1950s
Joan Piper
BS 1952 — Speech Education
Joan taught high school English, speech, radio, TV production, and broadcast journalism over her career. She also hosted her own cable TV program. Joan retired in 1993 and has been enjoying retirement since then. She and her husband also raised three sons who have gone on to successful careers of their own.
Barbara Webb
BS 1953 — English/Speech
Barbara reports she is long retired but still active, and a great grandmother of four.
Stanley Krippner
BS 1954 — Speech Education
Stanley recently published his memoirs, “A Chaotic Life,” in which he devotes a chapter to his four years at UW, where he chaired the Wisconsin Union Forum Committee, giving him an opportunity to interact with Frank Lloyd Wright, Trygve Lie, William Buckley Jr., Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., James T. Farrell, John Dos Passos, and other speakers.
Barbara Lampert
BS 1954 — Speech Therapy
Barbara retired from teaching as an administrator of all the special education units at Mainland High School in Daytona Beach, Florida, in 1994. She received her MA in 1975 from the University of Alabama. Since then, she has been active in the Daughters of the American Revolution, Alpha Delta Kappa, three different bridge groups, and the GE Wives Club as president. She also teaches an adult Sunday school class at the Methodist Church.
Dorothy Rebholz
BS 1959 — Physical Education
Dorothy’s husband of 60 years, Warren Rebholz, passed away on September 2, 2023. He also was a UW graduate, PE, Class of 1957. Dorothy continues to live in their home on beautiful Swan Lake near Portage, Wisconsin, and plays organ and piano for church services at St. Mary Catholic Church in Portage.
1960s
Jo Ann Jenson Sawyer
BS 1960 — English/Public Speaking
Jo Ann is a retired Indiana University professor, trucking company executive, and guardian ad litem in Hamilton County, Indiana.
Guy Ritchie
MA 1960 — Physical Education
Guy reports that he and four friends took turns driving five days a week from Beloit, Wisconsin, over four summers to earn their degrees. Many great conversations. Guy reports that with an undergraduate degree from UW–La Crosse and master’s from UW–Madison, he received a great education and used that in two ways. First as ta teacher and coach at Beloit Turner High School for 21 years and then as a sports director For The U.S. Army for 11 years. Her reports that he was “blessed to work with many great young people and great teachers.”
Jacqueline S. Hirsch
BS 1961 — Elementary Education
Jacqueline began my career teaching second grade in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin, and today is a personal trainer in Cupertino, California.
Karen Sandvold
BS 1961 — Physical Education
Karen taught Physical Education in Madison first grade through 12th grade and says she “loved them all.” After her move to Boulder, Colorado, her 17-year position with the University of Colorado Foundation was her favorite. Today Karen is happily retired and enjoys traveling and activities with family and friends.
Sylvia Solochek Walters
BS 1960 — Art
MS 1961 — Art
MFA 1962 — Art
One of Sylvia’s recent woodcuts received a merit cash award in an International juried printmaking exhibition (“Stand Out Prints”) sponsored by the Highpoint Center for Printmaking, in Minneapolis. The exhibition early September through early October. Sylvia is also currently helping to edit a book celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Kala Art Institute in Berkeley, a nonprofit art space that serves artists and engages the community through exhibits, programs, and education.
Sharon Anderson Schwille
BS 1963 — Education
Sharon taught elementary school for several years. She then worked in teacher education at Michigan State University, where she earned her MSW and PhD. Currently, she is enjoying retirement.
Georgina Granberg Rogers
BS 1964 — Art
Georgina is enjoying retirement in her 80s. She is taking classical guitar lessons and plays it and the mountain dulcimer with groups in the area. She is still active in the art community, enjoys walks in the mountains of east Tennessee, and canoeing in the lakes. She reports, “Life is good.”
Karen A. (Nelson) Berg
BS 1964 — Education
Karen taught elementary grades for 33 years. In retirement she and friends developed three programs (Folk School, Artist-in-Residence, Music Festival) to support The Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park of Michigan.
Elizabeth Stevenson
BS 1964 — Secondary Math Education
Betty began her career teaching high school math, and her final years in the workplace were as a president/CEO of a small title insurance company. Today she is retired and living the good life, raising beautiful flowers, with roses being her favorite.
Marilyn Hansen
BS 1965 — Education
Marilyn began her career as a teacher at The Prairie School, an independent day school founded by the Johnson Wax family in Racine, Wisconsin. She was among the founding faculty of the school. After teaching for several years she changed careers and owned two retail stores and a five-unit shopping center. After retiring to New Mexico, she continues to work in the retail industry part time.
Gayle Mindes
MS 1965 — Counseling and Behavior Disabilities
Gayle began her career in the Newburgh, New York, public schools. She then moved to Chicago to work for IL DMH, Evanston Public Schools, retiring from DePaul University as a professor emerita, serving as faculty and administrator. She earned an EdD from Loyola University of Chicago while working in Evanston. In retirement, since 2018, she continues to write and mentor students. As a volunteer, she participates in projects with the Sierra Club and other environmental organizations.
Tony May
BS 1964 — Art
MFA 1966 — Art
Tony taught art at San Jose State University for nearly 40 years. He has shown his art widely in the U.S. and abroad, and is represented by the George Adams Gallery in New York City.
Richard Smith
PhD 1967 — Curriculum, and Instruction
As a professor, Richard taught in the School of Education and the Medical School for 23 years. He wrote numerous college textbooks, articles for professional journals, and instructional materials for children. Now at the age of 94, Richard writes a monthly column for his retirement home’s newsletter, and he occasionally leads the singing of “On Wisconsin” at social gatherings.
Sandra Miller-Robertson
BS 1968 — Secondary Education
Sandra taught high school science for five years and worked as a high school guidance counselor for 21 years.
Phylis Pomerantz
BS 1968 — Occupational Therapy
Phylis began her career as an OTR at Madison General Hospital in pediatrics. In 1968, she started a department at Lutheran Medical Center in Cleveland, After retirement, she worked at a CP camp and did home visits. She has had two inventions published in AJOT — the Ptosis Splint (Nov.-Dec. 1974) and the “Hinder Binder” to help clients with lower extremity paralysis stand while working with their hands (August 1975).
Harriet Williams
PhD 1968 — Physical Education
Harriet began her career as professor at the University of Toledo and also worked at the University of South Carolina as chair of department; and was associate dean for academic affairs at the Arnold School of Public Health. Retired after 30-plus years. Harriet also established the first perceptual-motor development laboratory serving children.
Carl Anderson
MS 1969 — Curriculum and Instruction
Carl and his daughter, who is now a teacher, wrote and published a book for children called, “Sydney Learns a Lesson.” He also continues serving as a hospice volunteer, interviewing patients and recording their life stories.
Charlotte Stearns
PhD 1969 —School Community Relations
Charlotte began her career working for the Wisconsin’s Department of Public Instruction in a joint partnership with the Parker Pen Company to improve student preparation for work. She then got a master’s in social work and worked as a school social worker 12 years before retiring into the field of fine art.
Barbara Zander
BS 1969 — Communicative Disorders
Barbara began her career as a speech therapist in Racine, Wisconsin. By the time she retired, she had held several interesting positions, including: sales of computer hardware (Hewlett Packard business computers in South Carolina); computer software (traveled the world working with distribution partners while based in Milwaukee); and as a loan officer in a bank in Stoughton, Wisconsin. Barbara reports: “The UW taught me a lot more than speech and language information. Be open and pursue what it is that you love.”
