University of Wisconsin–Madison

Category: Alumni News

UW–Madison alum Patterson publishes first novel, ‘Things I Wish I Told My Mother’

UW–Madison alumna Susan Patterson recently published her first novel, titled “Things I Wish I Told My Mother.”  Patterson earned a BS in 1979 and an MFA in 1982, both from the School of Education’s Art Department. She has written multiple children’s books with husband James Patterson, a self-described honorary Badger and the world’s bestselling author. …

UW–Madison alum Nekas-Thoma publishes memoir

Christine Nekas-Thoma, who earned her BS in English education in 1996 from UW–Madison’s School of Education, recently published a memoir titled, “God’s Whispers: Your Anchor Through Life’s Storms.” In the book’s synopsis, Nekas-Thoma writes that her memoir “is the manifestation of my dialogue with God.” She adds: “As you wait for God to guide you …

Empowering students: Q&A with Teacher Pledge alum Madeline Abbatacola

The UW–Madison School of Education Wisconsin Teacher Pledge is dedicated to strengthening and diversifying Wisconsin’s teacher workforce. It pays the equivalent of in-state tuition and fees, testing, and licensing costs for all teacher education students who “pledge” to teach for three or four years at a pre-kindergarten through 12th grade school in Wisconsin after they graduate. To …

UW–Madison alum Kaiser is author of new book, ‘Interfaces and Us’

UW–Madison alumnus Zachary Kaiser has recently released a book with Bloomsbury Visual Arts called, “Interfaces and Us: User Experience Design and the Making of the Computable Subject.” Kaiser earned his BS with the School of Education’s Art Department in 2006 and today is a faculty member of graphic design and experience architecture at Michigan State …

UW–Madison alum featured in Q&A in Daily Jefferson County Union

UW–Madison alumnus Charles Urness, who is the superintendent of the School District of Jefferson, was featured in a Q&A with the Daily Jefferson County Union. Urness earned a master of science in educational administration from the School of Education in 2001, and a PhD in educational leadership and policy analysis in 2012.  In the Q&A, …

‘Forty under 40’ includes two from School of Education

Two individuals with ties to the UW–Madison School of Education are among this year’s “Forty Under 40” class honored by Greater Madison In Business magazine. They are: Kyree Brooks is the associate principal of Central Heights Middle School in Sun Prairie. He earned his master’s in rehabilitation psychology and special education from the School of Education, and will …

On Wisconsin features Velliquette’s art of ‘sculpting with paper’

Michael Velliquette’s art has been featured in collections and galleries around the world.  Recently, his work was highlighted in a story in On Wisconsin, headlined “Sculpting with Paper.”  Velliquette is an assistant professor of foundations in the School of Education’s Art Department, and received his MA (1999) and MFA (2000) from UW–Madison. On Wisconsin writes, “His technique …

Art alumni featured in MOWA 10th anniversary exhibition

The Museum of Wisconsin Art (MOWA) presents “Ten at Ten” as its inaugural exhibition of 2023, kicking off the tenth anniversary of the modernist “Mothership” that is MOWA’s home base in West End, Wisconsin. For this exhibition, MOWA’s curatorial team selected ten artists in the early stages of their careers whose compelling work represents the next generation …

Q&A with Global Higher Education master’s degree alum Samantha McCabe

UW–Madison’s Global Higher Education (GHE) Master’s Degree Program is celebrating its 10th anniversary during the current academic year. The program, housed in the School of Education’s highly ranked Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, focuses on training future generations of professionals and scholars and is known for its family-like, collaborative learning community that utilizes …