Chancellor Brian Levin-Stankevich accepts position in Utah
Chancellor
Brian Levin-Stankevich
UW-Eau Claire Chancellor Brian Levin-Stankevich has announced that he will leave his chancellor position to become president of Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Levin-Stankevich came to UW-Eau Claire from Eastern Washington University in 2006. He will begin his new position at Westminster College in June.
Edwards, Weingarten to speak at Devroy Forum April 19
Hall of Fame radio interviewer Bob Edwards and double Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Gene Weingarten of The Washington Post will interview each other beginning at 7 p.m. April 19 during the 2012 Ann Devroy Memorial Forum in UW-Eau Claire's Schofield Auditorium. Full story.
Help us celebrate!
Join us Monday, April 23, as we rededicate UW-Eau Claire's historic, and newly refurbished, venue, Schofield Auditorium. The event, "Setting the stage for the future," begins at 12:30 p.m. — in Schofield Auditorium, of course.
Recent updates to the facility include new seating, sound improvements, theater lighting, central room control, a video wall projection system, and other aesthetic and facility improvements, including improved handicap accessibility.
The project was funded through a partnership that included the UW-Eau Claire Foundation, Student Senate, University Centers/Event Services, and state and university facilities improvement funds.
A fundraising opportunity to sponsor individual Schofield Auditorium chairs at $250 each is under way. More information can be found on the UW-Eau Claire Foundation website.
New major gifts officer joins Foundation staff
Rick Foy
The UW-Eau Claire Foundation has hired a new major gifts officer who will connect with the more than 15,000 alumni who reside in the Twin Cities area.
Rick Foy, a 1980 UW-Eau Claire journalism graduate, began his duties Feb. 20. He will be primarily responsible for working with the university's alumni and friends in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area as well as selected geographic areas of the United States.
He replaces Kyle Buchmann, a 2005 UW-Eau Claire management graduate, who has accepted a new position in Madison. Full story.
Artists Series presents Viver Brasil dance company April 18
The Viver Brasil dance company will take its Artists Series audience on an inspiring cultural journey through Brazil April 18 at UW-Eau Claire. The performance, titled "Feet on the Ground," will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Zorn Arena.
Founded in Los Angeles in 1997, Viver Brasil is an award-winning dance company rooted in the traditional and contemporary forms and techniques of Salvador, Bahia and Brazil. The company specializes in bringing to life the beautiful and complex stories of the orixa, African sacred energies that are the engine of Afro-Brazilian culture, in addition to presenting jubilant samba, contemporary Afro-Brazilian dance and carnival. Full story.
UW-Eau Claire names new Continuing Education director
Dr. Durwin Long
Dr. Durwin Long will join UW-Eau Claire June 1 as the director of Continuing Education.
Long currently serves as interim dean of Adult Education and Training at North Hennepin Community College in Minneapolis. He previously was assistant dean of executive and professional development in the Opus College of Business at the University of St. Thomas.
Long earned a doctorate in higher education and a master's degree in mass communication from the University of Minnesota. He taught in the UW-Eau Claire communication and journalism department from 1983-85. Full story.
Partnership with Lac du Flambeau helps students expand cultural competence
Social work major Rachel Fleming works with elementary students in a classroom at the Lac du Flambeau public school.
When Oscar Collins signed on to volunteer in a school on a Native American Indian reservation in northern Wisconsin, he was expecting to find a run-down school filled with exhausted teachers trying to make due with outdated materials and equipment.
So Collins was surprised last fall when he found himself standing with 20-plus other UW-Eau Claire students in a newly renovated special education classroom listening to a Lac du Flambeau teacher talking passionately about using iPads and other technology to better connect with her students.
"When I arrived I was surprised to see the school very up-to-date and the programs offered to students very advanced," said Collins, a senior social work major who grew up in California but has lived in Wisconsin for eight years. "When I was in middle school I never had classes and programs as advanced as these." Full story.
Take a tour of the new home for the Children's Center
The big move of the Children’s Center to its new home at The Priory is happening soon. Join Kimera Way, executive director of the UW-Eau Claire Foundation, for a video tour of the facility to preview the possibilities for the Children's Center and other university programming. Also, we invite you to consider buying a personalized brick for the entrance of the new Children’s Center.
As always, the Foundation appreciates the gifts of alumni that fund projects to support UW-Eau Claire students and the entire campus community.
UW-Eau Claire's new W.R. Davies Student Center is nearing completion. The current Davies Center will close to the public May 26 as relocation to the new Davies Center begins. Plans are to reopen in the new facility in mid-July. Follow student body president Phil Rynish as he gives a tour of the nearly completed W.R. Davies Student Center.
Hmong Heritage Month encourages appreciation, education of Hmong culture
Mai Neng Vang
When Mai Neng Vang came to the United States from Thailand just days before her fourth birthday she didn't speak any English but soon found herself in a preschool classroom surrounded by English-speaking children and a teacher she could not understand.
With the help of an interpreter, Vang was able to learn the English language and find academic success. But the memory of those early struggles — as well as an appreciation for her Hmong heritage— has stayed with Vang, a graduate of North High School in Eau Claire who now is a junior psychology major at UW-Eau Claire.
In an effort to foster cultural understanding, Vang, along with her planning committee, has organized a month of activities designed to share her native culture with members of the campus and greater Eau Claire communities. Throughout April, the campus will host a series of Eau Claire Hmong Heritage Month events, which include everything from Hmong exhibits to Hmong cooking to expert speakers to a Hmong volleyball tournament. Full story.
