One program in particular helps UWO alumni achieve professional success—the Master in Public Administration (MPA) program.

“The MPA program’s goal is to create exceptional leaders in public service organizations and communities by helping students gain advanced knowledge and top-notch training—a goal that is more than often achieved, said Karen King, public administration department chair

The careers of MPA grads Joe Krebsbach of Sturgeon Bay, ’11, and David Sakrison of Ripon, ’88, have gotten a boost from the program.

“In 1990, I was hired as the editor of two failing aircraft magazines,” Sakrison said. “The managerial and promotional skills I learned in the MPA program helped me to double the paid circulation, triple renewal rates and put the magazines on very profitable footing in less than four years.”

Sakrison said for the next 18 years, he built a successful career working for businesses, non-profit organizations and healthcare companies, to list a few.

“It was an excellent program,” Sakrison said. “Along with the knowledge and skills I acquired, Stephen Hintz and the MPA program gave me a much greater sense of confidence in my own abilities and potential.”

Kresbach found similar success in his career after earning his MPA degree. He recently was appointed the director of Door County’s Department of Human Services.

“I feel much more prepared for the work I am doing,” Kresbach said. “I also feel confident that the MPA (program) has expanded my options significantly. I continue to use the things that I learned in the program on a daily basis.”

The program has received similar accolades from other graduates, such as Corinne Mc Farlane ‘11, of Green Bay, area administrator of the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families.

“My experience with UW Oshkosh’s MPA program has been incredible,” she said. “I’ve been working in the field of public administration for 17 years, and I thought I was doing a pretty good job. Participating in the MPA program, however, has been eye-opening. It has dramatically broadened by perspective and challenged me to rethink my approach to leadership.”

According to King, roughly 65 to 75 graduate students enroll in the program each year.

“Students from other programs, such as nursing, social work and business administration, also attend our classes,” she said.

King said students often are taught through small, interactive weekend classes, in which they gain the ability to direct their own learning and strengthen their skills. The program also synthesizes coursework with employment experience and is committed to providing professional education to qualified students.

“An MPA degree provides graduates with the opportunity to move into more advanced managerial roles in their public serving organizations,” King said. “Program graduates go on to be successful leaders and lifelong learners.”

The proof lies in the success of UWO alumni who’ve expressed their gratitude toward what they’ve gained from the MPA program.

“The knowledge and skills that I learned in the MPA program gave me a solid foundation and opened countless doors and opportunities to me,” Sakrison said. “I owe much to the MPA program and its instructors.”

Learn more about UW Oshkosh’s MPA program.

In the video below, alumni, who have worked for nearly a year on the planning committee, share their excitement about the upcoming event and encourage their fellow Greek “brothers” and “sisters” to join in the fun.

“I truly think this is going to be our biggest Homecoming to date,” said UW Oshkosh Alumni Relations Director Christine Gantner. “We have an incredible number of student/campus as well as alumni-related events planned for this year, including our first-ever, All-Greek Reunion with more than 200 alumni registered to take part.”

Kicking off the retro week is the annual volunteerism event, Hands on Oshkosh, which begins Saturday, Oct. 6, in Reeve Memorial Union Ballroom at 8:30 a.m. Students, faculty and staff will come together to volunteer and make a difference in the community.

Homecoming week continues with a variety of fun campus events, including:

•  Monday, window painting in Reeve and office decoration judging on campus, 2-4 p.m.
• Tuesday, residence hall/ house decorations judging, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; talent show in Reeve Ballroom starts at 8 p.m.
• Wednesday, comedian, singer, songwriter and Internet celebrity Bo Burnham performs at 8 p.m., Albee Hall gym. Tickets can be purchased at the Student Leadership and Involvement front desk in Reeve; prices are $10 for students and $15 for the general public.
• Thursday, Spoons Tournament, 4 p.m., and first-ever Powder Puff Flag Football game, 6-9 p.m., both at the Student Recreation and Wellness Center.
• Friday, Campus Food Drive, 3:30-5 p.m., Blackhawk Commons Receiving Dock; Yell like Hell rally and a Lip Sync event, both at 7 p.m., Albee Hall Gym.