1970s
Noel Hefty
BS 1970 — Dance Education
For over 50 years, Noel has dedicated her time, intelligence, skills, experience, and creativity to a multitude of dance and arts organizations. She has worn the hats of dancer, choreographer, producer, and administrator. Noel added an accounting degree, which equipped her to work on both the creative and administrative sides. She has worked with 26 different non-profit organizations, as well as serving on granting panels and the Board of Visitors for UW and other educational institutions.
Ellen Jo Ljung
BS 1970 — Secondary Education
Ellen is an Illinois Master Teacher and author of two textbooks, and published “Tales Told Out of School,” her teaching memoir. She also maintains a blog at www.imwriter.com. She’s working on her first novel. Ljung and her husband of 56 years create art glass sold in galleries and travel the world to kayak. She is also a cour- appointed special advocate/Guardian ad Litem for children in foster care. She also is a political activist. In her spare time, Ljung creates wearable art.
Mary Beth Lucas
MS 1971 — Elementary Education
Mary Beth is a retired elementary school teacher and administrator.
Mary Ann Fraley
BS 1972 — Elementary Education
Although Mary Ann began her adult life as an elementary teacher of primary grades, she has since then labored in various musical endeavors, including computer music engraving and church music. All good things come to an end, and in retirement Mary Ann has subbed on organ and/or piano in various churches and spent free time in knitting and reading. She has recently moved to an assisted living community and says she is “enjoying hugely the new freedom from yardwork!”
Francis (Ed) Gregorich
MS 1972 — Counseling and Guidance
Francis received a counseling degree but did not take on a full counseling position. Francis was able to apply much of what was gained through the program during 34 years as a classroom chemistry teacher.
Sharon Kestell Somers
BS 1972 — Education
Sharon began her teaching career as a Title I reading teacher at the elementary level. She retired from working with children in 2005 but then went on to become a personal trainer in 2008 and is currently teaching in an orthopedic pool, working with adults who are physically rehabbing or just wanting to stay in shape after or before surgery.
Katherine Kvalheim Nass
BS 1972 — Education
Katherine taught fifth and sixth grade in Bloomington and Hastings, Minnesota, for four years, then married and moved to California. There, she homeschooled for 19 years and cleared her California state teaching credential. When the youngest of five children went to high school, Katherine started teaching at a private school in Concord, where she has been teaching for the last 24 years and is still teaching.
Suzanne Lenhart
MS 1972 — Music and Education
Suzi Larsen Lenhart started her career in teaching in Orfordville, Wisconsin, followed by 10 years in Ajo, Arizona. She started her music studio, Miss Suzi’s Singing School, in Ponca City, Oklahoma, in 1984. She still has a full student load of singers, piano students, and guitar and uke students. Students age ranges from 2 years old through their 80s. She reports it is “a life well-lived and full of music!”
Linda Tobin
BS 1972 — Art
Linda attended law school at the University of Pittsburgh and retired after 20-plus interesting years as a Pennsylvania administrative law judge. In retirement, she spends time drawing and painting.
Deborah (Smith) Wortham
BS 1972 — Elementary Education
Dr. Deborah L. Wortham is a distinguished educator, elder, author, and nationally recognized lecturer. A retired transformational superintendent, she penned “Setting the Atmosphere for Leaders and Learners.” In 2024, she received AASA’s Women in Leadership Award and was named one of New York’s Top 100 Educators. A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Links, Inc., and NCBW100, Dr. Wortham has garnered numerous accolades for her educational leadership. She met her husband, Chester, at the UW Rathskeller.
Thomas Trotta
BS 1972 — Education
Tom began his teaching career as a substitute in the Madison area. After teaching for two years and not finding a full-time job, he interviewed for a job in Victoria, Australia, and was offered a one-year contract plus perks and decided to take the adventure. He loved Australia so much that he extended to two years. Besides teaching and coaching, Tom played basketball on several teams that represented his area of the country, even winning the annual “Best and Fairest” award.
David Westley
BSE 1972 — Science Education
David switched from studying science to pursuing degrees in African languages and library science. Retiring as an African studies librarian in 2014, he has since become a research affiliate at the African Studies Center at Boston University. He has published widely in that field in the form of articles, books, and book reviews.
Norma Sadler
PhD 1973 — Curriculum and Instruction
Norma is a professor emerita at Boise State University and has two novels and a book of poetry available on Amazon Kindle. Her latest novel, “Shatter the Moon,” is out for review, and short stories, essays, and poems are online and in print. Currently, she lives in California, where she is a member of 3rd Street Writers in Laguna Beach.
Charles Slater
PhD 1973 — Curriculum and Instruction
Dr. Charles Slater recently co-authored three articles: “Leadership for social justice: A Study of Directors of the National Pedagogical University of Mexico City”; “Generativity and Nigrescence: The identity of a Black School Principal Pursuing Social Justice”; and “Understanding Parental Historical Trauma and the Effect on Second-generation Cambodian Americans.”
Susan Dailey
BSE 1974 — English
Susan retired from her career as a school librarian in Minnesota after 35 years.
Don Dellario
PhD 1974 — Behavioral Disabilities
Don retired as the executive director of the University of Pennsylvania’s Matrix Research Institute, Rehabilitation Research and Training Center.
Susan Fish
BS 1972 — Elementary Education
MS 1974 — Curriculum and Instruction
Susan began her career as an elementary teacher and worked in both public and private schools for 25 years. She has been an instructional facilitator for the last 18 years before retiring in in June of 2023. Susan is now a field instructor at the University of Washington-Bothell, observing and mentoring teacher candidates. She is also a curricular resource implementation facilitator for the Center for Collaborative Classroom and Benchmark Education. In 1998 she received the UW–Madison School of Education’s Lois Gadd Nemec Outstanding Alumni Educator Award.
Ruth Ticktin
BS 1974 — Dance Education
Ruth is an author, writing “Around & Around Poetry Chapbook” in 2024. She previously wrote “Was Am Going, Recollections — Poetry & Flash,” in 2022 and was co-editor of “Psalms” in 2020 and co-author of “What’s Ahead?” that was published in 2013. Learn more at: https://rticktindc.wixsite.com/ruth
Don Marx
BA 1974 — Physical Education
Don taught elementary school physical education courses for 25 years, while also coaching high school football, basketball, and golf at Memorial High School in Madison. He retired from teaching in 2001. A proud Army veteran, he participated in the Badger Honor Flight in 2019.
Mike Speth
MFA 1975 — Art
Mike grew up drawing and doing artistic things. As a TA in grad school he became inspired by the challenges of teaching. After two years of teaching at Madison Area Technical College, he realized it was teaching not art that became his passion.He spent 50 years teaching various professions and had many followers.
Karen Betzig-Lundberg
BS 1976 — Occupational Therapy
Karen recently moved from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, to Wheaton, Illinois. She is a retired occupational therapist but shares her expertise in universal design and home modification by serving on the Housing Opportunities Commission (in her past city) and providing design and consultation on a limited basis to friends, family, and non-profits.
Blanche Griffin
BSE 1963 — Elementary Education
MS 1976 — Continuing and Vocational Education
Blanche initially taught kindergarten in Madison, followed by Peace Corps service in Malaysia, and teaching most elementary grades in Dallas, Texas, before moving to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she tutors with Oasis, supporting area schools. She continues teaching duet piano lessons.
