Dr. Shan Sappleton, associate professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, received the Excellence in Advising International Students Award for her efforts in helping further international experiences at the university.
The award is presented annually to a UW-Platteville faculty or staff member who has demonstrated passion for and innovation in helping students incorporate an education abroad experience into their degree program and who has had a significant positive impact on the international student population.
“I am so honored to receive this award,” said Sappleton, who also serves as the program coordinator for the International Studies Program and sits on the University International Education Committee. “I absolutely love working with our international student body. As a former international student, I am acutely aware of the importance of being a solid resource for these students. As I often tell my students, we are more of a global citizenry than we realize.”
“I am strongly encouraged that UW-Platteville continues to value international studies and hands-on international experiences such as short-term, faculty-led study abroad trips, as high impact practices,” added Sappleton. “They are tremendous help in properly preparing our students for their future careers and life. It is through these high-impact practices that most of our students gain firsthand knowledge of, and experience with, other cultures and are able to realize the scope and breadth of the world around us. Having these experiences qualitatively strengthen the competitive advantage of our graduating students on the job market.”
“Shan’s courses – even those that are not explicitly about international issues – are infused with international content,” said Dr. Travis Nelson, associate professor of political science and chair of the Department of Social Sciences at UW-Platteville. “Our field trip to New York last spring, for instance, focused on immigration policy. Shan worked to make sure that this included an international element – both by meeting with nonprofit groups working on refugee resettlement and by identifying restaurants with global cuisine for our group dinners.”
“I have never seen another professor deal better with international students,” added Nelson. “International students in Shan’s classes are clearly comfortable talking with her not only about her class but about their concerns and questions more generally. She is a great campus asset for international students, and she strives to make sure they have the same opportunities as other students on campus. The same is true for students interested in education abroad. She is passionate about incorporating education abroad into students’ education, and these students regularly come back to thank Shan for her help and encouragement in these efforts.”
Sappleton, one of two recipients of this award, will receive a recognition plaque, $500, and be recognized at the university’s convocation on Thursday, Aug. 29.