University News

Ivanov presents his research in Moscow

Written By: Andrey Ivanov | Published On: | Featured in: History

Dr. Andrey Ivanov, assistant professor of history, recently presented his research on the topic of “David and Goliaths: Wartime Sermons in Russia 1700-1815” in a seminar organized by Moscow's German Historical Institute.


Montgomery honored with Woman of the Year Award

Written By: Alison Parkins | Published On: | Featured in: Campus & Community, Agriculture

Dr. Tera Montgomery, professor of dairy and animal science at UW-Platteville, was selected for the 2020 Carol Sue Butts Woman of the Year Award.


Halfmann honored with Early Career Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence

Written By: Ruth Wendlandt | Published On: | Featured in: Campus & Community, Psychology

Dr. Kameko Halfmann, assistant professor of psychology, is this year’s recipient of the Early Career Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence.


Foundation breaks $4 million in donations for first time

Written By: Alison Parkins | Published On: | Featured in: Alumni, Campus & Community

The UW-Platteville Foundation is celebrating a new milestone, as it recently announced record fundraising for the 2020 fiscal year, which ended on June 30. UW-Platteville alumni, friends and corporate partners donated more than $4 million for the first time ever, exceeding the previous year’s total by $1 million.


Udelhofen receives University Staff Award for Excellence

Written By: Ruth Wendlandt | Published On: | Featured in: Campus & Community

Amy Udelhofen, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville academic department associate for Performing and Visual Arts is receiving the 2020 University Staff Award for Excellence.


McLanahan receives Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence

Written By: Ruth Wendlandt | Published On: | Featured in: Campus & Community, STEM

Dr. Aric Ranen McLanahan, University of Wisconsin-Platteville assistant professor of mechanical and industrial engineering, was selected for the 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.


Pioneer Spotlight: Jeff Gard

Written By: Jason Piddington | Published On: | Featured in: Alumni, Campus & Community

Jeff Gard just finished his 11th season as head basketball coach of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. Being in athletics was always Jeff’s dream and goal as a young man growing up in Cobb, Wisconsin. He was surrounded by coaches who helped mentor and guide him along the way, and coaching was his opportunity to stay in athletics.


Partnership in nationwide engineering network to bring new opportunities

Written By: Alison Parkins | Published On: | Featured in: STEM

Building on its tradition of offering active, hands-on and problem-based learning, the UW-Platteville College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science recently affirmed its place as a leader in engineering education with its acceptance as a partner in the Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network (KEEN).


Pioneer Farm cow takes grand champion at district show

Written By: Ruth Wendlandt | Published On: | Featured in: Agriculture

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Pioneer Farm took home the top honor of grand champion for its four-year-old cow Wiscit Defiant Maya at the Wisconsin District 3 Show in Lancaster, Wisconsin, on June 19. Registered dairy producers from Grant, Lafayette, Iowa, Richland and Crawford counties participated in the competition, which featured 187 cows.


UW-Platteville leads public institutions for value

Written By: Paul Erickson | Published On: | Featured in: Campus & Community

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville is the top public institution in the state for best value, according to the 2020 Payscale ratings.


Pioneer Restore announces launch of new online sales platform

Written By: Joshua Chamberland and Ruth Wendlandt | Published On: | Featured in: Campus & Community

The Pioneer Restore at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville announces the launch of its new online storefront. The sleek, easy-to-use website is designed to make unwanted university-owned items available to the community at affordable prices.


Pioneer Spotlight: Dr. Yan Shi

Written By: Ruth Wendlandt | Published On: | Featured in: STEM

Dr. Yan Shi, associate professor of computer science and software engineering joined the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in 2011. Besides teaching, she is researching several topics related to data mining in social networks.


Grant to help empower young women in computer science field

Written By: Alison Parkins | Published On: | Featured in: Campus & Community, STEM

Donna Gavin, a senior lecturer in computer science and software engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, and founder of Platteville’s Girls Who Code Club, recently received a grant of more than $1,500 from the Platteville Community Fund, which will help support new opportunities for both the middle and high school-aged girls in the club and their college mentors.


Faculty, student respond to the call for innovative solutions during pandemic

Written By: Alison Parkins | Published On: | Featured in: STEM, Research

The creative concepts of five University of Wisconsin-Platteville faculty and one student were recently selected by WiSys in the organization’s Innovation Challenge: COVID-19.