“Throughout the week, we also are proud to welcome back noted alumni to UW Oshkosh to share their expertise with students and the entire campus community,” Gantner said.

These events include a piano performance by alumna Janice Meyer ’71, as part of the Transcontinental Piano Duo at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Music Hall; a panel discussion with Radio-TV-Film alumni, 1:30-4:30 p.m. Friday in the broadcast studio, Arts and Communication west building; and a lecture about hydrogeology by alumna Beverly Herzog ’76, 4:10 p.m., Reeve Union Theater.

Nine top alumni will be honored by the UWO Alumni Association at the Alumni Awards Dinner Friday at 5 p.m., in Reeve 227. A multimedia presentation of the Alumni Memories Project will be unveiled at the event. Reservations required.

Homecoming Saturday

Saturday, Oct. 13 kicks off with a groundbreaking ceremony for the Alumni Welcome and Conference Center at 9 a.m. at the northwest corner of Peal Avenue and Wisconsin Street. From 9:30 to 11 a.m., a Continental Breakfast and Open House will take place at Pollock Alumni House, located at 765 Algoma Blvd, followed by a campus highlights tour, departing at 10 a.m.

Registration for the family-friendly Tour de Titan Bike Ride begins at 9:30 a.m. at Pollock. At 11 a.m., the bikes will line up and depart from Pollock and end at Tent City, on Josslyn Street at the Oshkosh Sports Complex.

The pregame celebration at Tent City with free food and music will be held from 12 to 1:30 p.m. This event provides a perfect opportunity for students and alumni to socialize, network and build their UWO pride in a fun, interactive setting.

UWO senior Amy Will, a community development specialist for Residence Life, is helping to coordinate the tent site for the department.

“Coordinating with the awesome Homecoming team has been an amazing experience,” Will said. “I cannot wait for Tent City to arrive and to see all the fun events, especially the caricature artist in the Residence Life tent.”

UW Oshkosh takes on UW-Platteville for the Homecoming football game at J. J. Keller Field at 1:30 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults; $6 for seniors, $4 for K-12 students. Admission is free to all UW Oshkosh students with a valid Titan ID card.

At the start of the game, the 1972 championship football team will be honored during the 40th anniversary celebration of the Wisconsin State University Conference championship game. The team will be presented with plaques by the Titan Touchdown Club—an alumni organization that provides services throughout the football season.

The All-Greek Reunion Celebration will get underway in the Reeve Union Ballroom at 7 p.m., with an hors d’oeuvres buffet and cash bar. An All-Greek Continental Breakfast will be held Sunday morning, Oct. 14, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at George’s Gaslight Inn, located at 1903 Harrison St. Preregistration is required for these events.

by Lori Ligocki

Learn more:

• www.uwosh.edu/homecoming

• www.uwosh.edu/go/greek

• reeve.uwosh.edu/

Their career paths are diverse and dynamic, strung around the globe. But there is one point of origin each of these University of Wisconsin Oshkosh alumni enthusiastically cites as a motivational experience, sparking life-long civic engagement: Model United Nations.

An award-winning history

“From my point of view, that’s the name of the game,” said Kenneth Grieb, International Studies director at UW Oshkosh. “Model UN gives me a chance to work with people over several years and see them develop. That is something that makes them reach and develop new skills, and that’s very satisfying.”

Grieb, or “Dr. G.” as he is reverently referred to by many Model UN alumni, has been advising the University student group since 1966. He takes the role, the group’s competitive success, very seriously. And so do the students.

For 28 years in a row, UW Oshkosh’s Model UN teams have won awards in New York. The intense, weeklong, annual National Model United Nations competition—the world’s largest—pits college and university student squads from around the world against one another in contests of international diplomacy, policy, economic and governance acumen.

