1940s
Anna Halprin
BS 1942 — Dance
In October 2018 the de Young Museum in San Francisco celebrated Anna with “Body Radical,” a two-weekend series of performances, film screenings, workshops, and participatory events. The exhibition included her “Planetary Dance,” a community ritual for peace in their own communities and with the earth that was featured at the 2017 Venice Biennale, as well as a restaging of excerpts from her groundbreaking piece “Parades and Changes.” In February 2019 Wesleyan University Press published a new book by Anna, “Making Dances That Matter: Resources for Community Creativity,” which details the “Planetary Dance” as well as the healing work that she did with people with AIDS. Her influence on postmodern dance was featured in the New York Times of March 24, 2019.
1950s
Rosemary Ann Scott Coleman
BS 1951 —Natural Science Education
Rosemary received a master’s from Cornell University in 1953 in student personnel and guidance. She spent 1953-56 at UW–Madison as the head resident of Chadbourne Hall 1956 to ’59 at Fresno State College (now University) as Activities Adviser 1959 to ’62 at Oregon State University as Assistant Dean of Women Personal life: 1962 married Lamar W. Coleman, Ph.D., raised two sons, cared for aging mother, church activities, as well as AAUW and PEO, foster mother to African student.
Doris Eberlein
BS 1951 —Community Leadership andEducation
Doris remains busy in community activities in Wausau, Wisconsin. She is living in a retirement home but remains independent. Doris has traveled to seven continents, but is still filling in places on her “bucket list.” She enjoys summers in Minocqua, Wisconsin.
Marilyn Williamson Collins
BS 1952 — English Education and Speech
Marilyn says that necessity dictated a move from “our wonderful city of Madison” to Upland, Indiana. New beginnings, says Marilyn.
Lois Bell Knutson
BS 1958 — Science Education
I have been retired from my teaching career for 23 years and have just taken a WAA travel trip to Peru with my fellow alumni. What a blast!
1960s
Linda Sue Crawford
BS 1960 — English Education
Linda is publishing a literary magazine for a high-poverty K-8 school in Minneapolis. During the school year students write about their lives and opinions, and tell stories (fiction and non-fiction). An editor indicates places in each submission that need correction or other enhancements, and Linda works with individual writers to correct and improve the submissions. Linda also brings an artist/illustrator in to work individually with the writers to illustrate their pieces, and the magazine is published each spring. Every student in second to eighth grade receives a copy, and students who have a piece in the magazine get two copies each. On the day of delivery, Linda reports that it is hard for teachers to get regular lessons done because every student is intent on reading and re-reading the magazine. She also tutors a student from a city homeless shelter each school year.
Barbara Robbin Epstein
BS 1961 — Elementary Education
After teaching at a variety of levels (grade 5 through college) and in different states and countries (Missouri, Ohio, Illinois, Mexico, and Brazil), Barbara says she is now enjoying retirement in the suburban Chicago area. She remembers her four years in Madison fondly. She says she must have transmitted those feelings to her granddaughter, who this spring told Barbara that she has chosen to attend UW–Madison beginning in the fall.
Adrienne Samuels
Ph.D. 1962 — Educational Psychology
Since 1989, Adrienne has been warning the public about the neurotoxic, endocrine disrupting amino acids added to food that eventually killed her husband. Schooled in research design, methodology, and statistics, she earned her doctorate in 1962 in educational psychology, which she credits for the skills that have enabled her to identify and call out research fraud. Earlier this year, Adrienne redid and updated the TLC web page (www.truthinlabeling.org) — which she describes as a life-line for people afflicted with MSG sensitivity.
Marcia Murray
MS 1964 — Dance
Marcia reports that she continues to move, though not through dancing due to severe arthritis. She volunteers in a hospital working with many folk and shares her educational experiences with them when given an opportune time. Marcia also stays active with the music part of her life, signing in her church choir and playing bells. Marcia says, “Thank God that I am still sharing life with daughters and grandchildren.”
Jacqueline Carol Specht Andrew
BS 1965 — Kinesiology
Jacqueline traveled to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Nepal and Bhutan. She plans on visiting Antarctica to finish five continents and more than 50 countries. Jacqueline says she met three alumni in Nepal. “We are everywhere,” she says.
Natalie R. French
BS 1966 — Education
Although she retired from special education teaching and training, Natalie still loves working and now works for City Colleges of Chicago/Malcolm X College. She tutors students that need help with reading and works with English language learners. Natalie says she learns as much from her students as they learn from her, and leaves work every day feeling that she has made a positive contribution to her city and beyond, and is thankful to UW–Madison.
William Fuller
MS 1966 — Music Education
William is entering his 20th year of retirement after 34 years of teaching band in Wisconsin public schools. He often returns to Madison to volunteer, and remains active in several professional and community bands and orchestras in the Madison area. William says, “Go Badgers … On, Wisconsin!”
Michal McKenzie
MS 1966 — Education
Michal has retired after a prolific career in non-profit organizations, like the Rochester Institute of Technology, South East Area Coalition of Rochester, City of Rochester Neighborhood Development, Primavera Foundation of Tuscon and the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum. Michal is currently living in Rochester, New York, with spouse Rev. Dr. Pat Youngdahl, who is a pastor at Downtown Presbyterian Church.
Jerold W. Apps
Ph.D. 1967 — Agricultural Education
Jerold’s latest book, “The Civilian Conservation Corps in Wisconsin,” was published in April through Wisconsin Historical Society Press. A 50th anniversary commemorative edition of his first book, “The Land Still Lives,” will be available in fall 2019.
Kathryn J. Olmstead
MA 1967 — Education
After teaching journalism at the University of Maine for 25 years, Kathryn continues to publish a quarterly magazine titled, “Echoes: Rediscovering Community,” and writes a bi-weekly column about northern Maine for the Bangor Daily News. In October 2018, Kathryn was inducted into the Maine Press Association Hall of Fame and was invited to give the annual Heritage Lecture at the University of Maine titled, “Rediscovering Community: Maine’s Rural Heritage as a Path to the Future.” She currently serves on the board of Maine Public Broadcasting, the Natural Resources Council of Maine, the University of Maine Board of Visitors, the McGillicuddy Humanities Center at the university, the Caribou Public Library and the Caribou Branch of the American Association of University Women.
