The University of Wisconsin-Platteville celebrated its 210th commencement on May 13, recognizing more than 970 spring and summer degree candidates in three separate ceremonies. Chancellor Tammy Evetovich presided over the ceremonies for the first time as permanent chancellor.

“We are so proud of your accomplishments and dedication on your journey to where you are today,” Chancellor Evetovich told the candidates. “Today is all about you, and we are honored to celebrate with you.”

The day began with the College of Business, Industry, Life Science and Agriculture ceremony, which honored 305 candidates. This was followed by the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science ceremony, which recognized 300 candidates. The final ceremony celebrated 231 College of Liberal Arts and Education candidates, as well as 36 associate degree and 107 master’s degree candidates.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville will hold its 210th commencement on Saturday, May 13. The College of Business, Industry, Life Science and Agriculture ceremony begins at 9 a.m.; the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science ceremony starts at 12:30 p.m.; and the College of Liberal Arts and Education and associate and master’s degree candidates will be recognized at 4 p.m. Dr. Tammy Evetovich will preside over all commencement ceremonies for the first time as permanent chancellor. She was named UW-Platteville’s 15th chancellor on April 25. All ceremonies will take place in Williams Fieldhouse.

Dr. Douglas Buhler, a 1979 UW-Platteville graduate and associate vice president for research and innovation at Michigan State University, will deliver the commencement address for the College of BILSA ceremony. Dr. Mark Zidon, professor and program coordinator of agricultural education, will serve as the ceremony’s marshal. The valedictorian is Anna Maramonte.

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents honored Plexus Corp. for its collaborations and contributions to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Wednesday at the Markee Pioneer Student Center.

UW System President Jay Rothman, Board of Regents President Karen Walsh and UW-Platteville Chancellor Tammy Evetovich presented the UW System Regents Business Partnership Award to Plexus Corp.’s Senior Vice President of Human Resources Jamie Crouse and Senior Vice President of Engineering and Quality Mike Running.

“UW-Platteville’s partnership with Plexus is evident in multiple ways and a critical driver of the economy in Wisconsin,” Rothman said. “With dozens of Pioneers currently employed, student internships, and ongoing research and project collaborations, these two important pillars share a vision for the region.”

MADISON, Wis.—Dr. Tammy K. Evetovich, interim Chancellor since June 1, 2022, has been named the 15th Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin–Platteville.

The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents today unanimously approved Evetovich’s appointment, following a recommendation made by a selection committee. Evetovich will assume the leadership post immediately.

The U.S. Department of Education announced today that the University of Wisconsin-Platteville is among the 2023 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools Postsecondary Sustainability Awardees.

UW-Platteville was nominated by the University of Wisconsin System. Among the achievements that earned the recognition are the 2.4-megawatt solar array; waste minimization efforts, including the operation of Pioneer Restore; the more than 200 acres of natural recreation area and use of locally-grown foods in dining halls; and academic programs and degrees offered in environmental and sustainability-related fields.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville hosted the third Tri-State Regional Health Care Summit on April 14, welcoming more than 70 major stakeholders in the region to discuss challenges and needs in rural health care. Co-sponsored by Scenic Rivers Wisconsin Area Health Education Center, the event was the third summit hosted by UW-Platteville in the past six years.

“It seems like we have come a long way since that first summit that we held here in November 2017,” said Dr. Wayne Weber, interim provost and vice chancellor of academic affairs. “That resulted in some incredible partnerships and exciting program directions.”

University of Wisconsin-Platteville Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Education Dr. Hilton Kelly announces the hiring of Dr. Tim Buttles as the new director of the School of Education.

Buttles has been at UW-River Falls since 2001, working his way up from assistant, associate and full professor. He has served as the co-chair of the Agricultural Education Department since 2005, and since January 2022, he has also been the interim assistant dean of the College of Education and Professional Studies.

In its ongoing commitment to student success, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Academic Support Programs launched an initiative to provide support to student-athletes, ensuring they receive coaching off the field and court to enhance their academic experience. Wrapping up its third year, the program recently reached a milestone, expanding from working with one athletic team to offering support to all teams.

Haley Rusk, student success and retention coordinator with Academic Support Programs, spearheaded the program in fall 2020.

University of Wisconsin-Platteville Professor and Chair of Mathematics Dr. Barb Barnet has been leading the way as the Science Olympiad head coach at Platteville High School since 2010. Science Olympiad is a national K-12 STEM competition with state chapters. Throughout the school year, the Platteville team has participated in invitational tournaments and competed in the regional tournament in February. They’re awaiting on results to see if they’re headed to state. Barnet explained how students participating in the program are exposed to a variety of scientific fields, but also to the university.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Black Student Union will host the 18th annual Ebony Weekend Conference Friday and Saturday, Feb. 17-18.

"Ebony Weekend is one of Black Student Union's biggest events and every year we look to make it bigger and more exciting than the last,” said Sydney Byas, BSU president who is serving her third year on the board. “This year is very special as we are celebrating Black Student Union's 55th anniversary on campus.”

Byas noted that when it came to choosing the theme, she wanted it to be something that would not only make attendees dive into deep conversation, but would also be something that could be celebrated.

The theme this year is "The Skin I'm In," based on the book by Sharon G. Flake, about a young girl that is bullied for the color of her skin and the journey she takes to ultimately love her skin and everything that comes with it.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Dean of Students Office and University Counseling Services are rolling out a new initiative for students called YOU at UW-Platteville.

YOU is an online well-being platform, offering 24/7 access and support while maintaining privacy and anonymity. The portal is personalized so that it will adapt to changing student experiences, such as stressors, needs and lifestyle. Its goal is to help students succeed in academics and career readiness, thrive in areas of personal wellness and get students motivated and involved. In each of these core areas, users can take confidential questionnaires to assess their current strengths and challenges. Then, the system delivers on-campus resources, wellness tips, modules and other helpful tools based on individual needs.

The UW-Platteville Chancellor Search and Screen committee has begun reviewing the applicants for the permanent chancellor position. The priority deadline for applications was Jan. 17, 2023 for the next leader of the university. 

On-campus interviews are tentatively planned for late March, after spring break. Exact dates and times will be announced once they are scheduled. The goal is to have the chancellor announced by the end of April. More information on the process may be found at https://www.uwplatt.edu/chancellor-search.

With careers spanning some combined 60-plus years in the education field, Jon and Dr. Tori Erickson have had an insider’s look at higher education – both the challenges students can face and the opportunities an education can provide. That’s why they hope their recent gift to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Foundation to establish an endowed scholarship will help more students access an education.

“We wanted to establish this scholarship because we believe that everyone has a right to an education,” said Tori. “However, there are barriers that students have to face, and one of those is the financial aspect of higher education. We hope to eliminate at least one of those barriers with this scholarship.”

The Jon and Tori Erickson Scholarship will be awarded to underrepresented students and students facing hardships or overcoming obstacles.

Nearly 100 University of Wisconsin-Platteville faculty and staff attended the second Transformational Education Conference on Jan. 12 at the Markee Pioneer Student Center. The event was sponsored by the Teaching and Technology Center (TTC). UW-Platteville instructors presented topics related to adaptable pedagogy, and Dr. Mary Beth Leibham, professor of Psychology at UW-Eau Claire, delivered the keynote address.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville celebrated the fall class of 2022, as more than 560 candidates walked across the stage to receive their diplomas and hoods at the 209th commencement held on Dec. 17. The three ceremonies took place inside Williams Fieldhouse.   

Jay O. Rothman, president of the University of Wisconsin System, delivered the principal speaker address for all three ceremonies. He encouraged the graduates to become leaders, to be proactive and to identify their passion and purpose.

One University of Wisconsin-Platteville student is volunteering his time while raising money for UW-Platteville’s Robotics Club.

Junior Scott McDermott, a Platteville native, has worked part-time at John Deere in a student position since 2021 while pursuing a mechanical engineering degree. McDermott works on John Deere’s electrification team, which essentially takes traditionally diesel-powered hydraulically-driven machines and works on electrifying them, switching the propulsion system to electric motors.

This past year, McDermott has donated $3,000 to the UW-Platteville’s Robotics Club through John Deere’s employee giving program, Dollars for Doers. The program allows employees to earn a cash reward for each hour they volunteer, which they then donate to a cause of their choice.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Chancellor Scholarship is a prestigious award given to a selected number of incoming freshmen which covers the cost of tuition and fees. The scholarship is renewable and is focused on leadership, academics and community involvement opportunities. The current Chancellor Scholars represent all three colleges, with a quarter of the students being involved in the Department of Performing and Visual Arts. Seniors Devon Lee, Isabelle Sander, Jenny Spence and junior Guin Diehl all expressed how ecstatic they are to have continued to be Chancellor Scholars throughout their collegiate career, while also being able to participate in activities outside of their respective majors.

“The Green Bandana Project is about raising awareness about mental health,” said Daniel Mincemoyer, University of Wisconsin-Platteville chapter president. “It’s okay to not be okay.”

The activism the group shows on campus is why University Counseling Services honored the Green Bandana Project and the Dean of Students Office with the 2022 Mental Health Matters Award. The award recognizes individuals, groups or departments on campus who have made addressing and responding to mental health a priority to reduce the stigma associated with asking for help.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville will hold its 209th commencement on Saturday, Dec. 17. The ceremony will start at 9 a.m. with the College of Business, Industry, Life Science and Agriculture. The College of Liberal Arts and Education, associate and graduate programs will hold their ceremonies at 12:30 p.m.; followed by the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science at 4 p.m. All ceremonies will take place in Williams Fieldhouse.

Jay O. Rothman, president of the University of Wisconsin System will deliver the principal speaker address for all three ceremonies. Rothman began his tenure as the ninth president of the UW System on June 1. He previously served as the chairman and CEO of the law firm Foley and Lardner LLP. Rothman earned his bachelor’s degree from Marquette University and his law degree from Harvard Law School.

Dozens of students from across all three colleges at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville came together for the fifth annual Holiday Toy Hack, to modify electronic toys for children with special needs. The three-hour event took place on Nov. 19, at the new Huff Family Innovation Center in Sesquicentennial Hall. According to Dr. Hal Evensen, professor of engineering physics and Holiday Toy Hack organizer, 50 students participated and ‘hacked’ 55 toys which will be donated to area families, organizations and clinics.

“I love my job. I love counseling,” said Brittany Howell, multicultural specialist and counselor at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. “Being a former student of color on campus and to now help current students navigate the same journey, it’s full circle.”

Howell, a licensed professional counselor, earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UW-Platteville and returned to her alma mater in December 2021, with the focus of providing counseling services to minority student populations. In her role, Howell facilitates programming including Mental Health Monday, a weekly multicultural support group and is the liaison for the athletics department in providing mental health resources to student-athletes. Howell explains how the outreach programs allow students to have a safe place to engage in open dialogue about mental health topics.

The Clay Club at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville is hosting the fourth annual Platteville Empty Bowls and Chili Cook-Off event on Saturday, Nov. 19 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. in the Platteville City Hall Council Chambers. All proceeds from the event will support the Platteville Food Pantry and Pioneer Provisions, the free pantry and grocery service on campus for students experiencing food insecurity.

Empty Bowls is a grass roots movement that originated at a Michigan high school in 1990. Since then, thousands of clubs, schools, studios and home potters across the globe have worked to support food-related charitable organizations and have raised millions of dollars to help end hunger. According to its website, Empty Bowls is recognized worldwide for the contributions they make to their local communities.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville dedicated a Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2022. The memorial honors 12 UW-Platteville students and alumni who were killed in action in the Vietnam War. Nearly 300 people were in attendance at the dedication ceremony, including next of kin and friends of the 12 veterans being honored.

“It is with great privilege to be here today, to honor our veteran students and alumni and to pay respect to our fallen students who gave their lives in Vietnam,” said Interim Chancellor Dr. Tammy Evetovich. “As Pioneers, I know we all recognize the importance of today, the impact this will have on us tomorrow and the true value of freedom that is our future.”

The former University of Wisconsin-Platteville Chancellor House, located at 895 W. Main St., is now listed for sale. 

The university received permission from the UW Board of Regents last month to sell the 1.028-acre property, which the university has owned since 1997. The colonial-style house contains 4,742 square feet and includes four bedrooms and three full and one-half bathrooms. 

The house was not only home to the leader of the institution, but also served as a social gathering place for various campus groups, such as student organizations, faculty and staff.  

The home was originally built in 1934 and was purchased by UW-Platteville from an alumnus in 1997. 

The listing may found here.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville chancellor search and screen committee has added listening sessions on each branch campus, adding to those already announced on the main campus.

The branch campus listening sessions are:

Thursday, November 3, UW-Platteville Richland

Campus Listening Session

1:30-2:30 p.m.

Pippin Conference Room, Melvill Hall

 

Community Member Listening Session

3-4 p.m.

Pippin Conference Room, Melvill Hall

Wednesday, November 9, UW-Platteville Baraboo Sauk County

Campus Listening Session

1:30-2:30 p.m.

Rodems Room, Aural Umhoefer Building

Community Member Listening Session

3-4 p.m.

Rodems Room, Aural Umhoefer Building

 

The previously announced main campus sessions are:

Monday, October 31

UW-Platteville Community, this message provides an update regarding the Chancellor search. Below is a short description of the essential duties of a Chancellor in the UW-System. We thought it would be helpful to share this foundational information so that our campus community started with a shared understanding of a Chancellor’s required role before we start collecting thoughts and ideas specific to the next UW-Platteville Chancellor.  

University of Wisconsin System Chancellor Position Description 

The seventh annual University of Wisconsin-Platteville Pioneers Day of Giving, held Oct. 6-7, received over 675 donations totaling more than $166,000 from students, faculty, staff, alumni, friends and corporate partners. This year’s largest gift was $25,000 for the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering.

“Many thanks to the donors who made the Pioneers Day of Giving another worthy and successful initiative of the UW-Platteville Foundation,” said UW-Platteville Foundation Board of Directors Chair Joe Denk. “An increase in donors over the previous year led to an increase in funds raised and will enable the Foundation to grow the support it provides to the university.”

Gerald Gunderson, a 1965 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, has been described by those who knew him as living modestly and giving generously to others. Gunderson passed away in 2021, but his generosity will continue to impact UW-Platteville students for generations to come, thanks to a more than $1 million estate gift – one of the largest estate gifts in the UW-Platteville Foundation’s history.

With a lifelong passion for nature and science, Gunderson earned a general science degree from UW-Platteville and later received his master’s degree in biology from Northern Michigan University. He taught middle school science for 30 years and had an interest in collecting fossils, which began in his early teens and continued well past retirement. His interest took him on fossil digs across the country. He was instrumental in major fossil discoveries, wrote or contributed to a dozen papers and even had three fossils named after him.  

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville has been named a 2022-23 Military Friendly School. The university has participated in the Military Friendly survey for the past three years, each year being granted the designation of Military Friendly School.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville will start Homecoming week on Sunday, Oct. 9, with celebrations ending at the lighting of the “M” on Saturday, Oct. 15. This year’s theme is “Haunted Homecoming.” The week will be filled with student activities, athletic events, alumni reunions and Pioneer pride.

The first student event will be a kickball tournament on Oct. 9 at East Turf Practice Field from 1-4 p.m. Other campus events will include a banner ceremony and team trivia, tug of war, house decorations, yell night and coronation. Yell night will take place on Oct. 14 as the UW-Platteville women’s volleyball team hosts UW-La Crosse. The match starts at 7 p.m. at Bo Ryan Court.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville invites the campus community and the public to the eighth annual Indigenous Peoples’ Day Lecture, featuring Jordan Marie Brings Three White Horses Daniel who will share the message of “Running for Justice.” The event will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 12 at 6 p.m. in Nohr Gallery, Ullsvik Hall.

“Since 2015, the goal of the UW-Platteville Indigenous Peoples’ Day Lecture is to amplify Native American voices at this institution,” said Dr. Eugene Tesdahl, associate professor of history and founder of this event. “Even today, these speakers connect with community members, students, staff and faculty. Observing Indigenous Peoples’ Day makes UW-Platteville a stronger and more welcoming university.”

MADISON, Wis.—Karen Walsh, President of the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents, and Jay Rothman, President of the UW System, today appointed a 14-member Search and Screen Committee to help identify the next UW-Platteville chancellor.

Regent Cris Peterson will chair the Search and Screen Committee. Christina Curras, Professor and Department Chair, Civil and Environmental Engineering, will be vice chair. Other members of the committee are:

University of Wisconsin-Platteville Interim Chancellor Dr. Tammy Evetovich kicked off the 2022-23 academic year at the annual faculty and staff convocation on Sept. 1.  

“As I transition into the role of interim chancellor, I want you to know what I value,” said Chancellor Evetovich, who assumed the interim role on June 1. “I value collaboration, both internally and externally, and I believe it’s the foundation for our success.” 

Chancellor Evetovich updated the faculty and staff on other transitions in administration, including Dr. Wayne Weber’s position as interim provost and Dr. Charles Steiner as interim dean of the College of Business, Industry, Life Science and Agriculture. She introduced Dr. Hilton Kelly, who joined the College of Liberal Arts and Education as dean on June 1. Dr. Philip Parker continues to serve as acting dean of the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science. 

Dr. Caryn Stanley, assistant director and professor in the University of Wisconsin-Platteville School of Business, has been teaching at UW-Platteville since 2008 and is a frequent attendee and presenter at local, regional and national professional development events to hone her teaching practice. According to colleagues, whenever conversations of best-in-class teaching practices occur within the School of Business, Stanley’s name arises as an example. Stanley, who creates a space where students show up eager to learn and apply their new knowledge and skills, is being presented with the 2022 Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence.

As someone who is a Certified Professional in Human Resources, Stanley frequently publishes and presents scholarly and applied research to peers at the institutional, regional and national levels. She has been a consistent advocate for others developing their teaching practice, serving as a resource to junior faculty.

As a former international student himself, earning degrees in two different continents, Kokou Gadedji, assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville School of Business, can relate to the challenges and rewards of adapting to new countries and cultures. Gadedji is being recognized with this year’s Excellence in International Advising Award. The award is presented to a faculty or staff member who has had a significant positive impact on an international student and/or the international student population at the university.

“This recognition means a lot coming from the students. I was surprised,” said Gadedji. “I was an international student in Morocco and in Canada. I tell the international students here to be open to the [Platteville] community, to be open to the American community.”

Dr. Will LeSuer, University of Wisconsin-Platteville associate professor and interim chair of the Criminal Justice and Social Sciences Department, has always enjoyed working with students, especially at UW-Platteville, where they say they’re encouraged to spend time and energy helping students succeed.

Described by their colleagues as consistently demonstrating an unwavering commitment to student success and well-being, LeSuer is being honored with the 2022 Outstanding Faculty/Instructional Staff Advisor Award.

Dr. Kristina Fields, professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, is being honored with the 2022 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 others in the campus community. 

“To be honored with this award is humbling,” said Fields. “There are so many people who make a difference to the campus community, I am thankful to be considered one of them.”

Gary Lindahl, University of Wisconsin-Platteville technology support and lecturer in the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science, has been said to possess a helping nature that is a gift to others. Known as the go-to person for implementing new tools to make operational tasks as seamless and easy as possible, Lindahl is being honored with the 2022 Academic Staff Award for Excellence.

