Richard J. Davidson is the William James and Vilas Research Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry, Director of the W.M. Keck Laboratory for Functional Brain Imaging and Behavior, the Laboratory for Affective Neuroscience and the Center for Investigating Healthy Minds, Waisman Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He received his PhD from Harvard University in Psychology and has been at UW-Madison in Wisconsin since 1984.
Musician Richard Davis performs internationally and is Professor of Bass (European Classical and Jazz), Jazz History and Combo Improvisation at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Chicago-born, he came to the UW-Madison in 1977 after spending 23 years in New York City establishing himself as one of the world's premier bass players. DownBeat magazine's International Critics' Poll named him Best Bassist from 1967-74.
Michael Fiore is a clinically active, tenured professor of medicine at the University of Wisconsin. Fiore founded—and has served as director of—the University of Wisconsin Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention (UW-CTRI) since 1992.
Ellen Kort was Wisconsin's first Poet Laureate, serving from 2000-2004. She was the author of 11 books and 8 collections of poetry. Ellen's work was featured in a variety of anthologies and incorporated architecturally in downtown Milwaukee's Midwest Express Center, the Green Bay Botanical Gardens and the Fox River Mall. Ms. Kort's poetry was performed by the New York City Dance Theatre and recorded on audio by Ellen Burstyn, Ed Asner and Alfre Woodard.
Tom Uttech--painter, photographer and teacher--was born and raised in Wisconsin's north woods. His memories and experiences have emotionally and passionately influenced his art throughout his career. In 1965, Tom received his B.A. from the Layton School of Art in Milwaukee and his M.F.A in painting from the University of Cincinnati in 1976.
Karen Johnson Boyd has supported the arts broadly, but with a particular interest in crafts, as a collector, donor, board member, publisher, sponsor of museums and exhibitions, and as owner and president of Chicago's Perimeter Gallery. She has focused on emerging artists, collecting their work and documenting their careers.
Melvin R. Laird served nine terms in the U.S. Congress representing Wisconsin’s Seventh Congressional District, where he was Chairman, Republican House Minority, member of the House Appropriations Committee, and the Republican Coordinating Council. Prior to this service, he was a member of the Wisconsin Senate from 1946–52 and Chairman, Wisconsin Legislative Council. Laird served in the U.S. Navy from 1942–1946 in the Pacific Fleet. The U.S.
Wisconsin Academy Offices
1922 University Avenue
Madison, Wisconsin 53726
Phone: 608.733.6633
James Watrous Gallery
3rd Floor, Overture Center for the Arts
201 State Street
Madison, WI 53703
Phone: 608.733.6633 x25