Doris Ann Ziesemer
MS 1967 — Curriculum and Instruction
Doris retired in 1994 after serving 40 years as an educator, half of those spent in an elementary classroom and the other half as an assistant elementary principal and reading specialist in the Ashwaubenon (Wisconsin) School District. She is still engaged in the educational community, serving as a member of her local Lifelong Learning Institute and sitting on the Education Committee of the Greater Green Bay Area League of Women Voters.
Kathleen Briggs
MS 1968 — Curriculum and Instruction
Kathleen continues to attend classes at UW–Madison through the 60-plus audit program and is fascinated by changes in instructional media. She uses what she learns about instructional media to give her own lectures on different topics, ranging from quilts and the stories they tell to IRS scams and identity protection.
Joan Reznichek Fleming
BS 1968 — Recreation Administration
Joan retired in 2000 after 30 years of civil service with the Department of Defense. She worked as an army recreation center director in Germany and Alaska.
Carl E. Anderson
MS 1969 — Curriculum and Instruction, Audiovisual Education
Carl volunteers at a local hospice care center, videotaping patients who want to share their life story. Outside of volunteering, he plays in a community band and leads a weekly bible study. Carl says, “Life is good.”
Lauren Louer
BS 1969 — Elementary Education
Lauren has taught at Montgomery County (Maryland) public schools, run her own personal services business, and worked in the finance industry. She moved to Illinois in 1979, and currently lives in Evanston. She is a member of the Saints Organization, volunteering in the performing arts.
1970s
Patricia Lundquist HutchingsBS 1970 — Behavioral Disabilities
Patricia retired in 2011 after serving as principal of Westside High School in Omaha, Nebraska.
Priscilla A. Florence
MS 1971 — Rehabilitation Counseling
Priscilla recently retired from being a self-employed certified financial planner.
Barbara Barry Levin
MS 1971 — Curriculum & Instruction
Barbara Levin recently retired after a 25-year career in the Department of Teacher Education and Higher Education at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro. During Barbara’s time as a teacher educator she authored or co-authored nine books and published over 40 research articles.
William Marshall
BS 1960 — Kinesiology; MS 1961 — Kinesiology; Ph.D. 1971 — Kinesiology
William served as the director of athletics at Franklin and Marshall College from 1971 until retiring in 2000. During his tenure, he introduced multiple women’s sports at what was an all-male college until 1969. William also served as the president of the Middle Atlantic States Conference, president of the Eastern College Athletic Conference, was on the NCAA council for four years, and on the NCAA Division III Steering Committee for four years. He played a large role in this committee’s creation of the Centennial Conference, a Division III grouping of institutions in Pennsylvania and Maryland. He also coached Franklin and Marshall’s men’s varsity squash team for 20 years, leading them to a top-5 national ranking for 10 of those years, and one year as the No. 2 team in the country. Since retiring, William has worked to give back to the Lancaster, Pennsylvania, community by working with the Rotary Club of Lancaster and St. Peter’s United Church of Christ. William and his wife, Julia, have been married for 57 years, and have four sons, 10 grandchildren, and one great grandson.
Kathie Duff Wilson
MS 1971 — Education
Kathie is a realtor in the greater Phoenix and Scottsdale area for Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty. She cites her UW-Madison education and 20 years in corporate employee relations as the perfect foundation for investing in client success.
Patricia L Anders
MS 1972 – Curriculum and Instruction; Ph.D. 1976 — Curriculum and Instruction
Patricia retired in May 2018 after 42 years as a professor at the University of Arizona. She remains active, reviewing for journals, writing, and serving on doctoral committees. Patricia looks forward to continuing to write, travel, and garden. She is grateful to the Department of Curriculum and Instruction for launching her on a productive and enjoyable career.
George A. Goens
Ph.D. 1973 — Educational Leadership
George’s new book, “Civility Lost: The Media, Politics, and Education,” was published in February by Rowman and Ltitlefield. “Civility Lost” explores principles and expectations for a democratic society, and how differences can be approached civilly to explore and define solutions. He has written seven books and co-authored four.
Dale F. Bruhn
BS 1948 — Agricultural and Life Sciences; MS 1974 — Curriculum and Instruction
Dale is currently living in South Carolina, where he plays the recorder in a local musical group. He also sings in his church choir and is active in different events his independent living facility hosts. Dale has been volunteering for a local hospice; he is a part of a group that honors terminally ill veterans with a special pin presentation, at the end of which he plays “America the Beautiful” on his recorder.
Nelson Douglas Neal
MS 1974 — Physical Education, Dance
Nelson published the second edition of his book, “Hemsley Winfield: The Forgotten Pioneer of Modern Dance an Annotated Bibliography” in December 2018. His latest presentation on this historical figure was at San Diego Mesa College in March 2019. Nelson is an assistant coach of track and field at La Jolla Country Day School in California. While he was at UW-Madison, he was the head coach of the women’s indoor and outdoor track and field teams.
Don Marx
BS 1974 — Physical Education
Don taught in the Madison Metropolitan School District, and coached in the district for 57 seasons. He has coached various different sports, such as junior varsity girls baseball, freshman football, and a varsity co-ed golf team. After retiring in 2004, Don was elected to the Wisconsin High School Golf Coaches Hall of Fame. Don is grateful for UW-Madison and the physical education faculty who taught him leadership skills that he was able to share with others. Don says he had wanted to attend UW-Madison since he was a young teenager in Appleton, Wisconsin, and is lucky to have graduated from the university.