They write position papers. They face off and debate world issues and events. The 2012 National Model UN included 5,000 student competitors from more than 300 universities in 44 countries on six continents. Their arena is the actual United Nations—the New York City nerve center where diplomats, prime ministers and presidents tackle global affairs.

UWO’s program has a national reputation as one of the best. But there’s more to it than earning recognition and picking up trophies. Dr. G. considers his students’ stunning career experiences and accomplishments as a result of the Model UN immersion and attainment of a UW Oshkosh diploma the real benchmark of the program’s excellence.

“It’s great to see what all these people are doing,” he said.

Model UN alumni reflections

Brian Rettmann ’97

What a mark Brian Rettmann has made in Africa. After graduating from UWO, Rettmann moved to Washington, D.C. for an internship at the Helicopter Association International. Next, he joined his new wife, Marialyce Mutchler ’95 (also a UW Oshkosh Model UN alum), in Botswana, where he worked on a regional trade project under the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Rettmann advanced to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, setting up voluntary counseling and testing centers in the initial battle to combat HIV. That led to a number of roles in the ongoing fight against HIV’s spread in Africa, including co-development of Guyana’s “Me to You: Reach One, Save One” campaign.

In 2011, he accepted his current position as the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief coordinator at the U.S. Embassy in Tanzania, where he oversees an annual budget of about $350 million. Rettmann and Mutchler are both UW Oshkosh Outstanding Young Alumni Award recipients.

“Though his style has lightened for the new generation of students, (Dr. Grieb) took a coaching style from Vince Lombardi (and I do not use that name lightly!) in always driving for success. We as a team were always inspired, if nothing else, by his mere energy level. He has a beautiful, strategic mind and truly knows how to drive people to get success out of them. There was a culture within the team that anything less than success was not acceptable. Success was the tradition. That culture led to some very healthy competition, which inspired people to be better than they normally would be.”

Jill (Watry) Kastner ’97

Jill Kastner went on to attend law school at the University of California, Los Angeles and became an attorney with a large international law firm in the Silicon Valley, regularly litigating cases involving corporations, such as Intel, Fujitsu, Arctic Cat and U.S. Bank. A mother of two children, she opted to move back to her home state and began working for Legal Action of Wisconsin. There, she now provides free legal services to the working poor. She also serves as the past president of the Wisconsin State Bar Young Lawyers Division and as a member of the State Bar Board of Governors.

“Model UN taught me that a small-town girl can do anything, if she’s willing to work for it.  When I first joined as a freshman, I was wowed by the knowledge and skill level of the experienced team members. I was also very intimidated by Dr. Grieb, who was not afraid to give me the honest assessment that my performance was worse than ‘undigested barf.’ I stuck with it and gained the knowledge and skills that helped me graduate law school in the top 10 percent of my class and win my cases in the court room … Today, people shy away from honest criticism and seem to strive for only ‘good enough.’ Model UN gave me a great advantage because it taught me to demand honest criticism, so that I can constantly improve and strive to be the best I can be.”

Margaret LaBorde ’07

After graduation and a three-month stint as a park ranger at Olympic National Park, Margaret LaBorde was a Peace Corps volunteer in El Salvador, focusing on environmental education and youth and community development. She worked with schools, municipal governments and non-governmental organizations, developing a tree nursery with middle and high school students, aiding reforestation, teaching social studies and helping English teachers strengthen their command of the language. Bilingual and serving a diverse patient population, she currently works for Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, managing the Portage, Johnson Creek and Wisconsin Rapids clinics.

“I think people in general have a tendency to problem solve and approach challenges using our personal lens. Through Model UN, however, we learned to research and approach challenge and conflict based on someone else’s lens—in this case, a specific country’s cultural lens—because it’s the most effective and practical way to create sustainable change. This was instrumental in my work as a Peace Corps volunteer. Work in any developing country is difficult, but I found that the Model UN development approach is really what’s effective: focusing on development from the ground up; forging partnerships at the community level; capacity training; and resource development … Dr. Grieb takes such an interest in his students.