Larry Nelson
BS 1976 — Secondary English Education
Larry was re-elected to his seventh term as a Waukesha County Supervisor, which will be his 23rd year as an elected official (previously a Waukesha alderman and mayor). He was a middle school English teacher for 31 years, which was great preparation for politics. He recently was appointed to be co-chair of NACo’s Leadership Advisory Council for Economic Mobility. Larry’s peers elected him to the Waukesha County Executive Committee. He also chairs HR, HHS Board, and co-chairs the Heroin Task Force.
Sheila Tayrose
BS 1976 — Occupational Therapy
Sheila received her undergraduate degree from UW but completed her graduate education in North Carolina, where she presently lives. She worked for many years and now is happily retired for five years. She is passionate about nature photography and travel. She has also studied Spanish since February 2020. While in Peru, she spent three days without speaking a word of English. She has five granddaughters, three grand-cats, and one grand-dog.
Ron Baard
BSE 1977 — Math
Ron has spent the past several months on various writing projects, including collating his published contributions over the course of his 40-year career in theological and pastoral studies and ministry. Visit his author page at: https://www.amazon.com/author/ronaldwbaard
Joan Lakebrink
PhD 1977 — Educational Administration
Joan is a professor emerita at DePaul University in Chicago. She is very active in the League of Women Voters in Evanston, Illinois.
Debra Fritz
MS 1978 — Reading Specialist
After earning a BS from UW-Madison, Debra worked as an elementary school classroom teacher. She soon earned an MS and worked as a reading specialist for 17 years. She also opened a tutoring business to help students with dyslexia. More recently, she earned a second master’s degree in cross-categorical special education. Through grant writing, she was able to get 20 Little Free Libraries in her school district, along with books on all of the district’s 14 school buses.
Jenene Skrupky
BS 1978 — Art Education
Jenene taught classes at the Indian River State College in Florida, in oil, acrylic, and watercolor. She won four best-of-show awards, including the top state award in Wisconsin, and 19 first-place awards. Jenene has had four art galleries along the Treasure Coast. Her company, Art Force, started in 1986, creates etched glass designs on entry doors and windows. There are also four churches in the area with stained glass, that she has constructed. Presently, she is substitute teaching.
1980s
Cara Galper
BS 1980 — Communicative Disorders
Cara began her career as a full-time speech/language pathologist working for Irwin Lehrhoff, PhD, and Associates, and Inspeech Inc., in Beverly Hills, California, from 1981-86. After taking time off working outside home to raise three children, she worked part-time as an SLP in the Las Virgenes Unified School District in Calabasas, California. Beginning in 2014, she started working full-time in the Simi Valley Unified School District, while also working part-time for Lehrhoff and Associates, Inc. She retired in June 2024.
Lyn Godley
MFA 1980 — Painting
Lyn is a multi-media artist whose work merges art, light, and technology. In addition to her studio work, she is the director of the Jefferson Center of Immersive Arts for Health at Thomas Jefferson University, where she is studying the impact of dynamic light and immersive art on health.
Mary Ann Konsin
PhD 1980 — Curriculum and Instruction, Math Education
Mary Ann started as a high school mathematics teacher and then became a college professor of mathematics, assistant dean, and vice president for academic affairs. She retired in 2000. Mary Ann worked in the financial industry for 10 years and has been pantry manager at a food pantry since 2013.
Holly Cohn
1981 MFA — Art Metals
Holly’s “work” career has been multi-faceted. She taught evening classes in art metals at Madison College while being employed as a senior research specialist in the Department of Ophthalmology during the day. She is a multi-media artist, who has had a solo exhibition at the James Watrous Gallery and collaborative exhibitions. Holly has been included in regional and national group exhibitions. She recently completed a commission for the UW Hospitals and Clinics.
Scott Snyder
BS 1981 — Education
Scott started his career as an elementary school teacher in Hudson, Wisconsin, at St. Patrick’s Elementary. After four years he then went to work for his father-in-law’s company in the utility industry. Scott retired in October of 2022 after 38 years in the publicly traded utility industry in a variety of roles in operations, asset management and supply chain. He is enjoying retirement in his hometown of Hudson.
Dale Schulz
BA 1981 — Elementary Education
Dale retired from the Oregon (Wisconsin) School District in 2015, serving 34 years as a fourth grade teacher. He continues to teach a first aid class for fourth through sixth grades, called Rescue Kids. It is in collaboration with the Brooklyn (Wisconsin) Area EMS and fire department. He has taught this class since 1991. Dale is also continuing to coach in the Evansville (Wisconsin) School District as a coach in the high school. The strength and conditioning program is called POPA, (power of positive athletes), and consists of boys and girls Evansville athletics.
Christopher Terry
MFA 1981 — Art
Chris stepped down from a position as associate dean in the Caine College of the Arts at Utah State University in 2020. He taught for a total of 36 years at campuses including: Utah State, Universität Gesamthochschule Essen, and California State University. He now works full-time as an artist and had a solo exhibition in October 2024 at Viridian Gallery in New York. He currently lives in Jamestown, Rhode Island, where he also has his studio.
Karen Frank Barney
BS 1965 — Occupational Therapy
MS 1982 — Vocational and Continuing Education
Karen has been an active occupational therapist and educator for over five decades. Specializing in geriatric practice in a wide variety of settings in Wisconsin, Kentucky, and Missouri. As a professor emerita she has just completed the second edition of her co-edited interprofessional book: “Occupational Therapy with Aging Adults — Promoting Quality of Life through Collaborative Practice,” with 82 global authors.
Dan Benson
BS 1982 — Kinesiology
After a fulfilling 40 years in secondary education as a physical education and health teacher and coach, he is now a part-time rehab tech in the Froedtert Healthcare system, supporting physical therapists and occupational therapists.
Cynthia Nelson
BA 1983 — Elementary Education
Cindy began her career as an elementary school teacher, moved through the middle school years, and left teaching to become a stay-at-home mom. After a number of years of dabbling in the world of entrepreneurship, she got her California real estate license and became a certified land specialist in 2019. Today she is one of the top producers in her company in land sales for Investment. Her success can be attributed to her ability to educate people about a “new” concept to them.
Roy Swift
PhD 1983 — Continuing and Vocational Education
Continue to be executive director of Workcred, an affiliate of the American National Standards Institute.
Lisa Toso Moreland
BS 1975 — Education
MS 1983 — Curriculum and Instruction
Across a 33-year career, Lisa reports that prospective employers nation-wide recognized the stellar national ranking of her two UW–Madison School of Education degrees. The Department of Curriculum and Instruction was, and remains, renown across the country for innovative research and training. Due to the excellence of the School of Education, Lisa says she was fortunate to work in: public and private schools across multiple grade levels; gifted education, curriculum development; and parent education. She remains grateful and proud of UW–Madison and reports she has had a career geographically far reaching, instructionally diverse, and has impacted about 600 families. She says it was all, “Exhilarating!”
Margaret Zehren Moores
BSE 1977 — Political Science
MA 1983 — Educatinal Policy Studies
Margaret retired from the practice of law as deputy director of advocacy and programs from Legal Services of Greater Miami in 2022. Since then she has been busy traveling around the country teaching supervising legal work for the non-profit, Management Information Exchange. As a member of MIE’s board of directors she chairs its Journal Committee, which publishes the quarterly legal management publication, MIE Journal. Margaret currently lives in Beaufort, North Carolina.
