Dr. Tammy Evetovich, provost and vice chancellor of Academic Affairs, and Dr. Kristina Navarro, assistant chancellor and director of Athletics and Recreation, announced today the launch of a Master of Science in Sport Administration on the University of Wisconsin-Platteville main campus. The graduate program is built to provide students with the comprehensive leadership skills needed for careers in professional, collegiate, nonprofit, amateur, and recreational sport with a specific new focus on the global influence of sports.

Developed by the Health and Human Performance department, in partnership with the School of Business, this 30-credit program gives students the flexibility of online coursework while also providing a face-to-face practicum course with unparalleled access to professors, students and campus resources. 

Dr. Holly Attenborough, associate professor of mathematics at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, was selected as one of four recipients across the UW System of the 2021 Alliant Energy Underkofler Excellence in Teaching Award. The award, funded by an endowment from the Alliant Energy Foundation Inc., recognizes extraordinary undergraduate teachers at UW System universities within Alliant Energy’s service area. 

Attenborough joined UW-Platteville in 2013. She teaches a variety of courses, ranging from general education math classes and the calculus sequence to upper-level math-major courses. Attenborough also has a strong focus on scholarship of teaching and learning research and has developed materials and activities in her classroom to improve student engagement and active learning. 

Kathleen Kerr, academic advisor and coach at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, is being recognized with the 2021 Outstanding Professional Academic Advisor Award. Kerr, who mostly works with freshman and sophomore students, calls it an honor to build relationships and help students successfully transition into college.

“I am committed to meeting students where they are at and utilize different advising approaches based on their individual needs,” said Kerr. “I enjoy being approachable and accessible and allowing them space to ask a lot of questions. I hope my students walk away from our time together feeling supported and challenged to try new things.”

Kerr assists undecided students and guides them through the process of finding the best fit major. Colleagues highlight Kerr’s passion for preparing students to navigate their collegiate journey and teaching them how to be in control of their own education.

“It’s an honor and privilege to receive the Dr. Carol Sue Butts Woman of the Year Award,” said Valerie Wetzel, who retired from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in February as the assistant director of the Markee Pioneer Student Center. “I knew Carol Sue Butts and worked with her. She was a role model and mentor to me, but also to a lot of women on campus.” 

Wetzel is one of two recipients to receive the 2021 Dr. Carol Sue Butts Woman of the Year Award. Named for the provost emeritus and former interim chancellor who served at UW-Platteville from 1998 until 2010, the award recognizes female employees and students who make a difference in the lives of women. 

Caitlin Warren had a plan to become a veterinarian from a young age, and now having just completed her junior year at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, she is enrolling in the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program at UW-Madison this fall, thanks to a new articulation program created by UW-Platteville. 

Elizabeth Schaal, executive assistant for the Office of the Provost and Vice Chancellor at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville calls it humbling to be receiving the Carol Sue Butts Woman of the Year Award. Named for the provost emeritus and former interim chancellor who served at UW-Platteville from 1998 until 2010, the award recognizes female employees and students who make a difference in the lives of women. 

“I’m very honored. It feels a little ironic that after working with Carol Sue as her assistant for 12 years that I actually got this award in her name,” said Schaal, who is one of two recipients of the award this year. “When you look at the past recipients, there are so many remarkable women on campus. They are so inspiring.”

Never forget where you come from is the ongoing theme running through The Midwest Girl, a Dubuque, Iowa T-shirt brand founded by University of Wisconsin-Platteville alumna Marissa (Droessler) Hoffmann and her sister Marah Odgers. Hoffmann graduated in 2012 with a degree in business administration and always knew she wanted to run her own business after growing up in a family of entrepreneurs.  

“Our dad has owned his own business for 30 years,” said Hoffmann. “We come from a bloodline of small business owners. We were raised with a mindset of knowing what it takes to be your own boss, how beautiful it can be, the benefits of being your own boss and knowing how to get through the hard months, but also knowing there is usually a light at the end of the tunnel.”

Dr. Chelsea Lancelle, assistant professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, is one of four University of Wisconsin-Platteville faculty members selected for the 2021-22 Wisconsin Teaching Fellows and Scholars Program. The UW System program offers faculty a unique opportunity to collaborate with other teachers from across the system and complete a Scholarship of Teaching and Learning project. 