Lindahl’s colleagues describe him as someone with integrity, a commitment to maintaining and enhancing the college’s webpages and someone who is helpful through his willingness to research and learn how to use new technologies that will benefit others.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville will celebrate the grand opening of its newest engineering building, Sesquicentennial Hall, on Thursday, Sept. 1. The $55 million building will adjoin Busby Hall of Engineering to create a 200,000-square-foot state-of-the-art complex that supports interdisciplinary engineering and computer science. 

At the center of the building is the Huff Family Innovation Center, which is slated to be one of the largest makerspaces in the Midwest. It will provide a space for community members and students across any discipline to collaborate and create, using tools in woodworking, metals, 3D printing, robotics, textiles and vinyl, and more.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Department of Performing and Visual Arts and the Platteville Summer Arts Festival present the musical “Once.” Winner of eight Tony Awards, the musical is based on the 2007 motion picture, written and directed by John Carney. It includes a book by Irish playwright Enda Walsh and music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, who starred in the original film. The production runs July 29, 30, Aug. 5 and 6 at 7:30 p.m. and July 31 and Aug. 7 at 2 p.m. in the Richard and Helen Brodbeck Concert Hall in the Center for the Arts on the UW-Platteville campus.

Dr. Jenna Zucker, assistant professor of psychology, is being honored with the University of Wisconsin-Platteville 2022 Early Career Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence. The award recognizes a tenure-track faculty member who has made distinguished contributions to the mission of the university as an outstanding teacher. Zucker joined the Department of Psychology in 2019 and teaches courses focused on development.

“My goal in graduate school was to teach at a teaching-focused institution like UW-Platteville. To achieve that goal and be recognized by my colleagues is such an honor,” said Zucker. “This award continues to push me to develop my skills as a teacher and to take risks within the classroom, knowing that the university and my colleagues support those efforts.”

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville will recognize Josh Savoy, Information Technology Services Help Desk supervisor, with the 2022 University Staff Award for Excellence. The award recognizes staff members who provide essential services to the university while demonstrating excellence of performance, personal interaction, and initiative and creativity.

Savoy has worked for UW-Platteville’s Information Technology Services for more than 20 years, beginning as a student network consultant with ResNet in 2000. In 2006, he joined the staff full time, eventually becoming ResNet Help Desk Manager and ITS Help Desk Manager. 

“I enjoy helping students, faculty and staff with their tech needs when things are not working right for them,” said Savoy. “I like seeing the student employees get that ‘ah-ha’ moment when they figure something out and are able to help fellow students or faculty and staff.”

Dr. Douglas Selent, assistant professor of computer science and software engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville is bringing awareness to neurodiversity through his Wisconsin Teaching Fellows and Scholars (WTFS) Program Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) project. The program, “offers faculty and teaching academic staff a unique opportunity to collaborate with other exceptional teachers from across the UW System and from various disciplines.” As a selected teaching fellow, Selent is finalizing his research on developing a game to be used in his algorithm course this fall.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville celebrated its 208th commencement, recognizing the class of 2022 and graduates of spring 2020, summer 2020, fall 2020 and spring 2021. The two ceremonies took place on May 14 in the Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium.

Chancellor Dennis J. Shields acknowledged how navigating an academic path is not always easy and reflected on the perseverance it took for the graduating classes to earn their degrees.

“Today’s ceremony is not only a celebration of your transition from one chapter to the next of your life’s journey, but is also representative of the opportunity that you all share in making a positive difference in your lives, in the lives of others and in the world,” said Chancellor Shields. “Some of you have been patiently waiting for this moment since the early days of the pandemic. I applaud your collective patience and persistence in being here to participate in today’s graduation ceremony.”

To celebrate a special UW-Platteville commencement, the lighting of the M and fireworks are planned for this Saturday around 9:15 p.m.

The university will celebrate the class of 2022 and graduates of spring 2020, summer 2020, fall 2020 and spring 2021 at the 208th commencement on Saturday. The College of Business, Industry, Life Science and Agriculture ceremony, which will include graduate programs and associate degree candidates, will take place at 10 a.m. The College of Liberal Arts and Education and College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science ceremony will take place at 2 p.m.

The two ceremonies will take place in the Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium to accommodate space for this spring's graduates as well as those whose ceremonies were postponed due to COVID.

When Baird Miller came to UW-Platteville, the Madison, Wisconsin native and former competitive swimmer described himself as feeling “like a fish out of water.” However, his love for swimming opened up new, unexpected connections for him on campus and in the greater Platteville community that he still holds on to today, even after graduating with his degree in psychology last December. 

“I experienced a little culture shock,” said Miller. “Spending my whole life in Madison, I was more accustomed to larger metropolitan areas.”

Miller looked for any excuse to be in the pool. After the first couple weeks of classes, he started teaching children’s swim lessons for UW-Platteville’s Continuing Education Institute. Miller found out that the Continuing Education Institute also coordinated senior water classes and thought teaching would be a great way to meet the community.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville will celebrate the class of 2022 and graduates of spring 2020, summer 2020, fall 2020 and spring 2021 at the 208th commencement on Saturday, May 14. The College of Business, Industry, Life Science and Agriculture ceremony, which will include graduate programs and associate degree candidates, will take place at 10 a.m. The College of Liberal Arts and Education and College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. The two ceremonies will take place in the Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville announced a new program to strengthen the connection between athletics and academics. Launching this fall, the Athletic Mentor for the Pioneers (AMP) program will match faculty and academic staff mentors with athletic teams in order to enhance the experience of the 500-plus student-athletes on campus, as well as the greater university and Platteville community. 

The faculty and staff mentors will build relationships with the student-athletes and coaches on their assigned athletic team, giving everyone the opportunity to gain insights into both the athletics and academic side of the student experience. 

“This will give the AMP mentors an inside look at the commitment and dedication required by an intercollegiate athlete,” said Dr. Tim Deis, a professor of mathematics who helped spearhead the new program. “It will also help communicate to athletes and coaches the academic expectations of a college student.” 

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville will host Danielle Feinberg, a visual effects supervisor at Pixar Animation Studios, as this year’s distinguished lecturer. Feinberg’s lecture, “Bringing Imagined Worlds to Life,” is open to students, faculty, staff and community members and will take place from 10 a.m.-noon on Tuesday, April 12 on Bo Ryan Court inside Williams Fieldhouse. 

Feinberg graduated from Harvard University with a bachelor’s degree in computer science. She began her career at Pixar in 1997. Her first position was on the movie “A Bug’s Life” as a render wrangler. From this entry-level position, she soon advanced to lead the otherwise all-male department. 

A dozen University of Wisconsin-Platteville students recently competed against each other, while helping local Platteville businesses reduce their carbon footprint and save money, as part of Trane Technologies’ inaugural Carbon Reduction Energy Blitz Challenge at UW-Platteville. 

The week-and-a-half-long challenge partnered four teams of three UW-Platteville students with a faculty mentor and a mentor from Trane. Students worked with a Platteville business to identify ways it can reduce its carbon footprint, exploring all areas from energy use to waste to habits and culture. Participating businesses included Los Amigos, Barbershop Rock, Driftless Market and The Mining and Rollo Jamison Museums.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Hispanic Outreach program continues to grow as it connects the institution, area businesses and Southwest Wisconsin Hispanic and Latinx communities through a variety of initiatives. Established in 2019, the program’s mission is to enhance outreach activities to build trusted relationships through ongoing community dialogue. According to Lehman Heaviland, interim Hispanic Outreach coordinator, the program is reaching nearly 150 people a week. 

“There are three objectives for Hispanic Outreach,” said Heaviland. “It’s helping with translations, getting ESL [English as a Second Language] help for students in the schools and in the community for adults. The third objective is making the connections.”

University of Wisconsin-Platteville Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Dr. Tammy Evetovich announced the selection of Dr. Hilton Kelly as the next dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Education. 

“I am excited to be welcoming Dr. Kelly to our team here at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville,” said Evetovich. “I think the Platteville community will find him to be an avid learner and achiever that will advocate for the important foundation and professional growth provided by the excellent faculty and staff in the College of Liberal Arts and Education. He is truly a collaborative leader with great ideas and holds a strong commitment to student success.”

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Black Student Union will host the 17th annual Ebony Weekend Conference Friday and Saturday, Feb. 18-19. The conference will begin at 5:30 p.m. Friday in the Markee Pioneer Student Center University Rooms and will conclude Saturday night in Velzy Commons, Ullsvik Hall.

The conference celebrates generations in the Black community and aims to bridge the gap between them through workshops, entertainment, social interaction, inspiring lectures and substantial dialogue focusing on solutions to common problems in the Black community. This year’s theme is “Breaking Barriers” and will explore different ways the Black community has created opportunities for itself in academia, the workforce, society, politics and beyond.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville celebrated more than 600 students as they walked across the stage to receive their diplomas and hoods at the 207th commencement held on Saturday, Dec. 11. The three ceremonies took place inside Williams Fieldhouse.

Chancellor Dennis J. Shields encouraged the graduates to remain lifelong learners. He emphasized the importance of how a true education should enable a person to listen without judgement. 

“The ability to step outside of oneself and view an issue or topic from someone else’s perspective is incredibly useful and practical in our lives,” said Shields. “It’s what some refer to as being capable of empathy.”

Shields also addressed how the pandemic, in some ways, has prepared the graduating class in how to deal with future challenges. 

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville community is coming together to give back this holiday season by stocking the shelves at Pioneer Provisions. To help raise awareness, the UW-Platteville Alumni Association is partnering with Pioneer Provisions, a free pantry and grocery service on campus for students experiencing food insecurity. According to Stephanie Young, UW-Platteville Dining Services registered dietitian, Pioneer Provisions has seen a 22% increase of pantry users this past year.

“Our alumni have been big supporters of Pioneer Provisions. Some have reached out to donate in the past, describing a desire to help current students who are struggling,” said Young. “Collaborating with the Alumni Association helps us reach out to alumni who may not be aware that food insecurity exists at their alma mater and may be able to help.” 

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville hosted several specialty visits this fall, bringing dozens of students from across the tri-state area to campus. The events included Spanish Visit Day on Oct. 16, a Darlington [Wisconsin] High School ESL group visit on Oct. 21 and, most recently, a Multicultural Visit Day on Nov. 13. The outreach events gave prospective students with similar backgrounds the opportunity to tour campus, interact with current students and learn about different resources and student organizations. 

UW-Platteville alumna and Darlington High School bilingual teacher Kalee Crist brought 35 of her Spanish-speaking students to observe the classroom of Dr. Chris Schulenburg, professor of Spanish. The school visit was through the Paths to Platteville program. Schulenburg called it a valuable experience for everyone involved.

Created over a decade ago, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Midwest Culturally Inclusive Conference will return this March to offer workshops, presentations and panels on various topics related to diversity, equity and inclusion. Open to students, faculty, staff and community members, the conference has, in past years, drawn nearly 1,000 attendees from across the Midwest. Conference organizers are currently accepting program proposals through Dec. 29. 

Following last year’s fully virtual series, this year’s conference will be held in a hybrid format. In-person keynote speakers will bookend the conference on March 1 and 31, and a variety of virtual workshops and presentations will be offered throughout the month. According to conference organizers, the hybrid approach was determined by survey results showing that participants enjoyed the flexibility and recording capabilities of a virtual setting, while also looking forward to some in-person engagement.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville will celebrate its 207th commencement on Saturday, Dec. 11. The ceremony will start at 9 a.m. with the College of Business, Industry, Life Science and Agriculture. The College of Liberal Arts and Education and graduate programs will hold their ceremonies at 12:30 p.m.; and the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science will follow at 4 p.m. All ceremonies will take place in Williams Fieldhouse.

The College of BILSA will recognize 182 candidates. The senior speaker is Amber Brand, an accounting, integrated supply chain management and management triple major, from Kieler, Wisconsin. Dawn Drake, who retired from UW-Platteville in 2018, will deliver the principal speaker address. Drake worked in the UW System for 33 years and was central in developing the university’s first online programs. She oversaw distance and continuing education at UW-Platteville from 1999 until her retirement.

The 2021 University of Wisconsin-Platteville Pioneers Day of Giving, held Oct. 14-15, received over 640 donations totaling more than $143,000 from alumni and friends. This year’s Day of Giving spanned two days, allowing for 1,866 minutes to give in honor of the university’s founding year. A record number of people participated this year, including more students than ever before.

"I am so proud to be part of this Pioneer family,” said Scott S. Baumgartner, chair of the UW-Platteville Foundation and 1972 UW-Platteville graduate. “The outpouring support of our alumni, friends and corporate partners is truly inspiring. Thank you to everyone who participated in Pioneers Day of Giving. Your generosity will have a profound difference."

Syrian refugee Mariela Shaker will perform and speak on the topic of civil liberties at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville on Monday, Nov. 22. Shaker was originally scheduled to perform at UW-Platteville in March of 2020, but the event was cancelled due to COVID-19. Shaker, who fled the war in Syria, is a motivational speaker, violinist and professor at Monmouth College. She was granted asylum in the United States in 2013 and has since traveled across the world sharing her story. 

Shaker’s presentation will be held in the Richard & Helen Brodbeck Concert Hall in the Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m. Admission is free.

During a ceremony at the State Capitol on Oct. 29, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Department of Campus Climate was honored with the 2021 Ann Lydecker Educational Diversity Award from the State Council on Affirmative Action. 

The award honors institutions of higher learning for exceptional efforts in preparing people with marginalized identities, women, and persons with disabilities for employment in the state of Wisconsin. The State Council on Affirmative Action noted the Department of Campus Climate’s commitment to the recruitment, retention and promotion of a diverse workforce through various initiatives and programs. 

Familiar traditions returned this year when the University of Wisconsin-Platteville celebrated Homecoming last week – many of which would not have been able to take place without the support of the community partners who have contributed to the success of UW-Platteville’s Homecoming year after year.

This was the 11th year the UW-Platteville Alumni Association and Culver’s of Platteville teamed up for the Homecoming Custard Creation Challenge, in which Culver’s of Platteville accepts custard creation submissions. After finalists are chosen, the public, alumni and UW-Platteville community vote on their favorite flavor. The winning flavor is announced the week of homecoming and enjoyed at the Alumni Homecoming Luncheon.

University of Wisconsin System Interim President Tommy Thompson visited the University of Wisconsin-Platteville on Oct. 18 to help kick off Homecoming week and encourage students to get the COVID-19 vaccination. More than 200 students gathered in the Markee Pioneer Student Center to hear Thompson, who is also the former governor of Wisconsin, as well as celebrate the grand opening of Pioneer Sweets – UW-Platteville’s newest on-campus, student-run ice cream production business. 

Thompson began by thanking faculty for their hard work during the past unprecedented year. 

Community partners have stepped up to provide support for the University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s new FIRST LEGO League, a program that introduces STEM to children ages 4 to 16. Corporate and organization donations so far have included $1,750 from Walmart, $1,500 from Veridian Homes, $1,000 from the Rotary Club of Southwest Wisconsin and $250 from Kraemer North America. In addition to these monetary donations, Envision Tees has also agreed to be the FIRST LEGO League T-shirt sponsor. Five individual donors have contributed a combined amount of more than $400.

"Walmart is proud to be part of the Platteville community and strives to be a part of its development whenever possible," said Josh Ovsak, general manager of Platteville Walmart.

When a champion tree on the University of Wisconsin-Platteville campus was damaged in a storm last summer, faculty teamed up with an industry partner to turn the chance to save it into a one-of-a-kind learning opportunity for students. 

The more than 100-year-old Northern catalpa tree, just south of Karrmann Library, was designated as a Wisconsin Champion Tree in 2004, recognized as the largest in the state of that species. Known for its large leaves and trumpet-shaped white flowers in early summer, the Northern Catalpa is native to the Midwestern United States.

“It is really exciting to have such an amazing tree on campus,” said Dr. Donita Cartmill, professor and program coordinator for environmental horticulture. “It is located in a prominent location, and most in the area are aware of its presence.”

Dr. Lucie Kadjo, assistant professor and coordinator of the Agribusiness Program at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, and Kathleen Kerr, academic advisor and coach at UW-Platteville, were recently recognized by the Wisconsin Academic Advising Association for excellence in advising.

Kadjo is receiving the 2021 WACADA Faculty Advisor Excellence Award. She teaches several agribusiness courses and is the advisor of the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) club. 

“I am very honored to receive the WACADA Advising award,” said Kadjo. “This award is a recognition of my contribution towards students’ success, and I am very grateful and thankful to the students and people who have acknowledged my work.”

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville will celebrate Homecoming week from Oct. 17-23. After celebrating Homecoming virtually last year, in-person celebrations will return this year, with the 2021 theme “Game On.” The university will host several activities throughout the week for students, alumni, faculty, staff and community members.

Two events leading up to the official Homecoming week will kick off the celebration. Oct. 14 marks the sixth annual Pioneers Day of Giving, a day focused on fundraising to support student success in all its forms. Chancellor Dennis J. Shields will host a virtual Homecoming kickoff, featuring updates from the university leadership team, on Oct. 15.

Members of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville community, partners, and local leaders gathered on Oct. 6 to celebrate the construction of the forthcoming Sesquicentennial Hall – UW-Platteville’s newest state-of-the-art engineering building.

The $55 million Sesquicentennial Hall will adjoin Busby Hall of Engineering to create a 200,000-square-foot complex that supports interdisciplinary engineering and computer science. A massive innovation center, an accessible green roof, exposed building infrastructure, and several state-of-the-art teaching laboratories will make the building itself a learning tool and a national exemplar for transforming engineering education. 

“This building project is one of the ways that we can continue to provide our campus, our staff and our students with the best possible environment to achieve their academic and professional goals,” said Chancellor Dennis J. Shields. “We are educating students for the jobs of the future.”

When the COVID-19 pandemic prevented education students from completing their practicum hours in local elementary schools last fall, Dr. Rea Kirk, a professor of special education at UW-Platteville, suggested students go out into the community to make a difference. Two senior education students, Jeanna Rupnow and Kali Oyen, decided to work together to give back and do something that would make a real impact on the community. They approached Kelly Jo Hadfield, Student Center coordinator and Platteville resident, and asked her what she wished to see in the community. Hadfield, who has two elementary-aged sons on the autism spectrum, gave Rupnow and Oyen the idea of playground communication boards, as her oldest, Jacob, is non-verbal and has limited ways of communicating with his peers.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville will host its sixth annual Indigenous Peoples’ Day Lecture, “Hocąk: Language is Our Culture,” presented by Andrew W. Thundercloud. The event will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 13 from 6-7:30 p.m. in Nohr Gallery, Ullsvik Hall and is open to the public. 

Thundercloud was born and raised in Tomah, Wisconsin. He attended UW-Madison and served in the U.S. Navy, with his last tour of duty in Vietnam as a corpsman with the U.S. Marine Corps. As an elder of the Ho-Chunk Nation, he later became involved with the Ho-Chunk Language Program as a teacher and curriculum developer. 

University of Wisconsin-Platteville Chancellor Dennis J. Shields delivered the annual faculty and staff convocation on Thursday, where he reflected on the past year while sharing his outlook for the upcoming academic year. 