Gordon to give two presentations on recently published book to mark Pride Month

Written By: Alison Parkins | Published On: | Featured in: Arts & Culture

Dr. Phillip Gordon is scheduled to give two online presentations in the coming weeks to discuss his recently published book “Gay Faulkner: Uncovering a Homosexual Presence and Beyond” (December 2019, University Press of Mississippi).


Pioneer Spotlight: Nancy Hammermeister

Written By: Laurie Hamer | Published On: | Featured in: Campus & Community

Ever since Nancy Hammermeister began teaching at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville about 10 years ago, she always encouraged her students to be curious and to ask questions. She is a lecturer of political science and mainly teaches introduction level, general education courses in American government.


Grant leads to new research for glove design

Written By: Alison Parkins | Published On: | Featured in: STEM, Research

Dr. Vettrivel Gnaneswaran, assistant professor of industrial engineering, was recently awarded a Research Infrastructure Program grant by the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium for his research exploring the use of gloves and their effect on performing tasks – the results of which could potentially influence glove redesign in manufacturing, aerospace and healthcare industries, helping people select gloves to maximize safety and productivity.


UW-Platteville students organize Black Lives Matter protest

Written By: Ruth Wendlandt | Published On: | Featured in: Campus & Community

Black Lives Matter is the message two University of Wisconsin-Platteville activists are spreading in Southwest Wisconsin in response to the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery. On June 7, Alvin Watts and Alexandria Lara organized a peaceful protest at City Park in Platteville to bring awareness to systemic racism and police brutality.


Faculty fellowships funded by state-sponsored Dairy Innovation Hub

Written By: Maria Woldt, Dairy Innovation Hub program manager | Published On: | Featured in: Dairy Innovation Hub, Agriculture, Research

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville recently awarded seven faculty research fellowships to help increase dairy-related research capacity through the Dairy Innovation Hub initiative.


UW-Platteville celebrates national Pride Month

Written By: Alison Parkins | Published On: | Featured in: Campus & Community

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville is organizing virtual events throughout June, national Pride Month, to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community.


Pioneer Spotlight: Dr. Kevin Bernhardt

Written By: Alison Parkins | Published On: | Featured in: Campus & Community, Agriculture

As a professor of agribusiness at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and a UW-Extension farm management specialist, Dr. Kevin Bernhardt helps make an impact on both the current and future generations of the local agriculture industry.


Future teachers use technology to provide critical support to more than 100 students during COVID-19 crisis

Written By: Laurie Hamer | Published On: | Featured in: Education

During the COVID-19 crisis, more than 70 UW-Platteville education majors took on the challenge of providing more than 100 homebound K-12 students in 11 school districts in Southwest Wisconsin with online tutoring support to ensure they continued gaining knowledge in a wide variety of subject areas.


Pioneer Spotlight: Dr. Scott Melin

Written By: Ruth Wendlandt | Published On: | Featured in: Campus & Community

University of Wisconsin-Platteville Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Dr. Scott Melin joined UW-Platteville in 2017 and encourages his students to take away these important concepts: a lifelong learning approach, growth mindset and professional skills.


UW-Platteville re-inventing youth summer camps virtually

Written By: UW-Platteville Continuing Education staff | Published On: | Featured in: Continuing Education Institute, Press Release

The UW-Platteville Continuing Education Institute is re-inventing its summer youth series, rolling out 11 virtual camps in place of its traditional face-to-face offerings.


Equipment donation enhances student experience in building construction programs

Written By: Alison Parkins | Published On: | Featured in: Applied Engineering Technology Management

Thanks to a recent donation from industry partner Kraemer Brothers, LLC, the UW-Platteville building construction programs now have a piece of new equipment to offer students additional hands-on experience. The commercial construction firm in Plain, Wisconsin, recently donated a 753 Bobcat skid steer.


A message to the campus community

Written By: UW-Platteville Leadership | Published On: | Featured in: Campus & Community

A message to the UW-Platteville community from university leaders.


No application fee to UW-Platteville branch campuses through June 15

Written By: John Christensen | Published On: | Featured in: Baraboo Sauk County

The already-reduced application fee to attend UW-Platteville Baraboo Sauk County or UW-Platteville Richland will be completely waived from June 5-15, making it even easier for students to explore UW-Platteville’s two branch campuses as they start or continue toward their education goals, according to Assistant Provost for Branch Campus Operations Dr. Michael Compton.


