Congratulations to the Department of History’s Graduate Program Manager, Leslie Abadie, on receiving the 2022 L&S Graduate Student Academic Advising Excellence Award! Leslie was honored for the award at a ceremony on April 27th.
According to the award announcement: “Leslie Abadie received glowing letters of praise from several colleagues who have served or are currently serving as Directors of Graduate Studies for the Department of History. Their comments are evidence that Leslie has been a positive influence on the program for many years. She makes a point of becoming a key part of the graduate students’ lives at UW-Madison, helping them navigate class requirements and financial issues, as well as connecting them with faculty mentors within the department. But she’s also adept at managing difficult situations, including steering the department through a needed downsizing of its PhD program to a model where a smaller number of students could be guaranteed support, as well as responding with care and sensitivity to the unexpected death of a graduate student.”
Sergio González, a History alumnus who is now an assistant professor of Latinx Studies at Marquette University, says “As a first-generation college student and one of the only Latinx students in the graduate program, I was especially appreciative of her efforts in helping me navigate the oftentimes confusing world of academia…I can honestly say I would not have completed my degree in six years, nor secured a tenure track position immediately following graduation, without her guidance.”
All who know Leslie will agree that this award is very well-deserved, and reflects the exemplary performance, positive collaboration, and thoughtful impact that Leslie has contributed to the Department of History for many years. Read the full award announcement here.