Carleen Vande Zande
1985 PhD — Curriculum and Instruction
Carleen was appointed chief academic officer at the National Association of Higher Education Systems in Washington, D.C.
Connie Yaqub
MS 1985 — Educational Administration
Connie recently retired from her career as an educator. She taught elementary education for 32 years in three states and in the Dominican Republic. Connie also worked with adults at colleges and universities for another four years. She earned a PhD from the University of New Mexico at age 54. Most recently, she taught English language development in Pennsylvania. She is working now as a literacy volunteer.
Lisa Hendrickson
MS 1986 — Curriculum and Instruction
Lisa is a retired teacher of Spanish at the secondary school level.
Matthew Hollern
BS 1987 — Art and French
Matthew completed a 35-year career as professor of art and design at the Cleveland Institute of Art in June of 2024. He continues an active studio and design practice focused primarily on jewelry and ceremonial objects.
Christopher Noren
BS 1988 — Art Education
Christopher retired in 2021 after teaching K-12 art at Carlin Combined Schools in Elko County, Nevada for 28 years. Christopher now has opened a ceramic art studio in Elko called, Ruby Mountain Mud Ceramic Art. Christopher creates not only functional ware but ceramic sculpture as well.
Kristen Hessenberger Klobucar
BS 1988 — Secondary Education
Kristen taught eight years at F.J.Turner High School in Beloit and has been teaching at Rock Prairie Montessori School in Janesville for 29 years. She also served as vice president of Beloit School District’s school board and on the NAMI Rock County board.
Dennis Semrau
MA 1988 — Educational Administration
Dennis began his career as a publications director of the Badger State Games and evolved into working in the media as a sports reporter, columnist, broadcaster, and statistician in the Madison area. He is currently employed by ESPN Madison radio as a program co-host and game analyst, and is a freelance sportswriter. He is in his 41st year with UW Brand Communications as a statistician for UW men’s and women’s basketball and is the Camp Randall Stadium internal PA announcer for Badgers football.
Susie Slack
MS 1988 — Curriculum and Instruction
While Susie planned to return to teaching high school, she relocated twice for her husband’s career. Now retired, Susie stays involved in school by reading with first graders twice each week.
M Cecil Smith
PhD 1988 — Educational Psychology
Following a 36-year career as a professor, the final four serving as dean of the School of Education at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, M Cecil Smith retired in July 2024.
Michele Utech Garber
BS 1988 — Athletic Training
Michele has been an athletic training faculty member since 1991 — first at Valdosta State University in Georgia as the program director and then at Florida State University from 2003 to the present. Recently, she was promoted to associate department chair and clinical professor in the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences.
Evelyn Stasinoulias-Yray
BSE 1988 — Communicative Disorders
Evelyn began teaching in HeadStart classrooms in Milwaukee and Madison. Today Evelyln is an office manager at North Prairie Dental.
Michelle Belnavis
BS 1984 — Elementary Education
MS 1989 — Curriculum and Instruction
Michelle founded Read Your Heart Out in 2004 as a reading interventionist. In 2024, the 20th anniversary of Read Your Heart Out was celebrated. In February of last year, schools across the Madison Metropolitan School District participated in the district’s annual Read Your Heart Out event in celebration of National African American Parent Involvement Day. Family members, community members and volunteers who identify as African American/Black read books authored by African-Americans in 30-plus schools and seven Wisconsin school districts.
Carl Clingman
BS 1989 — Art
Carl has been a Johns Hopkins trained medical illustrator for the past 33 years and recently celebrated his 20th anniversary as a senior medical illustrator for Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
Sage Lewis
BS 1989 — Art
Sage began her career as a freelance graphic designer, became a K-12 art instructor, author, and performing musician. She continues to support people, animals, and the planet with a thriving life coaching and animal communication business, and most recently added a bean-to-bar vegan dark chocolate business!
Ken Niemeyer
BS 1989 — Secondary Math Education
Ken is now employed as assistant to the chair at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine. He traveled to Paris and Normandy in September and October of 2024 as part of a Wisconsin Alumni Association trip.
Susan Sheridan
PhD 1989 — Educational Psychology
Susan is a George Holmes University Professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and founding director of the Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools. In 2024, Susan was inducted into the National Academy of Education, an honorific society of U.S. members and international associates elected based on outstanding education-related scholarship.
1990s
Carolyn M. Lazar
BS 1964 — Education and Speech
MA 1990 — Education and Communication Arts
Carolyn began teaching French at Madison La Follette High School. She went on to teach French at Nicolet High School near Milwaukee and returned to Madison to teach English at West High School and French at East High School. She then moved to Boulder, Colorado, where she taught French, and she ended her career at Mesa (Arizona) High School. She taught communications at Mesa Community College. She still teaches French at a senior center in Houston, where she now lives. She also tutors and gives private French lessons and loves teaching.
Amy Tubbs
BA 1990 — English and French Education
Amy Tubbs was inducted into the Wisconsin Interscholastic Speech and Dramatic Arts Association’s Theatre Hall of Fame for Directors for her work directing one-act plays for Pulaski High School, where she has been a teacher for 35 years.
Randall Zentner
MS 1990 — Educational Administration
After teaching full-time 33 for years in vocal music education, Randy semi-retired in 2011, and continues to substitute teach and guest lecture at UW–Oshkosh and the Oshkosh Area School District. He also continues to provide audio production services and event management in the Fox Valley, and is in his 28th year as an audio mix engineer at Lambeau Field on Green Bay Packers game days.
Susan Covarrubias
MS 1991 — Curriculum and Instruction
Susan began her career as an elementary bilingual educator. She taught for 35 years in the Madison Metropolitan School District and has been retired since June, 2019.
Barbara Gamble (formerly Chamness)
MS 1992 — Educational Psychology
Barb is a child, adolescent, and adult psychotherapist and psychoanalyst in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and is an associate faculty member at the Michigan Psychoanalytic Institute. She recently presented her paper, “The Internal Developmental Experience of Parents Who Have a Gender Variant Child,” at the Michigan Psychoanalytic Society, the Association for Child Psychoanalysis, and the Canadian Psychoanalytic Society. It is in press with the journal Psychoanalytic Inquiry for 2025.
Sue Howard (McDonnell)
BS 1992 — Secondary English Education
Sue went back to her alma mater to teach English at Hinsdale South High School in Darien, Illinois. She has primarily taught freshmen and juniors, including AP English Language and Composition, for the majority of her career. She is currently in her 32nd year and plans on retiring in the spring of 2026.
Laurie Prudence (formerly Groombridge)
MS 1992 — Rehabilitation Psychology
Laurie has worked in behavioral health since 1988. She has served as a volunteer, counselor, administrator, director, and co-founder of a telepsychiatry company. She has worked in various settings, including non-profit, for-profit, university, criminal justice, and start-ups. Currently, she is a healthcare consultant specializing in quality management.
Amber White
BS 1992 — Art
Amber is in her third year teaching in Monroe, Wisconsin, and has now added another high school art class. She has been teaching Drawing 1 and 2, and now added Watercolor 1 and 2 to her afternoons. Amber’s mornings are spent teaching art at Abe Lincoln Elementary. She is very excited to get a painting class at the high school level and will also be teaching Acrylic 1 and 2 the third trimester this year.