Joanne Yatvin
Ph.D. 1974 — Education
Now retired and living in Portland, Oregon, Joanne’s main occupation is writing a blog on education named, “The Treasure Hunter.” Unfortunately, when she began writing and publishing, public education was on a decline. Joanne says she had no choice but to tell the truth, and suggest to her readers what she thought should be done to save schools.
Joyce McCollum
MS 1975 — Curriculum and Instruction
Joyce has been a registered nurse for 55 years, and has been involved in the education of nurses for 50 years. She taught psychiatric nursing in Mendota for three years, then moved to Green Bay to teach in the Bellin nursing program. Joyce was a leader in the transition of the program to a baccalaureate nursing program, and served as the dean and then president of Bellin College for 16 years. Having just recently retired in January 2019, Joyce now volunteers as a faith community nurse at her church.
Loren Richard Seagrave
BS 1976 — Physical Education
Loren currently serves as the sprints and hurdles coach for Athletics Thailand, based in Thammasat University-Rangsit in Bangkok. She continues to consult domestically and internationally on speed development and sports performance.
Robert Allan Stevens
1976 — Education
During its 44th annual banquet at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, the Awards Committee of Concordia Historical Institute (CHI), presented 18 “Awards of Commendation” for works published in 2017. The Institutional History Award went to Robert for his book, “Anticipation Exceeded Realization: Saga of an Antebellum College.” His article, “Lutheran Fault-lines at Mid-century: Charles Anderson and Ansgar College,” was included in the Winter 2018 issue of the Concordia Historical Institute Quarterly.
John Michael Winters
BS 1976 — Science Education
John taught chemistry and physics at Brodhead High School from 1977 to 1985. Afterwards, he lived in Saudi Arabia, working as the head of microcomputer training and development for Saudi Arabian Airlines. Later, John worked as a software engineer for Woodbridge Cooperation, and as a structural draftsperson for Newcomb Construction Company, designing commercial buildings. John is currently retired, and spends time in Tucson, Arizona, as well as Madison. He enjoys biking in his Badger gear around Tucson, and a few years ago bicycled from San Francisco, to Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, in two-and-a-half months.
Mike Berg
BS 1978 — Education
Mike recently released a new book, titled “The Tectonic Shift of Employment Change: Your ‘Locus of Control by Looking for Customers, not a Job Automation.’ His book concerns how increased machine learning and artificial intelligence is changing the way we work and ultimately the way we make a living. Mike offers advice on combating this, by sharing stories of those who are taking control of their life by creating multiple streams of income.
William C. Bozeman
Ph.D. 1978 — Educational Administration
Bill started as a professor of educational leadership and as the doctoral program director at the University of Central Florida (UCF) in 1985. Before joining the UCF faculty, Bill was a professor and department chair at the University of Iowa. He was recently honored with the Southern Regional Council on Educational Administration’s Lifetime Achievement Award and was named UCF professor emeritus. In addition to his Florida-based consulting group, William Bozeman and Associates, Bill is a founding member of Southern Educational Strategies and is a visiting professor at the University of Memphis.
Thomas John Lundstrom
BSE 1978 — Education
Currently living in Alexandria, Virginia, Tom has worked 36 years with the Department of the Navy. After eight years of active duty as a judge advocate, he joined the Navy Office of General Counsel in 1991, and has served various different roles within this counsel for 28 years. For the past four years, Tom has been assigned as the counsel to Naval History and Heritage Command, overseeing the Navy Library, Navy Archives, and 10 navy museums.
Philip Dana Althouse
BS 1979 – Education
Philip was the recipient of the 2018 Claude E. Clark Award for Outstanding Service, presented by the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland. He has been an attorney since 1991 and has worked in the Lorain County Office of Cleveland Legal Aid for the past 12 years.
Patricia Brooks
MS 1979 — Educational Administration
Patricia retired from the UW-Madison School of Education in 2014. She is currently a practicing postpartum doula, caring for newborns and infants.
1980s
Judith Blomquist Brey
BS 1980 — Communicative Disorders
Judith is in her 36th year as a public school speech/language pathologist. She currently lives in Reedsburg, Wisconsin.
Janine Albee Coley
BS 1971 — Education; MS 1980 — Education
Janine retired in 2011 and continues to substitute in an elementary school.
Debbie Heitzman Hanson
BS 1980 — Elementary Education
Debbie and her husband recently took a leave of absence from their teaching positions in the Twin Cities to teach at an American international school on the island of Cyprus. She reports that they are enjoying their adventure.
Eydie Barttenes Cohen
BS 1981 — Education
Eydie had been teaching junior high kids since 1981, specializing in special education and educational challenges. For the previous 12 years, she served as the teachers union president. Eydie retired in June 2018 and is off to new adventures.
Lori Silverman
MS 1981— Counseling Psychology
Lori kicked off the Enterprise Data Conference and the Business Intelligence and Analytics Conference in London in November 2018. Her keynote, “It’s Not About You, It’s About Them: Helping Others Take Action Based on Data” covered a collaborative data-enabled decision-making methodology that she created to extract business value from data.
Jack Edwards
BS 1982 — Education
In 2005, Jack became a registered nurse. He currently works as operations manager of surgical services at Manatee Memorial Hospital in Bradenton, Florida.
Sierdje den Daas
BS 1983 — Art Education
Sierdje has been working at a preschool of the arts for the past 18 years and enjoys being a lifelong learner. Sierdje will be representing the school at an in-depth U.S. study group in Reggio Emilia, Italy this spring.
Sylvia Llanas Buckman
BS 1984 — Behavioral Science
Sylvia has worn various hats in the past 34 years, working as a special education teacher, program implementer, literacy coach, and elementary school principal. She retired in 2018 from the Milwaukee Public School System as the principal of La Escuela Fratney.
Wendy Burke
BS 1984 — Physical Therapy
Wendy currently works in China, teaching physical therapy six months of the year.
Thompson Brandt
MS 1985 — Educational Administration; Ph.D. 1985 — Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Administration
Thompson has been admitted to a postdoctoral diploma program in education law at Indian University, Bloomington.