Manuel receives award for research paper on post-Apartheid South African economy

Written By: Laurie Hamer | Published On: | Featured in: Campus & Community

The UW-Platteville Department of Social Sciences recently recognized Elliott Manuel, a soon-to-be senior political science major at UW-Platteville, with the Outstanding Social Sciences Paper Award. The award included a $200 stipend.


Pioneer Spotlight: Krista Eiseman

Written By: Alison Parkins | Published On: | Featured in: Campus & Community, Agriculture

Krista Eiseman has been interested in the field of animal science from a young age. While attending UW-Platteville, she developed a particular interest in meat science. After earning her master's degree from North Dakota State University, where she studied meat science and muscle biology, she returned to UW-Platteville as an assistant professor of animal science in 2017.


Herman lends invaluable medical advice to university

Written By: Paul Erickson | Published On: | Featured in: Campus & Community

Rachel Herman, the UW-Platteville administrative director of Student Health Services, is a board-certified pediatric nurse practitioner who counts public health infectious disease among her expertise. She has been instrumental in not only offering leadership to the UW-Platteville Emergency Operations Center team but also to the UW System, as her pandemic planning was used as a blueprint for the 170,000 students across the state.


Roth receives UW System award for project exploring authentic membership of marginalized identity

Written By: Laurie Hamer | Published On: | Featured in: Campus & Community

UW-Platteville alumnus Jason Roth, who earned a Bachelor of Arts in women, gender, and sexuality studies this May, recently received the UW System Women’s and Gender Studies Consortium undergraduate research award for a workshop he developed, “Who Gets to Represent Whom? Authentic Membership, Organic Voices, and Allyship.”


UW-Platteville continues to grow in online education; celebrating 42 years of experience

Written By: Ruth Wendlandt | Published On: | Featured in: Baraboo Sauk County, Campus & Community, Online Education

For more than 40 years, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville has been an institutional leader in distance education. In 1978, UW-Platteville started a print-based program and then in 1999 the institution became the first public university in Wisconsin to offer degrees online. This experience in leadership helped make a smooth transition when the university and the branch campuses went into alternative delivery mode in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.


Mueller wins UW-Platteville’s WiSys Quick Pitch @ Home competition

Written By: Laurie Hamer | Published On: | Featured in: Psychology, Research

Dana Mueller, a senior psychology major at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville from Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, recently won the university’s WiSys Quick Pitch @ Home competition.


Pioneer Spotlight: Nicole Ryan

Written By: Ruth Wendlandt | Published On: | Featured in: Campus & Community

Nicole Ryan, a University of Wisconsin-Platteville senior regional admission advisor connects prospective students to the university.


Matching gift supports Pioneers Helping Pioneers fund

Written By: Alison Parkins | Published On: | Featured in: Alumni, Campus & Community

Joshua Boots, assistant vice chancellor of development and alumni engagement, announced today that the UW-Platteville Foundation has received a $15,000 matching gift donation from an anonymous couple. This gift will match donations made to UW-Platteville’s $100,000 initiative in support of the Pioneers Helping Pioneers fund.


Mechanical engineering students turn recycled plastic into respiratory face masks

Written By: Ruth Wendlandt | Published On: | Featured in: STEM, Research

To help combat the shortage of personal protective equipment during this COVID-19 crisis, Dr. Jodi Prosise, chair of the UW-Platteville Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, and a team of undergraduate researchers are designing a system to turn recycled plastic into respiratory face masks.


Pioneer Spotlight: Scott Steder

Written By: Laurie Hamer | Published On: | Featured in: Campus & Community, Arts & Culture

Scott Steder, a lecturer of art at UW-Platteville since fall 2017, teaches courses in sculpture, drawing, professional practices and all levels of ceramics. He was first drawn to the field of art in high school, when he took a ceramics class, and he never looked back.


Alumnus finds success in innovation at UW-Platteville, now supports others

Written By: Alison Parkins | Published On: | Featured in: Alumni, Business, STEM

Recent graduate Caleb Dykema is taking the experiences in innovation he found at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and inspiring others to achieve the same through his new podcast, Just the Bulb.


Personalization, accessibility key to adapting to virtual academic support

Written By: Alison Parkins | Published On: | Featured in: Baraboo Sauk County, Campus & Community

Academic support services are a key part of the educational experience at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, and providers of these services – on all three campuses – are ensuring that doesn’t change with the move to alternative delivery.