“Every new school year presents us with the ability to renew our focus, work together and make a positive impact on our campus community,” said Chancellor Shields.

The topics he addressed included the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the community and individual health, and political and social unrest, while also highlighting the resistance movements from across the country.

For the second consecutive year, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Foundation is celebrating record fundraising, thanks to the generous contributions from UW-Platteville alumni, friends and corporate partners. Nearly $4,800,000 was raised during the 2021 fiscal year, providing scholarships, supporting academic programs and capital building projects, and enriching student-life experiences. The fiscal year ended on June 30 with more than 4,600 donors. 

"One of the lessons that I'll take from this past year is that when we work together, we can achieve anything," said Chancellor Dennis J. Shields. "The Foundation, our donors, faculty, staff, and students all play a significant role in our ability to achieve our institutional goals and fundamental mission. The tremendous efforts of our entire campus community ensured that our institution may continue to have agency in determining our future together." 

Three current and former staff members at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville are being honored with the 2021 Excellence in International Advising Award. Tammy Salmon-Stephens, Barbara Kluesner and Lisa Lloyd were selected for the award, which is presented annually to faculty or staff members who demonstrate their passion for and innovation in helping students incorporate an education abroad experience in their degree program or have had a significant positive impact on the international student population at the university.

Salmon-Stephens has worked at UW-Platteville since 1997 and is currently the director of the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science Student Success Programs. She is actively involved in programs to support women and underrepresented minorities in STEM fields and student success, and she said the opportunities to work with international students in this role has left a lasting impact. 

Christine Wunderlin is being honored with the 2021 Limited Term Employee Staff Award for Excellence. Wunderlin retired from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in May as the testing center program associate. The award recognizes a staff member who has provided essential services to the university while demonstrating excellence of performance, personal interaction, and initiative and creativity. 

“It was a big surprise. I did not expect it,” said Wunderlin. “[The award] confirmed what I had always thought, which is that I honestly had the best supervisor and colleagues.” 

Wunderlin began her tenure at UW-Platteville in 2013 and held positions in Services for Students with Disabilities and most recently in the Testing Center.

Dr. James Hampton, associate professor and program coordinator in the University of Wisconsin-Platteville School of Agriculture is the recipient of this year’s Innovations in Teaching with Technology Award. The award program provides faculty and teaching academic staff with funds to purchase technology with the potential to improve teaching and learning.

Hampton’s project is titled Incorporating Draw It to Know It into an Anatomy and Physiology Course. The proposal will incorporate a web-based application called Draw it to Know it, to enhance student learning of key concepts by utilizing application modules and developing custom tutorials within the application. 

Dr. Andrey Ivanov, associate professor of history at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, was selected for the 2021-22 Wisconsin Teaching Fellows and Scholars Program. Ivanov is one of four UW-Platteville faculty members selected for this UW System program, which offers faculty a unique opportunity to collaborate with other teachers from across the system and complete a Scholarship of Teaching and Learning project.

Jessica Brogley, a senior lecturer in the University of Wisconsin-Platteville School of Education, was selected to receive UW-Platteville’s 2021 Academic Staff Award for Excellence. This award is presented to an instructional or non-instructional academic staff member with a minimum of 12 consecutive months of employment at UW-Platteville who has provided essential services to the university while demonstrating excellence of performance, personal interaction, initiative and creativity.

Patti Mitch has always been one who steps in, steps up, or steps forward when something needs doing – a trait she admits to having her whole life. But she deflects credit, expressing admiration toward others she sees who are  “doing far more than what I do."  Mitch, the IT support specialist for the UW-Platteville Baraboo Sauk County branch campus, is receiving this year’s UW-Platteville University Staff Award of Excellence, for what her nominators described as her remarkable positive attitude, thorough expertise in her position leading all IT support for the branch campus, and her “taking the hearts” of every student and staff member she helps support. 

Chancellor Dennis J. Shields announced that the University of Wisconsin-Platteville is welcoming students, faculty and staff back in full face-to-face capacities, on all three campuses, for the 2021-22 academic year.

“I am excited for this upcoming academic year and the traditional college experience that our students will be returning to or experiencing for the first time,” said Chancellor Shields. “It is because of the willingness of our students, faculty and staff – on all three campuses – to adapt to changes last year and respect their peers and greater communities that we are now in a position to re-open fully face-to-face.” 

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers visited the University of Wisconsin-Platteville on Monday, July 19, where he met with university leaders, toured the site of the soon-to-be-completed 2.4 megawatt solar array and the newly renovated Boebel Hall.  

Scheduled to be operational in October, the solar array will be the largest state-owned solar array in Wisconsin and is projected to offset electricity by 17%, saving an annual $217,000 and reducing carbon emissions by 2,300 tons per year. The solar array is located on five acres of south-facing hill in UW-Platteville’s Memorial Park. Plans for the project stemmed from a 2018 petition, signed by more than 300 students, asking the university to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2030. The solar array will make UW-Platteville the sixth-highest on-site producer of renewable energy among higher education institutions in the nation.

Dr. Lucie Kadjo, assistant professor and coordinator of the Agribusiness Program at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, says that working with students is her passion. 

“I love making a difference in students’ academic lives through my advising role,” said Kadjo. “I want to be that advisor who inspires students to make strategic decisions that will lead them to success, and in turn, is inspired to learn to be a better advisor.”

She is being recognized for this work as the recipient of the 2021 UW-Platteville Outstanding Faculty/Instructional Academic Staff Academic Advisor Award.  

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. 

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.”

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.

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.

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.”

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 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.

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.

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. 

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 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. 

Dr. Holly Attenborough, associate professor of mathematics at UW-Platteville, was recently honored with the 2021 Distinguished Teaching Award from the Wisconsin Section of the Mathematical Association of America.

The Wisconsin Section Distinguished Teaching Award was established in 1991 to emphasize the high importance that colleges and universities in Wisconsin place on teaching mathematics. Winning nominees must display extraordinary success in teaching mathematics. At most, one award is given per year. Attenborough is the 25th recipient in the 30-year history of the award, and the fourth from UW-Platteville. 

L. Joseph Barnes, assistant professor in the School of Business at UW-Platteville, decided to pursue academia after the encouragement from friends. “I was told I should try teaching because they thought I was passionate, had good subject matter knowledge and thought I was good with young people,” he said. “I was doing something different at the time, looking for a career change and someone suggested teaching based on those three attributes.”

Barnes received his undergraduate degree in accounting from Howard University. He earned his master’s degree in finance from Duke University and is currently working on his doctorate of business administration from UW-Whitewater. Barnes is also a level two certified financial analyst candidate.

With construction of Sesquicentennial Hall underway, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Foundation is offering alumni, friends, students, faculty, staff and corporate partners the opportunity to be a visible part of its engineering legacy by sponsoring an engraved paver along the walkways and patios surrounding Sesquicentennial Hall and Busby Hall – formerly Engineering Hall. 

Three sizes of pavers are available for sponsorship. Each sponsorship directly supports undergraduate research opportunities in UW-Platteville’s College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science. Participation in research is one of the most impactful opportunities students find at UW-Platteville, allowing them to build connections with faculty, clarify their area of interest, contribute their knowledge to solve real-world problems, and prepare for the workforce or continued education.  

Forty-four University of Wisconsin-Platteville students were recently inducted into Phi Kappa Phi, an honor society that recognizes academic achievement of top students in all majors. 

Selection of students is made on the basis of academic achievement supported by good character and is designed to promote academic excellence in higher education and recognize outstanding achievements.

Two $500 scholarships were awarded this year, supported by the scholarship fund of the late Chancellor Emeritus Bjarne Ullsvik and Lucille Ullsvik. This year’s scholarship recipients were Brook Gassman, a junior from Platteville, majoring in psychology, and Michael Pliner, a junior from Lone Rock, Wisconsin, majoring in criminal justice. 

In honor of Earth Day, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville will be hosting a virtual event, Pioneers Protecting the Planet and Transforming Campus, from 1-2 p.m. on Thursday, April 22.

Faculty and staff who are actively engaged in environmental programs on and off-campus will discuss the active sustainability programs on campus, as well as building renovations at Boebel Hall and Sesquicentennial Hall.

Among those presenting is Amy Seeboth-Wilson, UW-Platteville’s sustainability coordinator, who will speak about UW-Platteville’s solar array, which is scheduled to be operational by fall 2021. It will be the largest state-owned solar array in Wisconsin and make the university the sixth-highest on-site producer of renewable energy among higher education institutions in the nation.

More than a dozen students recently completed the new five-week workshop, “Building Leaders Through the Prioritization of Self,” hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Office of Multicultural Student Affairs. Created in response to the specific needs of underrepresented minority students at UW-Platteville, the workshop – developed and led by OMSA Advisor Samantha Lopez – takes a unique approach to leadership development as it explores the interconnected nature of self-care, mental health and leadership.

In her initial outline of the workshop, Lopez considered the traditional topics of a leadership program, such as business attire, time management and a leader’s role in the community. However, Lopez said when her supervisor challenged her to do something different, she began to re-focus on the particular needs of the students at this time. 

Growing up, Dr. Bob Demaree, Director of Choral Activities at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville was surrounded by music. His dad was a professional musician and a professor at Indiana University at South Bend. Although Demaree was raised in a musical household, he had many interests and began his collegiate journey at Indiana University as a chemistry major.  

“I was in their honors chem program. I had an amazing high school chemistry teacher, and I loved it. I loved the ideas of chemistry and problem solving. I made a mistake, because at that point in my life, I didn’t know what engineering was and Indiana was not an engineering school,” he said. “I was still active in music, and after a couple of years, I realized it was what I knew best and what I felt most strongly about. I switched to choral music.”

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville will host Dr. Salman Khan as the latest speaker in its Distinguished Lecturer series. The event is open to UW-Platteville students, faculty and staff, and will take place via Zoom on Wednesday, April 14, from 10-11 a.m.

Khan is the founder and CEO of Khan Academy, a free online learning platform meant to provide anyone with an internet connection the resources for a meaningful education. Inspired by his time tutoring his cousin over the internet, Khan began producing the nonprofit’s video tutorials and posting them online. As these gained a large amount of traction, he shifted to doing this full time, eventually releasing 6,500 video tutorials on diverse topics across the spectrum of STEM and beyond.

Triston King is the associate director in the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs at UW-Platteville. The Milwaukee native earned his undergraduate degree in communication with a minor in women and gender studies from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and his master’s degree in student affairs of higher education from Marquette University.

What was it like starting in your position in March 2020, just before campus went remote?

It was quite an unexpected experience. I am blessed to work with a staff who puts both students’ needs and our own needs into consideration as we work virtually. I do miss having organic conversations with students who just happen to pass by in person, so once things are safe to return, I'm excited to have people around.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

After growing up in rural Sabula, Iowa, Nicole Ruchotzke attended the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, earning a degree in biology. From there, she went on to earn her master’s in public health at Concordia University before returning to her alma mater in 2017, where she joined the Office of Professional Program Support as an advisor.  

“As a college student my favorite thing to do was plan out my class schedule,” said Ruchotzke. “The opportunities to learn new subjects and try new things always seemed wide open when it came to registration season. Therefore, when the advisor position was posted, I thought it would be awesome to be able to do this for a living.”

Ruchotzke now lives out her passion every day as she helps a diverse range of students accomplish their academic goals. 

What does a typical workday look like for you?

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville, in partnership with the Southwestern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, has selected Jeremiah “Maia” Donohue as the inaugural leader of the new Innovation Driving Entrepreneurship Accelerator Hub, known as the IDEA Hub.  

The IDEA Hub was funded in part by a highly competitive grant received by UW-Platteville and SWWRPC last September. The U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Build to Scale Program’s Venture Challenge grant promises to bring nearly $1.1 million of new investment to the region. The IDEA Hub will support innovators and entrepreneurs translate ideas into action with a goal of creating more high tech jobs and increasing economic vibrancy of Southwest Wisconsin communities.  

Becky Digman, a 2011 alumna of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville who earned her degree in business administration, returned to her alma mater in 2018 as a financial specialist in the Cashier’s Office. She currently works in the Financial Aid Office as the scholarship coordinator and financial aid counselor.

“I love working in higher education – who doesn’t want to work at their alma mater,” said Digman. “I love the fact that I can relate to students as I went through the same experiences, and it is very rewarding to me to give back to my alma mater.”  

Digman connects with current and future Pioneers about scholarship opportunities and financial aid packages. Digman said she enjoys that her workday is never the same. 

This spring, in an effort to build a more inclusive visit program and connect students with similar interests and backgrounds, the UW-Platteville Welcome Center is offering a variety of different specialty visit opportunities.

“We are excited to offer some new specialty visit options for our prospective students that are unique to them and connect with different resources and departments here at UW-Platteville,” said Nicole Mitchell, campus visit specialist at UW-Platteville. “Creating a more inclusive visit program allows us to take steps to follow through on our mission. We are hoping these new options will meet students where they are at as a result of COVID-19.”

Among the new specialty visit options are First-Generation Fridays and multicultural visit days.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville will host a panel of experts to discuss the latest information regarding the coronavirus and vaccine. The event – COVID-19: Vaccines, Variants and Community Health – will take place virtually on Thursday, March 11, from 5–6:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public. 

Since graduating from UW-Platteville in 2017, Caitlyn Chiaverotti, interim education abroad specialist, has worked as an assistant within the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs and the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Never having been abroad herself until she was a student at UW-Platteville, she said she feels most accomplished now when she is helping other students fulfill their study abroad dream. Though the priorities of her position in the Education Abroad program have shifted since the beginning of the pandemic, Chiaverotti is working to ensure the program can continue stronger than ever afterwards.

You graduated from UW-Platteville with double majors in international studies and Spanish. As a student, what drew you to these fields of study?

Pioneer Provisions, the free pantry at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville for students experiencing food insecurity, has opened its new location within Glenview Commons. The pantry is now located in the northeast entrance of Glenview Commons. The new location provides more space, has new equipment and offers a selection of school supplies, household items and clothing from the new Pioneer Restore “Free-Store” for students.

Michael Martin is in his sixth season at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.  Martin started as an assistant athletic trainer and strength and conditioning coach.  He maintains his role as an assistant athletic trainer but is now the coordinator for strength and conditioning of Olympic sports. Martin graduated from Loras College in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training and earned a Master of Science in Kinesiology at UW-Madison in 2016.  As a graduate student, Martin worked with the University of Wisconsin-Madison's strength and conditioning program, working mainly with the football team.  Over the summer, Martin and Head Football Strength and Conditioning Coach Jason Wagner developed the Pioneer Performance Center to maximize space for student-athletes and health and human performance students to work out.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville received state approval Thursday to construct a 2.4 megawatt solar array in Memorial Park. This will be the largest solar array owned by a Wisconsin state agency and will make the university the sixth-highest on-site producer of renewable energy among higher education institutions in the nation, setting UW-Platteville apart as a leader in its commitment to renewable energy. 

“We are excited to take this momentous step in our commitment to sustainability,” said Chancellor Dennis J. Shields. “These efforts will save taxpayer money and have a lasting impact on future generations of Pioneers. I am proud that UW-Platteville can serve as a model of innovation and pave the way for other state agencies to follow suit.”

I am proud that UW-Platteville can serve as a model of innovation and pave the way for other state agencies to follow suit.” –Chancellor Dennis J. Shields

Dr. Tom Nelson, emeritus professor of civil engineering, touched the lives of countless students during his nearly two decades at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. To honor Nelson, who passed away in April of 2020, his family created the Dr. Tom Nelson Civil Engineering Memorial Scholarship.

“Tom had always intended to set up a scholarship,” said Carol Nelson, Tom’s wife. “It seemed to be a fitting memorial for him.”

Adam Mentink, a 2009 civil and environmental engineering graduate described Nelson as personable and someone who wanted to build strong relationships with students and watch them succeed.

Dr. Karim Iskandar, UW-Platteville assistant professor of construction management in the department of industrial studies, always knew he would be involved in the field after watching his father work in the construction industry. “He managed heavy construction and industrial projects including airports, power plants and cement manufacturing plants,” said Iskandar. “At a young age he showed me pictures of those projects being completed. It inspired me.”

To embark on his career path, Iskandar earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Ain Shams University in Cairo, Egypt, and became a project control engineer. It was during his time as an engineer Iskandar decided to further his education. He attended UW-Madison, where he received his master’s and doctorate degrees in civil engineering with an emphasis in construction management.

Dr. Vettrivel Gnaneswaran is an assistant professor of industrial engineering, with research and teaching interests in biomechanics, statistics, quality control, supply chain, engineering management and engineering education. He is currently working on a Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium-funded research project, with 20 students, to quantify the perceived finger forces with glove use. Additional research projects he is developing include the biomechanical modeling of text-messaging using smartphones and the ergonomic redesign of a one-handed video game controller. 

How did you first gain an interest in the field of industrial engineering?

Alison Thompson, an instructional designer for the Office of Professional Program Support, began her career in higher education after starting at a local community college in the Chicago area. Here, Thompson began assisting faculty in course design and quickly found that instructional design allowed her to combine her interests in teaching, design and technology to help create powerful learning experiences for students. Thompson followed this passion to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in 2017, where she has been designing courses ever since.

“I was drawn to UW-Platteville because of the wonderful reputation of their online programs,” said Thompson. “I was very impressed with the comprehensive course design process that was in place and the commitment to quality in online courses.”

Dr. Joshua Anderson, assistant professor of English, is bringing his experience in rural classrooms to the School of Education. Anderson joined UW-Platteville in 2016 and made the transition from the Department of Humanities to the School of Education this year. Prior to pursuing his doctorate degree, Anderson taught English at the Iowa-Grant School District. Now, as Anderson prepares future educators, he notes it’s always exciting to watch his former students flourish in their own classroom.

“My proudest accomplishment is every time I receive a message from former students celebrating their first job or next job in education,” he said. “I keep in contact with a lot of my former students, and it’s great to see how they are impacting their local communities.”

Samantha (Rogers) Birkicht is currently in her fourth year as head volleyball coach for the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.  Birkicht is no stranger to UW-Platteville. An Illinois native, she was one of the first cohorts to take advantage of the university’s Tri-State Initiative program. Birkicht graduated with a degree in physical education in 2009 and was an assistant coach from 2011-15 under Deb Schulman. When the 2020 season was cancelled due to COVID-19, the Pioneers were coming off a 16-14 season that saw a seven-match win streak and a thrilling five-set victory over nationally ranked UW-Stevens Point. Birkicht lives in Madison with her husband and two young children.

When recruiting a potential student-athlete for the volleyball program, besides talent, what are you looking for in a future Pioneer?

Together the University of Wisconsin-Platteville community is working together to help stop the spread of the novel coronavirus. To adapt to this unprecedented time, UW-Platteville moved to alternative delivery in March and as the spring semester continued the Teaching and Technology Center and the Office of the Provost began preparing for the fall semester.

To assist with these new classroom challenges, the TTC created professional development opportunities for faculty. The summer training courses, titled Level 1 and Level 2, were designed to help instructors develop familiarity with tools that facilitated blended learning while also providing additional resources on designing elements of a blended learning course. Level 2 took a deeper dive into academic technology. More than 90% of UW-Platteville instructors took advantage of these educational opportunities.

