Nora Finnigan Werra Faculty Achievement Award

The Association of Marquette University Women awards the Nora Finnigan Werra Faculty Achievement Award annually to honor and recognize a woman faculty member who has excelled in her research, teaching and service to Marquette and to the community, and has mentored students and other faculty. The AMUW Leadership Council handles management of this award, in partnership with the Center for the Advancement of the Humanities.

The award was established in 2002 by the AMUW Board of Directors working in conjunction with Marquette faculty members.

The award is named for Nora Finnigan Werra, friend of Marquette, whose many relatives attended the university. “It was an honor to endow this very important award,” Werra said. “I believe that it not only recognizes outstanding women faculty but also tells others within the university and the community that women faculty are recognized and valued. It also shows those interested in teaching at Marquette that the university is a great place to work!”

---

Nominations

Nomination formTo nominate an eligible colleague, answer the questions and attach CV in space provided on the nomination form. This form includes a Save & Continue option. You may exit at any point and resume later using the same device. Nominations will be kept on file for 2 years.

If you have questions, please contact margaret.nettesheim-hoffmann@marquette.edu. Nominations will be held in strictest confidence.

The deadline for consideration is January 15. Nominations received after January 15 will be held for consideration the following calendar year. 

Award Selection Process

---

2025-2026 Winner

Dr. Karen G. Andeen, Whitefish Bay, Wis.

Dr. Karen Andeen, Ph.D., is the Clare Boothe Luce Associate Professor of Physics in the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences and special advisor to the Provost’s Office of Faculty Affairs at Marquette University. 

Dr. Andeen’s astroparticle physics research focuses on cosmic rays — high-energy particles produced in violent astrophysical events such as stars exploding, colliding or being “eaten” by black holes. Cosmic rays are the key to understanding the physical processes behind these extreme events. Dr. Andeen has worked on both Earth- and space-based missions and, at Marquette, is currently leading an NSFCAREER–funded team building a new telescope array for the IceCube Neutrino Observatory at the South Pole.  These telescopes will help us observe cosmic rays in a way that isn’t possible anywhere else on Earth.  

Dr. Andeen is also a strong advocate for equity and inclusion. She earned a second master’s degree in Intercultural and International Education from Durham University (UK) and, in 2021, became the first woman to earn tenure in Marquette’s physics department. In her department, she has led curriculum reforms, built and expanded access to a new faculty-led study abroad program for physics students and helped increase representation among physics majors. Additionally, she initiated and is a co-principal investigator for Marquette’s Clare Boothe Luce Women in STEM institutional award which aims to build community, foster an inclusive culture and promote transparent and equitable policies. Dr. Andeen’s mentors played a pivotal role in her own success, so she works to pay this forward by mentoring others in various ways and at all levels, both on-campus and within the broader community. 

 

Past Winners

See the list of past recipients of the Nora Finnigan Werra Faculty Achievement Award.