Pat’s pics: UWO photographer shares fave images from 2023
Through his camera lens, UWO photographer Pat Flood focuses on the action, joy and beauty of the University’s three campuses.
Leffin Family Terrace dedicated in heart of Oshkosh campus
The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh this week introduced the newly dedicated Leffin Family Terrace off Albee Hall.
The terrace is a reclaimed and revitalized outdoor space in the heart of the Oshkosh campus for UW Oshkosh student, faculty and staff gatherings, programming, performances, events and everyday breaks and retreats. It is located on an elevated, enhanced patio deck alongside Albee Hall between Reeve Memorial Union and Polk Library.
The Leffin family includes John Leffin, who graduated magna cum laude from UW Oshkosh in 1981 with a degree in finance and operations management. He retired as a partner at Accenture in 2002 after a 21-year consulting career with the company. In 1996 he established the William J. Leffin Scholarship, in honor of his father, who was a faculty member and administrator at UWO from 1966 to 1994.
William Leffin was an art professor and art department chair before becoming dean of the College of Letters and Science. In addition to being a nationally recognized artist, he was an accomplished educator and winner of the Wisconsin Art Education Distinguished Service Award and the National Art Education Award. William Leffin’s success included an early warning system for struggling students and the development of UW Oshkosh’s Cooperative Advanced Placement Program (CAPP). He also oversaw the expansion of programs in gerontology, graphic arts, public administration and liberal studies.
John Leffin’s mother, Marjorie, worked as an admissions counselor and the assistant to the coordinator of freshman orientation from 1970 to 1974. His uncle, Walter, was a professor at the University beginning in 1968 and later served as associate dean and acting dean of the College of Education and Human Services.
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Titan Fest: Students explore opportunities at UWO
On the day before the start of fall semester classes, students at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh got the chance to peruse opportunities with student organizations, employment and volunteer options at the annual Titan Fest. Along with more than 130 groups, business and organizations taking over the academic mall on the Oshkosh campus, the Tuesday event also included food, music and other activities.
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UWO employees celebrated at Opening Day Honors and Awards
This week the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh welcomes the start of a new academic year. The day before the start of classes—known in University circles as Opening Day—includes gatherings for both students and employees. While students descend on the academic mall for the annual Titan Fest in the late morning, UWO employees came together at the Culver Family Welcome Center at the start of the day to recognize the achievements and milestones of their colleagues.
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Outstanding Young Alumni Award winners share impact UWO had on them
The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Alumni Association will celebrate the incredible accomplishments made by its 2020 alumni award recipients during Homecoming weekend, Oct. 22-23. The 2020 celebration was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the 11 honorees will now be recognized at the UWO Alumni Awards Celebration Friday, Oct. 22.
To showcase the special alumni, Justine Stokes, director of television services in the radio-tv-film department, along with a few of her students, interviewed the recipients to find out the impact UW Oshkosh had on them.
In the video below, Outstanding Young Alumni awardee Christine (Barutha) Roehling ’06, reveals what was most influential to her during her time on campus.
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Celebrating 100 years of Homecoming
One hundred years ago, on an October weekend in 1921, the Oshkosh Normal School celebrated its 50-year anniversary with its first ever Homecoming. So successful was the celebration, that homecoming became an annual event starting the next year.
While UW Oshkosh homecoming traditions have changed over the years, the heart of the event has not. Since 1921, Oshkosh Homecoming has always been a celebration of our campus and all it means to students and alumni, faculty and staff.
Join us for another year of celebration and our the 100th anniversary of Homecoming, Oct. 22-23.
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Heavy metal summer: Grad student’s research digs into Horicon Marsh
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh graduate student Sarah Woody, a Sacramento, California native pursuing a master’s in biology, spent the summer looking at heavy metal concentrations in sediment, plant and muskrat tissue at Horicon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge in Mayville.
Woody and her faculty mentor Misty McPhee, an associate professor of environmental studies, were awarded a UWO Graduate Collaborative Research Grant for the project.
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UW Oshkosh marks start of 2023-24 academic year with convocation
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh faculty and staff members joined Chancellor Andy Leavitt and Provost Ed Martini in Reeve Ballroom for the University’s annual convocation on Thursday, Aug. 31.