Jennifer Zupan
BS 1993 — French Education
Jenni has been teaching in the Madison Metropolitan School District for 31 years. She is a passionate advocate for standards-based and equitable grading practices.
Suzanne Kaufman
BA 1994 — Art
Suzanne just finished her 15th book and completed her Ezra Jack Keats/Kerlan Memorial Fellowship at the Kerlan in the fall of 2024, focusing on the art of Pagination in midcentury picture books. Her next illustrated book, “Hello Dog/Hello Human,” will be published by MacMiliian in March 2025. Her next author/Illustrator book, “Blue with Little Brown,” will be publishing in June 2025. Find her work at suzannekaufman.com
Sarah Lee
BS 1994 — Elementary Education
Sarah began her career at New Visions Charter School in Minneapolis, followed by teaching second and third grade in the Milwaukee Public Schools. After taking some time to stay home with her four children, she then spent several years as a 4K teacher for Waunakee Public Schools. She currently serves as a tutor at One City Schools in Madison, where she proudly works with second through fifth grade students to support their literacy development.
Lisa Cook
MS 1995 — Curriculum and Instruction
Lisa is a private elementary school principal in Akron, Ohio. She is working toward an EdD in organizational leadership.
Diana Moran Thundercloud
MS 1995 — Curriculum and Instruction
Diana was invited to attend the Caribbean Philosophical Summer School at the University of Connecticut in May, 2024. She then traveled this past summer to: Peru, Bolivia, and Chile for her book in progress. She attended the Global Health Nursing & Educational Research Conference, Post-Pandemic in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Jill Bucaro
BS 1996 — Kinesiology
Jill’s experience as a personal trainer and physical therapy technician has shaped her expertise as a board-certified health and wellness coach. As the owner of the Institute of Holistic Integrative Studies (IHIS), she is dedicated to educating the next generation of health coaches. Jill guides students through learning holistic approaches to health and integrating physical, mental, and emotional wellness. Through IHIS, she inspires future coaches to lead sustainable lifestyle transformations.
Virginia Rose
MS 1996 — Curriculum and Instruction
Virginia is acknowledged for her songwriting and performance with her band Essensual BeatZ, in which she sings and plays guitar. Her drummer is Jonathan French, whose illustrious career includes stints with Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions. Virginia and her songwriting partner Mark Nelson will perform in Zihuatanejo, Mexico, during the International Guitar Festival in March 2025. She continues to be the epiphany of the costumed body.
Kevin Boatright
MS 1997 — Higher Education Administration
Kevin is chair of the Nebraska Wesleyan Board of Governors’ Academic Affairs Committee.
Jason Marcks
BSE 1997 — Earth Science
Jason continues to serve as an airline captain at Delta Air Lines, ensuring safe and efficient flights across domestic and international routes. In addition, he teaches a graduate course in comparative planetology at Montana State University, and undergraduate earth and space science courses at Northwestern State and Albany State universities. This allows him to pursue his passion for aviation while educating future scientists in planetary science.
Dianne Reistroffer
PhD 1997 — Continuing and Vocational Education
Dianne was recently honored by the Boston University School of Theology as one of its 2024 Distinguished Alumni award winners. Currently serving as interim director of the Doctor of Ministry program and as a professor emerita of ministry and methodist studies at Louisville Seminary, Dianne teaches doctoral courses in practical theology and master’s courses in Methodist history, doctrine, and polity.
Amy Fischer
BS 1998 — Elementary Education
Amy’s career has included teaching fifth grade, middle school math, gifted and talented, and math methods to college pre-service students at UW-River Falls. She is currently a K-5 math and science curriculum coordinator in the eastern metro area of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Timothy Kussow
MFA 1998 — Art
Timothy boasts a rich and multifaceted career. For the past 27 years, he has held the position of professor of visual fine arts — sculpture at Connecticut State in Manchester. Additionally, he has accumulated 18 years of experience as the department chair of the visual fine art and performing arts. Beyond his academic endeavors, Timothy is also a dedicated public servant. He has devoted 18 years to the Town of Mansfield Fire Department in Connecticut, where he serves as a firefighter/EMT.
Jennifer Morris (Averbeck)
BS 1998 — Physical Therapy
Jennie is working as a per diem physical therapist at Stoughton Health and loving the work-life balance.
Steve Rankin
BS 1998 — Occupational Therapy
Steve rode his bike across France (along the Pyrenees) in June, 2024, just ahead of the Tour de France. He reports that it’s harder than the pros make it look. He volunteers for Cycling Without Age, giving rickshaw rides at local senior living centers, and takes classes as a UW senior auditor. HIs retirement job, teaching a two-day continuing education course at sites across the U.S., ended before retirement due to the pandemic.
Liz Roth
MFA 1998 — Graphics
Liz recently completed a three-month residency at Xiaoxiang International Artists Residency in Changsha, China, to support her 40 Degrees North Project, where she is circumnavigating the globe at that latitude and depicting what she sees. She has recently been appointed interim director of the Oklahoma State Museum of Art.
David Gibbs
PhD 1999 — Curriculum and Instruction
Dave retired in 2018 after 40 years of teaching computing, the last 29 in the Universities of Wisconsin System. Today you’ll find him riding a bike when he’s not playing piano at nursing homes, assisted living, or senior centers. He and his wife of nearly 30 years, DeDe, now split time between northern Wisconsin and Satellite Beach, Florida.
Adrienne Jacobson
BS 1999 — Rehabilitation Psychology
Adrienne began working as case management and support for individuals with special needs across the lifespan. Today, Adrienne is working as a certified occupational therapy assistant in a large school district.
2000s
Erica Besikof
BS 2001 — Communication Disorders and Speech Pathology
After UW, Erica received an MA in rehabilitation counseling and then transitioned to being a New York City teaching fellow. She also earned an MA in special education while working in the New York City Public Schools. Today she teaches high school students with autism and she has started a vocational program for her students. They volunteer at a Staples store and a senior center. Erica also started a classroom business called The Little Dipper Chocolatier.
Karen Kampa
BSE 1995 — Elementary and Health Education
MS 2001 — MS Curriculum and Instruction
Karen has been teaching in the Madison Schools since graduation in 1995. Most of her career has been at Randall Elementary, just down the street from Camp Randall. She says, “Go, Bucky!”
Dusty Herbig
MFA 2002 — Art
Dusty is currently a professor of art and graduate coordinator for studio arts in the School of Art at Syracuse University. Follow him in Instagram: @dustyherbig
John LaFleur
MS 2002 — Educational Administration
John, who went on to earn a PhD, has retired from education after working in the field from 1993 to 2024, He has opened The LaFleur Group, LLC, as part of Re/Max Service First Lake Country.
Linda Trentin
BSE 1994 — Special Education
MS 2002 — Curriculum and Instruction
Linda began career as a special education teacher and is currently a program support teacher (a special education instructional coach with a focus on high-leverage practices and compliance).
Rebecca Galvan
BS 2003 — Elementary Education
Becky began her teaching career in 2004 as a dual language immersion teacher in Portland, Oregon, working with middle school students. After four years teaching in New Delhi and 11 years as an instructional coach and principal in Madison, she is now the elementary principal at the American School Foundation in Guadalajara, Mexico. Her experience teaching both internationally and nationally has broadened her horizons and exposed her to diverse approaches to teaching and learning.
