Cupit earns Rosenberg Professorship
Prof. Illene Cupit of the Human Development academic unit has been selected to hold the Rosenberg Professorship at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay for a five-year term through 2020. The honor was announced at the University’s annual convocation of faculty and staff on Aug. 26.
Chancellor Gary L. Miller presented Cupit with a ceremonial medallion. Cupit received a standing ovation from members of the University community in attendance at the event in the Phoenix Room of the University Union.
The award citation described Cupit as a prolific scholar, extraordinary instructor and nationally prominent leader in the study of death and bereavement.
“Her work with Camp Lloyd, the annual weeklong summer camp on the UWGB campus — the camp she founded to let children coping with loss know they are never alone,” the citation read, “has changed the lives of countless young people, and provided countless UW-Green Bay students rich and meaningful experience as mentors and para-professionals.”
Cupit is a specialist in cognitive development, infancy and early childhood, and death, dying and grieving. She organized the first Camp Lloyd in 2006 and named it for a family member who had to deal with the death of his father at a very young age. She envisioned the experience as a typical, fun summer camp, but one that provides a place for participating children to discover that there are other kids like them, and to learn that grieving is natural.
Cupit holds a Ph.D. from Temple University. She joined the UW-Green Bay faculty in 1984.
The Ben J. and Joyce Rosenberg Professorship was established in 1985. Ben and Joyce Rosenberg were long-time residents of Green Bay and supported UW-Green Bay from its inception. Their children, Gary Rosenberg and Barbara Rosenberg Shure, provided the funding for the memorial. The Rosenberg Professorship is open to tenured faculty members from all academic fields and recognizes a professor who has demonstrated a productive commitment to scholarship and whose work exemplifies the spirit and mission of UW-Green Bay.
In assuming the formal title of Ben J. and Joyce Rosenberg Professor, Cupit succeeds Prof. Regan A.R Gurung of Human Development and becomes the seventh UW-Green Bay faculty member to hold the appointment. Others were Lynn Walter, David Damkoehler, Craig Lockard, Harvey Kaye and Timothy Meyer.
Named professorships are created through private gifts that support the study and research of a faculty member who has an outstanding record of scholarly accomplishment. The annual stipend associated with this particular professorship is for five years, but the recipient retains the title for life. Stipends are typically applied to research expenses or special projects benefitting students or service to the community.
The Rosenberg Professorship is one of seven named professorships at UW-Green Bay.
