Two University of Wisconsin Oshkosh alumni who have given students unparalleled opportunities to grow in professional counseling internships and have helped K-12 teachers develop and pass along a passion for writing and literacy to their students earned the opportunity to serve as “Professors For a Day” on Nov. 5.
The UW Oshkosh College of Education and Human Services (COEHS) recognized both Ellen J. Lutz, a counseling mentor for UW Oshkosh students at the Outagamie County Justice Center, and Lisa Weiss, the secondary (grades 6 through 12) literacy coordinator in the Oshkosh Area School District, with the honor.
For more than 40 years, the COEHS has sponsored Professor for a Day. The program honors alumni who have made significant contributions to their profession by giving them a day to interact with UW Oshkosh students who are presently enrolled in programs of preparation in teacher education, counseling and human services.
The program is supported through a trust fund at the UW Oshkosh Foundation. COEHS Dean Fred Yeo, UW Oshkosh Provost Lane Earns and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Petra Roter welcomed Lutz, Weiss and guests to a Nov. 5 awards and recognition luncheon, marking their Professor For a Day honors.
Counseling and Literacy and Language Department chairs also recognized both women’s dedication to the UW Oshkosh programs that helped launch their careers.
UW Oshkosh Professional Counseling department chair Alan Saginak praised Lutz’s nearly 50 years in her field. She received both her bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies and her master’s degree in Community Counseling from UW Oshkosh.
LutzFor the last several years, she has been providing supervision for practicum and internship students from area universities and community counselors required to complete 3,000 hours for licensure. Lutz said the most rewarding part of her job is in “connecting incarcerated clients to well prepared, passionate and professional counselors at all stages of their development.”
Saginak also thanked her for the role-modeling she provided him during classroom visits.
“I would think, ‘Well, Ellen’s coming, and that’s going to really help me,’ as I was learning how to teach in a University setting,” Saginak said.
“I’ve always enjoyed to share with people and those classes all the opportunities,” said Lutz, whose nearly 50-year career has involved service at St. Elizabeth Hospital, Sheltered Activity Center, Sexual Assault Crisis Center and Outagamie County Offenders Services.
UW Oshkosh Literacy and Language Chair Michael Ford recognized Weiss’s many roles with the Oshkosh Area School District and her co-direction of the Fox Valley Writing Project, which “brings K-12 educators across disciplines and at all levels to work together in a collaborative network that empowers teachers to grow as teachers of literacy, as readers, as writers and as professional leaders themselves.”
WeissIn her nineteen years in education, and in addition to her current role, Weiss has been a second grade teacher, a sixth, seventh and eighth grade reading teacher, a K-5 reading specialist, a Title I teacher, a co-teacher, a middle school literacy coach, a high school literacy coach and a K-12 literacy coordinator. She is a National Board Certified Teacher in the area of reading.
“The literacy and language department has had a huge impact on who I have become as a professional,” Weiss said during the Nov. 5 Professor for a Day awards program. “… I don’t ever see a place where they will not constantly be that influence in the professional that I am and who I have become and am becoming as a learner and a leader.”
Arthur Rathjen, UW Oshkosh Foundation president, praised Lutz’s and Weiss’s willingness to come to campus and serve as “living breathing examples” for students to interact with as part of the Professor for a Day experience.
“Thank you for serving as just outstanding mentors,” Rathjen said. “… It think our students like to see that there is actually a road map, and it does all work out. It’s everybody’s individual journey.”
Hear Lisa Weiss share a few remarks upon being named a ‘Professor For A Day’ by the College of Education and Human Services…
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