Ruth DeYoung Kohler
Ruth DeYoung Kohler, a nationally respected leader within the arts and higher education community of northeast Wisconsin, has been named to the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Foundation’s Board of Directors.
Since 1972, Kohler has expanded Sheboygan’s John Michael Kohler Arts Center (JMKAC) into an internationally recognized art center through its renowned facilities and programs, therefore enriching the state’s presence. Her dedication makes her a continuing force behind the scenes and spotlights her as someone who cares about and improves Wisconsin’s regional art culture.
UW Oshkosh awarded Kohler an honorary doctorate in 2005, and she received the 2007 Wisconsin Visual Art Lifetime Achievement Award for her visionary goals and leadership at JMKAC.
“Ruth DeYoung Kohler is a visionary and creative thinker,” said Richard H. Wells, chancellor at UW Oshkosh. “Thanks to her work, the JMKAC has become one of the most innovative, comprehensive and distinguished contemporary arts centers in the nation.”
Kohler’s other accomplishments include serving as chairperson and member of the Wisconsin Arts Board; president of the Kohler Foundation; and a panel member for the National Endowment for the Arts, government agencies and academic institutions.
As former president of the Kohler Foundation, Kohler has awarded 45 scholarships annually to graduating high school students for their outstanding leadership and artistic accomplishments, including the $60,000 Ruth DeYoung Kohler Scholarship to exceptional seniors in Sheboygan County high schools.
“Ruth’s dedicated leadership and contributions to northeastern Wisconsin’s New North, as well as higher education, has been proven time and time again,” said Arthur H. Rathjen, UW Oshkosh Foundation president. “We are grateful for her willingness to serve on the Foundation’s board.”
Kohler’s continuous acts of volunteerism and devotion to the Kohler Foundation, as well as other recognized organizations, will be welcomed by fellow UW Oshkosh Foundation board members.
The UW Oshkosh Foundation Board of Directors is made up of individuals committed to positioning the University as an educational institution dedicated to the success of its students. The Board is responsible for managing business and affairs of the Foundation, including the management and administration of more than $20 million in total assets.
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