Alumni News

We like to share what our alumni have been up to. Please use our online form to send in your news for posting here and on the front page of News Connections.

Fri
Jun
02

School of Education alum Derman featured in On Wisconsin magazine

UW-Madison alumna Deborah Derman is featured in the most recent issue of On Wisconsin magazine for her therapeutic ​book titled, “Colors of Loss and Healing: An Adult Coloring Book for Getting through Tough Times.” Derman earned her master’s degree in behavioral disabilities in 1976 from the School of Education’s Department of Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education.
Wed
May
24

Alum Moll hired as Assistant Athletic Director of Sports Medicine

School of Education alumnus Michael Moll was recently hired as the Assistant Athletic Director of Sports Medicine at UW-Madison. Moll graduated in 1996 from the UW-Madison Athletic Training Program, which is housed within the School of Education’s Department of Kinesiology. Moll has been serving as an athletic trainer for the Badgers since 2000, and as the head football athletic trainer for the past five seasons.
Wed
May
03

UW-Madison alum Zinkel named Wisconsin High School Teacher of the Year

UW-Madison alumnus Brent Zinkel was recently named Wisconsin’s High School Teacher of the Year. Zinkel earned his undergraduate degree from UW-Madison in history in 2002 and then received his secondary teaching certification through the School of Education in the fall of 2004. Zinkel is now a history teacher at Wausau East High School. Zinkel will receive $3,000 from the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation, a co-sponsor of the Wisconsin Teacher of the Year program.
Thu
Apr
13

UW-Madison alum Dortch launching program to support African-American doctoral students

UW-Madison alumna Deniece Dortch is ​starting an initiative at the University of Utah that's designed to support African-American doctoral students. Dortch received a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from UW-Madison’s School of education in 2016. Dortch today is the program manager for the African-American Doctoral Scholars Initiative and a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Utah. The African-American Doctoral Scholars Initiative will begin in the fall of 2017.
Sun
Apr
09

UW-Madison alum DeCubellis leading child protection system reform in Minnesota

UW-Madison alumna Jennifer DeCubellis was featured by the StarTribune about her efforts leading a reform of Minnesota's child protection system. DeCubellis received her undergraduate degree in special education from the School of Education in 1992. Now, she's planning a $13 million overhaul of the child protection system in Hennepin County after taking over the top human services role one year ago. DeCubellis wants to focus on preventing abuse rather than waiting until after it happens to act.
Sat
Apr
08

UW-Madison alum Kalmes founding new school in Bloomington, Ill.

UW-Madison alumna Laura Kalmes is founding a new private elementary school in Bloomington, Ill., called Bloom Community School, the Pantagraph reports. Kalmes earned a master’s degree in 2009 and a Ph.D in 2015, both from from the School of Education's Department of Educational Policy Studies. Kalmes also earned a minor with the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Bloom Community School will serve about 50 students from grades K-5 in its pilot year. Its academic curriculum is project-based, and children will be taught in mixed-age classrooms.
Tue
Apr
04

Local NBC affiliate reports on UW-Madison's Early Morning Fitness Class

Madison’s local NBC affiliate, WMTV-Ch. 15, recently produced a report about UW-Madison’s Early Morning Fitness Class that’s administered through the School of Education’s Department of Kinesiology. Bonnie Loughran, who leads the class for women over the age of 40, is a UW-Madison alumna, with undergraduate degrees in dance and physical education, and a master’s from the School of Education’s Department of Counseling Psychology.
Fri
Mar
31

UW’s Crim moderates state superintendent candidate forum between Evers, Holtz

On Wednesday, the Rotary Club of Madison held a luncheon event featuring a forum with the candidates for state superintendent of public instruction, Tony Evers and Lowell Holtz. The event was moderated by UW-Madison’s Dawn Crim, the associate dean for external relations with the School of Education. Both Evers and Holtz are alumni of the School of Education. The election is April 4.
Sun
Mar
26

UW-Madison alum Green earns Early Career Award from AERA's Division A

UW-Madison alumnus Terrance Green will be receiving the 2017 Early Career Award from the American Educational Research Association’s Division A. Green earned his Ph.D. from the School of Education's Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis in 2013. Today, he is an assistant professor of educational administration at the University of Texas-Austin’s College of Education. Green’s research examines the nexus of urban school reform and socially just community development, with a particular focus on school and community leaders.
Sat
Mar
25

UW alum Papoi to receive Dissertation Award from AERA Arts & Learning group

UW-Madison alumna Kristin Papoi is receiving the 2017 Dissertation Award from the American Educational Research Association’s Arts & Learning Special Interest Group (SIG). Papoi’s dissertation research, which was funded by the Morgridge and Barton fellowships, was a multiple site case study that explored the affordances of arts-based pedagogies for elementary aged English learners in Chicago and Los Angeles. Papoi received her Ph.D. from the School of Education’s No. 1-ranked Department of Curriculum and Instruction in 2016.
Fri
Mar
24