I remember my freshman year when he showed us a picture of students from over a decade before. Not only did he remember all of their names, but also he could tell us where they worked and how they had gotten there. His belief in his students and his desire to see them succeed is unparalleled.”

Tim Suess ’12

Tim Suess begins work with consulting firm Deloitte in its Milwaukee office as an audit assistant this January. He hopes to eventually work in the company’s New York City office and even have the opportunity to work through the firm with the United Nations.

“Dr. Grieb is a dying breed of academics that truly pushes students to their limits and imparts knowledge and understanding instead of curving exams and making a course short-term memorization. The work and skills that I have had to do and learn for Model United Nations are the largest reasons why I am successful. The College of Business (COB) focuses on technical skills needed to gain an entry level position; my MUN writing, speaking, researching and negotiating skills have essentially trained me for upper-echelon positions right out of school. Also, since we typically represent developing countries in Model UN, I have a thorough understanding of how they are evolving and how that impacts business. In short, I wish every COB student pursuing an international business minor/emphasis was required to be in Model UN.”

Marialyce Mutchler ’95

Marialyce Mutchler has worked in international development for the last 14 years. She has worked working in more than 15 different countries in Latin American and the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Eurasia and the Middle East. She has lived in Botswana, Guyana, South Africa and, currently, Tanzania. Her career has focused primarily on supporting small and medium size business development including farmers, agri-processors and tourism. She is currently the deputy chief of party (deputy director) for the U.S. Government foreign assistance project promoting food Security and agricultural development.

“The fundamentals I learned in Dr. Grieb’s courses and in Model UN enabled me to understand the operating environments, cultural and political influences of the countries where I work. Early in my career this gave me an advantage over my colleagues who did not have the same education background. However, it is the skills I learned in MUN that I practice every day. They have become part of how I do business, manage staff, work with local partners and approach problem solving in all aspects of my life. The critical thinking, research and writing skills enable me to approach both challenges and opportunities with strategies for success. The soft skills learned through team building, leadership, negotiation and consensus building are so incorporated into my life that when some asked how I learned to do them, I have to pause and remember — it was the hours spent with Dr. G as a professor and a coach.”

Carmen Simon ’04

Carmen Simons‘s career first took her to Chicago and then to New York City where she still lives.  Microfinance, which she learned about in MUN, was her first focus. That segued into economic development. Most recently, she organized a financial cooperative in Queens, and served as the CEO for its first year and a half of operations. That led to her current position managing a global corporate philanthropy data project where she collaborates with the United Nations Global Compact – a program she learned about at UW Oshkosh.  Now, she is in regular contact with the staff there.

“Model UN and Dr. Grieb changed my life and put me on a path of professional discovery.  Model UN taught me skills about how to be the best and most strategic worker I could possibly be… There is so much I learned and developed as Dr. Grieb’s student, it’s hard to sum it up, but I so often use the negotiating tactics in my professional life: Creating a stepped negotiating strategy, always getting the other party to lay their cards on the table first and knowing that the real work is always done outside the meeting, talking to people who arrive early and stay late. Not least of which, (Dr. Grieb) also taught us all about how to be flashy dressers.”

Rebecca Kijak ’09

After MUN, Rebecca Kijak spent a semester studying abroad. Her passion to see the world had grown tenfold after going to the United Nations headquarters in New York City as a student and seeing “the one place where it all comes together.”

I landed my first job out of college in Seattle working for Holland America cruise line in the corporate office as an assistant in Marine Hotel Operations… it was a fantastic experience!  I worked with and made friends with people from Indonesia, India, Holland, Slovenia, Germany, France, U.K., the Philippines, China and many other places. Now, looking back, being able to understand differences and get past them to see people is something that I learned at a young age. However, it was reinforced by participating in Model UN… I am now working for Mimic Technologies, a company that makes simulators for robotic surgery.  We are growing rapidly, and international business and relations is an increasing part of what we do. Again, Model UN — particularly going to New York and interacting with foreign students — helped to prepare me for interacting with surgeons from all over the world.”

