Designers in the News
ASID Wisconsin member – Suzanne Scott, ASID is awarded 2007 Chancellors Hilldale Award for Excellence in Teaching
Suzanne Scott, ASID
Suzanne Scott, ASID, Wei Dong, Professor and Beverly Gordon, Professor and Head of the Department
Suzanne Scott, ASID addressing the students at the potluck
By Sandy Gordon
Posted 4/28/07
Congratulations are in order for Suzanne Scott, ASID! The Chancellors Hilldale Award for Excellence in Teaching is the highest teaching honor given on the University of Wisconsin Madison campus for academic staff and only one is given each year. The award is based on a nomination package that included recommendations from faculty and students. Below are quotes from various people who wrote recommendation letters on her behalf as well as information gleaned from conversations with these individuals. Next time you see these individuals please thank them for taking the time to write the recommendation letters!
Suzanne has been teaching for over two decades at the University of Wisconsin Madison in the School of Human Ecology – Interior Design program. She is a Faculty Associate and has taught design studios including Interior Design I and II, Fundamentals II and various Independent study projects with individual students. Joy Dohr, Professor Emerita is quoted “Before service learning was a theme on this campus, Suzanne was demonstrating how to do it. In each of her classes, she would introduce students to real life issues of clients that impact the design of interiors. She and her students worked with assisted living communities such as Oakwood, handicapped populations and organizations.”
Virginia Terry Boyd, Professor, is quoted saying “At heart, Suzanne is a traditional teacher in the best sense. She connects with a student on a personal level in the classroom. Because she teaches studio classes with extended one-on-one contact over time with individual students, she has the opportunity (and takes full advantage of it) to attend to and guide each person’s individual needs and qualities. This individual connection extends beyond the classroom. She has been the active and involved faculty advisor for the ASID student organization, which the profession considers an essential stepping stone for moving into the professional world.” Suzanne has been the Faculty Advisor for the ASID Wisconsin Student Chapter at UW-Madison for the past 15 years. Danielle Tallman, student member of ASID, current president of the ASID student chapter is quoted saying, “As the faculty advisor of ASID, Suzanne is incredibly active. She is an essential part of creating our strategic plan for the year and is constantly giving us helpful advice. Suzanne is not just part of our planning process; she also participates in our activities. Suzanne attends the ASID functions, expressing her support for her students’ hard work in running a successful organization.” The ASID Student chapter officers (Janelle Crew, Danielle Tallman, Becca Wydra and Kylie Engle) wrote a recommendation letter and they are quoted “Without Suzanne’s passion for students’ development outside the classroom, our ASID student chapter would not be able to function in the way we do now.”
Suzanne’s additional accomplishments include extensive work with the Council of Interior Design Accreditation (formerly FIDER). She spent six years on the research committee; she authored a highly regarded study on the Future of Interior Design; she participated in a focus group that dealt with creating new accreditation standards for Interior Design education in 1998. She is also a member of Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC).
The students and faculty held a potluck at school to celebrate her accomplishments on Friday April 20, 2007. The formal presentation will be held on Tuesday May 15, 2007 at the University of Wisconsin Madison Memorial Union at 5:00 pm. For more details about the event please call Lori Ushman at 608-262-2651.
On behalf of the ASID Wisconsin chapter we congratulate you on your accomplishments Suzanne and thank you - for all you do for and with the students!