollars each year.”
Starting this June, Sengstock’s career will enter its next chapter as he begins a new role for the College of Letters and Science in their realignment of IT services. Luckily for Communication Arts, he will continue working directly with the department and manage technological needs for our servers and websites. With the extensive list of support and services Sengstock has provided to Communication Arts over the years, it is a relief that he will continue to be a critical member of the department community.
Sengstock accepted his L&S Mid-Career Award surrounded by other media staff from Communication Arts. “It’s great to get this recognition from the department, but my work is what it is because I get to work with so many other talented individuals,” he said.
It is undeniable that the Communication Arts Department is what it is today in large part thanks Sengstock, and this award only represents a fraction of the recognition he deserves for his valiant and tenacious work. We are positive he will continue to make great progress for UW in the next chapter of his career, and we wish him all the best.