Janice Kroeger
PhD 2003 — Curriculum and Instruction
Janice began her career at the University of Illinois, as a preschool teacher at Colonel Wolfe School. She is a professor of early education. In addition to teaching courses, she is a recipient of the Research and Creativity Award from Kent State University’s Provost’s Office for 2024-25. She also was recognized by the Akron Community Foundation’s Gay Community Endowment Fund for her activist research with parent and teacher advocates for gender-diverse youth.
Allison Olson Ward
MS 2003 — Counseling
Allison has been in consulting for nearly 10 years, mostly in the area of child welfare. She has been at Public Knowledge, a management consulting firm, for over six years, and was recently named the programs implementation and evaluation practice director. She will help the firm and its clients implement new initiatives and evaluate their work, demonstrating efficacy and success.
Brad Peck
BSE 1986 — English and Communication Arts
MS 1991 — Educational Administration
PhD 2003 — Educational Administration
As a proud Badger, Brad enjoyed 32 years in public education — the last 25 years as a high school principal. He retired in 2020. But retirement did not last long and today Brad is the midwest regional director for Engineering Tomorrow.
Sara Johnston
MS 2004 — Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education
Sara retired from her position as associate professor of occupational therapy at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. She continues to serve as a board member and chair of the Research Committee for On With Life Brain Injury and Stroke Rehabilitation in Ankeny, Iowa.
Nathan O’Shaughnessy
BSE 1997 — Natural Science
MS 2004 — Educational Psychology
Nathan began his career as a student teacher at Madison’s Memorial High School and Spring Harbor Middle School. He returned to his alma mater, Brown Middle School in Newton, Massachusetts, where he had the true pleasure of teaching alongside some of his former teachers, both at Brown and at Oak Hill Middle School. Nathan returned to Madison in 1998 to teach a variety of science classes until 2017. He joined the Whitewater (Wisconsin) High School family as associate principal until 2024. Nathan returned to Madison in 2024 as principal of Shabazz City High School.
Sarah Stuckey
MS 2004 — Education Leadership and Policy Analysis
Sarah began her career as an elementary special education teacher and associate principal. She has been leading as an elementary principal since 2008.
Margaret Williams
BS 2004 — Curriculum and Instruction
Peggy taught elementary school for over 40 years, retiring in 2015. She continued to work and volunteer in classrooms until 2020, when she turned her focus to writing. In May 2024, her first historical fiction book, “Courting the Sun: A Novel of Versailles,” was published by Black Rose Writing.
Greg Johll
MS 2005 — Curriculum and Instruction
Greg started his career with UW–Extension in 1994 as a help desk consultant in the WisPlan computer services unit. In 1999, he became the director of the unit and changed its name to Educational Technology Support — as the primary focus of the unit is to provide support to the statewide delivery of educational programs by Extension staff. After five years as the help desk consultant and 25 years as the director, Greg has retired and taken up a new career as a woodworker.
Kathi Koppa
MS 2005 — Curriculum and Instruction
What goes around comes around for Kathi. She earned her master’s degree at UW–Madison, then worked teaching English in Ethiopia, Cyprus, and in Madison. After working seven years as client services manager with WIDA at UW-Madison, she has returned to the Department of Curriculum and Instruction as the Elementary Education program manager. Kathi loves collaborating with others in the School of Education to ensure the successful training of future K-12 educators.
Kristine Pierick
BA 2005 — Secondary History Education
Kristine is currently a senior instructional designer with the Universities of Wisconsin Office of Online and Professional Learning Resources.
Cynthia (Kuether) Scharenbroch
BS 2005 — Elementary Education
Cindy continues to impact children through positive thinking and learning with second graders at Saint John the Baptist in Marshfield, Wisconsin. Cindy recently has created and implemented a data driven intervention system among students that focuses specific target areas and goals resulting in great growth and individualized learning.
Kristina Motwani
BS 2006 — Art
Kristina is an award-winning film editor. Her verité documentary style strives to give intimate portraits of real people. Recognitions include the 2021 Sundance Jonathan Oppenheim Edit Award, 2021 IFF Boston Karen Schmeer Excellence in Documentary Editing, 2024 Sundance Adobe Mentorship Award winner for nonfiction, 2023 Karen Schmeer Fellowship mentor, 2019 DOCNYC 40 under 40 honoree, 2018 SFFilm FilmHouse Resident, and a 2017 BAVC National MediaMaker Fellow.
Rachael Poppe
MS 2006 — Educational Psychology
Rachael began her career as a special education teacher and now is a special education program support teacher.
Beth Callies (Satchell)
BS 2007 — Elementary Education
Beth started her career as a fourth and fifth grade teacher in Madison Schools and continued in that role for 14 years. She has since transitioned to work as an instructional coach working to help support K-5 educators build on the growth of their students. She is married with two young boys (aged 6 and 10) also in Madison Schools. She says that her closest friends are those that she met in her Elementary Education cohort at UW and adds, “Go, Badgers!”
David Wallace
MS 2007 — Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis
David is currently serving as executive director of Coburg Community Charter School, an independent charter school just north of Eugene, Oregon. He is completing a doctoral degree in educational leadership at George Fox University in Newburg, Oregon.
Laura Baszynski
BS 2008 — Art Education
Laura began her career as a high school ceramic teacher. After completing her MFA, she and her husband, Alex, opened their own business, Swanky Ceramics. You can find them on Instagram @swankyceramics or on their website www.swankyceramics.com. While Laura throws dishware on her pottery wheel, Alex glazes and ships their pieces all over the country. They reside in Colorado and spend their summers in the Rocky Mountains.
Ross Pinter
BS 2008 — Kinesiology
Ross became a physician assistant in 2015 and did inpatient oncology work for the first six years of his career. Ross moved back to Madison in the summer of 2021 and has been a member of the inpatient infectious disease team at UW Health University Hospital since then.
Robert Smiley
PhD 2009 — Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis
In June 2024, Robert retired after 37 years in public education. His career started with the U.S. Peace Corps in 1986 and ended as CIO and international program director. As international work and travel has been at the cornerstone of so much of his career, Robert plans to continue traveling abroad with an emphasis on exploring art. Retirement allows for the luxury of time to both travel to explore the work of master artists, while picking up his own brushes and paints to create art.
2010s
Jamel Brown
BS 2010 — Secondary History Education
Jamel began his career as a high school social studies teacher in the fall of 2011. Today, he is a principal of a junior high school in Brooklyn, New York.
Josh Giebel
BS 2010 — Secondary Math Education
Josh began his career as a high school math teacher at a project-based learning school. After 11 years he was selected to design and build his corporation’s virtual pathway. This year he was able to return to the school he started at as the principal of that school. The school’s vision is to be a revolutionary pathway for education, and he reports that he has been able to bring a lot of what he learned as a Badger to his new role.
Tara Tindall
MS 2010 — Curriculum and Instruction
After graduating from UW–Stevens Point in 1992 with a BA in history, Tara worked for the Ho-Chunk Nation for 10 years as the Johnson O’Malley (JOM) Manager. Tara began teaching Navajo students in Gallup, New Mexico. Tara then served four years as a reading interventionist in Black River Falls, Wisconsin, and is now the Native American Teacher Leader with the Madison Metropolitan School District (since 2017). Tara is currently a student at UW–Green Bay in the First Nations Education Doctorate program.