Carolyn Kirchhoff ’08

After graduating from UW Oshkosh, Carolyn Kirchhoff moved out to Washington, DC where she secured an internship with a contractor for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). She learned of the internship opportunity through her experience in Model UN. She was hired, sight unseen, based on an alumnus’ recommendation. After interning for the summer, the company hired her full time. She provided administrative support for a contract focused on best practices in small and medium enterprise development. She also contributed to new business development for the company, on proposals worth up to $125 million. Carolyn eventually moved back to Wisconsin where she is working for the Cooperative Educational Service Agency (CESA) #1 in Pewaukee, WI. The agency provides services for 45 public K-12 school districts in Southeast Wisconsin. She works specifically on an initiative to transforming the educational system to be more responsive to all learners by personalizing learning.

“I came to UW Oshkosh as a valedictorian from high school, and actually chose the University because of the scholarship program they offer for students who are Wisconsin Academic Excellence Award recipients. I also entered university planning to major in secondary education in the social sciences. I did not join Model UN until my junior year, after returning from a study abroad program the spring semester of my sophomore year. I always say that joining Model UN is the single best decision I made in my entire undergraduate career. Model UN brought to me a level of rigor and challenge that was lacking for me previously in my university experience. I actually ended up staying in school for five years – partly because I switched my major so many times, but also because I wasn’t done learning everything I could from Model UN… Besides the connection — finding a job after graduation through the Model UN alumni network — the skills I learned through participating in the Model UN program helped me in my classes and prepared me for the working world. Researching, writing and speaking are three of the main skills that students in the Model UN program develop.”

Two Terrific Tools
UW Oshkosh alumni can now take their job search to the next level with free access to the University’s top-notch, online recruiting tool and employment database, Titan Jobs. They can view position openings, upload resumes, create an electronic portfolio and use a variety of top-quality employment resources. Alumni also can stay connected to what’s happening at their alma mater and enjoy the perks of an email account, powered by Google. Learn more at uwosh.edu/alumni

64 Sandra (Zingler) Wadleigh (EHS) and ’91 (MSE), of Clintonville, retired in fall 2011, after 24 years as Clintonville regional manager of Fox Valley Technical College.

65 David Simon (LS), of Bartlesville, Okla., retired after 40 years in the energy industry as a research geologist.

66 Gerald Whitburn (LS), of Wausau, was named to the University of Wisconsin’s Board of Regents that oversees the UW System.

67 Diane Bendickson (EHS) is an interior designer with 24 years of design experience at Chilton Furniture.

68 Gary Roehrig (EHS), of New Holstein, owner of Roehrig & Savola Builders, was sworn in as the Wisconsin Builders Association (WBA) president for 2012–2013.

69 Mary Brugman (LS), of Luxemburg, is working as a social worker for Golden Living Dorchester in Sturgeon Bay.

70 Donald Frederickson (LS), of Clinton Township, Mich., is retired and has published two books in the last year, Roar of the Jaguar—The Legacy of a Mayan Prince and Dakharo Heist—To Steal a Pirate’s Treasure.

71 William Schumann (LS), a financial adviser in Wheaton, Ill., received the Adviser of the Year Award in 2011 from his broker-dealer, Capital Financial Group/H. Beck of Rockville, Md.

72 Marsha (Dorow) Lewis (N), of Buffalo, N.Y., has been named dean of the University of Buffalo School of Nursing.

73 Jennifer (Sticka) Alexander (EHS) and ’82 (MS), of Monona, is the president of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce.

77 Carol (Fabritz) Jensen (EHS), of Iron Ridge, taught her horse, Buggs, how to paint in late 2008. Buggs has finished about 50 paintings and about 30 have been sold, with some of the proceeds going to horse rescue organizations.

79 Thomas Zoch (LS), of Neenah, was inducted into the Wisconsin State Baseball League’s Hall of Fame in January.

81 Phil Hanegraaf (LS), Aurora, Ill., is the vice president and national planning market leader for the transportation and public infrastructure programs at RS&H of Chicago.

