UW–Madison’s Brett Ranon Nachman is one of seven students from across the country to be honored with a K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award from the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U).
Nachman is a Ph.D. student with the School of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis.
The 2020 recipients were chosen in a rigorous process from a pool of more than 200 nominees from 118 institutions who have demonstrated the potential for leadership in teaching and learning and a strong commitment to academic and civic responsibility. The Cross Award is open to all doctoral-level graduate students who are planning a career in higher education, regardless of academic department, and have been nominated by a faculty member or administrator.
Nachman’s research concentrates on the depictions and experiences of autistic college students, particularly in community college settings. His core research interest stems from his own identity as an autistic community-college graduate.
Nachman’s work also centers on LGBTQ campus climate issues, inclusive teaching practices, and community college STEM transfer students’ experiences. His research scholarship prioritizes several factors, including: acting with transparency and thoughtfulness in discussing identity management issues; presenting findings that drive change in how campuses provide more student-centered learning; and elevating the perspectives of underrepresented student populations.
Nachman’s work has been published in outlets including the Community College Journal of Research and Practice, Teachers College Record, and Frontiers in Psychology.
Since 2017, Nachman has served as a graduate student researcher with College Autism Network (CAN), which addresses advocacy, research, and training related to autism in postsecondary education. As part of CAN, he has helped spearhead programming for the annual College Inclusion Summit, which gathers administrators, disability specialists, researchers, educators, students, and autistic self-advocates to discuss ways to best support and involve autistic college students in creating welcoming postsecondary education experiences.
Nachman launched and facilitates the College Autism Network Virtual Association of Scholars (CANVAS), which features a list-serv, monthly online meetings with guest presentations, and resources. Under Brett’s leadership, CANVAS has cultivated a community of more than 250 members from all around the world to share tools and insights. He and his colleagues have also developed an online list of college-based autism programs that serve students in their transitions into and through postsecondary education.
Outside of his research, Nachman places effort in forming new skillsets as an educator, whether in teaching courses across numerous levels and platforms, presenting workshops through the Delta professional development program, and offering guest lectures about his autism/higher education work across different spaces at UW-Madison. A common thread that ties Nachman’s teaching is his commitment in having students collaborate on learning outcomes, follow their passions and skillsets in developing meaningful projects, and create inclusive spaces through forming classroom guidelines. Nachman also prioritizes offering detailed formative feedback to students, and seeks the same in return in his own development as an emergent educator. In addition to teaching, he has served as the Graduate Student Representative on the National Board of Directors for The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi since 2018. Over his undergraduate and graduate school years, Nachman has led seven student organizations and mentored students in various capacities (e.g., orienting incoming and prospective students to campus, reviewing college applications, helping students plan campus events). Brett serves as a reviewer for multiple peer-reviewed education journals and academic conferences.
Nachaman adheres to several principles as a scholar, educator, and leader. First, help colleagues in leveraging their strengths to be their best. Second, view each moment as a chance for self-growth. Third, make every space as equitable as possible based on individuals’ varying identities, experiences, and learning preferences. Fourth, take initiative by creating opportunities for positive change, instead of waiting for change to arrive. Finally, pay it forward.
“We are truly grateful to Pat Cross for her deep and abiding commitment to championing the next generation of leaders in higher education. This year’s scholars have demonstrated excellence in teaching, scholarship, leadership, and civic engagement. We are thrilled to honor them and look forward to the many ways in which they will shape the future of American higher education,” said AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella.
The 2020 Cross Scholars will be recognized at AACU’s 2020 Annual Meeting, “Shaping the Future of Higher Education: An Invitation to Lead,” in Washington, DC, January 22–25. They will be honored and introduced to the AAC&U community during the Opening Plenary and will speak in the session “Voices of Changemakers: How Commitments to Learning, Community, and Equity Shape Future Faculty.” The Cross Award recipients will also participate in other sessions and meetings throughout the conference.
For more information about AACU, its annual meeting, or the K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award, visit www.aacu.org.
To learn more about all of this year’s award winners, check out this AACU news release.