Dums adapts to new course delivery, credits professors

Written By: Laurie Hamer | Published On: | Featured in: Psychology

Just a few months ago, Emma Dums, a junior psychology major, was doing homework, studying for tests, conducting research and participating in hands-on courses face to face. She never dreamed that, within a short period of time, her life would change dramatically due to the global pandemic COVID-19. However, Dums expresses gratitude for her professors, who have designed new ways of delivering their courses, and provided additional support to ensure that she and her classmates continue to receive an outstanding education.


Elementary education student adapts amidst COVID-19 closures

Written By: Megan Hinderman | Published On: | Featured in: Education

As Michelle Gould entered her final semester as an elementary education student this spring, she was presented with a new challenge when schools were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She was forced to cut short her time teaching second grade, instead assisting with some of their video-conferencing sessions. While not what she expected, Gould and other educators have worked hard to learn from the situation.


UW-Platteville instructor lends emergency management expertise

Written By: Alison Parkins | Published On: | Featured in: Campus & Community, Applied Engineering Technology Management

Julie Durst, a lecturer in UW-Platteville's Department of Industrial Studies, is playing a significant role in Grant County’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Called on for her expertise and nearly two decades of experience in the area of safety and risk management, Durst is serving as public information officer for the Southwest Wisconsin county during this crisis.


Rugby team sends support during COVID-19 crisis

Written By: Ruth Wendlandt | Published On: | Featured in: Campus & Community

The Women’s Rugby Club at UW-Platteville was coming off a terrific fall season. Ranked eighth in the country, they were looking forward to the spring season, but everything changed once COVID-19 hit. Instead of feeling defeated with their season being cancelled, Mackenzie Darkow, president of the rugby team, and her teammates decided to spread virtual messages of hope.


Pioneer Spotlight: Dr. Melissa Gormley

Written By: Laurie Hamer | Published On: | Featured in: Campus & Community

Dr. Melissa Gormley, who began teaching at UW-Platteville in 2008, has served as dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Education since July 2016.


Teal draws on UW-Platteville education, experiences to help others during COVID-19 crisis

Written By: Laurie Hamer | Published On: | Featured in: Alumni, Psychology

During the COVID-19 crisis, University of Wisconsin-Platteville alumni who provide critical services and resources to those in need have risen to the challenge by adapting and innovating new ways of staying connected with their clients in ways that meet safer-at-home guidelines. To do so, they often draw upon their education and experiences at UW-Platteville.


Students to share senior design projects in virtual open house

Written By: Alison Parkins | Published On: | Featured in: STEM

Adaptability is perhaps one of the most important skills an engineer must have, and students in the Senior Design Program at UW-Platteville this spring have had a chance to put this skill to the test. The Senior Design Program pairs student groups with an industry partner to solve real problems or create new products. When the COVID-19 pandemic required students to transition to remote learning, they had to make some quick adjustments. On May 20, students will virtually present their final projects to the public during the Senior Design Open House.


Impact of COVID-19 provides opportunity for research, connections

Written By: Megan Hinderman | Published On: | Featured in: Campus & Community, Environmental Sciences

As organizations large and small struggle to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic, the effects on UW-Platteville and its surrounding communities are far-reaching. Yet, even as their own lives are disrupted, university students and staff have contributed to the greater good by sharing their skills and resources whenever possible and new opportunities for research and community-building have started to arise.


Students join global initiative to share resources to research COVID-19

Written By: Alison Parkins | Published On: | Featured in: STEM

A group of UW-Platteville students and one alumnus have found a creative way to team up, while staying at home, to contribute to the fight against COVID-19. They formed a UW-Platteville team to contribute to the Folding@home project – a distributed computing project that relies on people around the world to volunteer their personal computer resources to run simulations of protein dynamics to help scientists find cures for diseases.


Pioneer Spotlight: Craig Beytien

Written By: Ruth Wendlandt | Published On: | Featured in: Campus & Community

Craig Beytien is the Corporate Relations Executive Director at UW-Platteville. He develops and advances collaborations between industry and the university. Prior to joining UW-Platteville last fall he spent more than 20 years in higher education publishing, content development and educational technology.


UW-Platteville named best value in higher education

Written By: Ruth Wendlandt | Published On: | Featured in: Campus & Community

According to two recently released rankings, UW-Platteville is being recognized as one of the best values in higher education, both in Wisconsin and across the nation.