UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON ARCHIVES
ORAL HISTORY PROJECT

INTERVIEW # 802
HANDELSMAN, JO

Handelsman, Jo (1959- )
Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor, UW Plant Pathology Department
At UW: 1985

Interviewed: 2006	
    	Interviewer: Sandra Pfahler
	Length: 1.5 hours

Abstract: Family background; Early education; Undergraduate study at New York University and Cornell; Graduate study at University of Wisconsin; Climate for women in the sciences; Postdoc at UW; Faculty position at UW Department of Plant Pathology; Establishing research lab; Research; Women in Science and Engineering Leadership Institute: Tenure process; Teaching and teacher training; Professional service activities; National Academy Summer Institute for Undergraduate Education; Climate for women on the UW campus; Honors and awards; Family and personal life.

First Interview Session (August 29, 2006) Tape 1   

Tape 1/Side 1

0:01:08	Handelsman born and raised in and around New York City, first attracted to science during trips on Long Island.

0:02:02	She was interested in agriculture in high school; a 10th grade biology teacher was an early mentor.  She became interested in application of genetics to food production because she wanted to “feed the world.”

0:03:11	JH did undergraduate work at Cornell University, graduate school at UW.  First professor in graduate program at UW was Oliver Nelson.
	
0:03:46	Both of Handelsman’s parents were psychologists and social workers; they pressed her to go into psychology as a career.  JH uncertain where her strong interest in biology originated.  She saved babysitting money to purchase antique microscope, which is still in her office.

0:05:30	JH skipped two years of high school to attend college sooner.  She attended NYU for one year.

0:06:41	JH decided between Yale and Cornell to finish her degree.  Both very strong in plant biology.  Yale was not accepting transfer students so she went to Cornell.  She discusses the many benefits of Cornell, her experiences on campus.

0:07:54	Handelsman assesses the pros and cons of attending Cornell at that time.  She discusses sexism on the campus and within departments.  Women were often discouraged from careers in science and male professors sometimes sexually “preyed on” female students.

0:10:09	When arriving in Madison for graduate school, atmosphere was different.  She was treated as a scientist, taken seriously for first time.  Cornell remains behind on feminist issues.

0:12:14	JH talks about some of the positive aspects of her time at Cornell, including teaching experience and training in public speaking.  She “loves and appreciates” many parts of her time thee, but will “resent forever” some things.

0:15:01	She explains why she did not go into International Agriculture in graduate school.  She wanted to get out of applied agriculture because of conservative values in the field.  Molecular biology was more interesting to her.  Eventually her interest turned to bacteria, which led her plant pathology.

0:18:20	JH describes how she decided to attend graduate school at UW and her initial experiences in the program.

0:21:56	Handelsman talks about the importance of deciding for yourself what research path to follow, even if you end up angering faculty in the department.

0:22:08	She talks about her year of postdoctoral work in Plant Pathology Department.  She felt that she was not “fully formed” as a scientist after Ph.D. program complete in 1984.  She did not intend to look for an academic position so soon after graduate school, but a position in Plant Pathology department was open and she was urged to apply.

0:25:08	She describes the interview process, the need for energy and excitement.  She worked on post doc for about a year and then became professor at age 25.  She describes herself as unready, but learned on the job.

0:26:13	She talks about the process of learning to be a professor and the support she received from others in the department.  She got $27,000 to start up her lab.

0:29:26	Some of the other faculty members were antagonistic.  Department chair and several others helped her learn to cope.  She feels she was naive at first.

0:30:27	The UW Plant Pathology Department today is very supportive of women, has one-third female faculty.  She continues to work on improving this climate across the university.

0:31:53	Handelsman discusses her early research agenda and the importance of training grants for young scientists.  She talks about problems in getting grant funding.

0:36:22	She talks about the tenure process.  She believes the tenure system is very important for women.

0:39:17	JH outlines her teaching program and her methods for teaching students about biology.  She enjoys teaching non-majors about basic science.  The question of how people learn intrigues her.

0:44:40	She talks about how lab facilities affect teaching.  She co-authored a book on teaching.

0:47:02	End of Side.

Tape 1/Side 2

0:47:03	She continues talking about teaching, especially the necessity of teaching her teaching assistants so they can be successful.  She developed a course devoted to teaching methods.

0:47:53	JH gets the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professorship and a budget of $1 million to develop a program to study and teach effective teaching methods.

0:49:20	She describes origins of and operation of National Academy Summer Institute for Undergraduate Education.  UW campus is making great strides in teaching innovation.

0:52:48	JH talks about how her research has changed since she joined the UW faculty.  Technological, methodological, and personal factors have all been factors in changing research interests.  She relates how her mother passed away in 2001 from bacterial infection and the effect that had on her.

0:57:49	She shares her thoughts on the laboratory facilities available to her at UW.  She feels the Russell Labs facility is somewhat outdated for 21st century science.  Lab space is always in high demand, but she has been fortunate.  She has always wanted to experience a truly modern lab facility.

1:00:25	Bacteriology Department has been talking about possibility of JH becoming chair.  This position might offer exciting possibilities and more modern lab facilities.

1:01:51	JH talks about her work on campus-wide committees and organizations.  UW Committee on Women did most to change her perspective on gender issues at UW.  She mentions sexual harassment and pay equity as examples of difficult issues faced by the committee.

1:05:58	Work on the Committee on Women led to formation of WISELI (Women in Science and Engineering Leadership Institute).  She discusses this program and how rewarding it has been in her career.

1:08:41	Her work on WISELI has been physically and emotionally draining, despite the rewards.
	
1:09:47	JH discusses what remains to be done to make UW a good campus for women.  She lists departments that offer good or bad environment for women.  Medical School has the most significant problems, in her opinion.  

1:14:10	JH talks about professional organizations and how they have enhanced her career.

1:17:26	She outlines her work on National Academy of Sciences panels.
								
1:19:10	She talks about a report she is working on for the National Academy committee on Women in Academic Science.  She expects this report to generate a lot of attention.

1:19:54	JH lists some of the academic awards she has earned during her career.

1:23:19	JH feels that professional commitments have stretched her too thin and that she needs time to refocus on her students and teaching.

1:26:54	She discusses some elements of her personal and family life.  She lifts weights, runs, or swims daily to keep in shape and maintain focus.  She enjoys gardening as a hobby.

1:31:23	She reiterates her belief that this is a great time to be a scientist and to be a woman in science.

1:32:46	End of side.  End of tape.  End of interview.

END