The Chancellor and Provost shared information on the year ahead as UWO ushered in the new academic year. If you missed convocation, the recording will be posted soon on the Opening Day website. The second event in our welcome of the new academic year, Opening Day Honors and Awards, will begin at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 5, in Culver Family Welcome Center.
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UW Oshkosh names Brady Halverson head sports information director
Brady Halverson has been promoted to head sports information director at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.
“It has been a pleasure getting to know Brady over the last year,” said UW Oshkosh Athletics Director Darryl Sims. “He has become an integral part of the UW Oshkosh family and I am excited to see him grow in this role.”
Brady Halverson
For the past year, Halverson served as the assistant sports information director for the Titans. He was the main point of contact for half of the 19 athletic programs in 2022-23.
A 2022 UW-La Crosse graduate, Halverson worked as a media relations assistant in the UW-La Crosse athletic department for three years. He assisted in stat-keeping, website maintenance and social media coverage of events.
Halverson also worked with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers as a social media, marketing and community relations intern. He assisted with the organization’s content creation and community outreach efforts.
Halverson has a bachelor’s degree in exercise sport science with an emphasis on sport management and a minor in photography.
Halverson said he is excited to continue to grow as a member of the Titans family, and to remain in a conference with such a developed tradition of excellence.
“I want to thank Darryl and Abby Gildernick (assistant athletics director) for giving me the opportunity to move up in Titan athletics,” Halverson said. “I am excited to hit the ground running this fall and continue to produce content at the level that Titan nation expects and deserves.”
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UW Oshkosh alumni obituaries: August 2023
The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Alumni Relations Office has received the following death notices:
’50s
Jacqueline (Grasse) Charney (EHS) ’58, Grafton, June 28, 2023
’60s
Paul Born Sr. (B) ’67, Lenexa, Kansas, June 10, 2023
’70s
Pat Detaege (EHS) ’78, Allouez, July 8, 2023
Richard Hughes (MA) ’74, Land O’ Lakes, June 21, 2023
Allan Jackan (LS) ’78, Green Lake, July 1, 2023
John Janty (EHS) ’73, Madison, June 17, 2023
Jeffrey Krohn (LS) ’71, Oshkosh, Nov. 15, 2022
Randolph “Randy” Marsh (EHS) ’72, New London, July 10, 2023
Karla (Eichstadt) Peck (EHS) ’73, Prescott, Arizona, July 11, 2023
Donald Rilling (LS) ’73, Saint Marys, Georgia, July 12, 2023
’80s
Barbara Demler (N) ’84, Oshkosh, June 29, 2023
Phyllis LaCourse (LS) ’80, Oshkosh, July 1, 2023
’90s
Helen Jepsen (LS) ’97, Oshkosh, July 9, 2023
’10s
Christopher Lins (LS) ’10, Madison, July 2, 2023
🟨 ⬛️ 🟨
ABBREVIATION KEY
COLLEGES
• AAS — Associate of Arts and Science Degree
• B — Business
• EHS — Education and Human Services
• LLCE — Lifelong Learning and Community Engagement
• LS — Letters and Science
• N — Nursing
GRADUATE DEGREES
• DNP — Doctor of Nursing Practice
• EdD — Doctor of Education
• GMBA — Global Master of Business Administration
• MA — Master of Arts
• MBA— Master of Business Administration
• MPA — Master of Public Administration
• MS — Master of Science
• MSE — Master of Science in Education
• MSN — Master of Science in Nursing
• MST — Master of Science in Teaching
• MSW — Master of Social Work
If you know of a classmate, family member or other UW Oshkosh friend who has passed away, send an to email alumni@uwosh.edu or call the Alumni Relations Office at (877) UWO-ALUM or (920) 424-3449.
UW Oshkosh alumni class notes: August 2023
’53 Ardyce (Zanto) Fronk (EHS), of Oconomowoc, celebrated her 70th wedding anniversary with her husband Larry. Fronk is a retired teacher and co-managed King Pin Lanes, the first bowling alley in Wisconsin to have automatic scoring machines.