Lancelle’s project will explore the Micro-Spiral Method and whether it can change students’ perception of their learning and metacognition in a general education science course. The Micro-Spiral Method involves structured repetition built into a course. It has previously been used in a middle-school setting to address student learning and absenteeism. 

University of Wisconsin-Platteville Assistant Professor of art Dr. Tyler Ostergaard is grateful for the opportunity to participate in the 2021-22 Wisconsin Teaching Fellows and Scholars Program after being postponed a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ostergaard is one of three UW-Platteville faculty members chosen as teaching fellows. The program supports outstanding educators from across the UW System in pursuing teaching and learning questions emerging from the classroom.

Three University of Wisconsin-Platteville student veterans will complete their college careers with more than a diploma. In addition to earning their master’s degrees this spring and summer, they will also graduate as members of the S.A.L.U.T.E. Veterans National Honor Society. The graduates include Calvin Henderson, of Greensboro, North Carolina, who is a spring 2021 graduate of the Master of Science in Criminal Justice program, David Kranz of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, who will earn his Master of Science in Project Management in summer 2021, and Matthew Wong of Evansville, Wisconsin, who will earn his Master of Science in Organizational Change Leadership in summer 2021.

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. — The COVID-19 global pandemic is bringing new classroom perspectives to Dr. Bidhan Roy as he discusses the topic of student engagement, learning and equity in the Wisconsin Teaching and Scholars Program. Roy, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, calls it an honor to be selected as a teaching scholar which got extended to the 2021-22 academic calendar due to the pandemic.

Dr. Becky Doyle-Morin, professor of biology at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, is being honored with the 2021 Nimocks Family Faculty Appreciation Award. Created by former provost and vice chancellor of Academic Affairs Dr. Mittie Nimocks Den Herder, the award honors and recognizes outstanding faculty at UW-Platteville who teach effectively, teach the value of diversity, teach the ability to argue sensitive issues with competence and civility, create opportunities for students to engage in high-impact practices, and teach the importance of a liberal arts education.

We all know earning a degree is important for enhancing one’s career, but it’s not the only step students can take to better position themselves for success. Knowledge of the workplace and the ability to make strong connections can prove just as valuable, which is why the University of Wisconsin-Platteville is pleased to offer the Alumni Mentee-Mentor Program—a resource for those seeking additional support outside of their studies.

Established in 2019, the program is available for all students currently enrolled in a distance education program (both graduate and undergraduate). Using a one-on-one pairing model, the program connects mentees with appropriate mentors in a support system that is beneficial to both parties.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville is several steps closer to the launch of a new partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Physician Assistant Program. The new program, called UW-Madison WisPACT@ UW-Platteville, will allow UW-Platteville students to earn a degree through UW-Madison’s Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program, while remaining on the UW-Platteville campus to complete their classes. 

“This collaborative program with the nationally recognized UW-Madison Physician Assistant program is an intentional effort to help meet the significant rural health care professional needs,” said Dr. Wayne Weber, dean of the UW-Platteville College of Business, Industry, Life Science and Agriculture. “It is an incredible opportunity for students in the tri-state area to pursue their undergraduate degree in biology and transition directly into a PA program all at UW-Platteville.”

Daniel O’Brien, University of Wisconsin-Platteville lecturer of art, will have three of his paintings on display at the Dubuque Museum of Art (DuMA) Biennial Exhibit running from Saturday, June 26-Oct. 31. According to the DuMA Biennial website, the show was founded in 2003 and is a highly competitive, juried exhibition highlighting leading contemporary regional artists. The exhibit will feature 55 pieces of work by 27 artists. This is O’Brien’s second time being admitted to the show. 

UW-Platteville, in partnership with UW Extended Campus, will offer two new online certificates starting in September 2021. The graduate-level, semester-based certificates in Applied Bioinformatics and Senior Living and Services Leadership were intentionally designed to align with industry needs and high-growth occupations. 

Both flexible certificate programs feature four courses and can be completed within one year; however, students may decide to take longer to complete a certificate depending on work and life commitments. Coursework completed in the certificate programs offer an optional pathway to master's degrees offered by UW-Platteville.



