Every year during Convocation, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville highlights the excellence of its faculty and staff through UW-Platteville and Universities of Wisconsin awards. These honors recognize those who exemplify dedication in their work. This year, we’re going beyond titles and achievements, bringing forward the personal stories of those who shape our campus and community.
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville will recognize Dr. Dong Isbister as the recipient of the 2025 Dr. Carol Sue Butts Woman of the Year Award. The honor recognizes employees and students who identify as a woman and make a difference in the lives of others in the campus community.
For those who don’t know, what is your official title and what kind of work do you do for UW-Platteville and the Department of Social Services?
I am a professor teaching courses and conducting research in Women's and Gender Studies, Ethnic Studies and Environmental Sciences and Society. In addition to teaching assigned courses, I advise Women's and Gender Studies minors, guide student research and provide opportunities for students to present their work at conferences. Some students have won undergraduate research awards. I have served on various departmental, college and university committees. I also coordinate the Women's and Gender Studies Program. At the system level, I serve as an advisory board member of the Women's and Gender Studies Consortium.
How long have you held this position?
I have been a full-time faculty member at UW-Platteville since 2013.
What first attracted you to this job?
It's both personal and professional. Personally, I developed a keen interest in becoming a university teacher early in life because of the influence of my parents, who were professors. Their passion for teaching and love for their work and students left a deep impression on me. I looked up to them and wanted to follow a similar path. I actually became a university faculty member in China and hoped to continue in that role after coming to the United States.
As a teaching university, UW-Platteville has a strong tradition of offering invaluable opportunities for those who are passionate about teaching and meaningful interactions with students. It seemed like an ideal place for my personal growth.
Professionally, UW-Platteville advertised a faculty position with areas of specialization that closely matched mine. I was excited that the university offered both the teaching and research opportunities I had been seeking since earning my doctoral degree. During my campus visit, I was further impressed by the supportive community and the colleagues I would be joining if hired. On a different note, I also appreciated the university’s geographic location and its connection to nature.
What does receiving this award mean to you and the example you set for your students?
It is a great honor to be nominated and selected as one of the many employees who have made a difference in the lives of others in the campus community. I also want to thank the many amazing people and role models in this community who have made a difference in my life. They have shown me what it means to stay humble, remain resilient, collaborate vigorously, cultivate curiosity for continual growth and bring out the best in others.
What is your "go-to" when you need some downtime and relaxation?
This is a good question. Some quiet time for my hobbies is always helpful. For example, I enjoy solo hiking and nature photography. I also enjoy Chinese paper cut art and often entertain myself by making simple pieces. In addition, I learned how to crochet and knit when I was little and have developed a habit of making things like scarves or blankets during the holiday season.
If you could travel anywhere, where would you like to go?
Among the many places I’d love to visit in the near future, I plan to prioritize U.S. National Parks I haven’t yet explored. I visited a few with students and colleagues during two western trips in 2018 and 2019, and most recently visited Cuyahoga Valley and Great Smoky Mountains National Parks in 2025.
What would you tell your 15-year-old self now?
I would tell the younger me:
"I know it's not easy to transfer to a new school at 15 and adapt to a very different curriculum halfway through an academic year — including math (from solid geometry in the old school to trigonometric functions in the new school). You did the right thing by working hard to excel and go to college at 16, even if it meant sleepless nights over readings and exam preparation or sweat over training for track and field. Without your hard work back then, I wouldn't have gotten where I am now. Thank you!"
"However, please remember — it's a lot of pressure to be a perfectionist. You could have been a bit kinder to yourself. And by the way, it's never a good idea to skip breakfast and go to school early to study for an hour before the bell rings."
Isbister will be honored at the university faculty and staff convocation on Aug. 26.