’61 Roy Vander Putten (LS), of Jupiter, Florida, was granted a 2023 Spirit of Hope Award by the U.S. Armed Forces. The award recognizes men and women of the Armed Forces, entertainers and other distinguished Americans and organizations whose patriotism and service epitomize the values of Bob Hope: courage, honor, duty, commitment, integrity and selfless dedication to others.
’73 Jeffry Glover (MA), of Stoughton, will release his book The Wildebeest and a Bunch of Crock and Other Animal Story Poems this year. Glover is an award-winning poet and the author of over 7,250 sonnets and several thousand poems.
’81 Julie (Dieckhoff) Davis (LS), of Tavares, Florida, is the vice president of people strategy for the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. Davis was previously the association’s senior director of workforce and industry initiatives.
’82 Brad Kahlhamer (LS), of New York, is the Park Rapids, Minnesota Nemeth Art Center’s first official artist in residence. Kahlhamer’s art is influenced by his Native American heritage, German-American family and adult life in New York City’s Lower East Side.
’84 Rita (Williams) Atkinson (EHS), of Lake Mills, published the historical fiction novel Of the Embers, which is set in 1883 Milwaukee.
’85 Joy Smith (LS), of Lakeland, Florida, completed her latest science fiction novel, Well Met By Water.
Lindsay (Bahn) Locklar
’86 Michael Craze (MBA), of Mequon, and his wife ’85 Laura (McCauley) Craze (N), celebrated their 38th wedding anniversary. Craze is retired and his wife is a nurse practitioner at Advocate Aurora.
’91 David Stauffacher (MBA), of Green Bay, received the Wisconsin Network 2023 State Star Award, presented to an individual who makes a significant contribution to their state or regional Small Business Development Center program, shows a strong commitment to small businesses and is an exemplary performer. Stauffachner is a senior business adviser with the UW-Green Bay Small Business Development Center and co-founder of Echo Marketmedia.
’96 Sandeep Relan (MBA), of Roselle, Illinois, is the general manager of Mill Rock Packaging’s St. Paul and Hutchinson, Minnesota facilities. Relan was previously director of operations for R.R. Donnelley in Clinton, Illinois.
’04 Kaili Lee (MS), of Kaukauna, was named by Madison 365 as one of Wisconsin’s 40 most influential Asian American leaders in 2023. Lee is the diversity and inclusion director of TRIO Support Services and SSS STEM at UW Oshkosh.
’05 Jason “Jed” Lechleitner (B), of Eagle River, is president of the Eagle River Rotary Club and vice president of commercial banking at Nicolet National Bank.
’06 Kevin Damask (LS), of Sun Prairie, published his first book titled Cold, a true-crime story of seven unsolved murders in Madison, Wisconsin. Damask is married to ’06 Jennifer (Rabas) Damask (EHS), a member of the UWO Alumni Association Board of Directors.
’07 Sean Kuether (LS), of Greenville, is the manager of program management at Plexus. Kuether is a former police officer and member of AmeriCorps.
’08 Lindsay (Bahn) Locklar (N), of Oshkosh, completed her doctorate in public health with an emphasis in community and behavioral health promotion. Locklar is a certified nurse midwife at Aurora Medical Center Oshkosh.
’11 William Xiong (EHS), of Little Chute, was named by Madison 365 as one of Wisconsin’s 40 most influential Asian American leaders in 2023. Xiong is the diversity, equity and inclusion coordinator for Einstein and Wilson middle schools in the Appleton Area School District.
Katelyn (Gross) Dwyer and CJ Dwyer
’16 CJ Dwyer (LS), of Fond du Lac, and his wife ’16 Katelyn (Gross) Dwyer (EHS) and ’21 (MS), celebrated five years of marriage. Dwyer is an assistant coach for the UWO women’s soccer program and his wife is an assistant principal in the Beaver Dam School District.
’19 Erin Hoff (EHS), of Trempealeau, graduated from Washington College of Law with her juris doctoral degree in May. After taking the bar exam, Hoff will work as an immigration attorney for unaccompanied minors with Chicago’s National Immigrant Justice Corps.
’19 Hannah (Stortz) Trevarthen (EHS), of Mayville, is in her fifth year of teaching in the Beaver Dam Unified School District.
’22 Alyse Hodge (LS), of Ripon, is a talent acquisition coordinator at Plexus.