This summer, Dr. Asad Azemi joined UW-Platteville as the department chair and professor of electrical and computer engineering. Prior to his move to the Midwest, Azemi was an associate professor of engineering at Penn State. His research interests are in the areas of estimation and signal processing with agriculture and health science applications.

Azemi became interested in engineering at a young age. It continued to grow after a family member pursued the degree. "I feel like anyone who is interested in math and physics tends to look into engineering as an option for a major," he said. "My cousin went to school for engineering and I followed."

Azemi earned his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from UCLA. He continued his education at Loyola Marymount and the University of Arkansas, where he received his master's and doctorate degrees in electrical engineering.

Dr. Afzal Upal joined the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in July as the chair of the Computer Science and Software Engineering Department. He has more than 20 years of experience in the computing field, with an expertise in artificial intelligence and cognitive science. Upal has held several technical and leadership positions in the computer science and software engineering industry and government, however his love for education brought him back to academia.

“My mother was an elementary school teacher and I’ve always believed that there is nothing more noble or rewarding than teaching the future generations,” said Upal. “My experience in computing industry and government allows me to draw on real world problems to inspire them to develop solutions that will make a real difference in people’s lives.”

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville is known as the Pioneers, but the moniker is much more than a nickname. The university has been a pioneer and industry leader in distance education since 1978, when it began offering degrees through its print-based program.

“Nobody else in the UW System was doing this, and there were very few programs out there across the country,” said Susan Hansen, the interim Dean for the Division of Professional Studies. “The instructors and the support that was provided to those students kind of stole the show and helped those programs grow.”

Without a road map to reference, the first distance education recruiters pounded the pavement to sell the programs to potential students. As the reputation of the print-based program grew, so did the number of students and degree programs.

Growing up as the oldest of seven, Angela Yang was the first in her family to earn a college degree. Yang, an alumna of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, now hopes to inspire students throughout their collegiate journey. As a TRIO Student Support Services advisor and SUCCEED coordinator, she works with incoming UW-Platteville students and assists them with accessing campus resources. Her favorite part is developing relationships with students and watching them grow from their first year to graduation.

“I really get to know the students at a deeper level,” she said. “It’s such a crazy experience to see the students I have worked with from the beginning and to see how far they have come. I’m proud I’m able to be a part of it and watch it all happen and see the students grow into their elements and be their true authentic selves.”

As the lead admissions specialist for the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Center for Distance Learning, Clint Nemitz works with his team to connect prospective students with their desired academic programs. It’s work Nemitz sets to with a passion, partly because he understands the struggle of finding the right program, as was the case with his own academic journey. 

“My educational path was a winding road to say the least, as most of that time I had more questions than answers,” said Nemitz. “What do I want to do with my life? I have some visions of how I see my life, but how can I get there?”  

Since joining UW-Platteville in 2015, Dr. Hynek Boril, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, has been instrumental in providing students with unique research opportunities on campus, particularly through his creation of the Pioneer Speech Signal Processing Laboratory.



Boril earned both a master’s degree in electrical engineering and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering and information technology from Czech Technical University in Prague. He then started a position as a research associate at the University of Texas at Dallas, in the Center for Robust Speech Systems. There, he met his future wife, Dr. Yan Shi, who was completing her Ph.D. at UT-Dallas at the time. After graduation, Shi found a tenure-track position at UW-Platteville, and she is now an associate professor of computer science and software engineering.

Dr. Kristina Fields, professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, was named one of four recipients across the UW System of the 2020 Alliant Energy Underkofler Excellence in Teaching Award. The $3,000 award, funded by an endowment from Alliant Energy, is intended to recognize and reward extraordinary teachers at UW System institutions within Alliant Energy’s service area. 

“I am humbled and grateful to receive this award,” said Fields. “It is rewarding to work each day with faculty, staff and students who are dedicated to using their talents to improve the quality of lives for people in our communities.”

Fields earned her Ph.D., Master of Science and Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from Michigan Technological University. She began teaching at UW-Platteville in 2007.

University of Wisconsin-Platteville alumni and friends celebrated Pioneers Day of Giving by raising $141,514 on Oct. 9. The university surpassed its goal with more than 290 donors.

“The outpouring of support from the UW-Platteville community was remarkable,” said Scott S. Baumgartner, chair of the UW-Platteville Foundation and 1972 UW-Platteville graduate. “The UW-Platteville Foundation is extremely grateful to all of our alumni, friends and corporate partners who made our 2020 Pioneers Day of Giving the best yet. Thank you for your generosity.”

The annual event is in honor of Founder’s Day and raises funds to support student success. Alumni and friends were able to stay virtually connected by following the UW-Platteville social media pages where updates were given throughout the day. The Pioneers Day of Giving set a goal of 241 donors, one for each of the 241 steps of the world’s largest M.

Heather Burkholder grew up in Platteville and began working at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in 2007 in the Admission and Student Affairs office before moving over to Athletics in 2010, where she is coordinator for internal operations. 

“I am very grateful to be able to work with such a great department and campus community,” she said. “I grew up in Platteville, so I know the area and have seen first-hand, from a young age, the positive impact the university has had on the community. In athletics, there is never a dull moment. We are always in the fast lane with events, travel, tickets and ensuring a great student-athlete experience. It is rewarding to know that you can always be there to help with the next task that is presented. Most of all, it is rewarding to work with so many great people.”

“This is the academic fairytale,” said Dr. Jenna Zucker, associate professor of psychology. “I’m teaching in my hometown. It’s incredible. It worked out perfectly. I’m very happy to be here.” Zucker joined the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Department of Psychology in 2019 and teaches courses focused on development.

Zucker’s experience as an undergraduate researcher at UW-Eau Claire inspired her to pursue academia and become a college professor. She earned her master’s and doctorate degrees in educational psychology from the University of Kansas.

“I like that college students really have a goal in mind when they come into my classes,” she said. “Trying to broaden their horizon and trying to take advantage of those “adolescent into early adulthood” interests in the world. The experience of being out on your own for the first time and being exposed to a lot of new ideas. All of that is really interesting to me.”

For more than 50 years, the Busby family has helped transform and enrich the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and greater Platteville community. From paving the way for UW-Platteville’s esteemed engineering programs to volunteering in the community and supporting students with scholarships, the Busby family – Edward and Lois, and their children John, Thomas and Paula (Latta) – have left their mark. To honor their family legacy, UW-Platteville will rename Engineering Hall to the Busby Hall of Engineering.

The Busby family moved from Madison, Wisconsin to Platteville in 1966, when Edward was hired as the dean of UW-Platteville’s College of Engineering. For the next 18 years, Edward played an instrumental role in the growth of the college, overseeing the process for the first ABET accreditation and the addition of mechanical, industrial and electrical engineering programs to the curriculum. He retired from UW-Platteville in 1988.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Foundation is giving future Pioneers the opportunity to submit their college application at no cost until Saturday, Oct. 31.

“The Foundation supported the application fee to remove the financial worry from our prospective students,” said Joshua Boots, assistant vice chancellor for Development and Alumni Engagement. “Choosing a university is already a significant undertaking; the Foundation wanted to make applying for UW-Platteville as simple and carefree as possible. This is a fantastic initiative which we are confident will allow more prospective students to see the great educational opportunities UW-Platteville has to offer.”

After growing up in Canada, Demi Vetesnik, program coordinator for the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Continuing Education Institute, made the jump to the United States for college when a soccer scholarship led her to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

“While attending UW-Milwaukee I met my now husband, who convinced me to stick around post-graduation,” said Vetesnik. “Once I had received approval for my Permanent Residence Card, I was eager to find a position where I could serve my community.”

This opportunity arrived in June 2019, when Vetesnik joined the CEI team at UW-Platteville Richland Center. As part of her responsibilities, Vetesnik provides quality programming for the community she now lives in.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville will celebrate 154 years since becoming an institution on Friday, Oct. 9. In honor of Founder’s Day, alumni and friends are invited to participate in the annual Pioneers Day of Giving. The all-day event raises funds to support student success.

“Pioneers Day of Giving is a special day for Pioneers near and far. It is a day they demonstrate their love for the University of Wisconsin-Platteville,” said Josh Boots, assistant vice chancellor for Development and Alumni Engagement. “They can give to the department that was influential to them, a scholarship that supported them through college or to the university’s greatest need. Our goal is 241 donors so every gift, large and small, will have an impact.”

Nicole Ruchotzke may be one of the newest advisors to join the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Center for Distance Operations, but she’s already left her mark. This week, Ruchotzke will officially be awarded the Advising Profession Impact Award by the Wisconsin Academic Advising Association.



The award is granted to advisors who have five or fewer years of experience in advising but have significantly impacted their campus.



Ruchotzke has certainly lived up to that billing. Since starting at UW-Platteville three-and-a-half years ago, she has been instrumental in streamlining the process for taking online and print courses through the Center for Distance Operations. She also authored two grants that provide funding for scholarships and equipment for Continuing Education Institute classes.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville and the Southwestern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SWWRPC) have been selected as co-applicants to receive a highly competitive grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration that will bring nearly $1.1 million of new investment to the region. 

The EDA’s Build to Scale Program’s Venture Challenge awards grants to organizations that support new business ventures that are scalable and further job creation. The grant will launch the Innovation Driving Entrepreneurship Accelerator, or IDEA Hub, of Southwest Wisconsin, with the goal of creating high tech jobs for the future and increasing economic vibrancy in Southwest Wisconsin communities.

Dr. Carolyn Keller joined UW-Platteville in 2018 as the director of Academic Assessment. While she still oversees the area of Academic Assessment, Keller is now interim assistant provost. Her background is in the field of sociology – a discipline that she still teaches every chance she can.

“Teaching remains my first and primary passion,” said Keller. “Introductory Sociology – the sociological imagination, helping students make sense of the social world around them is really wonderful work.”

Keller earned her bachelor’s degree in international relations and social relations from Michigan State University, and a master’s degree in Slavic and East European studies, a master’s degree in sociology and a doctorate degree in sociology, all from The Ohio State University.

Dr. Anne-Marie Lerner, assistant department chair and associate professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, and Karen Brenner Drees, academic advisor and coach, are both being recognized by the Wisconsin Academic Advising Association for excellence in advising.

The Wisconsin Academic Advising Awards recognize individuals – from any higher education institution in Wisconsin – who work with students in an academic advising capacity and demonstrate outstanding dedication to the profession of academic advising.

Lerner is receiving the 2020 WACADA Faculty Advisor Excellence Award.

As the University of Wisconsin-Platteville welcomes students back to campus this week, faculty and staff are rethinking concepts of traditional learning space and bringing classrooms outside. Earlier this week, a group of 30 student volunteers built and installed 50 wooden benches, over a two-day period, to create a series of outdoor class spaces in time for the first day of the semester.

The project was led by Amy Seeboth-Wilson, UW-Platteville sustainability coordinator.

Gretchen Bockenhauer grew up in the field of construction, learning from her family’s business. But it was her experience as a student at UW-Platteville that cemented her interest in the field. “My senior year, I applied to be the project manager of construction of the Forensic Investigation Crime Scene House on campus and was selected,” said Bockenhauer. “Through this position, I realized construction management is what I wanted to have a career in.” Now, as lecturer and co-program coordinator for UW-Platteville’s Building Construction Management program, she enjoys sharing her experience with students and helping them find their own passion in the construction management field.

What do you enjoy about teaching at your alma mater?

After growing up in south Florida and spending summers at her grandparents' North Carolina farm, Dr. Sharon Klavins, professor of biology at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, was drawn to the natural world.

“I spent a lot of time outside exploring,” said Klavins. “I was the kid who would bring home a half-pint milk carton full of frogs from the school playground. I would sit in the backyard with a tack hammer and crack open rocks for hours to look for fossils. I have always been interested in the natural world.”

Klavins’ passion led her to the field of paleobotany, where her specialty is plant structure and evolution. She began her career teaching high school. Klavins then earned her doctorate degree in plant biology from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. She started at UW-Platteville in 2005.

Nancy Ware was one of the most visible citizens in Platteville, whether at sporting competitions, at the swimming pool or taking her dog out for a walk. It was only fitting that in her will, she ensured her impact would live on in the city for years to come.

Ware, who passed away Nov. 26, 2019 at age 61, set up six different scholarships to help UW-Platteville students in need.

“She used to tell me, ‘we need education, education and education,’” close friend Jill Ingersoll said. “I didn’t understand until she brought out these scholarships and showed me what she was doing. All I could say was, ‘Girl you are amazing!’”

A Platteville native, Ware worked at Lands’ End for more than 30 years. Because education was so important to her, she earned her degree as a non-traditional student from UW-Platteville in 1993, majoring in business administration.

Karen Brenner Drees, an academic advisor and coach, is the recipient of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s 2020 Outstanding Professional Advising Award. The award is presented annually to academic staff whose primary responsibility is advising. 

“I’m going into my seventh year as a professional in higher education, but my interest began while I was working on campus as a college student myself,” said Drees. “Staff members made a difference in my life, and I hope to do the same for the students I work with. I enjoy being a part of the larger UW-Platteville campus community where we can build relationships and work together to find new ways to support our students.”

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville is the recipient of two federal Student Support Services grants, totaling more than $3.4 million over the next five years. The grants are critical for UW-Platteville’s TRIO Student Support Services to carry out its mission of supporting and retaining underserved populations.

“One of UW-Platteville’s strategic goals is to increase the accessibility and affordability of a UW-Platteville education,” said Laura Franklin, executive director of diversity and inclusion. “Our TRIO programs work very hard to ensure that first generation and income eligible college students have equal access to an affordable education and are well positioned to become successful college graduates.”

Victoria Livingston, executive director of Enrollment and Student Success, has been selected to receive the University of Wisconsin-Platteville 2020 Academic Staff Award for Excellence. This award is presented to an instructional or non-instructional academic staff member with a minimum of 12 consecutive months of employment at UW-Platteville who has provided essential services to the university while demonstrating excellence of performance, personal interaction, initiative and creativity.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville is partnering with Rent College Pads, an off-campus marketplace and search engine for students navigating their housing options. The UW-Platteville Off-Campus Marketplace helps students with rental resources, including connecting with landlords, off-campus pricing, finding roommates and subleasing options.

“We are looking forward to all of the benefits to students that the partnership with Rent College Pads will provide,” said Lisa Kratz, director of the Markee Pioneer Student Center. “The many new features offered through the platform will help students take their off-campus search process to the next level, while providing tools that will enhance relationships with our landlord partners.”

Tom Antczak is in his 29th year as head coach of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville women’s and men’s cross-country programs, making him the longest tenured coach in the athletic department. In the past 20 years, Antczak has seen the men’s program have great success, qualifying for the NCAA III national meet eight times, having three individual champions and a program best fourth-place team finish in 2010.  The three men’s individual titles are the most individual titles for any Division III program in the nation the past 17 years. 

Reaffirming the institution’s long-term commitment to sustainability, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville recently earned a silver rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education. 

"According to Princeton Review, 64% of students now consider environmental impacts when deciding what college to attend,” said Amy Seeboth-Wilson, sustainability coordinator at UW-Platteville. “Our STARS rating not only reaffirms that UW-Platteville is committed to a healthy environment, but also lets students know that by choosing UW-Platteville, they are helping to make the world a better place for future generations."

Dr. Douglas Selent, assistant professor of computer science and software engineering, joined the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in 2018. He also serves as the software engineering program coordinator. His interests include bringing active learning into his classroom through different activities and gamification.

Throughout his career, Selent has created several applications including a machine-learning algorithm to derive student incorrect processes from the problem inputs and their answer, and an online learning platform called PeerASSIST, which was used by 60 teachers and 600 students. “It benefits students where they are hopefully receiving better content,” he said. “The system was designed to automatically self-improve to be getting better tutoring content to students.”

This summer he is working with a small team of UW-Platteville students, focusing on the topic of counterfactual inference.

Dr. Brandon Fetterly started college at the UW-Marinette, eventually graduating from St. Norbert College and earning his Ph.D. from Iowa State University. He joined the faculty in the Chemistry department at UW-Richland in 2005, served as associate dean from 2012-15, and then as a regional associate dean for Academic Affairs in the UW Colleges starting in 2018. With the integration of UW-Richland into the UW-Platteville, he was named interim dean of the UW-Platteville Richland branch campus.

As dean, he leads the operation of the Richland campus, from academics and student affairs, budget and administration, and management of facilities and other operations; to external relations with alumni, the campus’ Foundation, local government, and other stakeholders. 

Could you talk about the history of the Richland campus, which goes back more than 50 years?

Dr. Anne-Marie Lerner, University of Wisconsin-Platteville assistant department chair and professor of mechanical engineering, calls advising her students one of the most gratifying parts of working in higher education. Lerner is being honored with the 2020 Outstanding Faculty/Instructional Academic Staff Academic Advisor Award.

“Advising allows me to have a personal one-on-one relationship with my students,” said Lerner, who is also a certified academic coach. “We can explore who are you as a person, how do you want to fit into the fabric of life or in your community, and be the best you and the contributing you to society.”

Josephine Gurira, reference services librarian at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Karrmann Library, is being honored with the university’s 2020 Outstanding Woman of Color Award. The award recognizes female faculty, staff and students of color at UW-Platteville, as well as women of color in the Platteville community.

Born in the African country of Southern Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, Gurira has been in the library profession for nearly 50 years. She graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University and later earned her Master of Education in social studies from Penn State University, and eventually a Master of Arts in library science from the University of Minnesota.

Dr. Tera Montgomery, professor of dairy and animal science at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, was selected for the 2020 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 am very honored to have received this award,” said Montgomery. “When I look at past recipients and I think of all of the other hard-working women on campus, I am humbled to be the one chosen this year. It definitely makes me want to continue my work and consider more ways that I can engage in a meaningful way with students and other faculty and staff.”

“This is probably the most meaningful award I could receive. I value teaching above and beyond any role I play at the university,” said Dr. Kameko Halfmann, assistant professor of psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. Halfmann is this year’s recipient of the Early Career Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence.

“I pursued certification in college teaching because I knew I wanted to work at a teaching-focused institution. I feel extremely honored to be recognized for my teaching. It also motivates me to continue to develop my teaching toolkit,” she said.

The University of Wisconsin-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.

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

“I’m very grateful,” said Udelhofen. “I was very surprised. I didn’t know faculty and staff had submitted my name as a nomination for this award. It’s humbling. There are a lot of people who could be very deserving of this award. I’m very grateful that the faculty, staff and department chair are very appreciative of all the work I do and recognizing what I’m doing here.”

Dr. Aric Ranen McLanahan, University of Wisconsin-Platteville assistant professor of mechanical and industrial engineering, describes the moment as humbling when he found out he 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.

McLanahan strives to empower his students through the development of new teaching innovations. In his lab course he divides his students into consulting teams. Instead of lab handouts, students receive letters from a pseudo-company called Compressor Overflow Inc. According to McLanahan, the company then “hires” the consulting teams to explore problems on the equipment, find solutions and make recommendations. The students are then required to report to the company’s chief operations officer with their results.

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. Jeff’s dad, Glen, was his first coach as a young boy, then he had a front row seat watching his older brother Greg ascend from a junior high basketball coach to Big Ten Coach of the year for the Wisconsin Badgers.  