Thesis from UW-Madison alum Vogel recognized by theatre technology group

UW-Madison alumnus Jim Vogel was recently recognized by the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) for the outstanding quality of his thesis, “Measuring the Forces Involved in Single Point Aerial Dance Trapeze.” Vogel’s thesis research was acknowledged by the review jury of the USITT Engineering Commission’s Excellence in Engineering Research project. Vogel received his master of fine arts degree from the School of Education’s Department of Theatre and Drama in 2014 under the guidance of Assistant Professor Dan Lisowski.
Wed
Mar
22

School of Education alum Petersen's statue featured in On Wisconsin magazine

School of Education alumnus Elmer Petersen and his art was recently featured in an article from On Wisconsin, UW-Madison's alumni magazine. Petersen graduated from the School of Education's Art Department in 1961 with a Master of Fine Arts. Petersen was commissioned by the city of La Crosse, Wisconsin, to create a sculpture honoring George Coleman Poage, a UW track star as well as the first African-American to win an Olympic medal.
Thu
Mar
16

School of Education alum Kresge returns to UW as assistant soccer coach

A former team captain and standout for the University of Wisconsin women's soccer program, Marisa Kresge will return to the Badgers as a volunteer assistant coach, head coach Paula Wilkins announced earlier this month. Kresge is an alumna of UW-Madison’s School of Education, having earned a bachelor's degree in physical education and adapted physical education from the Department of Kinesiology during her time as a student-athlete, when she competed three years for the Badgers.
Sat
Mar
11

Work of UW-Madison alum Morrow featured in Paoli's Artisan Gallery

As highlighted in Madison Magazine, ​UW-Madison alumna Briony A. Morrow's art is part of an exhibit at the Artisan Gallery in Paoli, Wisconsin, that runs through April 16. Morrow earned her master of fine arts degree from the School of Education's Art Department in 2012. Morrow's art focuses on the relationship between animals and humans through printmaking. Morrow is joined in the exhibit by Don Kauss, who creates mixed-media sculptures from found, discarded and lost items.
Thu
Mar
09

Smolarek to receive Outstanding Dissertation Award from AERA special interest group

UW-Madison’s Bailey Smolarek will be receiving the 2017 Outstanding Dissertation Award from the American Educational Research Association's (AERA) Critical Educators for Social Justice Special Interest Group. Smolarek is an alumna of the School of Education, having earned her Ph.D. from the No. 1-ranked Department of Curriculum and Instruction in May. Smolarek’s dissertation is titled, “ ‘Unintended Consequences ‘: Reforms, Race, and the Schooling Experiences of Mexican Emergent Bilinguals in a New Destination High School.”
Thu
Mar
09

UW-Madison alum Wilinski authors new book, 'When Pre-K Comes to School'

Alumna Bethany Wilinski is publishing a book based in her dissertation research while at UW-Madison. Wilinski received a Ph.D. in 2014 from the School of Education's departments of Curriculum and Instruction, and Educational Policy Studies. Today, she is an assistant professor with Michigan State University's Department of Teacher Education. The book is titled: "When Pre-K Comes to School: Policy, Partnerships, and the Early Childhood Education Workforce," and will be released March 10.
Thu
Mar
09

UW-Madison alum Jamison hired as Texas Tech's defensive line coach

UW-Madison alumnus Terrance Jamison was recently hired as the defensive line coach for the Texas Tech football team. Jamison earned his master’s degree from the School of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis in 2011. According to a Texas Tech news release, Jamison is considered one of the top young coaches in the country. He arrives in Lubbock, Texas, following three seasons in a similar role at Florida Atlantic. He has also served on the defensive staffs at both UW-Madison and at California-Berkeley.
Wed
Mar
08

UW-Madison alum López López to receive Recognition Award from AERA division

UW-Madison alumna Ligia (Licho) López López will be receiving a Recognition Award for her dissertation work from Division B (Curriculum Studies) of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). López López earned her Ph.D. from the School of Education’s No. 1-ranked Department of Curriculum and Instruction, and her adviser was Professor Thomas Popkewitz. Her dissertation is titled, “Indígena: A history of curriculum, teacher education, and the making of human kinds.”
Wed
Mar
08

Fort Lewis College honors UW-Madison alum Frazer with outstanding teaching award

UW-Madison alumnus Lee Frazer was recognized with the 2015-16 Alice Admire Outstanding Teaching Award, which Fort Lewis College awards annually to one member of its faculty. Frazer earned a master’s from the School of Education in 2003 and then a Ph.D. from the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis in 2009. In keeping with the tradition of the award, Frazer gave the commencement address at the College's Winter Commencement.
Tue
Mar
07

School of Education alum Morgridge to receive UW-Madison honorary degree

The University of Wisconsin–Madison has selected three people to receive honorary degrees in May, including School of Education alumna Tashia Morgridge. As an educator, advocate, volunteer and philanthropist, Tashia F. Morgridge has made incredible contributions to improve the state of public education throughout Wisconsin, across the country and around the world. Her dedication to the field of education and desire to make a difference in the lives of children and young adults will have a lasting impact on generations to come.

School of Education Facebook Page School of Education Twitter Feed School of Education YouTube Channel School of Education LinkedIn