Applied Bioinformatics

One local company is partnering with the University of Wisconsin-Platteville to help bridge the communication gap between their English and non-English speaking employees. Allisa Cardella is the training and development generalist at Lactalis American Group, Inc. – a U.S. subsidiary of the world’s largest dairy organization with operations in Belmont, Wisconsin, and completed her Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) certificate in May from UW-Platteville. Cardella is developing an English as a Second Language (ESL) course at Lactalis. During the spring semester, Cardella was a practicum student of Dr. Yuanyuan Hu, professor of English/TESOL. Two other TESOL practicum students, Kyla Sprain and Dominick Perry, served as teaching assistants.

Dr. Austin Polebitski, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, is being honored with the 2021 Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence. The purpose of the award is to recognize a tenure track faculty member who has made distinguished contributions to the mission of UW-Platteville as an outstanding teacher. Polebitski credits his colleagues with helping him get to this point.

“I’m excited to continue my progress towards becoming a full professor,” he said. “My peers nominated me for the award, hopefully it means I’m headed in the right direction. I appreciate that I have co-workers who thought I was deserving. It makes me happy and humble to be amongst really good educators in the department.”

University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Pioneer Farm is now home to two new state-of-the-art robotic milkers, enabling more opportunities for research and engagement across campus and the tri-state region. Funded through the Dairy Innovation Hub, the two Lely A5 Astronaut robotic milkers were installed earlier this month and introduced to the nearly 200-cow herd at Pioneer Farm this week. UW-Platteville is currently the only UW System school to operate robotic milkers. 

Dr. Chelsea Lancelle, assistant professor in the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, is this year’s recipient of the UW-Platteville Early Career Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence. The award recognizes a tenure-track faculty member who has made distinguished contributions to the mission of UW-Platteville as an outstanding teacher. 

“I am beyond thrilled to have received this,” said Lancelle. “My goal when I entered graduate school was to teach, and I knew I wanted to teach at a smaller institution where I could get to know and connect with my students on a personal level.”

Lancelle teaches geology courses, covering topics that include physical geology, geology for engineers and hydrogeology. 

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville received a donation on Friday from Kimberly-Clark totaling more than 280 boxes of diapers and period products, benefiting several campus and community programs. The donation will be distributed to The Red Basket Project at UW-Platteville, Pioneer Provisions, the Children’s Center, and partners of the Southwestern Wisconsin Community Action Program, Inc (SWCAP).

According to Stephanie Young, UW-Platteville Dining Services registered dietitian, The Red Basket Project and Pioneer Provisions provide free period products in all women’s and non-gendered restrooms across UW-Platteville campuses.

The $5,000 grant will support new programs from UW-Platteville’s Continuing Education Institute (CEI) helping high school students connect with the campus, and with local business and industry.  

UW-Platteville Richland will be expanding three of its new Professional Pathways programs, thanks to a new grant from the We Energies Foundation. The $5,000 grant, all targeted for the UW-Platteville Richland’s service area, will fund outreach efforts for programs for area high school students, particularly in traditionally underserved communities working toward enrolling in college, according to Rebecca Powell, continuing and strategic program manager with UW-Platteville Richland.  

“We Energies’ gracious grant will help us grow these new programs, and serve the Richland County area’s underserved families,” said Powell.  

A group of University of Wisconsin-Platteville students from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering ranked among the top teams, nationwide, in the recent Student Steel Bridge Competition, sponsored by the American Institute of Steel Construction. Twenty-five teams competed in this year’s event. The UW-Platteville team ranked eighth overall and achieved a second-place ranking in the efficiency category and third place in the lightness category. 

Husco International, a manufacturing and engineering company in Waukesha, Wisconsin, is giving University of Wisconsin-Platteville mechanical engineering students the opportunity to work full-time while pursuing their education. It is part of the Husco Scholars Program, through which the company will pay 100% tuition assistance for students earning degrees through UW-Platteville Engineering Partnerships. Husco Scholars are mentored and work on a rotational basis, applying their coursework to hands-on applications. In return, students continue to work at Husco full-time for at least three years upon graduation. Ariosto Lopez Rodas is the first Husco Scholar.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville's reputation as a destination for online learning has been bolstered again. The school has been recognized as one of the top five Technology Savvy Online Schools in 2021 by Online Schools Center.