"At a young age I always knew I wanted to pursue a career in athletics," Jeff said. "Once I saw my 40 time and vertical, I knew being a professional athlete was out of the question. Having our dad coach us growing up and having outstanding high school coaches in football, basketball and baseball, I was able to see firsthand how much of a positive impact a coach could make on the student-athlete's life."

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

Payscale studied the total four-year tuition, graduation rate, number of years to graduate, average loan amount and 20-year return on investment. UW-Platteville came out ahead of the entire state in 20-year return on investment and finished second to Milwaukee School of Engineering in the overall value rankings.

“In the category of public colleges, a good bet is the University of Wisconsin-Platteville campus,” Payscale said. “Of course, Platteville isn’t the only campus of the University of Wisconsin, but it is usually the campus with the highest ROI.”

Among the schools ranked in the top 10, UW-Platteville had the lowest four-year tuition and student loan amounts.

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. The official launch date is June 30.

The Pioneer Restore is confident the new online sales experience will make it easier for individuals to buy re-used items. All it takes is a couple of clicks at a computer or mobile device to view the entire affordable inventory; ranging from office supplies, furniture, computers, appliances, home goods, and much more. Purchases can be picked up within 24 hours by scheduling a curbside pickup appointment, Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

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.

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. One of the things she loves most about teaching is when students notice anything that seems odd. She believes it’s not always important to know the solution or to understand what is behind that anomaly – the first step is always to notice and ask.

Hammermeister, a lecturer of political science, mainly teaches introduction level, general education courses in American government. In addition, each fall, she looks forward to welcoming new students to campus by teaching the First Year Experience course. Hammermeister has also taught a few upper division courses, including American Political Parties and Interest Groups and Social Studies Teaching Methods for the School for Education.

What inspired you to pursue a career in teaching political science?

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. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered to listen to the speakers and march through downtown shedding a light on the racial justice movement taking place across the globe.

“Black people and people of color have been getting discriminated against on so many levels. My grandmother, grandfather and my great-great-grandmother all have gone through it,” said Watts, a sophomore business administration major from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. “I’m really happy I was able to do something and put something on. This is not the end. There are going to be more coming up.”

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

According to Elliott Parsons, coordinator of the UW-Platteville Doyle Center for Gender and Sexuality, this Pride Month will look different than any previous year, as recent national events provide opportunities for the LGBTQ+ community and allies to support the Black Lives Matter movement and explore the movement’s intersectionality.

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. An Iowa native, Bernhardt joined UW-Platteville in 1996 and his teaching and Extension areas include farm financial analysis and management, risk management and commodity marketing.

How did you originally become interested in the field of agribusiness?

University of Wisconsin-Platteville Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Dr. Scott Melin comes from a family of educators. Growing up, Melin always had an interest in pursuing a teaching career at the college level.

“I believe in the inherent value of the pursuit of knowledge and education,” said Melin. “I enjoy the human side of the equation; working with students and helping them achieve the goals they have set for themselves is highly rewarding.”

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.

Dear Campus Community,

It is with heavy hearts and a deep sense of gravity that we share this message with you. The recent tragedies are profound examples of what is truly broken, and has been broken for generations, in our society. The events of which we write are the most recent examples of what has been obvious for decades. The horrific killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Sean Reed, Tony McDade, and Dion Johnson are, or should be, dismaying to anyone who believes we live in a civil society. Police being weaponized against our Black communities and the protests for change in our society have again highlighted the extreme pain and injustice that persist and so significantly impact the world we live in today.

The University of Wisconsin-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.

The Outstanding Social Sciences Paper Award, selected annually by faculty in the Department of Social Sciences, offers an opportunity to highlight student successes in the classroom and stimulate further interest in research and writing.

Manuel, a Davenport, Iowa native, received the award for a research paper he wrote, “The Post-Apartheid South African Economy,” for the Modern Africa course, taught by Dr. Shan Sappleton, associate professor of political science at UW-Platteville. In the paper, Manuel used economic growth data (GDP, GDP per capita) from 1994-2016 to examine whether South Africa has experienced or failed to stimulate economic growth since the end of Apartheid and possible underlying reasons.

Krista Eiseman has been interested in the field of animal science since she was old enough to walk. She grew up on a small dairy farm in south central Wisconsin, where her father milked Holsteins and raised crops, and where she developed a love for animals, especially calves.

She attended UW-Platteville and developed a particular interest in meat science after taking Principles of Meat Science and Meat Animal Evaluation with Dr. Denise McNamara. She earned her master’s degree from North Dakota State University, where she studied meat science and muscle biology.

“While in North Dakota, I worked with a lot of beef cattle and caught the ‘beef bug,’” said Eiseman. “I was hooked from that point on.”

Eiseman returned to UW-Platteville as assistant professor of animal science in 2017.

What drew you to come back to your alma mater to teach?

When Rachel Herman, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville administrative director of Student Health Services, had her first request for a mask to combat COVID-19 in January, she immediately thought of an iconic Hollywood scene.

“It's right up there with that line from the movie, ‘Jaws.’ ‘We're gonna need a bigger boat,’" she said. “We were going to need more PPE (personal protection equipment).”

Herman 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.

Quicker than almost anyone at the university, Herman recognized just how big of an issue COVID-19 was going to present to higher education.

University of Wisconsin-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.”

Since 2017, the WGSC has awarded selected undergraduate students across a variety of UW System campuses for their best practices in research, community outreach and scholarship in women’s and gender studies. The awardees are typically invited to present a poster or give a 10-minute presentation on their work.

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. Currently, 1,800 students are earning their degree. According to the Center for Distance Learning, 30% of the students are enrolled in an undergraduate program while 70% are enrolled in a graduate program. This past spring semester, 909 students were from the United States with representation from more than 40 states. Eight students were taking courses from Afghanistan, Canada, Jamaica and Switzerland.

Dan Avenarius, executive director of the Center for Distance Learning states online education offers another avenue for UW-Platteville students to partake in.

Nicole Ryan, a University of Wisconsin-Platteville senior regional admission advisor connects prospective students to the university. Prior to joining UW-Platteville, Ryan worked as a writer/editor and educator.

“The most rewarding part of my job is helping students find their just right fit at UW-Platteville,” she said.

Ryan is also passionate about reaching out to members of the military, veterans and non-traditional students. “I am proud to be the spouse of a retired Navy veteran and have many family members who have served in the military,” she said. “I know how difficult a military life can be. I think it’s incredibly important to support these military members and their families.”

When Ryan is not on campus, she enjoys spending time outdoors and traveling to new places.

What are students most excited about when discussing their futures as potential Pioneers?

Joshua Boots, assistant vice chancellor of development and alumni engagement at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, 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.

Created in 2019, Pioneers Helping Pioneers provides emergency financial support to students with unexpected expenses, outside of tuition. Since leaving campus to begin alternative delivery methods in mid-March due to COVID-19, more than 1,100 students have applied for support through the fund. The top four requests the fund has assisted with are housing, transportation, utilities and food.

Watching students develop their own artistic voices, demonstrating the value of physical creation and facilitating an environment that stresses the importance of failing, sharing and community are what Scott Steder treasures most about teaching.

Steder, a lecturer of art at the University of Wisconsin-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. Some of his favorite memories of creating art as a youth and young adult include creating lifelong relationships with fellow studio artists and professors and building kilns in graduate school, both on campus and in Paraguay for the 1st International Biennial of Asunción, a cultural, artistic and social project organized by the Asociación Bienal de Asunción.

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.

Academic Support Programs on the UW-Platteville main campus has adapted to virtually provide all of its services. This includes academic advising, academic coaching, three types of tutoring and writing center services.

“In moving to alternative delivery, our main goal was to make sure our services were as equitable as possible,” said Kathryn Weller, Writing Center coordinator. “We had a lot of conversations around what to do if students have technology issues.”

To address these issues, the staff found that offering flexible options is important, whether it’s working synchronously through Zoom, asynchronously via email, or even by phone.

Julie Durst, a lecturer in the University of Wisconsin-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. In this role, she works in the Grant County Emergency Operations Center to conduct media interviews, creates webpages, social media posts and news releases to share critical information. Additionally, she assists with the collection and distribution of personal protective equipment.

The Women’s Rugby Club at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville was coming off a terrific fall season. The team was ranked eighth in the country by the National Small College Rugby Organization and was 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 through their UW-Platteville Women’s Rugby Facebook page.

“Everyone is struggling in their own way,” said Darkow, a junior mechanical engineering major from Hartland, Wisconsin. “We want them to find happiness even though we are all having to stay at our homes. It doesn’t mean we have to disconnect from each other.”

“UW-Platteville has given me an intellectual home and a sense of community. It is a great honor to be supported by my college. Such support makes my role as dean a true joy.” – Dr. Melissa Gormley, dean, College of Liberal Arts and Education, UW-Platteville

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. As dean, her main responsibilities are academic planning, curriculum, student recruitment, faculty recruitment, faculty development and evaluation, budget development, allocation of resources and more.

During her tenure at UW-Platteville, Gormley has held a variety of positions, including interim dean of the College of LAE, chair of the Department of History, interim chair of the Department of Geography, chair of Faculty Senate; and director of Women’s and Gender Studies.

As organizations large and small struggle to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic, the effects on the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and its surrounding communities are far-reaching. Students are continuing their studies from remote locations, where they face new personal and academic challenges. Faculty are adapting to delivering their courses in a new way and providing support to their students from afar. 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.

Craig Beytien is the Corporate Relations Executive Director at the University of Wisconsin-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.

“Coming into an educational environment like UW-Platteville was not a culture shock. The difference is I’m in the inside and not the outside looking in. I have a different perspective now,” Beytien said. “I come to work excited every day because I see the potential of connecting industry and education.”

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville is being recognized as one of the best values in higher education, both in Wisconsin and across the nation.

College Consensus placed UW-Platteville 20th in their 100 best value ranking of colleges and universities. According to College Consensus, it combines the results of all of the most reputable college ranking systems with thousands of student reviews to provide the comprehensive rating system of schools.

New York-based financial technology company SmartAsset ranked UW-Platteville third in the state as the best return for students on their educational investment. SmartAsset measured five categories including tuition, scholarships and grant offerings, student living costs, student retention rate and starting salary for new graduates.

After hearing about the growing shortage of personal protective equipment for health care workers, University of Wisconsin-Platteville senior Sam Smith decided he needed to help those battling the COVID-19 crisis. Smith, a computer science major from Kaukauna, Wisconsin, started producing ear guards with his 3D printer. He can create five guards every two hours.

“I have been able to produce around 250 ear guards for multiple medical facilities and community programs around the state,” Smith said. “As long as people continue to reach out, I’ll keep the printer running.”

The purpose of ear guards is to help stop the elastic bands from medical masks from resting on a person’s ears. For some health care professionals, the elastic bands can form rashes and inflammation. Smith’s first-drop off was to the Appleton Medical Center in the Fox Valley.

Thanks to partnerships forged between industry and the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Construction Management and Construction Safety Management programs, custodial staff at UW-Platteville have been able to use advanced equipment to ensure their safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Industry partner Miron Construction Co., Inc., in Neenah, Wisconsin, recently provided the university with a Powered Air Purifying Respirator, or PAPR.

A PAPR is a type of personal protective equipment that uses a blower to pass contaminated air through a filter and then supplies purified air to the face piece.

Although there has not been a documented case of COVID-19 at the university, the facilities staff has been proactively preparing for several possibilities.

Joshua Boots joined the University of Wisconsin-Platteville as the assistant vice chancellor for Development and Alumni Engagement last November. An Ely, Iowa native, he earned his undergraduate and MBA from Loras College, where he previously worked as the associate vice president for advancement. He now works with alumni and friends of UW-Platteville to connect them with the university and find ways they can make a difference.

How long have you worked in the field of development and fundraising? What drew you to a career in this field?

“Sue,” a junior at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, not only was taking a full load of engineering classes, but she was also working on campus to earn her spending money. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and forced students to leave campus in March to be safer at home, Sue’s personal finances also took a hit.

“I no longer have a job or a way to get food on a daily basis,” said Sue (not her real name).  “I was eating three meals a day and working 10 hours a week. Now I am unemployed and living off one meal a day.”

Sue’s story is one of nearly 500 student submissions to Pioneers Helping Pioneers, an emergency funding program through the UW-Platteville Foundation. To even better serve the student population, the university has set a $100,000 donation goal to support Pioneers Helping Pioneers.

During the COVID-19 crisis, University of Wisconsin-Platteville faculty, staff and students continue to look for ways to show their appreciation and support for local businesses, organizations and community members.

On Wednesday, April 22, UW-Platteville’s Department of Health and Human Performance will show its support by hosting the “Corona Cruise” event in Platteville from 5-7 p.m. The goal of the event, which is free and open to all, is to give back to the businesses and community of Platteville and positively impact the community’s social and emotional health.

The event was planned and organized by four health and human performance students enrolled in the Seminar in Health Promotion course, taught by Lisa Emendorfer, senior lecturer of health and human performance at UW-Platteville and coordinator of the event.

“I love the energy of my students. I enjoy sharing with them the excitement of learning a new language and exploring new cultures.” – Dr. Alyssa Holan, assistant professor of Spanish, UW-Platteville

Dr. Alyssa Holan, assistant professor of Spanish at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, has taught Spanish language courses and Peninsular literature and culture courses at the university since fall 2018.

Originally from the southwest side of Chicago, Illinois, Holan completed her undergraduate studies at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, then earned a master’s degree at Loyola University in Chicago and a Ph.D. at Michigan State University in East Lansing.

Dr. James Hamilton, professor of chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, is working with the state of Wisconsin to produce tens of thousands of bottles of hand sanitizer to help protect communities from COVID-19.

“The state contacted me and those in the chemical manufacturing space to ask if any of us could produce hand sanitizer because there wasn’t any around,” Hamilton said. “Now we will be shipping to a state warehouse in Madison (Wisconsin) 25,000, bottles of hand sanitizer.”

Lauren Kita, a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, is finding a way to help her hometown community, while incorporating her industrial engineering coursework. Kita, an industrial engineering and Spanish major, is a native of Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin. Having worked at the local Piggly Wiggly in neighboring Sister Bay, Wisconsin since the age of 14, she was quick to offer help with creating a shopping service to assist the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The project came about when the Sister Bay fire chief reached out to the store manager to start a program through the grocery store to deliver groceries to the residents in the assisted living community,” said Kita.

During the COVID-19 crisis, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville has been adapting and making precautionary changes to campus.

Dr. Scott Ringgenberg, coordinator of the Department of Health and Human Performance at UW-Platteville, stressed the critical importance of staying physically fit during this unprecedented and uncertain time, and offered 10 tips on how to stay active and improve overall health.

“During these trying times, being physical active is fundamental to physical, emotional and psychological health,” said Ringgenberg. “Physical activity includes all forms of active recreation, sports participation, cycling and walking, as well as activities at work and around the home and garden. It doesn’t have to be exercise or sport – playing, dancing, gardening, and even housecleaning and carrying heavy shopping is all part of being physically active.”

As Wisconsinites attempt to flatten the curve under Gov. Evers’ Safer at Home order, many may be wondering what to make for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Some may be running out of recipe ideas to keep meals balanced during the COVID-19 crisis. University of Wisconsin-Platteville Dining Services Registered Dietitian Stephanie Young shares some advice as she encourages students, faculty, staff and community members to use this time to become creative in the kitchen.

“There are so many different recipes out there between social media and cooking websites,” said Young. “Look through and search for recipes that might interest you. It can keep it fresh along with those go to simple meals.”

But what consists of a balanced meal? The answer, according to Young, is making sure you are incorporating enough food groups to make your plate colorful.

Admission advisors at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville are the face of the university to prospective students and their families – sometimes hundreds in a week. Last year, more than 6,000 students visited campus, and 28 percent had their first interaction with the university on a campus visit. So, when on-campus visits were suspended less than a month ago, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, admission advisors were tasked to quickly find a way to share the UW-Platteville experience, virtually. Rising to the challenge, the recruitment team worked together to overhaul the campus visit in less than three weeks. Last week, the team conducted their first virtual visits, to positive feedback.

“Campus tours and visits are really important to us,” said Elizabeth Niehaus, assistant director of recruitment at UW-Platteville. “We have a really high yield rate of visits to enrollment.”

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville facilities staff is undergoing extensive training to proactively prepare for any possible COVID-19 infections.

Mark Miner, an assistant professor in Industrial Studies who is the program coordinator for two university safety programs, is lending his assistance to about 50 staff members.

Although there has not been a documented case on the university’s main campus, Director of Facilities Management Pete Davis said it is good to be prepared for whatever comes their way.

“We’re trying to keep our staff safe and keep our campus community safe at the same time,” Davis said. “My custodial staff really stepped up. They said, ‘what do we need and what can we do?’”

Davis said the staff underwent refresher courses on personal protection as well as updates on treating COVID-19.

University of Wisconsin-Platteville has been adapting and making precautionary changes to campus in the midst of COVID-19. During this unprecedented and uncertain time taking care of your mental health is very important, according to Assistant Director of University Counseling Services Teresa Miller.

“On the counseling services website we have been gathering and adding resources for coping with COVID-19,” she said. “We are constantly adding content, articles, videos and other resource pages. These are evidence-based support to help manage stress.”

As UW-Platteville students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members adjust to this pandemic, Miller offers advice to help those experiencing unsettling feelings.

As dean of UW-Platteville’s College of Business, Industry, Life Science and Agriculture, Dr. Wayne Weber presides over a wide range of academic programs, all of which seem to be introducing new, imaginative initiatives at the same time. Weber embraces all these projects the same way he approaches every day at the university, with a positive attitude and keeping the student experience as the primary focus.

You have been with the university since 1996. What brought you to UW-Platteville and what keeps you here?

Dr. Mehdi Roopaei, assistant professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, joined UW-Platteville in 2018. He previously taught at Azad University (Shiraz, Iran) and at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Roopaei notes UW-Platteville students bring many impressive qualities into the classroom.

“The students at UW-Platteville are so hands-on. The students I work with like to learn through hands-on experiences and begin to understand concepts on their own terms,” he said.

Roopaei has several research interests, including machine learning and artificial intelligence. He’s also in the process of developing a new course for the electrical and computer engineering program.

Outside of the university he enjoys spending time with his son and family. He also enjoys traveling to new places.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many University of Wisconsin-Platteville students are finding themselves facing mounting financial challenges. But in a show of Pioneer spirit, many alumni, friends, faculty and staff have already stepped in to help. Created in 2019, the Pioneers Helping Pioneers fund provides emergency financial support to students with unexpected expenses, outside of tuition. When a call for assistance went out to alumni, friends, faculty and staff last week, more than $5,500 was raised for the fund in only a few days, with donations continuing to come in.

According to Laura Franklin, executive director for UW-Platteville’s Division of Diversity and Inclusion, this support can make a huge impact in a student’s ability to continue their education.