Jamie Utphall
BS 2011 — English Education
Jamie earned a PhD in English (19th-century American literature, disability studies) in August of 2023. She now works as an undergraduate academic advisor in the College of Engineering at UW–Madison.
Andrew Epstein
PhD 2012 — Educational Policy Studies
Andrew is completing the first of five years as chief of party for the Advancing Learning Outcomes in Africa funding mechanism under the USAID Africa Bureau, which is implemented by his employer, the International Development Group, Inc. Andrew also is about to publish a book chapter on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the private school sector in the country of Jordan.
Bailey Kaeppel
BA 2012 — Rehabilitation Psychology
Bailey began her career as a case manager for adults with disabilities. Today, she is a special education teacher for the Chicago Public Schools.
Becca (Rebecca) Screnock
BA 2012 — Art
Becca began her career in local government and as a page at the Wisconsin State Capitol. She worked in federal government for a number of years before turning her career toward the fine art world. She now works as a fine art photographer in Utah with an emphasis on environmental and personal projects. Her early work in government has aided in her current career as an artist and photographer, giving her an investigative edge on projects she now focuses on.
Aaliyah Baker
PhD 2013 — Curriculum and Instruction
Aaliyah began her career as a K-12 educator with Milwaukee Public Schools. Today, she continues her passion for education as a community engaged scholar and faculty member at the University of Dayton, where she supports curriculum and instruction for the Moral Courage Project through the University of Dayton’s Human Rights Center. She also supports child and family success as a Fitz Faculty Fellow at the Fitz Center for Leadership in Community.
Andrew Riley
BS 2014 — Physical Education
Andrew is in his 11th year of teaching in the Verona Area School District and his eighth year at Verona Area High School. He is also the head football coach for the school and has won back-to-back Big Eight Conference Coach of the Year awards. He also married his wife, Mary Kate, this year.
Kasey Hoffman
MS 2015 — Rehabilitation Psychology
Kasey began the first five years of her career providing student accommodations at a small private school. During this time she obtained her EdD. Today, she is a disability services advisor, who specializes in workplace accommodations, for the School of Medicine and Public Health at UW–Madison.
Saili Kulkarni
PhD 2015 — Special Education
Saili, now an associate professor of special education at San Jose State University, has one of the most cited articles in the journal Teacher Education and Special Education. The article is titled, “From Support to Action: A Critical Affinity Group of Special Education Teachers of Color.” It details a critical affinity space that Saili and her two MA students generated for special education teachers of color during the pandemic.Link to article: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/08884064211061189
Abigail Pire
BA 2015 — Elementary Education
Abigail graduated with the intent to be a middle school social studies teacher. She instead got her learning behavior specialist endorsement and worked as a middle special education teacher for seven years. After getting her master’s degree in math education, she now works as a math interventionist for grades K-7.
Sandra Garbowicz David
PhD 2016 — Education Leadership and Policy Analysis
After 34 years in public education as a teacher, principal, and director of teaching and learning, Sandra retired from public education in 2020. Sandra is now the executive director of Circle Camps, a non-profit free summer camp for girls who experienced the death of a parent.
Lauren Pederson
BS 2016 — Kinesiology
Lauren used her kinesiology degree to go on to get her master’s in public health and physician assistant studies at the UW School of Medicine. She has worked as a PA-C in family medicine for the past four years, educating patients daily about their health and wellness.
Brianne Unger
MS 2016 — Curriculum and Instruction
Brianne is in her 12th year as a teacher at Sandburg Elementary School in Madison. She started as a bilingual ceoss categorical teacher. She now teaches second grade.
Carlos Gacharná
BFA 2017 — Art
Carlos is an artist and educator based in Los Angeles County. He started his career collaborating with Madison Public Library’s Making Justice program. He was be featured interviewing his high school ceramics teacher from Madison Memorial High School, Geof Herman, on the Arts Educators Save the World Podcast, on Oct. 2. https://open.spotify.com/show/0OPE2gJZ58WoEpJ2klv7FY?si=89a72b97982a4a7b
Lisa Hennessey
BSE 2011 — Math Education
MS 2017 — Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis
Lisa is in her second year as a teaching faculty and Secondary Math Education program coordinator at UW–Madison. She is also finishing her term on the Wisconsin Math Council Board of Directors as past president during the 2024-25 academic year. She is also pursuing her PhD in educational leadership, with an emphasis on math education leadership at UW–Madison.
Libby Pier
PhD 2017 — Educational Psychology
Libby was elected to serve as the chair of the board of the Knowledge Alliance, a non-profit, non-partisan organization focused on dramatically improving K-12 public education by advocating for the widespread, effective use of research-based knowledge in policy and practice. Libby will serve a two-year term in the role as board chair.
Chelsea Blackburn Cohen
PhD 2018 — Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis
Chelsea is now senior manager of strategic initiatives and engagements in the Office of the President at Carnegie Mellon University.
Emily DeNure
BS 2018 — Communication Science and Disorders
Emily is an SLP with work experience in rural and urban low-income public schools and author of the memoir, “The Story of Us.” Emily applied the knowledge and experience she gained within her academic and professional career in order to develop personally, confronting generational trauma and mental health challenges. Emily also is an indie author, who takes pride in having complete control over her narrative. By sharing her honest truth with the world, she hopes to help others.
Jason Kartez
MFA 2018 — Fine Art
Jason is an art educator living in Los Angeles. He has a CTE credential in arts, media, and entertainment, and a single subject art credential from Cal State, Los Angeles. In 2022, Jason started working at Da Vinci Design in El Segundo, where he uses PBL to teach high school art, working with industry partners that include: SPARC/Judy Baca, Los Angeles Glass Center, and Indivisible Arts. In 2024, he received a GSPP grant to start the CTE Fine Arts pathway at Da Vinci Schools.
Mouna Algahaithi
BS 2019 — Educational Policy Studies
At PBS Wisconsin, Mouna delights in sharing the high-quality, free, educational media from PBS KIDS with educators and caregivers around the state. Mouna manages the “Learning Neighborhood” project, a Ready To Learn grant-funded initiative from the U.S. Department of Education, to help develop school readiness skills for children ages 2-8 and their families in historically marginalized and strategically underresourced communities.
2020s
Erin Coron
BS 2020 — Art
Erin began her career in visitor services at the Chazen Museum of Art. Today, she works in donor relations at Overture Center for the Arts.
Bridget Hammett
BS 2020 — Special Education
Bridget has been working in both administration and the social media department at Nate Berkus Associates in Chicago for just over a year. She loves the creativity and open-ended nature of her role.
Elizabeth Jorgensen
BS 2020 — Rehabilitation Psychology
Since graduation, Lizzie received her MBA from Carroll University. She is now working at Capture Sports and Entertainment (CSE) in Waukesha, Wisconsin. CSE is a marketing firm that works with professional athletes and their foundations, helping them find their “why” and building a legacy beyond their sport.
Dean Busalacchi
BSE 2021 — Special Education
Dean started his career at Waukesha (Wisconsin) North High School and served as a special education teacher from 2021 to 2024. While there, he served as the announcer for many athletic events and worked hard to build relationships with all students. Starting with the 2024-25 school year, Dean serves as a sixth grade cross categorical teacher at Forest Park Middle School in Franklin, Wisconsin.