Melanie Kuzmanovic
BS 1985 — Education
Melanie retired from high school counseling in June 2018, but remains active as she takes on her seveth year as a school board treasurer in a Greendale, Wisconsin school district. She also works as a long-term substitute in middle school counseling.
David H. Feldman
BSE 1985 — English Education
David just signed a five year extension to continue his work as the head of school at The Roeper School, a PreK-12 private independent school in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. David joined Roeper in 2012 after serving as the middle school principal at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, the Head of School at The Foote School in New Haven, CT, and the Head of School at the Greta Berman Arbetter Kazoo School in Kalamazoo, MI. David completed his Law degree at the John Marshall Law School after graduating from UW-Madison, and has been a teacher and administrator in independent school education for over 30 years.
Nancy H. Hornberger
Ph.D. 1985 — Educational Policy Studies
Nancy was recognized with the Charles A. Ferguson Award for Outstanding Scholarship in March 2019, presented by Washington. D.C.’s Center for Applied Linguistics, an internationally renowned nonprofit dedicated to research and policy analysis in issues involving language and culture, as they relate to access and equity in global education.
Pedro Reyes
BS 1970 — Education; MS 1983 — Educational Administration; Ph.D. 1985 — Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis
Pedro received the Roald Campbell Lifetime Achievement Award from the University Council of Educational Administration.
Sharon Jean Robinson
BS 1985 — Health Education
Sharon is a certified diabetes educator and has taught for 22 years in the Dallas area. She has two sons, both Eagle Scouts. One of her sons is now in medical school at Auburn University, and her other serves as a policeman in Dallas. She also has twin daughters, one who is studying veterinary science at A&M University and one who is studying Arts Education at Indiana University.
Alice Hoben
BS 1987 — Child and Family Studies
Alice is working at Family ACCESS in West Newton, Massachusetts. She has been there for five years in both toddler and infant rooms, and is currently lead teacher in an infant room.
Marti Mazanetz Donnell
BS 1985 — Family and Consumer Science Education; MS 1988 — Continuing and Vocational Education
Marti has taught family and consumer sciences for over 30 years, and is currently at Nathan Hale High School in West Allis, Wisconsin.
Vicki Olsen Spellman
BS 1988 — Mathematic Education
Vicki received a master’s degree from Viterbo in 1999. She will be retiring from Belleville High School this year.
Michelle Belnavis
BS 1984 — Elementary Education; MS 1989 — Curriculum and Instruction
Michelle’s Read Your Heart Out program has grown to a month-long and state-wide initiative that brings kids and adults together to experience the joy of reading. The program began as a one-day event at Midvale Elementary School, as an effort to increase family engagement within the school. More than just reading, her program celebrates diversity in learning. Michelle is currently training people in the Green Bay and Oshkosh area to host Read Your Heart Out programs in 2020.
Brian Alan Kersten
MS 1989 — Educational Administration
Brian will be retiring in July 2019 after 34 years as a professional educator. He served as a principal for 30 years, spending the last 26 as the principal of Waunakee Community High School. Brian cites his education at UW-Madison as the foundation for his long and successful career. He is grateful for the faculty in educational administration for their assistance and support.
Elizabeth Graser Thurlow
BSE 1989 — Elementary Education
Elizabeth is currently a lead preschool teacher at Faithful Shepherd Catholic School in Eagan, Minnesota. After graduation, she was a kindergarten and first grade teacher at Milwaukee and Edina French Immersion Schools, where she spoke French all day while teaching students in an immersion setting. Elizabeth was part of the initial team of teachers who started the Normandale French Immersion School in Edina, Minnesota. She took time off to raise her four children and while doing so, worked as a substitute teacher, recess lady, and volunteered in many educational settings. She helped with the movement of E-12 education at the legislative level and still remains one of the longest-standing members of the District 196 ECFE Advisory Council.
1990s
Molly Fitzgerald
MS 1990 — Educational Administration
After 29 years as an elementary principal and over a decade serving as director of elementary programming, Molly is retiring from public education in the Baraboo School District . At the close of her contractual school year contract, she will be moving to southern China to teach and then transition into a principal position at an international school there. She reports that this amazing opportunity is due in part to her nationally and internationally recognized master’s degree from UW–Madison’s School of Education.
Mike Tamblyn
BSE 1991 — Mathematic Education
Mike, while working at Whitewater High School, has become a Nationally Board Certified Teacher, the most respected certification available in K-12 education.
Rick Huber
MS 1974 — Business Teacher Education; Ph.D. 1992 — Continuing and Vocational Education, Educational Administration
Since retiring as a global training leader for GE Healthcare, Rick continues to be active in continuing adult and vocational education via teaching a short-course each semester called Coaching and Mentoring for Technical Leaders for the UW–Madison College of Engineering’s Department of Engineering Professional Development.
Lee Schedler
BSE 1992 — Elementary Education
After graduating from UW-Madison, Lee taught sixth grade at Whitefish Bay Middle school for more than 15 years. During that time, he earned a master’s degree as a reading specialist from Concordia University, won the 2012 Herb Kohl Fellowship Award, and won a Clio Award for his voice over in a radio commercial.
Mary Ellen Nellie Campbell
BS 1992 — Rehabilitation Psychology; MS 1993 — Rehabilitation Psychology
Mary Ellen is currently working as social service counselor at a police department in a Chicago suburb.
Christina Porter Diener
BSE 1993 — Elementary Education
Christina has been a teacher at Cedarburg High School for 13 years. Prior to teaching, she stayed home with and raised her children. She has three children, the oldest of which is attending the University of DePaul pursuing a medical degree. Her younger daughters are currently attending Cedarburg High School. Her family is actively involved in basketball and tennis.
Amie Pittman
MS 1994 — Counseling Psychology
Amie is currently serving as a middle school counselor in the Verona Area School District.