When classes are in session, University of Wisconsin-Platteville senior Kayla Golden usually finds herself busy, whether it’s with her electrical engineering coursework or conducting research on the latest transistor technology. So, when the university made the recent decision to extend spring break for a week, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Golden found herself with two weeks of free time and a strong desire to help in some way. In a span of only five days, she created the Platteville-area Mutual Aid and Collective Care Network – a support network for Platteville-area residents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

University of Wisconsin-Platteville Chancellor Dennis J. Shields announced that Dr. Tammy Evetovich has been appointed provost and vice chancellor of Academic Affairs at UW-Platteville. Her appointment begins on June 1.

Evetovich will bring extensive leadership experience to UW-Platteville, having served in a variety of roles at Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska, over the past 20 years. She is currently dean of the School of Natural and Social Sciences at Wayne State College. She has been a professor in the Department of Health, Human Performance, and Sport since 2000, and served as chair of the department for seven of those years.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville is pleased to announce Dr. Kristina Navarro as the new director of athletics and assistant chancellor for sports administration. She will begin her position on June 1 overseeing the 16 athletic teams. Navarro most recently served as the senior associate athletic director for leadership development and strategic partnerships at Rutgers University in Piscataway, New Jersey. She also was an assistant professor of practice at Rutgers.

“I love interacting with the students, especially seeing them ‘get’ how things happening elsewhere affect them.” – James (Jim) Valiga, instructor of geography at UW-Platteville.

When James (Jim) Valiga began teaching geography classes at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in fall 2013, his main goal was to pass on his life experience and knowledge. Each day, he strives to provide students with the knowledge, skills and support they need to succeed in their careers and be curious about the world.

“I love meeting students at the beginning of their career and following their development. I am so proud of them, the work they’ve done, the work that they’re going to do. I understand that I cannot take credit for their successes, but I like to believe that I serve a purpose in their journey.” – Dr. Theron Parsons

Parsons, a professor of psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville since 1996, teaches both clinical and non-clinical psychology courses. In addition to teaching full-time at the undergraduate level on campus, he has taught undergraduate and graduate courses online for the university’s School of Education and Center for Distance Learning for more than 10 years.

As an associate professor of electrical engineering, Dr. Fang Yang specializes in power engineering – an interest she developed during a summer camp in middle school, where she had a chance to visit power plants. Now she teaches these concepts to a unique group of students on the UW Oshkosh Fox Cities campus through the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Engineering Partnership. Designed for working adults or students unable to move to Platteville, the program offers place-bound students the opportunity to earn their UW-Platteville degree in mechanical engineering or electrical engineering at one of several partner sites across the state.

How did you become interested in teaching, and what do you enjoy most about teaching?

Many wonderful teachers who had positively impacted my life inspired my interest in teaching. I love sharing knowledge with students and enjoy how teaching keeps me learning.

A group of 12 University of Wisconsin-Platteville students recently gained an up close and inside look at immigration policy, culture and complexities at the U.S.-Mexico border when they participated in a Border Immersion Trip to Texas and New Mexico, Jan. 18­-26.  Organized by UW-Platteville’s TRIO-Student Support Services, Office of Multicultural Student Affairs and the College of Liberal Arts and Education, the experience offered students multiple perspectives to examine, from various federal agencies and grassroots organizations to political representatives and border patrol officers.

University of Wisconsin-Platteville Professor of Mathematics Dr. Chris Frayer will receive the 2020 Distinguished Teaching Award from the Wisconsin Section of the Mathematical Association of America. 

The Wisconsin Section Distinguished Teaching Award was established in 1991 to emphasize the high importance that colleges and universities in Wisconsin place on teaching mathematics. Winning nominees must display extraordinary success in teaching mathematics. At most, one award is given per year. Frayer is the 24th recipient in the 29-year history of the award, and the third from UW-Platteville.

UPDATE: Due to safety and health concerns around COVID-19, this event has been cancelled as a precautionary measure.

Syrian refugee Mariela Shaker will perform and speak on the topic of civil liberties at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville on Tuesday, March 31. Shaker, who fled the war in Syria, is a motivational speaker, violinist and professor at Monmouth College. She was granted asylum in the United States in 2013 and has since traveled across the world sharing her story.

Shaker’s presentation will be held in the Richard & Helen Brodbeck Concert Hall of the Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m. Admission is free.

“I love working with the students. Each class is different and creates a unique setting for discussion, new interpretations of assignments and exchanging ideas.”

- Greg Nelson, associate professor of art in graphic design and coordinator of Art Program, UW-Platteville

From the moment Greg Nelson began teaching studio art courses in graphic design and printmaking at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in August 2002, his goal has been to share his experiences and knowledge of the industry with his students to help them succeed. He loves providing students with hands-on learning opportunities that help them grow creatively as well as gain knowledge and skills that make them more marketable to future employers.

Beginning in his grandfather’s barbershop in Canada, Dr. Mark Levenstein found some of his first scientific experiences within the science fiction stories of comic books that his grandfather had left him. This interest in science would grow as he began to explore the meanings behind how life can change and adapt.

Levenstein’s education has taken him across the country from Maryland to California. His desire to experience a variety of perspectives in our country has helped shape his ability to understand his surroundings in the context of science and his specialization of biology. He arrived at UW-Platteville in 2015 and serves as an assistant professor of molecular biology and biotechnology. He is also the director of the Master of Science in Applied Biotechnology program. These various titles influence Levenstein’s areas of scientific research and enable him to decipher the questions of life that have intrigued him since his childhood.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville College of Liberal Arts and Education recently recognized several faculty and staff members at its 2019 Award Recognition Reception held in the Nohr Gallery, Ullsvik Hall.

Awards were presented to the following individuals:

Academic Staff Excellence in Teaching Award:

Allen Cordingley, director of Jazz Studies, professor of saxophone, Department of Performing and Visual Arts

The purpose of this award is to recognize part-time and full-time academic staff members in the College of LAE who demonstrate excellence in teaching and a commitment to the department, college and university. Recipients are outstanding representatives of the exemplary teachers among their number.

Mary Bartling came to UW-Platteville in the fall of 2016 as an assistant professor in supply chain management. She brings to the business program an assortment of work experience, including time at Harley Davidson Motor Company, MillerCoors, General Electric and Bon-Ton Stores that benefits her students. However, teaching called more to Bartling as she continued to work in her field and eventually led her to UW-Platteville.

Bartling teaches Supply Chain Management, Leadership and Management, Introduction to Enterprise Resource Management and Predictive Analytics. She received her bachelor’s degree from UW-Stout and her master’s from Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee. She aims to pursue her Ph.D. in the near future.

Prior to teaching at UW-Platteville, what job experience have you had that most influenced how you teach today?

It was the idealism of youth and a persistent curiosity that initially drew Dr. Yi Tong, lecturer of philosophy at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, to his chosen field.

Tong, who has taught at UW-Platteville since fall 2017, was born and raised in Hangzhou, the capital city of Zhejiang Province in China. In 2004, when he was 19 years old, he began taking courses at East China Normal University in Shanghai, in pursuit of a degree in finance for a future career in banking.

It’s a day University of Wisconsin-Platteville senior Pachia Vang will never forget: Oct. 24, 2019 in the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Field Office in Minneapolis, Minnesota, raising her right hand and taking the oath of becoming an American citizen.

“It’s means a lot to me,” said Vang, a UW-Platteville business administration major from Portage, Wisconsin. “I consider it one of my successes I have done in my life.”

It was a journey with hurdles, but Vang never gave up. In 2005, Vang, her mother and half-brother left their refugee camp in Thailand. “I was 7 or 8 when we came to Minneapolis. I can’t remember much of the flights or anything, but I felt like it was pretty long,” she said. “We did a lot of walking around the airport; it was dark and I was tired.”

Thirty-four University of Wisconsin-Platteville students were recently inducted into Phi Kappa Phi, an honor society that recognizes academic achievement of top students in all majors.

Selection of students is made on the basis of academic achievement supported by good character and is designed to promote academic excellence in higher education and recognize outstanding achievements.

A $400 scholarship was awarded this year, supported by the scholarship fund of the late Chancellor Emeritus Bjarne Ullsvik and Lucille Ullsvik. This year’s scholarship recipient is Lukas Smith, a junior majoring in mathematics and engineering physics.

Dr. Lucie Kadjo came to UW-Platteville in 2016. As an assistant professor of agribusiness in the School of Agriculture, Kadjo has spent the last four years promoting the importance of learning throughout an individual’s life – not just during a person’s time as an undergraduate or graduate student. Currently, she teaches Introduction to Agribusiness, Marketing Management and Quantitative Methods, where she connects the dots between the agriculture industry and business concepts in relation to agriculture.

Kadjo stresses to students that professors do not always have all the answers, and that they are learning as much as their students are. For students and professors, she argues that outside of the classroom – and even more so in the job market – that learning never ceases. She also explains to her students that having the passion to learn will allow them to progress quickly and reach greater levels of success.

When Joanne Wilson arrived in Platteville to take a job as an assistant professor in general engineering in 1986, she could not have known that she was embarking upon a career journey which would last for 34 years and take her into some of the highest leadership roles the university had to offer. But surely at some point during this October’s Homecoming Parade, while riding down the middle of Main Street wearing the Grand Marshal’s orange satin sash, the penny must have dropped: her time at UW-Platteville has been a resounding success.

UW-Platteville students recently took part in the second annual Holiday Toy Hack. During the event, students from across campus joined together in Engineering Hall and made adaptations to toys so that they can be used by children with special needs.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville presented more than 700 candidates in the school’s 203rd commencement. Students crossed the stage at Williams Fieldhouse to receive their diplomas and hoods during the three ceremonies held on Dec. 14.

Chancellor Dennis J. Shields offered advice to the graduating class as they prepare to leave campus and continue their journey. He encouraged the students to leave a positive impact. “Be kind,” he said. “Despite, and perhaps especially, when you feel that the world is cruel and unjust.”

Shields shared his personal story with graduates. He explained how between the ages of 5 and 12 he lived in an orphanage to a foster home before going to a YMCA boy’s home. He shared how a teacher invested in his life and threw him a surprise birthday party with his classmates.

Dr. Mesut Muslu is a professor and interim chair of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. He is also a professor of sustainability and renewable energy systems.

“I came here [UW-Platteville] in fall of 1986; it’s been almost 34 years,” Muslu said. “I really enjoyed every minute of it. I love the students and the people I work with.”

Muslu who teaches power/energy courses in Electrical Engineering and SRES programs led the effort to establish a renewable energy minor in 2008 and then helped with creating the Sustainability and Renewable Energy Systems major in 2013.

A recent $143,000 gift from the family of Robert “Bob” and James Wright will enhance opportunities offered at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Wright Center for Non-Traditional and Veteran Students. The center, which opened in 2014, was named for the brothers after James raised a significant gift for the center. The Wright Center provides support and resources to veteran and non-traditional students, helping them feel more connected to campus and achieve their educational goals.

“Bob and I were both very grateful to UW-Platteville,” said James. “We were veterans and first-generation college graduates.”

Sharing stories about events and individuals from ancient and medieval history that enable students to develop a better understanding of how and why the modern world has become what it is today is one of the things Dr. Nancy Turner enjoys most about teaching.

Turner, a professor of history at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville since fall 1996, teaches the first half of an introductory course in world civilizations as well as upper-level courses in medieval and renaissance Europe and the histories of European women, the modern Middle East, the British Isles and western science.

“I wanted to make a difference in young children’s lives,” said Jodi Halverson, lead teacher at the UW-Platteville Children’s Center. “I love that every day is different.”

Halverson teaches 4- and 5-year-olds in the Orange Room. Her favorite part is, “Getting to see their excitement when they learn something new you taught them,” she said. As an alumna of UW-Platteville, she’s proud to use her education and experience to help shape the minds of her students.

You are a 2010 alumna of UW-Platteville earning a degree in elementary education. Why did you want to work at your alma mater?

I live in Platteville and wanted to work close to home. There was a position open; I had the opportunity to work at the Children’s Center during college as a teacher assistant and enjoyed the atmosphere and the education children were receiving. I wanted to be a part of it.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville will mark its 203rd commencement on Saturday, Dec. 14. The three ceremonies will take place inside Williams Fieldhouse. The College of Business, Industry, Life Science and Agriculture ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. The College of Liberal Arts and Education and School of Graduates Studies will hold their ceremonies at 12:30p.m.; and the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science will hold its ceremony at 4 p.m.

A chance meeting with a high school math teacher led Dr. Holly Attenborough to pursue the field of mathematics. She joined the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in 2013 as assistant professor of mathematics, and has already earned several recognitions, including the 2018 UW-Platteville Early Career Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence and the 2017 UW System Wisconsin Teaching Fellow Award.

UPDATE: Due to safety and health concerns around COVID-19, this event has been cancelled as a precautionary measure.

Dr. Bernice A. King, the executive director of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (the King Center) is the 2020 University of Wisconsin-Platteville Distinguished Lecturer. The speech is Tuesday, April 21, 2020 at 10:15 a.m. in the Bo Ryan Court, Williams Fieldhouse. The 45-minute lecture will be followed by a 30-minute question-and-answer session.

Classes, labs and lessons will be canceled at all three UW-Platteville campuses from 10 a.m. until noon. The presentation will be live streamed to UW-Platteville Baraboo Sauk County and UW-Platteville Richland.

In the summer of 2015, Donovan Nathaniel made the two- and half-hour drive from Milwaukee, Wisconsin to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville to embark on his academic and athletic career for the Pioneers.  

“The football team led me to UW-Platteville. Once I came on my visit and met the staff, I knew this would be my home for the next four to five years. I am a big family guy, so only being two- and half-hours from home served as a plus,” Nathaniel said.

Linda Mulroy-Bowden, executive director of student life and development at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, recently received the prestigious William B. Sweet Distinguished Service Award from the Upper Midwest Region-Association of College and University Housing Officers. The award is the organization’s highest honor.

According to the UMR-ACUHO, the awardee “should represent a standard of excellence through contributions and dedication to the regional and international housing association and profession … [their] service should leave a positive and lasting impact, and they should be viewed as a role model for colleagues and new professionals.”

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville will once again host the Midwest Culturally Inclusive Conference Feb. 27-28, 2020 in Velzy Commons, Ullsvik Hall. The conference offers an opportunity for college students, faculty and staff, community members, K-12 teachers, and others – from throughout the Midwest – to strengthen their capacity to understand, support and elevate their identities and the identities of others. The conference was held consecutively from 2011-2014, drawing, at times, nearly 1,000 attendees from across the Midwest.

“The Department of Campus Climate is excited to re-introduce this conference to the Southwest Wisconsin region,” said Emily Stier, UW-Platteville Campus Climate coordinator. “We hope to bring inspiring keynotes, educational breakout sessions and invaluable community-building opportunities throughout.” 

Learning from his students and watching them learn and grow are what Dr. Todd Stradford loves most about teaching. Stradford, an associate professor of geography at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville since August 1997, teaches courses in human geography, weather and climate and Asia.

Stradford grew up in a Navy family, the son of a naval captain. Being a member of a military family required frequent moves and exposure to unfamiliar cultures. Thanks to these early childhood experiences, he has always loved learning about other cultures and people and developed a taste for travel. He still has his first pair of Japanese chopsticks, which have a hand-painted baseball player on them.

Continuing its tradition of providing an accessible, high quality education to all students, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville recently announced its Pioneer Pledge program. The program guarantees that the cost of undergraduate, on-campus tuition and fees will be covered for new freshmen who are Pell Grant-eligible Wisconsin residents.

“At the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, we pride ourselves on being an affordable and accessible institution,” said Chancellor Dennis J. Shields. “With more than 40 percent of our students being first-generation students, we understand that some families struggle with financing their education. Our goal is to make gaining the education the number one priority, not the worry about paying for it. This program will go a long way in ensuring that more students will have access to a UW-Platteville education, which is ranked the best value among all Wisconsin public institutions.”

“The most rewarding part of my profession is seeing my students succeed,” said UW-Platteville Assistant Professor of sustainability and renewable energy systems Dr. Pamela Tas. Tas is the SRES program coordinator and teaches classes related to the utilization of plant-based hydrocarbons as a more sustainable means to societies’ energy use. She is currently working on two research projects with her students.

Outside of campus Tas is an avid gardener with the goal of growing a third of her family’s food at home. Along with gardening, Tas is a painter and a musician. She does oil and water paintings, and plays four instruments: violin, guitar, the Turkish instrument, saz, and the cello.

Your research interests lie in bio renewable resources with a focus on biofuel for green aviation fuel and biodiesel. What projects are you currently working on?

Dr. Jeff Huebschman joined UW-Platteville in the fall of 2003. A Nebraska native, Huebschman has always enjoyed being out in nature. This love for the outdoors would soon turn into a career as he began to consider his natural surroundings on a deeper level.

Huebschman teaches Mammalogy, Ornithology, Ecological Methods and Research and Diversity of Life at UW-Platteville. In addition, he also leads a study tour focused on sub-arctic ecology that is based out of Churchill, Manitoba, on the shores of the Hudson Bay. More locally, Huebschman aims to increase awareness of many of the organisms that reside in the Driftless region of Wisconsin in his classes.

Despite recently starting his Junior year, Caden Stindt is already making a name for himself at UW-Platteville – but it isn’t in the usual academic, athletic or artistic circles one might expect. Instead, Stindt’s rising fame is due to his remarkable achievement of being crowned a Rocket League® tournament champion – not once, but twice in a row.

Hosted by the Division of Professional Studies, the Rocket League® tournaments are part of a growing esports movement at UW-Platteville, one seeking to promote teamwork and new connections among students. So far both online tournaments have proven successful, with each event drawing in registrants from a variety of programs and academic standings, leading several hopeful participants to even become waitlisted. But as successful as each tournament has become, one could argue they were even more of a success for Stindt – in more ways than one.

Higher education has been a significant part of Jon and Dr. Tori Erickson’s lives, and their recently announced planned gift to support University of Wisconsin-Platteville scholarships will help ensure it is also a part of the lives of future generations of Pioneers. Their estate gift is among the largest bequests the university has ever received. The Ericksons were honored during the Homecoming celebration this past weekend.

"I have gotten to know Tori and Jon Erickson over the years, and I am so impressed with them and their commitment to education and to UW-Platteville," Chancellor Dennis J. Shields said. "They are a remarkable couple who have engaged this campus in a number of ways. Their gift is an extension of that commitment."

When Dr. Leigh Monhardt, associate professor of education at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, is asked what he loves most about teaching, the answer is clear: he loves the challenge of making each class he teaches meaningful and relevant to his students.

Monhardt, who joined UW-Platteville in 2007, teaches all of the elementary and secondary science methods courses offered by the university’s School of Education, including two STEM-integrated science courses.

Thanks to the generous donations of hundreds of alumni, faculty and staff, and other friends of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, the UW-Platteville Foundation raised over $121,000 with its annual Day of Giving.

The event is held each year on Oct. 9 to celebrate the university’s founding by raising funds to support student success in all its forms. While donors are welcome to give to any cause, this year the foundation focused its efforts on three areas: Pioneer Provisions, the Pioneer Scholarship Fund and an emergency fund for students, Pioneers Helping Pioneers.

When Tim Juedes, lecturer of criminal justice at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, considers what he loves most about teaching, the answer comes to him easily: “I love helping students learn about topics they are passionate about and want to pursue as a career.”