’23 Mackenzie Karau (B), of Rockford, Illinois, is a financial analyst for Schneider National.
Alumni awardees: Outstanding, accomplished, distinguished
11 talented and successful UW Oshkosh Alumni are set to be celebrated and honored for their achievements by their alma mater during Homecoming 2023.
The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Alumni Association will present seven top graduates with the Distinguished Alumni Award for their widely recognized accomplishments in their professional fields. Three grads will be honored with the Outstanding Young Alumni Award for their professional and civic accomplishments within 15 years of receiving their degrees as well as their future promise; and one will receive the Alumni Outstanding Service Award for making exemplary contributions to support UWO through volunteer efforts, energy, leadership and/or philanthropic donations.
The 2023 award recipients are making an impact on their communities locally, regionally and globally.
Distinguished Alumni Award recipients
Jeni Asaba, of Robbinsdale, Minnesota, a 2005 journalism major, serves as senior manager of community engagement and advocacy for Jamf.
Teresa Connolly, of Scottsdale, Arizona, a 1987 nursing major, is the associate vice president of international delivery services at Mayo Clinic.
Jeffery Gerritt, of Detroit, a 1978 philosophy and music major, serves as the editorial page editor for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He has more than 60 national and state journalism awards, including the Pulitzer Prize.
John Krajnak, of Franklin, a 1993 business administration major, is the park president of Six Flags Great America.
Cheryl Mellenthin, of Cat Spring, Texas, a 1979 nursing major, is the president of four oil and gas companies and of the Mark A. Chapman Foundation that provides student scholarships and funding to schools.
Maurice Wince, of Milwaukee, a 1995 human service and education major who owns Sherman Park Grocery with his wife, provides healthy food options to an area that was experiencing food insecurity.
Bryan Wright, of Butte des Morts, a 2008 criminal justice major, has worked as a prevention educator within the fields of domestic and sexual violence for over 11 years.
Outstanding Young Alumni Award recipients
Kathryn Golab, of New Berlin, a 2016 medical technology major, is a clinical laboratory utilization specialist with Wisconsin Diagnostics Laboratories.
Brody Karmenzind, of Chicago, a 2014 journalism major, serves as a client partner for Meta (formerly Facebook).
Christiana Trapani, of Egg Harbor, a 2016 communication studies major, owns Door County Candle Co., which has raised over $1 million for Ukraine.
Alumni Outstanding Service Award
Marc Nylen, of Oshkosh, a 1991 Spanish major who also earned his master’s degree in counseling in 1993, serves as the associate director of residence life and director of Gruenhagen Conference Center/Residence Life Conference Service at UW Oshkosh.
The Alumni Awards Celebration is Oct. 27 at the Culver Family Welcome Center, with a reception at 5 p.m. followed by the dinner and program beginning at 6 p.m. The cost of the event is $40 per person. For more information, contact UWO’s Alumni Relations Office at (920) 424-3449 or alumni@uwosh.edu.
More from Titan magazine:
- Chancellor’s message: The classroom is just one conduit to a life-changing UWO experience
- Model of success: UWO’s tradition of Model UN excellence remains undebatable
- Leveling up: Annual Giving Society helps keep opportunities open for future generations
- Encore! Gymnastics’ national championship among spring athletics highlights
- #TitansAre: Leaders, researchers and champions
Stories by Category
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Alumni
Athletics
Campus Life
Research
Sustainability
Titan Impact
By Area of Study:
Fine and Performing Arts
Business
Education and Human Services
Nursing
Humanities
Math and Natural Science
Social Science
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Hometown Hero: UWO alumnus Bruce Siebers of Kimberly said it was his patriotic duty to enlist
WFRV, April 5
UWO sees nursing college opportunities with opening of new Oshkosh medical facility (pg. 4)
Oshkosh Herald, pg. 4, April 3
UWO faculty expertise helps curate Hmong artist’s work (pg. 16)
Oshkosh Herald, pg. 16, April 3
UWO alumnus Erickson approved to lead West Hollywood delegation to Paris, pass torch for Pride House
Beverly Press, April 3
UWO alum and media entrepreneur to deliver school’s Spring Commencement keynote
WLUK, April 2