Steven Dean Schmitt
BSE 1994 — Elementary Education
In 2010, Steven received a master’s degree in journalism and mass communication from UW-Madison. In 2017, he published a book, “Badger Baseball — The Rise and Fall of America’s Pastime at the University of Wisconsin.”
Shannon N. DeSalvo
BS 1995 — Physical Therapy
After 24 years as a physical therapist, Shannon decided to start her own business. In January 2018, she opened “Rehab for Her,” a small private practice that focuses on women’s pelvic health and rehabilitation during the perinatal years. In addition to her clinical work, Shannon developed the first women’s health physical therapy elective at Rockhurst University and enjoys teaching students every spring semester. She also continues to give talks in her community on incontinence, pelvic pain, and pre/postnatal fitness.
Joan Dickrell
BS 1988 — Mathematic Education; MS 1995 — Curriculum and Instruction
After graduating from UW-Madison, Joan taught high school math for 13 years. She helped create and implement a calculus BC program at Madison East High School. After receiving her master’s degree, Joan became certified in actuarial science and took a position in American Family Insurance’s actuarial research department. Joan now works in the private markets investment division.
Valerie Green
BS 1995 — Dance
Valerie has been an active dancer, choreographer, and teacher in the New York City dance community since 1995. After graduating from UW–Madison and studying as one of the Erick Hawkins school’s last pupils, she sought a platform for her own innovative movement style and artistic vision, founding Valerie Green/Dance Entropy in 1998. To date, Valerie has created 38 dances, including nine evening-length works, all of which incorporate forms of original production, musical composition, innovative set design or new media. Her choreography has been presented extensively throughout New York City, the U.S., and internationally.
Sara Schulting-Kranz
BS 1995 — Art Education
A former art teacher/chair turned professional life coach and wilderness guide, Sara has been leading women and men on transformational meditation, breathe work, coaching and hiking retreats in the Grand Canyon since 2015. The work she does in nature has been up-leveling, healing and igniting clients’ lives in a way that’s difficult to do when confined indoors. Sara began this work out of love for guiding others and realizing the importance of transforming in nature. Her own life abruptly fell apart in 2013 when she found herself as a partner of betrayal trauma and ultimately, a failed marriage. Feeling alone, trapped, with no-where to go and no-one to turn to, she chose to spend time alone where there is no judgement. She went into nature, a sacred space, in order to heal and take control of her life. Her own self-help foundation of strength, empowerment, healing and transformation began while being and moving in Nature. She has stared into the eye of a whale, been guided to shore by dolphins while lost in thick fog, and felt the deep connection that Nature provides. Today her life journey through trauma is being created into a powerful documentary, Walk Through This – A Story of Starting Over, release date of Fall of 2020. The film details her life as a multiple-trauma survivor (beginning at age 17 as a sexual assault victim), student at UW-Madison, wife, mom of three sons and ultimately, starting over at age 40. Sara is Executive Producer of the film, which begins in Black Earth, Wisconsin and ends in the Grand Canyon. Laura VanZee Taylor, award-winning film director, completed her Masters at UW-Madison and spear-headed this film. Sara most recently is represented as a writer by Claudia Cross, Partner and Agent at Folio Literary Management in New York City. In addition, Sara is a guide for the female blind paralympian and adventure seeker, Shawn Cheshire. Together they have crushed goals such as running the LA Marathon in 2019 and setting a world record as the first and only blind woman to hike the Grand Canyon from Rim to Rim to Rim: 42 miles in 24 hours, 15 minutes! They plan to continue these feats, raising awareness for the blind community and inspiring others to lead extraordinary lives!
Jeannine Ramsey
BSE 1995 — English Education; MA 2000 — Library and Information Studies
Jeannine lives in Madison with her husband, Sam. They will be celebrating their 32nd anniversary this June, and Jeannine will be completing her 19th year as a library media specialist at Waunakee High School, where she enjoys interacting with young adults as readers, thinkers, and creators. During spring break, Jeannine and her husband completed a bike tour of Cuba. She is looking forward to summer and enjoying many activities like biking, kayaking, reading, and enjoying Madison music festivals and farmer’s market.
Chip Hunter
MS 1994 — Counseling Psychology; Ph.D. 1996 — Counseling Psychology
Chip is finishing his 10th year of working for Doctors Without Borders (Geneva Section) as a project coordinator. Chip and his wife, Katie, have just finished a year in Myanmar running a primary health care and tuberculosis project with the Naga people. They’ll come home to take a break, and then head out on their next adventure.
Larry Scheckel
MS 1996 — Education
Larry’s seventh book “I Just Keep Wondering: 121 Questions and Answers About Science and Other Stuff,” was published by Tumblehome Learning, Boston.
Kathy Butler
BS 1997 — Kinesiology
As a coach and coaching educator in the last six months Kathy has traveled to China and Scotland. In October in Shanghai she spoke for two days at the Chinese national coaching conference for track and field coaches, meeting coaches from all parts of China. In January in Edinburgh, she traveled as women’s team coach with team USA as the team competed in an international competition against Europe and Great Britain.
John Carlson
MS 1993 — Educational Psychology; PhD 1997 –—Educational Psychology
Dr. Carlson, faculty member at Michigan State University, is the lead editor and introductory chapter author of a recently published book titled “School Psychopharmacology: Translating Research into Practice.”
Kevin Shrader
BSE 1997 — Elementary Education
Kevin is in his 22nd year of teaching first grade at Stoner Prairie Elementary School, which is part of the Verona (Wisconsin) Area School District.