Eleni Egelseer
BS 2021 — Kinesiology
Eleni graduated from physical therapy school, earning her doctorate, and is now working as a physical therapist at UW Health University Hospital in Madison.
Allison Siegert
BS 2021 — Athletic Training
Ally began her career as a collegiate athletic trainer. Today, she is a chiropractic physician within a hospital.
Jordan Smith
BS 2021 — Kinesiology
Jordan began his career as an exercise physiologist at UnityPoint Meriter Hospital, and he is now a healthcare and life sciences consultant at Deloitte. He leveraged his experiences in patient care to pivot, and he now advises and creates actionable recommendations for multi-billion-dollar health systems, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, and medical device technology companies. Jordan is passionate about creating meaningful, long-lasting change in the healthcare and life sciences sphere.
Allie Yingst
BS 2018 — Rehabilitation Psychology
2021 MS — Occupational Therapy
After graduating, Allie began working at the Mayo Clinic as a pelvic floor specialist occupational therapist in the Anorectal Evacuation Disorders program specializing in the care of patients from across the globe. She has since moved to rural Colorado and has helped pioneer a pelvic floor therapy specialty program at a nonprofit health system.
Guangzhi Ding
BS 2022 — Physical Education
Oliver long-term subbed at Central Heights Middle School for one semester before he started a master’s program in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis Higher Education in the fall of 2023.
Brandon Jarumbo
BS 2022 — Elementary Education
Brandon is entering his third year of teaching sixth grade social studies in his hometown of West Allis, Wisconsin. Brandon was a Teacher Pledge recipient through the School of Education and continues to make an impact on his home district, which faces much socioeconomic adversity. In addition to teaching, Brandon is entering his third year of coaching middle school basketball, and third year of coaching high school baseball at West Allis Central High School.
Carter Jay
BS 2022 — Elementary Education and History
Carter graduated from Northwestern in 2023 with her master’s in secondary social science education. She is now teaching at Devry University’s Advantage Academy High School in the Chicago Public Schools, teaching AP U.S. History, AP Human Geography, and AP Psychology.
Xinyi Wang
BS 2022 — Education Studies
After graduation, Xinyi attended the Graduate School of Education in the University of Pennsylvania to pursue a master’s degree. She majored in human development and statistics. Today, Xinyi is pursuing a PhD at the University of Pennsylvania in developmental psychology.
Jesica Campos
MS 2023 — Secondary Education
Jesica began her career in education by working in programs like SCE and AVID. She quickly realized her passion for education and being in the classroom. She is now in her second year of teaching at Sherman Middle School in Madison as the dual-language instructor in and the seventh and eighth grade language arts teacher.
Trixie Cataggatan
BS 2023 — Elementary Education
Trixie is in her second year of teaching second grade at Shorewood Hills Elementary School in Madison. Not only did she do her student teaching at Shorewood in the Spring of 2023, but she also did her first year of teaching second grade at Shorewood for the 2023-24 school year. Trixie says she loves being part of a school community full of diversity and culture, loving students, and amazing staff. Go, Sharks!
Cami Kronish
MS 2023 — Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis
Cami competed in the inaugural season of the Professional Women’s Hockey League for Boston, making it all the way to the championship. She is now balancing training for next season with a new job as the Harvard women’s hockey team’s goalie coach.
Jordan Mickey
BS 2021 — Education Studies
MS 2023 — Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis
Jordan began her career as a graduate academic advisor. Today, she is an academic advising manager and supervises the academic advising student staff in the Wisconsin School of Business’ Academic Advising Center.
Leah Morley
BS 2023 — Art
In the months since graduating, Leah has moved back to her hometown of Saint Paul, Minnesota. She has been enjoying quality time with her friends and family in the Twin Cities and making art. She traveled to Colorado in the spring and spent a lot of time applying for jobs, and she got a job as a graphic designer for a bedding company.
Ashleigh Christy
BS 2024 — Elementary Education
Ashleigh is excited to begin her career as an educator and is currently teaching upper primary school in Budapest, Hungary. Ashleigh teaches in a bilingual program which operates under a co-teaching model.
Michaela Curley
BSE 2020 — Elementary Education
MA 2024 — Special Education
Michaela is in her fifth year of teaching in the Madison Metropolitan School District. She began her career as an eighth-grade teacher but later returned to UW–Madison to earn her master’s degree in special education through the Accelerated Licensure in Special Education (ALSE) program. Currently, she works as a cross-categorical teacher in the dual language immersion program at a southwest Madison school.
Samuel Dean
BS 2024 — Elementary Education
After graduation, Sam decided to continue his educational journey at UW–Madison, pursuing a master’s degree in special education. He is currently a substitute teacher in the Madison Metropolitan School District.
Salimatou Diallo
BS 2024 — Health Promotion and Health Equity
Sali has started her master’s program in Public Health.
Ryan Donnelly
OTD 2024 — Occupational Therapy
Ryan is a recent graduate and is currently continuing his education through the means of a fellowship in Durham, North Carolina. In Durham, his fellowship is with the VA Medical Center, where he will be doing four, three-month rotations in acute care, short term rehab, home health, and spinal cord. He adds that although his place of work is affiliated with Duke University, “It’s always Go, Badgers!”
Arizona Ehlenfeldt-Barker
BSE 2024 — Elementary Education
Arizona is ongoing in her journey as a first-year, third grade teacher.
Payton Franklin
BS 2024 — Elementary and Special Education
Payton this past fall started her career as a fourth grade special education teacher in the Madison area.
Noah Haswell
BS 2024 — Kinesiology
Noah is currently attending UW–Milwaukee’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program, and will graduate in December of 2026.
Dylan Hietpas
BS 2024 — Kinesiology
Dylan began physical therapy school at UW-Madison.
Mary Jaros
BS 2024 — Elementary Education
Mary is working as a fifth grade reading teacher in Milwaukee Public Schools.
Lindsey Kourafas
BS 2024 — Educational Policy Studies
Lindsey began working as a middle school STEM teacher in the Madison Schools and joined the team of a Wisconsin state assembly member who will chair the Committee on Education in the upcoming session.
Ju Lim
2024 PhD — Curriculum and Instruction
Ju began her career as an assistant professor of creative and innovative education at Georgia State University.
Garazi Lopez de Aguileta
PhD 2024 — Curriculum and Instruction
Garazi Lopez de Aguileta is currently a substitute lecturer at the University of Barcelona’s Department of Sociology. She also is a collaborator in a research project funded by the European Commission’s Horizon Europe program. The project, REVERS-ED, aims at overcoming inequalities through education.
Erin Louis
BSE 2024 — Elementary and Early Childhood Education
Erin has begun her career as a kindergarten teacher in a district that is in the greater Madison area, and she is loving every moment of it.
Joshua Miller
BS 2024 — Rehabilitation Psychology
Joshua began graduate school at UW-Madison in clinical rehabilitation counseling in the spring of 2024.
Sara Sperle
BS 2024 — Elementary and Special Education
As a first-year teacher, Sara is at Levi Leonard Elementary School in Evansville, Wisconsin, as a first grade special education teacher.
Erin Wiegman
BS 2024 — Dance
Erin just started her PhD journey in the University of Maryland’s Department of Plant Sciences.