The ratings are based on a variety of factors, including online program criteria, student services, innovative technology practices, technical support, and breadth of online offerings. In choosing UW-Platteville, Online School Center noted the university's use of technology such as Canvas, Pioneer Administrative Software System (PASS), and Handshake.



Academic Technology and Services Manager Regina Nelson credits the UW-Platteville faculty for putting an onus on utilizing innovative technology in their courses.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville announces the launch of the Pioneering Forward Athletic Fund. This innovative fundraising initiative will enhance both the experience of donors and all 550 Pioneer student-athletes. 

“We are excited to kick off the Division of Athletics and Recreation Pioneering Forward Athletic Fund in partnership with our 16 intercollegiate athletic programs and 12 head coaches,” said Dr. Kristina Navarro, director of Athletics and Recreation and assistant chancellor for sports administration. 

The Pioneering Forward Athletic Fund seeks to enhance UW-Platteville’s broad-based athletics success through a focus on investing in Department of Intercollegiate Athletics growth and staffing. The goal of the fund is to provide opportunities that impact each student-athlete and realize the department’s mission and vision focused on competitive excellence and transformational leadership.

Ever since she was young, April Vaassen had a passion for helping people. After numerous volunteering and tutoring experiences within the education field growing up, Vaassen slowly developed this passion into a profession. Along the way, she received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and her master’s degree in school counseling from Loras College, equipping herself with the knowledge to develop future leaders and successful professionals.

She now helps others reach their fullest potential in the career coaching and self-improvement fields, enjoying the work she does every day.

“I love connecting with people and helping them live bigger and better lives,” said Vaassen. “I believe with the right tools and mindset we can live any life we want, and helping people achieve that is a big passion of mine.”

With 31 years of experience in the safety profession, Mark Miner, who is currently the program safety coordinator in University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Industrial Studies Department, is always looking for new ideas to incorporate into the program’s curriculum. During National Safety Week, he found inspiration just down the road from UW-Platteville in the Potosi (Wisconsin) School District.

“As a past industrial arts teacher, I understand the challenges of creating a safety-minded culture within an organization, and a high school shop environment has its unique challenges,” said Miner, adding that any innovative way to address these challenges is something worth exploring and adding to his curricula. 

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville School of Education recently announced plans to offer a loan repayment assistance program (LRAP) to incoming new freshmen elementary-middle level education majors starting in fall 2021.  

“At UW-Platteville, we are deeply committed to providing a high-quality education that is accessible to everyone,” said Chancellor Dennis J. Shields. “This program is one more way that we can help eliminate barriers to higher education that so many families face and give more students access to the outstanding opportunities and programs our School of Education provides.” 

The loan repayment assistance program will help School of Education graduates repay their federal student, parent PLUS and private alternative loans if their income after graduation is below $48,000. 

Angela Yang, the TRIO student support services advisor and SUCCEED coordinator, is being honored with the 2021 University of Wisconsin-Platteville Outstanding Woman of Color Award. The award recognizes women of color on campus who have shown passion for their work, outstanding university and community service, and dedication to creating an inclusive and respectful environment. Yang is a 2017 alumna of UW-Platteville and describes this achievement as coming full circle.

“It’s been almost eight years that I’ve been a part of the UW-Platteville community as a student and staff member. It’s a real honorary award to receive,” she said. “It means I have impacted individuals in different ways for them to feel I am deserving of this award.”

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Foundation announced the establishment of a new scholarship fund in memory of Dylan LaMere, a UW-Platteville senior who passed away in April. 

"Dylan had a positive impact on all,” said Dylan’s mother, Brenda LaMere. “When he walked into a room people knew it. His bright smile and distinctive laugh were contagious.  Dylan’s genuinely kind, helpful and positive soul exemplified who he was as a person. His hard work and determination were noted, whether on the football or lacrosse fields, within his academics, or at any of his numerous jobs. This scholarship is a way to carry on Dylan’s legacy as a Pioneer forever." 

The Dylan LaMere Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to continuing mechanical engineering students who are Wisconsin residents with a GPA of at least 3.0. LaMere, who was planning to graduate in May, was a mechanical engineering major and is remembered fondly by his professors. 

It's fair to say Scott Upton's head has always been in the clouds – or rather – above them. A passion for aerospace was sparked as a youth and has driven his career and educational journey. Upton received a degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Minnesota before earning a Master of Science in Project Management degree from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. He currently works for Blue Origin, a company Upton said is "paving the road to space."