82 Casey Edwards (LS), of Mason, was selected to the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference all-time men’s gymnastics team. He was a member of UWO’s gymnastics team from 1976 to 1978 and in 1980.

83 Suzanne (Dieringer) Breneman (LS), of Orfordville, is a new chemistry, AP chemistry and ninth-grade physical science teacher at Parkview School District. She has 25 years of experience in the biotechnology industry.

84 Richard McKnight (MSN), of Palm Springs, Calif., is certified as an advanced hospice and palliative nurse and works for Family Hospice and Palliative Care as a nurse practitioner.

87 John Delaney (LS), of Darien, is the new administrator at the Walworth County Jail, where he has worked since 1987.

90 Joel Steber (B) and ’95 (MBA), of Suamico, is the vice president of business banking at Bank First for the Green Bay market.

91 Stacie (Hasser) Hackl (N), of Suamico, is the executive director of the Breast Cancer Family Foundation, a nonprofit organization located in Green Bay.

92 Christie (Linskens) Christie (MBA), of Hartford, received her doctorate in urban education, multicultural studies from UW–Milwaukee.

93 Jack Heinemann (MBA), director of the Wisconsin Security Research Consortium—a consortium between UW–Madison and small businesses, serves as a member of the Waunakee school board.

94 Christine (Lorens) Hicks (LS), of Sheboygan Falls, is a personal trainer and group fitness instructor at the Sports Core in Kohler.

95 Shelly (Disch) Mogensen (MBA), of Marinette, is a recipient of the Award of Excellence from the Stephenson National Bank and Trust for demonstrating excellence in customer service, reliability, responsiveness, motivation, productivity and professionalism.

96 Valerie (Murrenus) Pilmaier (LS), of Milwaukee, is an assistant professor at UW–Sheboygan and has been selected as a UW Colleges Wisconsin Teaching Fellow for 2012–2013.

97 William Singleton (LS) is a police officer for the Milwaukee Police Department, where he helps oversee the S.T.O.P. Program (Students Talking it Over with Police).

98 Nicole (Chaloupka) Ledvina (B), of Mishicot, was promoted from human resource manager to human resource director for the Green Bay Packers.

99 Tracy (Anderson) Fritz (N) works at Women’s Care of Wisconsin as an obstetrics and gynecological nurse practitioner in the Oshkosh office.

00 Cindy (Dudkiewicz) Berg (LS), of Mukwonago, is a copy editor for Standard Process Inc.

01 Ryan Gebhart (B), of St. Cloud, Wis., was promoted to vice president at National Exchange Bank & Trust.

02 Zach Byrne (LS), of Racine, was promoted to capital sales manager at Direct Supply.

03 Benjamin Cloyd (LS), of Oshkosh, is a professional musician known as “The Human Jukebox,” with knowledge of more than 400 songs.

04 Jenette (Chiamulera) Jones (EHS), of Florence, is the UW Extension family living agent for Florence, Forest and Vilas counties.

05 Tammery Perry (MSN), of Rhinelander, provides medical care for all ages, including an emphasis on cancer screening, early detection and prevention at Ministry Health Care.

06 Eric Strelitzer (LS), of Greendale, wrote and directed the film, Will and Testament, which is in post-production and scheduled for release this fall.

07 Michael Kuany (LS), of San Francisco, Calif., who is committed to helping those in his homeland of Sudan, works for Catholic Charities.

08 Christopher Fox (LS), of Oregon, Wis., started his own publication called The Blacktooth, an entertainment magazine covering heavy metal music.

09 Erin Standley (B), of Oshkosh, has been promoted to employment coordinator at Evergreen Retirement Community.

10 Jamey Scott (CNL), of Cambridge, graduated from basic infantry training at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga.

11 Kate Wipperman (N), of Madison, received her registered nurse designation in December and entered the UW–Madison Nurse Residency Program.

Colleges

Graduate degrees