Elsesser Receives 2015 Regents Academic Staff Excellence Award

May 8, 2015—Jennifer Elsesser, assistant director of Counseling Services at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls has been selected to receive a 2015 Regents Academic Staff Excellence Award for an individual. She will be presented the award at the UW System Board of Regents meeting June 5 at UW-Milwaukee.

Elsesser’s congratulatory letter stated “This award signifies the high regard with which you are held by your colleagues, your institution, the UW System, and the Board of Regents. The Regent Committee selected your nomination from among a select group of candidates, all of who represent the excellent and invaluable service provided by the professional academic staff in the UW System. We applaud your professionalism, impressive accomplishments, and outstanding devotion to the quality of education.”

The $5,000 Academic Staff Excellence Award may be used for any professional and/or program development activities at UW-River Falls that Elsesser believes will enhance her work or the work of her department.

Elsesser, of Hudson, began her career at UW-River Falls 12 years ago. She is a licensed professional counselor and coordinates support and marketing for campus-wide health and wellness programming. She has presented at several National College Health Association conferences on mental health and wellness issues and was the recipient of the 2009 Chancellor’s Award for Program of the Year.

In her nomination letter, she said she strives to meet the increasingly complex and diverse needs of students and those who serve them.

“During my experience at UWRF, it has always been important to constantly find new means of enhancing the collective wellbeing of campus in creative and innovative ways, she said. “I have been fortunate to have a variety of experiences that have allowed me to develop my skills in many different areas.”

Elsesser has a bachelor’s degree in health education from St. Cloud State University and a master’s degree in counselor education from Winona State University. She can be reached at 715-425-3884.