Celebrate with Us

2025-2026 Convocation and Opening Day

The University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh will celebrate the opening of a new academic year with Convocation on Thursday, Aug. 28, and Opening Day Honors and Awards on Tuesday, Sept. 2. At Convocation, Chancellor Manohar Singh and Provost Ed Martini will share their vision of the year ahead. The Honors and Awards ceremony will celebrate our faculty and staff. Join us at both events or watch the livestreams.

RSVP FOR THE EVENTS

Convocation

Thursday, Aug. 28
Reeve Memorial Union, Ballroom 227

Chancellor Singh and Provost Martini will provide UWO updates as we launch the new academic year. After their remarks, a faculty and staff appreciation reception and social hour will be held.

Opening Day Honors

Tuesday, Sept. 2
Culver Family Welcome Center

Join us as we celebrate the contributions and achievements of our faculty and staff. In addition to the traditional opening day awards, we will recognize our Length of Service employees.

Opening Day Meetings - Tuesday, Sept. 2

College of Nursing, Health Professions and STEM
- Full college meeting: 11 a.m.–12 p.m., S104
- Lunch and networking: 12–1 p.m.
- School of Nursing and Health Professions: 1:15–2:30 p.m., S104 or S101
- School of STEM: 1:15–2:30 p.m., S104 or S101
College of Public Affairs and Education
- Full college meeting: Culver Welcome Center, Grand Ballroom
  - 11 a.m. – Dean and Directors opening remarks and introductions
  - 11:45 a.m. – Lunch
  - 12:15 p.m. – Collaborative activity
- School of Public Affairs and Global Engagement: 1:30–2:30 p.m., Sage 3000 Lounge
- School of Education and Human Services: 1:15–2:15, Culver Family Welcome Center
College of Business, Arts and Communication
- School of Business: 10:30–11:45 a.m., Sage 1216
- School of Business working lunch: 11:45 a.m.–1 p.m., Sage Hall Lecture Lobby
- School of Media, Arts and Communication: 11:45 a.m.–1 p.m., Clow N1501
- School of Business committee meetings: 1 p.m.
  - Leadership and Policy Committee: Sage 2608
  - Undergraduate Programs Committee: Sage 1605
  - Graduate Programs Committee: Sage 1621
  - Personnel Committee: TBD
- College of Business, Arts and Communication social: 3 p.m., tentatively the Art Gallery

UWO Award Winners

Stewart Cole

Edward M. Penson Distinguished Teaching Award

Catherine Schmitt

Edward M. Penson Distinguished Teaching Award

George Thomas

Barbara G. Sniffen Faculty Governance Service Award

Bill Gillard

Endowed Professorship

Nadia Louar

Endowed Professorship

Joseph Peterson

Endowed Professorship

David Lishner

John McNaughton Rosebush Professorship

Tracy Slagter

John McNaughton Rosebush Professorship

Cordelia Bowlus

Outstanding Performance Award (Academic Staff)

Maranda Garske

Outstanding Performance Award (Academic Staff)

Deanna VanderWielen

Outstanding Performance Award (Academic Staff)

Angela Zemke

Outstanding Performance Award (Academic Staff)

Kazeem Akinyele

Penson Faculty Award

Maria Graf

Penson Faculty Award

Jess Lucas

Penson Faculty Award

Rob Sipes

Penson Faculty Award

Andrew Smock

Penson Faculty Award

Andrew Soderberg

Penson Faculty Award

Kyle Steele

Penson Faculty Award

Jessica Tomasiewicz

Penson Faculty Award

Karrie Rukamp

UW System OPID Wisconsin Teaching Fellows and Scholars

Greg Landsverk

Larry White Award for University Staff

Lynnette Kopetsky

Larry White Award for University Staff

Christina Marty

Marilee White Award for Instructional Academic Staff

Maria Graf

Universities of Wisconsin Outstanding Women of Color in Education

Carmen Hetzel

Universities of Wisconsin Dr. PB. Poorman Award for Outstanding Achievement

African American Studies Program

BOR Diversity Award (Program)

UW System Awards

Length of Service

35 Years of Service

Lori Kroening
Anthony Palmeri

30 Years of Service

Nancy Burnett
Angelee Hammond
Becky Thorson-Randall

25 Years of Service

Mary Brands
Christie Demosthenous
Sharon Hawi
Margaret Hostetler
John Imobersteg
Gregory Kleinheinz

Lisa Ann Kortbein
Paula Lovell
Kathleen Lynch
Khaled Manasrah
Courtney Maron
Rachel Murphy

Wade Peitersen
Kenneth Price
Amy Rogge
Ann Vogel
Hong Zhang

20 Years of Service

Andrew Bosma
Andrea Butler
Karina Cutler-Lake
James Feldman
Lynn Hammen
John Johnsen

Kristopher Kissling
Tina Koch
Linda Koon
Michelle Kuhl
Alexander Lavrentiev

Sarah O’Connell
Marty Robinson
Marc Sackman
Emmet Sandberg
Laura Smolinski

15 Years of Service

Sara Arnold
Michael Baltutis
Victoria Beck
Jason Belnap
Chris Butzlaff
Laura Carnahan
Dylan Chmura-Moore
Anna Filipova

Brianna Galica
Jill Halverson
Shoko Hanai
Nari Kim
Kaitlyn Krol
Shu-Yueh Lee
Gabriel Loiacono
Stephen McCabe

Mary McPhee
Yoko Mogi-Hein
Sabrina Mueller-Spitz
Bonnie Nickasch
Amy Parrott
Linda Pereksta
Jayme Reichenberger
Andrew Sachen

Robert Sipes
Amy Springer
Nenad Stojilovic
Nathan Stuart
Yijun Tang
George Thomas
Bertrand Tirel

10 Years of Service

Matthew Baumann
Joshua Becken
Bradley Brooks
Elizabeth Christopher
Samantha Clark
Kristi Cutts
Erin Demuynck
Sabrina Dunn
Audra Eggum
Kathleen Elertson
Tia Elmer
David Fuller

Arturo Gonzalez-Macias
Katelyn Halfmann
Benjamin Hallett
Kirstin Ihde
Jordan Karsten
Danielle Kvam
Gregory Landsverk
Ellen Lang
Andrew Leavitt
Lisa Lewis
Tamara Mastey

Laura Mathewson
Jill Mcelhaney
Alexander Mueller
Ahmed Nasif
Adam Ochonicky
Justyna Olszewska
Pawel Olszewski
Theresa Pichelmeyer
Clifford Pickart
Meredith Resop
Bethany Rink

Thomas Romanowski
Karrie Rukamp
Catherine Schmitt
Dawn Skrzypchak
Erica Spicer
Donna Steinke
Elizabeth Taylor
Carol Veltus
Brenda Wiesner
Evan Williams
Dominique Witter

5 Years of Service

Noah Abhold
Julie Angle
Hannah Beduhn
Jared Benson
Elizabeth Bloedow
Tyler Brunette
Lauren Carlson
Kaci Casey
Mark Charneski

Elizabeth Cobb
Lisa Crawford
Kayla Crockett
Neil Davis
Adam Doman
Noelle Fonseca
Alan Hackbarth
Nicole Hankemeier
Michelle Henderson

Thomas Hoh
Deanne Kinateder
Benjamin Kotenberg
Laura Ladwig
Katrena Leininger
Thomas Leininger
Andrew Mammel
Olivia Oppelt
Dianne Parker

Jessica Roby
Eric Saeger
Karla Schultz
Andrew Schultz
Alphonso Simpson
Luke Sohns
Kelly Steinke
Dawn Wangler