The Virginia "Jenny" Madden Award for Graduate Student Leadership and Service

The Virginia “Jenny” Madden Award for Graduate Student Leadership and Service is named in honor of Virginia “Jenny” Madden for her many years of service to the Graduate School, the Staff Senate, and the University of Louisville community. The award recognizes a master’s degree recipient who exhibits leadership through service to the recipient’s program, college, discipline, the University as a whole, and/or the community.

Eisey has been committed to the Graduate Network of Arts and Sciences for their entire Graduate career, a position which allows HITE graduate students access to grant funding from the university. In 2022, Eisey had an internship at Calliope, a community-centered print shop, hosted by Susana Crum; Eisey was trusted with cataloguing Susanna’s print collection and collaborated with community members during relief print workshops. Eisey is currently aiding in setting up continual art workshops at the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections for those housed inside the facility. Through connecting with other artists and working with LMDC to coordinate access to the inmates’ facilities, participants get to collaborate with artists from the community to make expressive works. Currently, another student is having their internship at LMDC through this collaboration established by Eisey. Eisey’s participation in the 2024 and 2025 CeLOUbrate print events finds them committed to free art booths for the public and volunteer work with the public steamroller event.  

Her nominator writes, “Eisey has consistently been a positive and motivating force willing to take on whatever needs to be done and is unquestionably an exceptional candidate for the Virginia Madden Award.  They have shown the initiative, leadership, and necessary commitment to service.”