"The intent of Blue Origin is to facilitate millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth," Upton said. "We're building reusable rockets and launch/re-entry vehicles that will inspire current and future generations to put their businesses in space for the good of the Earth."

Telling the stories of soldiers killed in war started as a small, personal project for Mac Kolar, a 1969 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. About five years ago, the retired U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel began researching and writing about family members and residents of his hometown of Fennimore, Wisconsin. The efforts led him to connect with fellow alumnus Dr. Jim Lawton, a 1967 graduate of UW-Platteville and a former fraternity brother and teammate of Vasilios Demetris — one of the fallen soldiers Kolar was honoring. As Kolar and Lawton came to realize that no Vietnam War veteran memorial existed on campus – nor did a comprehensive list of students or alumni killed in action – the pair set out to change this.

(Please note these clinics have concluded. Posted 3/11/22)

The Grant County Health Department will hold free COVID-19 public vaccination clinics at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville main campus every Thursday, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m., on first floor Royce Hall. The clinics begin June 3 and run through Aug. 12 and are open to anyone (students, faculty, staff, community members) eligible to receive the vaccine. (Update: the clinic will not be held Dec. 23, Dec. 30 and Jan. 6 because of the holidays).

Grant County Health Department will have the one-dose Johnson & Johnson and the two-dose Moderna and Pfizer vaccines available. Those seeking their second doses or booster shots should bring their vaccination cards with them to the clinic.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville was recently designated as an official Mid-America OSHA Education Center training site, making it one of the only universities with a construction management program to be designated as such.  Hosted through the Department of Industrial Studies’ Construction Management and Construction Safety Management programs, this designation will allow industry partners to send employees to UW-Platteville to be certified in Occupational Safety and Health Administration courses.

It's not often two alumni from the same university but different fields find themselves working together, yet this is exactly the case for Jeff Busch and Jane Traffalis.

Busch is based in Portland, Oregon, where he works as an independent project management consultant, specializing in organizational project management and dispute resolution practices. A veteran in his field, Busch's current position follows 40-plus years of professional experience. Busch does more than help clients learn valuable project management skills, he also teaches them to students. He is currently an adjunct instructor at Portland State University, where he teaches three courses.

The Master of Science in Organizational Change Leadership is a relatively new degree program offered at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, but its curriculum addresses a growing trend to prepare future leaders amidst rapidly changing business environments. Given the organizational change leadership field is a broad one, UW-Platteville offers four emphasis areas to help students reach their individual career goals. Of particular note is the Safety Risk Control emphasis, introduced in 2018, which focuses on producing safety and risk control measures for businesses and their teams.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville is one step closer to launching the new Dairy Pilot Plant, thanks to a recent $10,000 grant from Compeer Financial. The proposed plant, which will be located at Pioneer Farm, will provide research and education on dairy food product development while also giving students an opportunity to learn about rural economic development, entrepreneurship and sustainability. The Dairy Pilot Plant will also be integrated into system level research on feed efficiency, energy usage and water usage.

The investment from Compeer Financial’s Fund for Rural America was the catalyst that helped garner additional funding required to secure an architect engineering firm to bring the vision of the Dairy Pilot Plant to life.

In January of 2020, four University of Wisconsin-Platteville engineering students partnered with the City of Cuba City to enhance the Presidential Plaza. This spring, the City of Cuba City received the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Main Street Program Award for its downtown innovation. The senior design team featured 2020 civil engineering graduates Chris Moore, team project manager, Dustin Reynolds, Kyle Samann and Ryan Schuppie.

Dr. Krista Hardyman, associate professor of animal science at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, was awarded $1,500 from the Glenn Webb Education Fund/The Growmark Foundation, which assisted in delivering a quality experience to students who completed coursework virtually this year.  

The funding partially supported laboratory kits for 15 students in Hardyman’s Animal and Food Microbiology course. Students who preferred to work at home this year received a lab kit with the necessary supplies to complete 15 weeks of laboratory exercises at home, using only the provided supplies and a few household items. The microbiology labs introduced students to methods for aseptic technique, collecting and incubating cultures, describing and identifying microbes and more.

