DEAN’S NOTE

Another academic year in the books! I hope that everyone, whatever your role, has some opportunity to recharge over the summer. And I also hope to see lots of you at COLS commencement this Saturday, May 17, 9:00 am in Kolf.

IN THE NEWS

I have gotten some questions about the future of this newsletter. Until June 30, I will continue the COLS newsletter in its current form. Please continue to share your news items. I will probably release 2-3 more newsletters before that date depending on the items I receive. As always, we especially love stories about student accomplishments! After July 1 the scope of this newsletter will change to reflect our new academic structures. However, any COLS employees who won’t be part of the College of Public Affairs and Education are welcome to continue to submit newsletter items and to remain on the distribution list. Just let me know if you would like to remain on the list.

PROGRAM UPDATES

• Ben Birkinbine (AMP) co-edited a special issue of The Political Economy of Communication journal with colleagues from Croatia and Austria. The special issue showcases work from advanced Ph.D. students who attended a summer school program on the political economy of communication tradition. Birkinbine also serves as a co-director of the summer program, which is held every other year.
• Bill Gillard (English), Stewart Cole (English/Environmental Studies), and Ron Rindo (English) all contributed to the 2025 Lakefly Writers Conference and Book Fair, an annual event held in downtown Oshkosh during the first weekend of May. Stewart was as a judge for the fiction writing contest, Ron discussed his upcoming novel, Life, and Death, and Giants (St. Martin’s Press), and Bill serves on the board and led three breakout sessions.
• Jennifer Christus, Kevin Crawford, Jonathan Gutow, Brant Kedrowski, Sheri Lense, Jennifer Mihalick, Karrie Rukamp (all Chemistry), Nenad Stojilovic (Physics and Astronomy), and four undergraduates are presenting research at the ACS Great Lake Regional Meeting in Appleton in June. Matthew Hammers (Chemistry) is general co-chair, and Jennifer Mihalick is program co-chair; Kevin, Jonathan, Brant, Matthew, Sheri and Jennifer are also symposium organizers.

FACULTY AND STAFF RESEARCH

• Evan Kreider (Philosophy) contributed a chapter on “Nostalgia and Mimesis” to Back to the Future and Philosophy, ed. J. Heter and R. Greene (McFarland Press, 2025).
• Nadia Kaltcheva (Physics and Astronomy), as a corresponding author, published a new paper on polarization and extinction towards star clusters.
• Bart Pritzl (Physics and Astronomy) coauthored a new paper on variability of stars in the star cluster M13.

STUDENT NEWS

• Desi Lawrence (Applied Physics major) was awarded an internship at the University of Arkansas. As a participant in the Physics REU Internship Program, she will perform experimental and theoretical research during the summer of 2025. Desi was also awarded a 2025 Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium undergraduate scholarship.
• Tanya Schmoll (Applied Physics major/Astronomy minor) was awarded the 2025 Roy Knispel scholarship of the Physics and Astronomy department.
• Aliskwet Ellis, a Master of Public Administration graduate, was awarded the 2025 Stephen Hintz MPA Award. She currently serves as an Intergovernmental Affairs Specialist with the Oneida Nation in Wisconsin.
  
  
• Art Education major Molly Greeninger is completing her student teaching at Kimberly High School and will soon begin her career there as a full-time art teacher. Her father Peter Greeninger is a 1990 UWO Art alum and current art teacher at Kimberly.
  
  

UPCOMING EVENTS

• The Radio TV Film Student Film Showcase will be this SUNDAY, May 18, doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the screening starts at 6:00 p.m. at the Time Community Theater in Oshkosh. Hope to see you there! Not able to attend? Or want to watch the films again! You can stream the showcase this MONDAY at 6:00 p.m. on the RTF YouTube page at this LINK. Hope to stream you there!