The Stephen Hintz MPA Award honors Dr. Hintz’s service and dedication to UW Oshkosh, the Oshkosh community, the State of Wisconsin and his profession.
Dr. Hintz joined the faculty of UW Oshkosh in 1972 upon receiving a Ph.D. in Political Science from Yale University. During his career he served in many roles, including Director of the Masters of Public Administration program, Chair of the Department of Public Affairs and Associate Dean of the College of Letters and Science. Dr. Hintz has been active in community affairs since the time he arrived on campus. In 1998, he was elected to the Oshkosh Common Council and was the Mayor of Oshkosh from 2002 to 2004. Dr. Hintz received an “Outstanding Community Citizen” award from the Oshkosh Jaycees in 1982.
Dr. Hintz is an acknowledged expert in local government, organizational theory and intergovernmental relations. He has been consulting with municipalities on recruitment and management issues since 1980 and continues in that role post-retirement from UW Oshkosh. For twenty years he served as executive secretary of the Wisconsin City/Council Management Association for his lifelong work in promoting public administration.
Purpose
The award is intended to enhance resources available to students in the MPA program in the Department of Public Administration at UW Oshkosh. Award funds shall be used to encourage professional development of students in the program, such as, but not limited to, support for attending professional conferences related to public administration, membership in professional associations related to public administration and recognition of exemplary student performance.
Distribution
The value and/or number of scholarship awards will be determined annually by the selection committee with the UW Oshkosh Foundations and will be based upon income generated by this endowment and in keeping with current policies established by the UW Oshkosh Foundation Board of Directors.
The Foundation Board of Directors will distribute income annually, in such proportions as they deem appropriate, in accordance with established Foundations policies. The principal of the fund will be considered perpetually.
Selection
Selection will be made by the faculty with outside assistance, as deemed appropriate. Students will not complete an application process; recipients will be selected based upon their records of achievement.
Award recipients will be announced at the University’s Spring Honors and Awards Ceremony and will also be recognized at MPA Day in the succeeding fall semester.
Stephanie Gyldenvand is the 2022 Stephen Hintz Award recipient.
Ms. Gyldenvand noted: “My commitment to public service was first sparked during my first year of service in AmeriCoprs*VISTA program here in Oshkosh, WI. I saw first-hand the impacts of childhood poverty and the unique roles and assets that residents, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies could play in addressing the needs of our community. I was so inspired by the possibility that collaboration across community could offer that I signed up for a second year of service. These first years of service launched into a decade-long career in professional grassroots organizing that deeply engaged people with lived experience to build their capacity to create greater equity through systems and policy change.
Through my work at Winnebago County Health Department, I’ve been able to establish an agency-wide equity team, help to create and support our county’s Overdose Fatality Review Team, and ensure financial resources to implement equity, substance use, and social connectedness related initiatives and strategies. The past two years, with COVID-19, have been a critical and interesting time to be working in public health alongside studies in the MPA program. My personal work responsibilities shifted considerably from working to stand an isolation site to bridging relationships between funders, nonprofits, government agencies, and specific community needs such as improving access to vaccine and testing. Community conditions caused by COVID-19 caused a surge in overdose and overdose deaths in Winnebago County, which required immediate community engagement, assessment, and strategy during a time when meeting in-person was limited. A project to expand Narcan access, which was created during the MPA Program Evaluation course, has since been implemented at the health department, in a local EMS agency, and through several community organizations.
My final MPA Capstone project, Connection & Belonging: Voices of People in Recovery, has been used to inform local and state policy related to the opioid epidemic, has aided the allocation of resources to implement strategies prioritized and led by recovery organizations, and will be presented in (at least) three statewide conferences this year. My passion for community and public service can also be seen through involvement with my local neighborhood association, over six years of service to help establish the Oshkosh Food Co-op, and my recent election to the Wisconsin Public Health Association board to advance health and racial equity.”
Lonna Morouney is the 2021 Stephen Hintz Award recipient.
Ms. Morouney noted: “A lifelong Wisconsin resident, I have dedicated my professional career to public service and have worked in a variety of government roles for two decades. I began my career as a social worker, supporting and advocating for at-risk families. My communication and problem-solving skills, policy interests, and motivation to help others led me on the path to working as an aide to a state legislator. Later, I served as the legislative liaison at a state agency helping to move family-centered policy initiatives forward. I currently serve as a communication bridge between a state agency and local child welfare agencies, community members, and stakeholders. I am active as an officer in my local veterans volunteer organization, assisting and advocating for veterans in need; recognizing that civic involvement compliments and strengthens the work of public agencies. The MPA program has taught me leadership and analytical skills and a deeper understanding of the profound impact that public administration has on individuals and communities. Most importantly, the MPA program has grounded my commitment to social equity as a priority for public administration. “
Ronnie Barger is the 2021 Stephen Hintz Award recipient.
Mr. Barger noted: “I knew from an early age that I wanted to help people. I enjoy helping people connect to services and to educate and mentor others. I have been involved in county government for the past 13 years and feel as if I have found my calling. Pursuing an advanced degree has only added to my ability to help and lead others. I have served in a variety of positions along the way including my current position as Director of Health and Social Services for Langlade County. I serve on several community and organizational boards of directors and continue to volunteer in my community as my time allows. I am honored to be chosen for the Stephen Hintz Award.“
Jessica Erickson is the 2020 Stephen Hintz Award recipient.
Mrs. Erickson noted, “I have over a decade of experience working in state government in Wisconsin, and now several years working with state and local governments on legislative and policy issues as the Director of Public Affairs for AT&T Wisconsin. At the beginning of my professional career, I spent over 10 years working in government and politics in Madison, including jobs in the Governor’s Office, the Department of Workforce Development, and the Wisconsin Legislature. When the Governor I was serving chose to not run for reelection, I decided to work for a company doing public and legislative affairs — a way to continue working directly with government. One of the reasons I am pursuing my Master’s of Public Administration is that I would like to eventually return to working in government, likely at either the state or federal levels. As for civic engagement, I spent 7 years serving on the Board of Directors for Wisconsin Women in Government, with the mission to help advance women in public service. Additionally, I currently serve as a volunteer coach at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater La Crosse, working with elementary age children.”
Sage Hall 3464 and 4461
Oshkosh, WI 54901
Phone: (920) 424-2030
Program Director:
Dr. Sam Larson
larsonsj@uwosh.edu
Hours: 7:30am - 3:30pm