Angie Eilers
MA 1992 — Educational Policy Studies; Ph.D. 1998 — Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis
After 25 years of research in the field of education, Angie moved her insights as both a researcher and as a parent to launching a software company, Ur Turn. The software as a service (SaaS) tool is designed as a goal-setting and progress-tracking tool for middle school and high school students. Angie thinks of it as the Google maps for education planning, seeking to ask middle and high school students to drop a pin in their educational destination, and the company’s smart-advising software helps guide them successfully to reach their goal — with alerts and advice for course corrections along the way. The company was launched with support from a National Science Foundation Small Business Innovation Research Award. Other investors have followed on and the software tool is in the hands of dozens of schools in Minnesota. With support from impact investors, Angie says the company is working to get Ur Turn into the hands of busy students and families across the U.S. who would not otherwise be able to afford or access a private counselor. With a student-to-counselor ratio at a shocking 490-to-1, Angie says the mobile and web-enabled app will guide — on a more even and affordable playing field — hundreds of thousands of students beyond high school and into post-secondary institutions that they might not have otherwise imagined. Learn more at: www.URTURN.org
Robin R. Kvalo
BSE 1981 — Elementary Education; MS 1998 — Educational Administration
Robin will retire from education in June from Portage (Wisconsin) Community Schools. She served the district in a variety of capacities over her 25 years (with a total of 28 years in education). She began her career as an elementary teacher, then spent 13 years as an elementary principal and leaves her current position of the past eight years as a high school principal. Robin counts being named Wisconsin Secondary Principal of the Year in 2016 as a highlight in a career where she served almost every age student in Portage. She looks forward to traveling to see sons Ben in Los Angeles and Matt in Houston with her grandson. Robin also plans to reengage in her hobbies of antiquing, photography and crafting now that she’ll have more time. She says she also plans to follow Bucky to Bowl games now that she isn’t on a school schedule!
Elise Jacobson Pier
BSE 1998 — Elementary Education
Elise is a gifted and talented teacher and coordinator in a middle school in the Cherry Creek School District near Denver, Colorado.
Clifton Tanabe
1998 Ph.D. — Educational Policy Studies
Clifton is the new dean of the College of Education at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP).
Robert J. Herman
BA 1989 — English Education; MA 1999 — Educational Administration
Now at the 30-year anniversary of his graduation from UW–Madison, Robert says he is grateful for the wonderful experiences he had in education, especially the thoughtful students and caring teachers that have been his companions in the journey. Robert still shares many of the lessons he learned while living in Madison with his companions now. This school year marks his 23rd year as a high school administrator in Milwaukee and he is excited about the years ahead.
Ann Marie Newman
BSE 1999 — Spanish Education
Ann Marie graduated with a Ph.D. in leadership for the advancement of learning and service in May 2018. Her dissertation title was, “A Journey Down the Path of Curiosity: Exploring the Crossroads of Motivation Leading to Innovation.”
2000s
Daniel Evans
BM 2001 — Music Education
Daniel was selected as the January 2019 “Top Notch Teacher” for WISC/Ch. 3, which is Madison’s CBS affiliate. He currently teaches fifth through 12th-grade band in Pardeeville, Wisconsin.
Sara Pfister Johnston
MS 2004 — Rehabilitation Psychology
As of July 2018, Sara has been working as an associate professor for the occupational therapy doctorate program at Drake University, teaching research and population health courses. Sara was formerly the program director for the clinical rehabilitation counseling program at Texas Tech University’s Health Sciences Center.
Sarah H. Schnuelle
BSE 2004 — Elementary Education
Sarah, a 2017 Herb Kohl Fellow and 2018 graduate of Columbia Teachers’ College Reading and Writing Project, recently achieved National Board Certification in early-middle childhood reading and language arts.
Sarah Stuckey
MS 2004 — Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis
Sarah is currently serving as the principal at Harmony Elementary and Consolidated Elementary Schools in the School District of Milton, Wisconsin. She also serves as the summer school administrator.
Nate Mendl
BM 2005 — Music Education
Nate recently took a position as the director of the Oregon Performing Arts Center, just south of Madison, where he has created a new professional concert series. The Spotlight Headliners Series features internationally touring performers in an intimate local theater. Information can be found at OregonPerformingArtsCenter.com
Brian Peterson
BM 2005 — Music Education
Brian is currently a speech-language pathologist at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, specializing in voice disorders and head and neck cancer.
Timothy J. Schaid
Ph.D. 2005 — Educational Leadership
Timothy retired on June 30, 2018 as executive director of the Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA). Prior to beginning his position at WSMA in 2012, he spent 33 years in public education in Wisconsin, 24 of those years as a high school principal.
Monica Uriguen
Ph.D. 2005 — Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis
Graduate professor with focus on strategic planning.
Elaine Holub Stampfli
MS 1996 — Curriculum and Instruction; MS 2005 — Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis
Elaine reports that she and her husband retired and now enjoy traveling, gardening, biking, and photography. They have seven grandchildren, with one more on the way.
Liza Hahn
2007 — Counseling Psychology
Liza is currently a school counselor at DeForest Area Middle School, LPC-IT at Abegglen Counseling & Consultation LLC, and a yoga/mindfulness instructor in the Madison area.
Heidi Hallman
Ph.D. 2007 — Curriculum and Instruction
Heidi and fellow Badger Samantha Caughlan (Ph.D., 2005, Curriculum and Instruction), along with co-authors Donna L. Pasternak, Laura Renzi, and Leslie Rush, received the Richard A. Meade award for outstanding research in English education for their book, “Secondary English Teacher Education in the United States.”
Timothy Patrick O’Brien
BS 2007 — German Education
Timothy is teaching German at Kennedy High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He is now certified to teach German, Russian, and Spanish in the state of Iowa.
Elissa Notbohm Kyrola
BS 2009 — Kinesiology
Elissa recently started a new role as the practice manager for sports medicine at the University of Miami Sports Medicine Institute. She reportst that she has recently enjoyed watching the Badgers beat the Miami Hurricanes two consecutive bowl games.
John Martin
MS 2004 — Curriculum and Instruction; Ph.D. 2009 — Curriculum and Instruction
John’s working at UW-Madison, managing the Active Teaching Labs — a successful instructional development program for campus educators. With over 175 sessions and 2,600-plus participants, he’s sharing ways technology can enhance good socially-positive teaching and learning.