Hardyman said the feedback from students completing the labs at home has been positive. 

Through a memorandum of understanding between the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and Wisconsin Technical Colleges, students can transfer their credits from an approved associate's degree program to UW-Platteville. According to the agreement, students transferring into industrial studies will be awarded 27 credits and the requirement for a contiguous minor will be waived. Students will also receive credit for all articulated general education coursework, significantly streamlining students' time to graduation.

Larry and Peggy Hanson recently donated $25,000 to the Dale Dixon Chair of Engineering fund, which supports University of Wisconsin-Platteville faculty. In recognition of their gift, the Hansons will name one of the collaboration studios in the newest engineering building, Sesquicentennial Hall.

Larry Hanson graduated from UW-Platteville in 1971 with a major in civil engineering and was one of Dixon’s students. He fondly remembers his time at UW-Platteville and how the faculty became role models and prepared him for the start of his career in civil engineering.

Dr. Philip Parker, associate dean of University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science, is one of 35 higher education professionals from around the nation selected for the American Association of State Colleges and Universities’ 2021 Emerging Leaders Program.

“I consider it an honor to be selected to this program,” said Parker. “Continuing success depends partly on continuing education, and I look forward to learning and putting into practice all that this program offers.”

During the University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s recent Earth Day celebration, Chancellor Dennis J. Shields furthered the university’s commitment to being a leader in sustainability by pledging to become a zero waste campus by 2035. A zero waste campus is defined as diverting 90% of unwanted items from landfills, through recycling, composting or reusing. 

This past year, COVID-19 has brought many challenges for Wisconsinites, with one of the biggest struggles being internet access and network performances. To examine the issues, two University of Wisconsin-Platteville electrical engineering students, Troy Januchowski and Jacob Hanacek, spent two semesters conducting an independent study with Dr. Xiaoguang Ma, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering. 

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville will honor the May 2021 graduates with a virtual celebration on Friday, May 14. The commencement recognition video will be posted at 9 a.m. and will recognize the graduates from the College of Business, Industry, Life Science and Agriculture; the College of Liberal Arts and Education; the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science; the School of Graduate Studies and associate degree candidates from UW-Platteville, UW-Platteville Baraboo Sauk County and UW-Platteville Richland. The university plans to hold in-person ceremonies for the classes of 2020 and spring 2021 at a later date. 

The Presto Foundation recently furthered its commitment to University of Wisconsin-Platteville engineers with its renewal of funding for the Presto Engineering Scholarship. Established in 2012, the scholarship awards mechanical, industrial and electrical engineering students $13,200 each year. Since the scholarship’s inception, The Presto Foundation has awarded more than $700,000 in scholarship funds, through the UW-Platteville Foundation, benefiting 23 students. Recipients can renew the scholarship each year if they meet the academic criteria. 

Innovation and creativity will be on full display as University of Wisconsin-Platteville engineering students showcase their capstone projects to students, faculty and industry representatives at the spring Senior Design Open House on Wednesday, May 19.  

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville announces that Dr. Philip Parker will become the acting dean of the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science, effective June 15, 2021. Dr. Molly Gribb, who has been the dean since 2015, is retiring from the university. 

Parker is a faculty member of environmental engineering and Associate Dean in the College of EMS.  He joined the university in 1998 as a lecturer in civil and environmental engineering, served as environmental engineering program coordinator for 12 years, Master of Engineering coordinator for three years, and Assistant or Associate Dean in the College for the past seven years. He is a previous recipient of the Alliant Energy Underkofler Award for Teaching Excellence and is a long-time supporter of undergraduate research and Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SOTL). He is an accomplished grant-writer, a licensed professional engineer and a certified Strategic Doing workshop leader. 

While change can be scary for some people, Kat Damiano embraces it – and makes a living helping others do the same.

As a business change manager with SoCalGas in Los Angeles, California, Damiano works as an internal consultant on the SCG enterprise change management team. She currently oversees a five-year, 300-plus stakeholder initiative to design and construct a state-of-the-art gas control facility – a project that brings multiple teams under one roof. This initiative includes creating a new work culture and organizational structure, in addition to new job roles for an array of emerging technology. Despite having previously worked in senior management roles, which had large components of change management, this is her first change-specific role, and Damiano feels certain she would not have been successful attaining it without her education.