Juedes, who has taught forensic investigation courses at the university since spring 2015, is a UW-Platteville alumnus, earning a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice with an emphasis in forensic investigation and a minor in chemistry in 2009. His specialties are fingerprint analysis and criminalistics.

Dr. Hao Chen is celebrating his 10th year at UW-Platteville. Chen found his love of media and advertising at malls in his childhood when living in China. Visiting stores with his parents exposed him to the colorful and eye-catching world of visual marketing, and later, the influence of digital media in relation to business.

Chen teaches Advertising and Consumer Behavior in marketing along with Business Analytics in the general business area. He also teaches Introduction to Mass Media, Web Development, and Visual Communication in the Media Studies area. Chen hopes to find more ways for business students to be engaged in their communities by understanding the needs of local businesses. He encourages students to establish professional relationships with those same businesses to prepare them for their careers after college. He received both his master’s degree and Ph.D. from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Dr. Jodi Prosise recently joined the University of Wisconsin-Platteville as the new chair of the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, the largest academic department at the university. She brings with her a longtime passion and interest in the idea of empowerment through technology, or, improving the lives of individuals with disabilities – specifically in low-income areas – through designing and building assistive technology. She has frequently led students in study abroad trips to Brazil, where they develop sustainable prosthetics fashioned from PVC pipe and woven material.

Prosise earned her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Iowa State University and a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from the University of Minnesota. She spent 10 years teaching at St. Ambrose University, serving four years as chair of the Department of Engineering and Physics.

Every day is different for Cathy Riedl-Farrey, who is the director of Financial Services at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, depending on the requests coming in from campus or university leaders. “A day never goes by where I don’t use Excel. I’m constantly in Excel with using numbers and working on numbers,” she said.

Riedl-Farrey, an alumna of UW-Platteville, said her interest with fiscal resources began when she was a student-worker on campus. Her auditing experience led her back to her alma mater where she has worked for the past 20 years.

Outside of campus Riedl-Farrey and her husband enjoy attending their three children’s school and sporting events. She also enjoys playing golf.

You are an alumna of UW-Platteville, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting. Since graduating in 1994, why did you want to come back and work at your alma mater?

University of Wisconsin-Platteville Chancellor Dennis J. Shields shared his intentions for the upcoming year at the annual all-campus convocation held on Thursday.

“Our mission remains the same, which is to promote excellence by using a personal, hands-on approach to empower each student and achieve our vision of being recognized as the leading student-focused university,” said Chancellor Shields.

The topics he addressed included recruitment and retention, student mental health, continuation of the collaborative integration with UW-Platteville Richland and UW-Platteville Baraboo Sauk County, capital project updates, 2019-24 strategic plan and the Wisconsin state budget.

Dr. Raymond Pugh, assistant professor in chemistry, is excited to bring new technology into his classroom to help his students receive a better understanding of molecular structure, interactions and function by using 3D models. Pugh is one of two University of Wisconsin-Platteville faculty members to receive the Teaching and Technology Center’s 2019 Innovations in Technology for Teaching and Learning Award, providing him funds to purchase a new 3D printer.

“It will allow me to make different models of enzymes and give students a hands-on opportunity to work with the enzymes, and understand the differences between the different types of enzymes discussed in class,” he said.

Paul Erickson has more than 30 years of experience working in the communications industry. Since 1996, he’s been a part of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, first working as the sports information director and now as the director of Communications and public information officer.

Erickson said it’s fun to see the way technology has impacted communications. When he first started in athletics, he would have to call in box scores to six different media outlets. “Then came the fax machine and I could send the information; it saved three hours of work every night,” he said. “You have to keep up with technology not just to help save time off your job, but also to figure out how to reach your audiences and what technology your audiences are using.”

Outside of campus, Erickson enjoys spending time with his family.

Dr. Amanda Tucker, associate professor of English at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, was named one of three recipients across the UW System of the 2019 Alliant Energy Underkofler Excellence in Teaching Award.

The $3,000 awards are funded by an endowment from the Alliant Energy Foundation and are intended to recognize “teaching of outstanding quality that leads to substantial intellectual growth in students” at UW System institutions within the company’s service area.

"I’m very honored to receive this award,” said Tucker. “My teaching practices interweave insights from research about teaching and learning with the development of broad-based societal and professional skills. I am grateful to my students, who have taught me so much not only about learning and instruction but also compassion, collaboration and empathy."

Lisa Naderman has seen almost all sides of UW-Platteville, having earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees, coaching, teaching, and working as an admission advisor for both on-campus and online students. Her husband and her two daughters are establishing even more roots in Southwest Wisconsin, building a new home in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

“I am very family-oriented, and I feel that is the way the campus is. It gives me the opportunity to create my own family within my department while still being able to be there for my family,” she said.

Naderman is starting her fifth year with the Center for Distance Learning. She is currently the admission and student services coordinator. Previously, she was an assistant basketball coach, an instructor and an admission specialist for the welcome center. She earned her bachelor’s degree in 2004 in business and her master’s in 2014 in project management. Naderman began working at UW-Platteville in August 2008.

Dr. Soma Chattopadhyay, University of Wisconsin-Platteville associate professor of chemistry, is introducing her proposal, integrating computational chemistry into the undergraduate chemistry curriculum with the web-based interface program WebMO. Chattopadhyay is one of two UW-Platteville faculty members to receive the Teaching and Technology Center’s 2019 Innovations in Technology for Teaching and Learning Award.

The hands-on tool gives students the opportunity to form different types of molecules in 3D. “If the students are able to build molecules in 3D instead of drawing on paper, move and rotate the molecules on screen with the click of a mouse, they will be better equipped to predict how molecules interact,” said Chattopadhyay.

University of Wisconsin-Platteville Assistant Professor of mechanical engineering, Dr. Scott Melin said it’s an honor to be selected to the 2019-20 Wisconsin Teaching Fellows and Scholars program. Melin is one of three UW-Platteville faculty members chosen as teaching fellows. The program supports outstanding educators in pursuing teaching and learning questions emerging from the classroom.

Melin’s research is centered around a STEM outreach service-learning project in partnership with the first and second grade classrooms at Westview Elementary School in Platteville, and the students of the mechanical systems lab course at UW-Platteville. At the beginning of the semester engineering students visit the elementary school and give a presentation of the school’s science curriculum and meet with the young students.

Ian Dreger, interim director of Event Services, came to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in 2013 as a resident director in the Department of Residence Life. After interning and working at a number of colleges and universities, Dreger immediately felt at home at UW-Platteville.

What do you enjoy about working in a university setting?

I love working with and getting to know students. Everyone has a story, and I enjoy listening to and interacting with students on campus. I also enjoy the learning environment and that students can learn both inside and outside of the classroom.

What does a typical workday look like for you?

Kim Sargent has been supporting women students in the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville for about eight years. She is now being honored with the university’s 2019 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. 

Diana Blindert entered the printing and publishing industry after she graduated from high school and was hired by the Platteville Journal and Mastercraft Press. During her 23 years at the company she learned the newspaper and printing business from the ground up. She said it gave her a well-rounded understanding of the industry.

In 2003, Blindert joined the University of Wisconsin-Platteville as part of the Publications and Public Relations Department as the print buyer, editor and administrative assistant.  In 2008, she became a print technician in Pioneer Printing and Postal Services and in 2010 the Pioneer Printing and Postal Services supervisor. She is also the merchandise coordinator and print buyer for the communications department.

Outside of campus, Blindert enjoys spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren, and being outdoors.

What does a typical work day look like for you?

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Kappa Delta Pi Iota Rho Chapter was one of the honored recipients of the 2018-19 Membership Chapter Program Award, presented by Kappa Delta Pi.

Kappa Delta Pi is an international honor society in education, established to sustain an honored community of diverse educators by promoting excellence and advancing scholarship, leadership and service. Its awards for education excellence “honor those individuals and chapters for their significant contributions to the Society and the education world.”

Surprised and satisfied is how Dr. Kyle Horne, assistant professor in mechanical engineering, described his reaction when he found out he received the 2019 University of Wisconsin-Platteville Early Career Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence. The award is designed to honor university faculty who hold tenure-track appointments and have completed between two and five years of teaching.

“I did work very hard on the application and so it was satisfying to be selected after that hard work,” said Horne. “You apply for so many different things that it’s always a pleasant surprise when you get one of them.”

Dr. Muthu Venkateshwaran, associate professor of crop physiology and molecular biology in the University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s School of Agriculture, was selected to receive the university’s 2019 Outstanding Faculty Academic Advisor Award.

“This award is very near and dear to my heart as academic advising is one of my responsibilities I cherish the most,” said Venkateshwaran. “I provide my student advisees the guidance they need to achieve their academic and professional goals. This award serves as a strong source of motivation to hone my advising skills to do my job even better.”

Dr. Chris Schulenburg, professor of Spanish at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, has earned the Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence. The award is presented annually to a tenure-track or tenured faculty member who has made distinguished contributions to the mission of UW-Platteville.

“I relish receiving the Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence because it relies on evidence from the classroom itself,” said Schulenburg. “That is, the committee filmed a class of the three finalists in order to see what an actual class looks like from an outside observer. In the end, no one really knows how professors teach unless they choose to visit our classes. The fact that this award reflects a real class means everything to me.”

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Department of Performing and Visuals Arts and the Platteville Summer Arts Festival will present the musical “Big Fish.”

Based on the novel by Daniel Wallace and the critically-acclaimed 2003 film directed by Tim Burton, this musical has a book by John August and music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa. The production runs July 26 and 27 and Aug. 2 and 3 at 7:30 p.m. and July 28 and Aug. 4 at 2 p.m. in the university’s Center for the Arts Theatre.

“Big Fish” tells the story of Edward Bloom, a traveling salesman who lives life to its fullest. Edward’s incredible, larger-than-life stories thrill everyone around him – except his son Will, who, about to have a child of his own, is determined to find the truth behind his father’s epic tales before it’s too late.

Chancellor Dennis J. Shields announced changes in his leadership team and direct reports today, as the University of Wisconsin-Platteville begins preparation for its 154th academic year. Chancellor Shields is beginning his 10th year as the head of UW-Platteville.

Jeffrey Strange, associate professor of theatre, resident scenic and lighting designer and technical director of the Center for the Arts Theatre at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, was recently honored with the university’s third annual Nimocks Family Faculty Appreciation Award.

He was nominated for the award by Dr. Laura Anderson, chair of the Department of Performing and Visual Arts at UW-Platteville, and Dr. Ann Farrelly, associate professor and theatre program coordinator at UW-Platteville.

The award, created in 2007 by Dr. Mittie Nimocks Den Herder, former provost and vice chancellor of Academic Affairs, 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.

Dr. Shan Sappleton, associate professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, received the Excellence in Advising International Students Award for her efforts in helping further international experiences at the university.

The award is presented annually to a UW-Platteville faculty or staff member who has demonstrated passion for and innovation in helping students incorporate an education abroad experience into their degree program and who has had a significant positive impact on the international student population.

Jessica Sprenger-Schulenburg, academic advisor/ academic coach in the University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Department of Criminal Justice, earned the Outstanding Professional Academic Advisor Award for exemplifying the best qualities of academic staff advisors. The award is presented annually to a UW-Platteville faculty/instructional academic staff member whose primary or only responsibility is advising.

Country breakout artists Mitchell Tenpenny and Chris Lane will take center stage at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Welcome Back concert on Monday, Sept. 2. The concert will be held in Williams Fieldhouse with doors opening at 6 p.m. Tickets are currently on sale for the public.

Tenpenny’s single “Drunk Me” is Platinum-certified number one and has had more than 200 million on-demand streams. He’s also being called the 2019 artist to watch by Country Music Television and was nominated for a 2019 Academy of Country Music award for new male artist of the year.

Lane is known for his hits of “Fix,” “For Her” and “Take Back Home Girl” which became his third Gold-certified single in a row. He’s launched two albums “Girl Problems” and most recently “Laps Around the Sun.”

Dr. Kristina Fields, professor of civil engineering, is one of two recipients recognized with the University of Wisconsin-Platteville 2019 Excellence in Advising International Students Award. This award is presented annually to recognize faculty and staff who have demonstrated passion for and left impacts on incorporating international studies into education for both foreign and domestic students.

“[The award] definitely means a lot to me because this is a big campus, and there are a lot of amazing faculty,” Fields said. “When I was at the international night, it was humbling as well because there are a lot of remarkable international faculty on our campus.”

After working at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville for 35 years, not much surprises Jeanne Robinson, but the School Certifying Official for veterans’ benefits was caught off-guard when she opened her email this spring and read that she won the University Staff Award of Excellence.

“I won what? I was shocked, very shocked. I didn’t know I was nominated until I found out in an email that I won,” she said.

Greg Tremelling, coordinator of the Wright Center for Non-Traditional and Veteran Students, is the one who nominated her.

“She’s deserving of this award for the amount of work she has put in,” he said. “She has been instrumental in righting the ship after a couple of challenging years for the office of the veterans’ certifying official. She had glowing recommendation letters (from her co-workers), and it’s an honor to work with her.”

Kari Frederick, chemistry laboratory manager for the chemistry department, was awarded the University of Wisconsin-Platteville 2019 Academic Staff Award for Excellence. This award is presented to an instructional or non-instructional academic staff member with a minimum of 12 consecutive months of employment at UW-Platteville who has provided essential services to the university while demonstrating excellence of performance, personal interaction, initiative and creativity.

“I am humbled and grateful to be chosen for this award, as I am sure there were many deserving candidates. It is truly a great feeling to be recognized and appreciated for my efforts over my 20 years at UW-Platteville,” Frederick said. “I must also express my appreciation for my staff in the stockroom for all their hard work and dedication. It takes a team to get all the labs prepped every week so that they run smoothly for faculty and staff instructors.”

Dr. Eugene Tesdahl, assistant professor of history at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, is one of three UW-Platteville faculty members selected for the 2019-20 Wisconsin Teaching Fellows and Scholars Program.

The Wisconsin Teaching Fellows and Scholars Program is a statewide professional and instructional development program that offers UW System faculty and teaching academic staff a unique opportunity to collaborate with other exceptional teachers from across the UW System and from various disciplines. The objective of the program is to connect exemplary early-career and late-career teachers into a mentor program. They will each work together and lead efforts to further their individual research.

Nearly $30,000 has been raised, to date, for the Barry L. Ellis Music Scholarship Fund. The fund was created by UW-Platteville’s Department of Performing and Visual Arts and Ellis’s wife Terri in memory of Dr. Barry Ellis, who passed away suddenly in October. Ellis was a professor of music and director of bands at the university for 27 years.

The Barry L. Ellis Music Scholarship Fund will provide financial support for music scholarships for incoming, continuing, and transfer students who have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and are participating in an instrumental ensemble, with preference given to music and music education majors. The Department of Performing and Visual Arts is pleased to announce that the scholarship is now fully endowed.

After a very successful inaugural season, the Platteville Summer Arts Festival will return this summer, once again bringing a host of music, art and theatre events to the community.

 “We are so excited to be back,” said Ann Farrelly, associate professor of theatre at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and festival artistic director. “The overwhelming response from the community to our events last year reinforced our belief that the arts belong in Platteville in the summer.”

In support of the mission of UW-Platteville, the Platteville Summer Arts Festival seeks to foster an environment in which artists, educators, students, audience members and the greater tri-state community collaboratively create and celebrate the arts.

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Wisconsin becoming the first state to ratify the 19th amendment granting national suffrage to women, four University of Wisconsin-Platteville students attended the Wisconsin Women in Government Scholarship and Recognition Gala. The event took place on May 15 at the Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center in Madison, Wisconsin.

The participating students included Kristen Hephner, a junior criminal justice and accounting double major from Auroa, Illinois; Lindsy York, a senior education major from Hennepin, Illinois; Mikayla Ney, a junior chemistry major from Waterford, Wisconsin; and Rachel Eckmann, a senior chemistry and forensic investigation double major from Waukesha, Wisconsin.

Sergio Romero lives and works two hours from Platteville in Delavan, Wisconsin, but he has managed to maintain a strong tie to the campus community as an alumnus and to the online community as a current student within the M.S. of Organizational Change Leadership program.

Romero originally came to UW-Platteville to pursue engineering, but then began to explore computer science. When he found himself reading lines of code late into the night, he changed his plans. Friends in the industrial tech program then persuaded him to combine his interest with a B.S. in Industrial Technology Management.

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – Officials at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville held a ceremony on Monday to honor the late Patricia A. Doyle and rededicate the Patricia A. Doyle Center for Gender and Sexuality in her memory. The rededication ceremony was held as part of the center’s annual end-of-the-year celebration. A new plaque to honor Doyle was unveiled during the ceremony.

A college education, like many things worth pursuing, isn’t always easy—especially when life’s other responsibilities start to get in the way. With the advent of online learning, however, juggling coursework and life’s duties has become more manageable for students and teachers alike, and perhaps no one knows this better than Wendy Brooke.

Brooke is an instructor for UW-Platteville’s School of Business who retired in 2017. Starting this semester, however, Brooke returned to the Platteville community to teach exclusively online, dividing time between the virtual classroom and her consulting work down in Florida, where she helps various supply chain warehouses improve their processes.

The second annual Pioneer Creative Activities and Research Day was held on April 24 and showcased the creative and scholarly activities of University of Wisconsin-Platteville students, faculty and staff. One of those projects was the Animal House, which has a mission to educate the Platteville community by introducing people to exotic organisms in order to generate interest in the biological sciences and teach the importance of conservation efforts, proper animal care and providing animal care, enrichment research and outreach experiences for zoology and animal science students.

Dr. Jodi Prosise has been selected as the next chair of the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, and will join the University of Wisconsin-Platteville on Aug. 1, 2019.

“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Prosise to the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science in this critical leadership role,” said Dr. Molly Gribb, dean of the College of EMS. “The MEIE department plays an important role on our campus as the largest academic department with over 1,200 students pursuing mechanical engineering degrees and 180 pursuing industrial engineering degrees, and is a critical source of engineering talent in Wisconsin and the Tri-State area. Dr. Prosise brings a wealth of experience developing and leading mechanical and industrial engineering programs, as well as grantsmanship and development skills that will serve the faculty, staff and students extremely well and help propel the department forward to even greater success.”

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville College of Liberal Arts and Education recognized several faculty and staff members at its 2019 Award Recognition Reception, held April 25 in the Nohr Gallery, Ullsvik Hall.

Awards were presented to the following individuals:

Excellence in Professional Development Award:

Dr. Kara Candito, Department of Humanities, English

This award is given in recognition of excellence in professional development activities such as research, writing, performance, artistic production or activity in professional organizations.

Outstanding Academic Advisor Award:

Dr. Shan Sappleton, Department of Social Sciences, Political Science

Recipients of this award exemplify the best qualities of faculty and academic staff advisors.

The Robert and James Wright Center for Non-Traditional and Veteran Students continues to grow at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville since opening five years ago in April of 2014. On April 10, the center is celebrating its anniversary with an open house from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. in Royce Hall. The center is inviting veteran students, non-traditional students, faculty and staff to attend.

“We are excited to have people come, visit and talk about the new programming and see how the Wright Center has grown,” said Greg Tremelling, Wright Center coordinator. The center is developing programs to help make veteran and non-traditional students feel more connected to campus along with helping them reach their educational goals.