2010s
Kaitlyn (Kerr) Wright
BSE 2010 — Social Studies Education
After a few years in the field teaching social studies, Kaitlyn accepted a position as technology coordinator for Seeds of Health, a charter school organization in Milwaukee. She is a finalist for the School Leader EdTech Award for 2019 from The EdTech Digest for her work in creating innovative, personalized professional development for the K-12 staff on integrating technology in the classroom.
Megan Banik Gerl
MS 2011 — Rehabilitation Psychology
In December 2018, Megan was hired by Valley Packaging Industries, Inc. (VPI) as the mental health and education manager. VPI’s mission is to promote the dignity and worth of individuals who have disabilities or are disadvantaged and to assist them in developing their optimum level of social, vocational and economic independence in the community. In her new role, Megan oversees eight different programs that expand mental health services and work-based educational programming in the Fox Cities.
Jordan Listenbee
BSE 2012 — Social Studies Education
Jordan is currently serving as a TRIO academic advisor at Cleveland State University. Recently, Jordan had the opportunity to lobby in Washington, D.C., for increased TRIO funding. Funding would go toward providing a continuance and expansion of pre-college and undergraduate support services for low-income and first-generation students, nationwide.
Fred Daihui Wang
MS 2012 — Rehabilitation Psychology
Fred is working as the operation director (subsidiary) for a medical device startup, named Wicab, Inc. In the fall 2019, he will start the full-time MBA at UW-Madison.
Jorjio Hopkins
BS 2013 — Rehabilitation Psychology
Jorjio served as a Marine Corps Officer for four years, and had opportunities to lead teams of 40-plus professionals. Jorjio also started an organization from scratch and deploy to Australia. After transitioning out of the military, Jorjio found a remarkable leadership role with a growing and thriving company, JX Enterprises. Jorjio also owns a growing business that buys apartments across the nation that provide strong returns for investors. Jorgio is excited to see what God has in store for the next five years!
Nicole Bowman
Ph.D. 2015 — Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis
The American Evaluation Association (AEA) recognized eight individuals and one team for their outstanding dedication to, and practice in, the evaluation field. Among the eight individuals recognized was Bowman, who received the 2018 AEA Robert Ingle Service Award. Bowman, who was the first indigenous woman to receive a Ph.D. from the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, now serves as a culturally responsive evaluation specialist with the School of Education’s Wisconsin Center for Education Research (WCER). Bowman’s work highlights multi-jurisdictional educational systems and examines how tribal and non-tribal educational policy is developed and implemented. She is recognized for her culturally responsive work and her mission to “work with people, not on them.” This has led her to represent AEA on the International Work Group and in EvalPartners’ global initiative to connect international evaluation networks. Bowman is also the founder and president of Bowman Performance Consulting, a nationally acclaimed evaluation center in Shawano, Wisconsin.
Kyla Pilliod
BSE 2015 — Elementary Education
After graduating, Kyla became a teacher in the Madison Metropolitan School District. She has been teaching fifth grade in a dual language immersion classroom at Leopold Elementary the past three years. This year, Kyla also is coaching with Girls on the Run, co-directed a Disney musical, co-ran a dance, and supports supervising the school’s safety patrol and student council. Kyla also is working toward a master’s in bilingual education at Edgewood College.
Amy Zelenski
MS 2010 — Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis; Ph.D. 2015 — Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis
Amy is currently an assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. She studies relationships in healthcare and teaches empathy and communication skills to clinicians. Amy also uses improvisational theatre techniques to teach these skills to health professions students and graduate students. She is currently working on an NIH-funded project using a communication technique to improve the quality of communication in the ICU after trauma surgery. Her work has also been funded by the National Endowment for the Arts. Amy says she loves her job and is grateful to many individuals in the School of Education community for helping her find her way and blaze the trail for others.
Bauyrzhan Abuov
MS 2016 — Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis
Under the order of the Ministry of Education and Science, Bauyrzhan, as a director of projects department at Astana International University, organized the courses for teacher of biology, physics, chemistry, ICT who work at public schools in eight regions of Kazakhstan. Currently, they are providing courses for 1,012 teachers. The length of the course is seven months or 28 weeks, consisting of 708 hours of learning English and 72 hours of learning CLIL methods and teaching, overall 780 hours at sites with special coaches. The program is unique because teachers are given the opportunity to learn English not only for free but also with their salaries remaining while they are studying outside of their schools and have an additional stipend to cover their expenses. Under Bauyrzhan’s supervision, they have developed academic standards that are being held in every classroom, 69 overall. They have developed a thorough hiring procedure to makes sure they have the best English language coaches — created documentation which controls all participants of the course and doesn’t make feel them overwhelmed, with specified duties — created a system of ongoing assessment of the effectiveness of the course and always seeks feedback — the course was designed to ensure high quality in learning using the New English File Third Edition, 4 levels according to CEFR.
Sean Frazier
MS 2016 — Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis
Sean is the first African American athletics director and associate vice president at Northern Illinois University, which is the only FBS Division 1 university with an African American athletic director, African American head football coach, Thomas Hammock (UW-Madison ELPA grad), and African American head men’s basketball coach.
Sandra Kiddoo
Ph.D. 2016 — Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis
Sandra has been named the chief academic officer at Hazard Community and Technical College in Hazard Kentucky.
Phoenix Eby Melvin
BSE 2016 — Music Education
Phoenix was hired straight out of college as the choir director and piano teacher at a high school in Chicago. Over these past two-and-a-half years, Phoenix has hosted piano recitals, choir concerts, and even produced and directed two spring musicals. It’s been exhausting, but rewarding. However, Phoenix is moving out of the city and is currently looking for a new position in the suburbs of Chicago and new opportunities.
Brett Ranon Nachman
MS 2017 — Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis
Brett is an ELPA doctoral student. He served as lead author on a peer-reviewed journal article published in January 2019 in the Community College Journal of Research and Practice. Nachman and co-author Kirsten Brown’s piece “Omission and Othering: Constructing Autism on Community College Websites” critically examines depictions of autism on these postsecondary education institutional websites across the United States.
