Jake Brunkard, associate professor of genetics, received 2026 Outstanding Student Parent Support Award from the UW–Madison Office of Child Care and Family Resources. Brunkard was selected for his proactive mentorship and collaborative approach to working with parenting students. When his graduate student nominator shared news of their pregnancy, Brunkard responded with enthusiasm. “Professor Brunkard responded with genuine, wholehearted support,” she said. “He didn’t just say he was open to it; he immediately started brainstorming with me and thinking through specific accommodations we could put in place.” After navigating pregnancy, parental leave, and her return to the lab, she passed her Preliminary Exam, earning her master’s degree and advancing to dissertator status.
Read the full article at: https://occfr.wisc.edu/2026/04/28/osps-2026/