Nearly 20 students from the three University of Wisconsin-Platteville campuses participated in the 16th annual Research in the Rotunda on April 17 in Madison, Wisconsin. More than 120 undergraduate researchers and their faculty mentors from across the UW System filled the Capitol and presented their findings with legislators, state leaders, alumni and the public.

UW-Platteville had the most research projects selected from the UW System with nine. “The students are what the enterprise of higher education is about. You represent the best, the brightest, the most energetic and tremendous students on our campuses,” said Chancellor Dennis J. Shields. “You are great leaders and you demonstrated the value the University of Wisconsin-Platteville represents for the state of Wisconsin.”

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville will host its sixth Senior Design Open House on Wednesday, May 15 at the Markee Pioneer Student Center. Nearly 220 students from the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science are participating in the event.

The Senior Design Open House will feature 42 projects in the areas of mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, sustainability and renewable energy systems, computer science, software engineering and engineering physics.

Provost and Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs Dr. Joanne Wilson announced that Dr. Jennifer Collins is the new director of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville's School of Education.

"We are very pleased to have Dr. Jennifer Collins as the director for the School of Education," the provost said. "She is very passionate about education, and that energy shows through in all she does. Dr. Collins also brings a wealth of experience to the position."

Collins, an associate professor of education and assistant director in the School of Education, has been at UW-Platteville since 2015. She earned the university's inaugural Nimocks Family Faculty Appreciation Award in 2017.

On March 30, University of Wisconsin-Platteville faculty, staff and community members had the opportunity to learn about privilege and its effects at the “Let’s Talk About Privilege” workshop at the Platteville Public Library.

The workshop was presented by Dr. Edina Haslauer, assistant professor of education at UW-Platteville, and Dr. Frank King, assistant professor of ethnic studies at UW-Platteville. The event was planned and organized by Emma Radosevich, outreach librarian at Platteville Public Library.

The goal of the workshop was to define privilege and hold an open and honest conversation about how privilege works to maintain invisible power structures in society and examine how people are affected by those structures.

After Radosevich conducted a “Privilege for Sale” group activity that encouraged participants to think about the different types of privileges that exist, Haslauer discussed that privilege comes from group memberships.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Industrial Studies Department received an equipment donation valued at more than $300,000 from Rockwell Automation, Inc. The presentation was acknowledged in an appreciation ceremony Thursday in UW-Platteville’s Russell Hall.

The Industrial Studies program received six complete brand new model motor control centers (also known as MCC), which provide a compact modular grouping for motor control and electrical distribution components, controlling some or all electric motors and some process controllers from a central location.

Chesney Snow, an award-winning, New York City-based theatre artist and an alumnus of Platteville High School (’97), will present “American Inequality and the Functionality of the Arts” and the documentary “American Beatboxer” at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Lundeen Lecture Hall on Wednesday, April 10 at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. The event is free and open to all.

Snow’s presentations are sponsored by the university’s Platteville Community Restorative Justice student organization and the Department of Campus Climate, and are being held in coordination with National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 7-13.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Department of Performing and Visual Arts-Theatre and Pioneer Players will continue their 2018-2019 season with the sinister and popular musical “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.”

Performances are Friday, April 5; Saturday, April 6; Thursday, April 11; Friday, April 12; and Saturday, April 13 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, April 7 and Sunday, April 14 at 2 p.m. There also will be a special matinee at 11 a.m. on April 10. All performances will be held in the Brodbeck Concert Hall at the Center for the Arts, UW-Platteville.

As part of its ongoing commitment to improving campus climate, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville will recognize Sexual Assault Awareness month in April with a number of events. According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, Sexual Assault Awareness Month is a campaign to raise public awareness about sexual violence and educate communities on how to prevent it. Throughout April, the UW-Platteville Dean of Students office will be hosting a number of events regarding victim-blaming, supporting survivors and bystander intervention as well as tabling sessions.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville, in partnership with the Tommy G. Thompson Center presents An Evening with Rick Hess. The event will take place on Tuesday, April 9 at 6 p.m. in Velzy Commons, Ullsvik Hall.

Hess is a resident scholar and director of education policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, where he works on higher education issues. He is also the author of an education blog “Rick Hess Straight Up” and contributes to the business magazine Forbes and political newspaper The Hill.

Hess’s talk will be based on his book “Letters to a Young Education Reformer.” The book focuses on the key lessons he’s learned about education reform. He will also reflect on his experiences with politicians, philanthropists and school leaders from around the world.

University of Wisconsin-Platteville professors Mary Bartling and Marge Karsten from the School of Business were inspired by the #MeToo movement to dig deeper into the issue of harassment in the workplace. They will host a panel, open to the public, on this topic on Wednesday, March 27 at 4:30-5:30 p.m. in the University Rooms of the Markee Pioneer Student Center.

Bartling is a business professor who began her career at UW-Platteville after spending time working with Harley-Davidson. She specializes her academics in supply chain management. Karsten is a professor of human resource management and the internship coordinator in the School of Business. She has developed a course titled Management, Gender and Race that is cross-listed with ethnic studies and women’s and gender studies, which she now teaches through UW-Platteville’s Center for Distance Learning.

Student teams will soon compete in WiSys’ fourth annual Prototype Hackathon for a $1,000 cash prize and a chance to develop their product commercially.

• BUILD DAYS: March 29, 4 to 11 p.m., and March 30, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., in Engineering Hall, UW-Platteville.
• PRESENTATION: April 24, 5:30-8 p.m. in Nohr Gallery, Ullsvik Hall, UW-Platteville.

Teams will have two designated days to design and build a prototype in late March and then will present their refined prototypes to a panel of judges on April 24. The teams will be judged based on functionality, market need and overall presentation.

Dr. Michael O’Connor, a 2006 graduate of the Master of Science in Project Management program, was recognized at UW-Platteville’s 2018 Homecoming as an Outstanding Alumni. The award honors alumni who contribute to and are recognized in their profession and community, and who are engaged with the university.

O’Connor is the Director Strategy and Project Management at Medtronic, Corporate Science & Technology and Innovation organization where he has worked for over 16 years. He was recently recognized with the 2018 Hamdan bin Mohammed Award for Innovation Project Management, 2018 Dr. Richard S. Alberg Distinguished Science and Technology Professional Award for his outstanding leadership in the development of medical device products, and 2017 Project Management Institute’s Educational Foundation Kerzner Award for Excellence in Project Management.

Steve Murphy and Javier Peña are former DEA agents who successfully hunted down and captured the Colombian drug lord and narcoterrorist Pablo Escobar, the head of the Medellin Cartel in the 1980s and 1990s. Their exhilarating pursuit of the world’s first narcoterrorist has inspired the Golden Globe-nominated Netflix Original three-season series “NARCOS.”  

Murphy and Peña will bring their story to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville as they are this year’s Distinguished Lecturers. They will take over the Bo Ryan Court on Wednesday, March 27 for an hour-long presentation starting at 10 a.m. with a 30-minute question and answer session to follow.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Homecoming tradition of lighting the world’s largest M earned the “2018 Your Best Campus Tradition” in a vote by the National Association for Campus Activities.

The annual M lighting was honored for schools with more than 5,000 students in the nation-wide vote of colleges and universities. NACA has more than 900 members, including nearly 450 with enrollments above 5,000.

With a new strategic plan, three building projects and a strong commitment to campus climate, University of Wisconsin-Platteville has the opportunity to transform its three campuses, Chancellor Dennis J. Shields said Tuesday in his annual State of the University address.

“We face challenges ahead, but by working on the intentional priorities we began years ago, by being proactive, by seeking out opportunities and by working together, we can continue to thrive and continue to provide world-class education that is still affordable and accessible to our students,” he told a crowd of university faculty and staff and community leaders. The address was also streamed across campus and the branch campuses in Baraboo and Richland Center.

The 2019-24 new strategic plan will be based on five themes:

This year marks the 52nd year of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Pioneer Summer Band Camp to be held Sunday, July 7-Saturday, July 13. 

The purpose of the camp is to provide middle and high school music students from the tri-state area with opportunities to learn more about music from talented faculty; gain knowledge to improve tone, technique and musicianship; and perform with other gifted young musicians. Last year, more than 120 students from 45 schools in three states participated in the event.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville began a comprehensive preparation for its future by beginning work on its next five-year strategic plan. Approximately 70 faculty, staff and students gathered recently to begin shaping its priorities.

"I am very excited for this next five-year strategic plan,” said Paige Smith, champion for the strategic plan and vice chancellor for Administrative Services. “We have new opportunities in light of our collaborative integration with UW-Platteville Baraboo Sauk County and UW-Platteville Richland to create new and existing educational opportunities for our students.”

The strategic plan is shaped by five themes that will be expanded upon during upcoming meetings:

Adults aged 65 years and older are the fastest growing age group in the United States population. In fact, the older adult population is projected to double by 2060 and the number of Americans with Alzheimer's disease is projected to triple by 2050 (Population Reference Bureau, 2018).

On Thursday, Feb. 28, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s College of Liberal Arts and Education will host a faculty forum, “Making Memories for People with Alzheimer’s Disease,” in Room 136 Doudna Hall from 5-6:30 p.m. The forum will address issues related to the nation’s rapidly-aging population, including the biopsychosocial changes that accompany aging, particularly among those affected by Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias.

Dr. Jennifer Collins, assistant director of the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, was recently named to the Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance board of directors as its new higher education representative.

“WiRSA is very excited to have Dr. Collins on the WiRSA Board,” said Kim Kaukl, executive director of WiRSA. “We look forward to her sharing her knowledge on rural education. We also look forward to working with her and UW-Platteville on ways to improve the rural teacher pipeline for rural schools in Wisconsin.” 

In commemoration of the 65th anniversary of the Brown v Board of Education decision (May 17, 1954) and the 55th anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Act (July 2, 1964), the University of Wisconsin-Platteville will host “The Relevance of Brown v Board of Education in 21st Century Rural America,” on Monday, April 29, in the university’s Lundeen Lecture Hall and Velzy Commons.

The presentation, sponsored by the university’s School of Education, will feature guest speaker Cheryl Brown Henderson, daughter of the late Rev. Oliver L. Brown, after whom the Brown v Board of Education case was named. The landmark case brought the end to segregation in public school classrooms, declaring the 1896 ‘separate but equal’ legislation of Plessy v Ferguson as unconstitutional.

UW-Platteville’s Department of Performing and Visual Arts-Theatre and Pioneer Players will present Sam Shepard’s powerful 1983 play, “Fool for Love.” Performances are Feb. 13 at 11 a.m., Feb. 13-16 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 17 at 2 p.m. in the Center for the Arts Theatre.



The Feb. 13 performance at 7:30 p.m. is also the Benefit Wednesday performance. All tickets for the benefit are $7, and the proceeds go to the Platteville Food Pantry and Pioneer Provisions, a free pantry/grocery service for students experiencing food insecurity.

Dr. Kameko Halfmann, assistant professor of psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, earned the university’s inaugural New Faculty Professional Development Award. The award provides one new faculty member each year with funding to help launch his or her research or creative endeavor program at the university. The faculty member receives up to $5,000 from the university’s provost’s office and up to $5,000 matching funds from their college.

“I was truly honored and excited to receive this award,” said Halfmann. “The award allowed me to pay students over the summer to work on research and help set up my lab here at UW-Platteville.”

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Black Student Union will host the 14th annual Ebony Weekend Conference Feb. 8-9, beginning at 4 p.m. Friday at the Markee Pioneer Student Center and concluding Saturday night in Velzy Commons in Ullsvik Hall. The event is open to students, faculty and the community.

The purpose of the conference is to celebrate black culture, as well as educate the public about issues affecting the black community, according to Ebony weekend coordinator and president of the Black Student Union Vontique Jackson. This year’s theme is “The New Wave of Institutional Oppression,” and guest speakers will focus on slave suffrage, mental illness and the justice system.

In spring 2018, Master of Science in Organizational Change Leadership students and classmates Debi McCullough and Jana Nelson met for a casual lunch in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Little did they know that their initial meeting would soon spark a series of get-togethers with an expanded group of students from across Wisconsin and Illinois.

McCullough led the initiative by inviting Nelson and another classmate, Ashley Deaver, to her home glass studio, where they each created fused glass plates. While the event provided a forum to hone their artistic skills, it also provided a chance for each person to share their interests, skills, and support outside of the online environment.

UW-Platteville is kicking off the 2018-19 academic year with a new look and message, as it recently launched a new brand platform. 

“Those of us on campus already know what makes UW-Platteville special,” said Chancellor Dennis J. Shields. “Our commitment to our students, creating opportunities and ensuring accessibility drives our work every day. We will continue to live these values. Our refreshed brand identity system – complemented by a new marketing campaign – will better position us to tell our story in a more consistent and powerful way, setting us up for many more years of success.”

Dr. Holly Attenborough, assistant professor of mathematics, was selected to receive the University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s 2018 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 know that there are a lot of great early career faculty at UW-Platteville focused on and dedicated to teaching excellence, which makes receiving this award a very special honor,” said Attenborough.

Attenborough joined UW-Platteville in 2013 and teaches a variety of students as her courses range from general education math classes and the calculus sequence to upper-level math-major courses. She has developed many materials and activities in her classroom in order to cultivate an active and positive learning environment and encourage student engagement.

University of Wisconsin-Platteville Chancellor Dennis J. Shields announced that Paige Smith has been appointed a two-year position as interim vice chancellor of Administrative Services at UW-Platteville. Her appointment begins on April 15.

“Paige Smith brings a broad understanding about university administration,” Chancellor Shields said. “Her insight from her role as a senior lawyer at System Legal and her professional experience in higher education at Southern Illinois University are invaluable during these transitional years in higher education.”

Today is a consequential day for the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Southwest Wisconsin, the region and the state. Governor Scott Walker signed the state’s biennium budget, which includes two capital projects for our campus. They include the construction of a $55 million engineering building, Sesquicentennial Hall, and the $23.7 million renovation of Boebel Hall, our STEM facility.

These projects will be transformative, not just for our campus, but for the Southwest Wisconsin community, the region and for the state’s workforce. Our students graduate with the skills necessary to be successful as they enter the workforce, whether that be in engineering, healthcare or the biotechnology industry. It is critical to have modern facilities to train our students in those and other fields.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker pledged his support to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Sesquicentennial Hall – the proposed $55 million engineering building – and the $23 million Boebel Hall renovation project.

Both projects were passed by the Wisconsin Joint Committee on Finance by a 16-0 vote, and the governor said traditionally the approved capital projects remain in the budget that will be forwarded to him in approximately two weeks.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville will mark its 150th anniversary over the next 15 months. Chancellor Dennis J. Shields kicked off the sesquicentennial celebration during the annual all-campus convocation Aug. 27.

The coming months will provide a variety of opportunities for students, faculty, staff, alumni and the community to show their Pioneer pride and reflect on the foundation that was used to build the university for a century and a half. “It is a special time in our university’s history,” said Chancellor Shields. “There are thousands of people who are proud to call themselves Pioneers and we want to honor the loyalty they’ve had to this campus over the last 150 years.”

A website has been established at /150 where visitors can chronicle their memories of campus, read about the university’s history and special upcoming events, view a vintage photo gallery and order new Pioneer Pete bobbleheads.

The June 16, 2014 tornado caused $18.6 million in damages to University of Wisconsin-Platteville and UW-Platteville Real Estate Foundation property, according to the final numbers.

An EF-2 tornado ripped through the campus on the night of June 16, damaging five buildings as well as the surrounding area and Memorial Park. The damage, which forced closure of the university on June 17-18, included broken windows, partial roof destruction, bent light towers at the Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium, and downed trees. There were no fatalities or significant injuries that required medical attention on campus.

The heaviest damage, in amount of dollars, was done to the following structures:



• $7.3 million, Bridgeway Commons

• $4.8 million, Rountree Commons

• $1.8 million, Southwest Hall

• $1.8 million, Engineering Hall

• $1.7 million, Pioneer Stadium

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville ceremoniously “re-opened” its campus Friday, just 74 days after an EF-2 tornado significantly damaged five campus buildings, Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium and Memorial Park.

UW System President Dr. Ray Cross joined UW-Platteville Chancellor Dennis J. Shields and Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Dr. Mittie N. Den Herder on the back patio of Engineering Hall, whose damaged exterior is still visible.

“It’s unbelievable how quickly you have done this,” said Cross. “I think it speaks to your commitment to serve students. My compliments to you; I hope you are proud of what you have accomplished, those of us in the system are. I hope you realize that today, the rest of the system stands with you, and we, too, are all Pioneers.”

A relationship that started in 1984 continued on Friday as the Chicago Bears donated $50,000 to the Pioneer Relief Fund at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. Brian McCaskey, senior director of business development and member of the Chicago Bears board of directors, presented the check on behalf of the organization during an afternoon gathering of more than 150 at Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium.

An EF-2 tornado significantly damaged five university buildings and the stadium, where the Bears practiced for 18 years, from 1984-2001. This summer marks the 30th anniversary of their first training camp in Southwest Wisconsin.

To better reflect how well the University of Wisconsin-Platteville serves its business-related undergraduate and graduate students, the university has officially declared a new School of Business. The designation was approved at the UW System Board of Regents meeting earlier this month.

“It’s beyond the complexity of a department,” said Dr. Wayne Weber, dean of the College of Business, Industry, Life Science and Agriculture. “With two undergraduate programs and four online master’s programs, the term department just didn’t fit. This more accurately reflects what we are doing.”

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville had an estimated $394 million economic impact in Wisconsin in 2011-12, including $275 million in the southwestern region of the state, according to a new study done by the university and released this week.

“These numbers clearly show the vital role UW-Platteville plays in the state and especially southwest Wisconsin,” said Chancellor Dennis J. Shields. “We are an economic anchor in this region that has not only been a source of stability in ever-changing times but has continued to grow and strengthen our area. We understand the importance of our role and value what we provide to our students and to our community.”

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville unveiled an updated and stylized version of Pioneer Pete during the Homecoming Yell volleyball match on Thursday, Oct. 18, giving the university an official mascot for the first time in at least two decades.

“The university is proud to announce this mascot, which embodies the true Pioneer spirit from which our great institution was founded,” said UW-Platteville Chancellor Dennis J. Shields. “We have combined our Pioneer name with our strong mining history in coming up with a representative mascot. I know our students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members will come to take pride in this new Pioneer Pete.”

The city of Platteville was incorporated by John Rountree, a mine owner in the 19th century. The university is a combination of the Platteville Normal School and the Mining Institute.

Nearly 400 people from across the region packed into the standing room only Agriculture Education Pavilion at Pioneer Farm on the University of Wisconsin-Platteville campus to ask questions of Arne Duncan, the U.S. Secretary of Education, and Tom Vilsack, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, during a town hall meeting.

“Agriculture is extremely important; it’s a $50 billion industry in Wisconsin. When you add in Iowa and Illinois, it is remarkably important to the future of this country, and to the world,” said UW-Platteville Chancellor Dennis J. Shields. “It was fabulous to have the secretaries here today. They are good folks, they know what they’re talking about, and the most impressive thing is how willing they were to listen to questions and be responsive, and talk about the challenges that are in front of us.”