Michelle Plaushines
MS 2016 — Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis
After completing her degree, Michelle moved into a data and innovation specialist role for the district of Muskego-Norway. She uses her leadership skills to organize the data analysis that drives all the major decision-making processes in the district. On the innovation side of the role, Michelle leads initiatives around scaling personalized learning practices, strategic planning efforts, and micro-credentialing as a form of recognizing competency-based professional learning for staff. Michelle reports that this unique leadership position taps into many areas of the foundational work she completed in the ELPA program and is an exciting, fulfilling role for her.
Paige Sprague
BS 2017 — Rehabilitation Psychology
Paige will be pursuing her master’s of science in occupational therapy at Mount Mary University this fall.
Molly Berg
BS 2018 — Rehabilitation Psychology
Molly is working as a full-time high school career advisor with the Chicago Public Schools. She teaches career exploration and financial literacy to classes of freshmen and seniors about once a week, and she meets with students one-on-one for advising appointments to apply to part-time jobs and internships.
Robert Brookens
BS 2018 — Theatre and Drama
Robert is attending graduate school and working full time as project manager.
Chelsea Blackburn Cohen
Ph.D. 2018 — Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis
Chelsea is a research scientist and senior program officer with the Scholars at Risk Network at New York University. Chelsea works with colleges and universities throughout the U.S. and Canada to foster programs, research projects, and advocacy activities to promote academic freedom and protect threatened scholars around the world.
Jesus Galvan
BS 2018 — Kinesiology
Jesus is currently involved with AmeriCorps and Public Allies in Colorado as a residence life fellow at Eagle Rock School. Eagle Rock is a non-profit, residential, alternative high school that provides tuition-free, standards-based education to approximately 40-50 underserved, diverse students who have not found success in traditional school systems. Jesus has also officially accepted admission into DePaul University’s master’s in counseling program to become a school counselor at the high school level. He also recently participated in a Basic 1 Zumba training in Houston, Texas, to become a certified Zumba instructor.
Jordan T. Thevenow-Harrison
MS 2013 — Educational Psychology; Ph.D. 2018 — Educational Psychology
Jordan develops iPad apps to help kids teach themselves to read and spell.
Ace Hilliard
MS 2018 — Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis
Ace is currently a student services coordinator in the Division of Continuing Studies, specifically the Adult Career and Special Student Services department. His position is multifaceted, as his role includes: advising, admissions, program development, scholarship selection, and assisting with the development and overseeing of the Badger Ready program, a program that is the only of its kind in the nation. Ace’s current position affords him the opportunity to advise returning and continuing education adult students. He assists them by helping to map and guide the journey of coming back to school, and/or determining their educational goals based on their current professions and what development they would like to pursue, and how it can assist them to go to the next level, or make a career change. It allows Ace to give one-on-one individual attention to each student, and give specialized instructions and road maps based on the factors that they have in their own lives, to help give a realistic picture of what returning to school may be for them. Ace oversees admissions for the university’s capstone certificates, as well as the teacher development courses, taken by educators all over the state of Wisconsin. Ace also is one of two people charged with developing the Badger Ready Program, which provides insight, opportunity, and support for degree-seeking adults who may face barriers to completing an undergraduate degree. He has been a part of creating and developing the foundation, structure, policies, procedures, program assessment, and resource development for the program that will complete its inaugural year in summer 2019. Creating a program that grants returning adult students the opportunity for a second chance at a bachelor’s degree that can change their lives in various ways is humbling, says Ace. In spring 2019, Ace started focusing on the marketing and recruitment for the program, giving him the opportunity to do work within the community, realistically embodying the Wisconsin Idea. Starting in summer 2019, Ace will begin doing more work in working with and advising students of UW-Madison’s Odyssey program, a program that “takes a whole family approach to breaking the cycle of generational poverty through access to education, giving adult and youth learners a voice, and increasing confidence through reading, writing, and speaking.” Ace is looking forward to working with this diverse group of adult students, to help them become their best selves. I look forward to being a part of the bridge that can lead them to more opportunities for success in their individual lives. Ace says: “Gaining his master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis has opened the doors of opportunities for me that I did not think was possible. It unlocked potential that was hidden, and have opened me to a career of helping students of various non traditional backgrounds to succeed in higher education.”
Rachel Hughes
BSE 2018 — Elementary Education
Since graduation, Rachel has moved to California and is currently working as a long-term substitute in the Cupertino Union School District as a kindergarten teacher until the end of the year. She has a California teaching credential/license.
Drew Richards
BS 2018 — Kinesiology
Drew is working as an EMT-basic at Ryan Brothers Ambulance Service.
Gwynneth Schell
Ph.D. 2018 — Counseling Psychology
Gwynneth began working at UW Health as a mental health clinician in September.
Erika Jane Vivyan
MS 2014 — Educational Psychology; Ph.D. 2018 — Educational Psychology
In September, Erika became a fully licensed psychologist in Texas. She is working at a private practice specializing in childhood and adolescent anxiety, and she also works for a nonprofit organization completing Spanish-English bilingual psychological assessments.
Allison M. Yingst
BS 2018 — Rehabilitation Psychology
After graduating in May 2018, Allison started working for SSM Health as an occupational therapy/hand clinic aide. She floats to outpatient clinic locations around Madison, in addition to the St. Mary’s Hospital in Janesville. Allison says she loves the one-on-one contact she gets with patients, all while learning more about the occupational therapy profession. She has applied to seven occupational therapy graduate programs around the nation and is “currently crossing my fingers that I get to stay a Badger at UW for another few years to complete my aspirations of continuing education for OT. On, Wisconsin!”
Olivia Rotelle
BS 2019 — Rehabilitation Psychology
Olivia will be attending the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions starting in June 2019 to begin her entry-level doctorate of occupational therapy.