Math program for Hmong students receives grant funding
Dr. Manda Riehl
The Mathematical Association of America has awarded a $4,057 grant to a UW-Eau Claire program designed to stimulate interest in mathematics among Hmong high school students in the Eau Claire area.
Dr. Manda Riehl, UW-Eau Claire assistant professor of mathematics and director of the OOMPH (Opportunities for Outstanding Mathematics Performance for Hmong Students) program, recently received word that MAA's Tensor-SUMMA: Strengthening Underrepresented Minority Mathematics Achievement grants program had awarded funding to the OOMPH program for the third consecutive year. Full story.
UW-Eau Claire focusing on issues of concern to female military veterans
Miranda
Cross-Schindler
UW-Eau Claire has several initiatives under way in an effort to make female military veterans feel even more comfortable on campus.
The university's Veterans Center and Military Education Benefits Center recently hosted a lunch for female veterans, dependents and spouses, providing them with an opportunity to discuss issues they face as veterans and students.
"Ten showed up, so it was a nice little intimate group," Miranda Cross-Schindler, military education benefits coordinator, said of the event. "We had a lot of different perspectives and received great feedback." Full story. (See related story in the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram.)
Students experience Middle Eastern cultures up close
Students on a field trip to the Twin Cities learned about Middle Eastern culture through a variety of experiences, including visiting a Kurdish restaurant and a pair of Middle Eastern markets.
Forty-two students from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire boarded a bus March 30 for a 90-mile field trip that would help them better understand cultures half a world away.
The group headed to Minneapolis-St. Paul to tour Middle Eastern markets and visit a mosque during a Muslim prayer service. For the past five years Dr. Paul Kaldjian, associate professor of geography, has led the field trip for students in his "Geography of the Middle East and North Africa" class, as well as students scheduled for a summer immersion trip to Turkey.
The first stop was breakfast at Babani's, a Kurdish restaurant in St. Paul.
"We've never opened for breakfast in 15 years," said the restaurant's owner, Rodwan Nakshabandi. "We only do it for Paul. We like him." Full story.
English as a Second Language program receives accreditation
The English as a Second Language/Intensive English Program at UW-Eau Claire has been accredited and approved for membership in the American Association of Intensive English Programs.
The ESL program helps non-native English speakers develop effective oral and written communication skills, which are essential to successful integration of international students into academic course work and campus life. Full story.
'Let's Do Lunch!' speaker to discuss university's cancer recovery program
Join the UW-Eau Claire Alumni Association for this month's "Let's Do Lunch!" noon-hour speaker series Wednesday, April 25, at Fanny Hill Restaurant in Eau Claire. Enjoy a luncheon buffet, informative presentation and engaging discussion with a UW-Eau Claire expert.
Dr. Matthew Wiggins
To improve the quality of life in cancer survivors, Dr. Matthew Wiggins, a UW-Eau Claire professor of kinesiology, provides a community outreach program that supports individuals physically, emotionally and socially through exercise, with students trained as cancer fitness specialists. The Cancer Recovery and Fitness program is a collaboration between the Marshfield Clinic Cancer Care Survivorship Program and the UW-Eau Claire kinesiology department. Wiggins will discuss how the program serves the community and enhances students' learning. More information.
Blugold Beginnings program to receive funds from RCU Charity Classic
UW-Eau Claire's Blugold Beginnings program will be among the programs to receive monies raised from the 2012 RCU Charity Classic, an annual summer event that features running races for children and adults.
Earlier this year, RCU employees nominated charities they felt should receive funds from this year's event, which will be held June 30 in Phoenix Park in downtown Eau Claire.
After reviewing the nominations, a committee of employees identified two categories — homeless shelters and mentoring programs — as finalists. A Facebook voting competition was then used to decide which category would receive proceeds this year. The mentoring programs category won the online competition. Full story.
Registration now open for summer session classes
Registration for summer session 2012 classes at UW-Eau Claire is now under way.
Many courses are offered during the three-week summer session from May 21-June 10 or the eight-week session from June 11-Aug. 5. Other courses are presented during varying periods within that timeframe. Summer courses can help students complete graduation or major requirements, allow them to enroll in high-demand courses, concentrate on specific subjects and take advantage of the personal attention available in smaller classes.
More than 250 courses are available during summer session, including over 100 online courses. For more information about summer session classes, including online courses, visit the summer session website or call 715-836-5912.
Alumni success stories
In addition to the alumni below, you can read about the accomplishments of other UW-Eau Claire alumni on the Alumni Success Stories Web pages:
Evan Lloyd '09, a UW-Eau Claire music graduate, is choir director at Eau Claire's Memorial High School. (Photo by Dan Reiland of the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram) Full story.
Joyce Pugh '62, a UW-Eau Claire elementary education graduate, is owner of the Country Treasures store in Chippewa Falls. (Photo by Dan Reiland of the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram) Full story.
Julia Gehring '79, a UW-Eau Claire psychology graduate, recently retired as law clerk and court commissioner for Pierce County.Full story.
Mary Laschinger '85, a UW-Eau Claire management graduate who is senior vice president for International Paper, has been named a CEO of Tomorrow by Bloomberg Businessweek. Full story.
Dr. John Snyder '81, a UW-Eau Claire chemistry-business graduate, was recently named a MacMillan Scholar by Mayo Clinic.Full story.
Michael Tvaruzka '92, a UW-Eau Claire philosophy graduate, was recently a contestant on an episode of the TV game show "Jeopardy."Full story.
Stacey Stratton '98, a UW-Eau Claire marketing graduate, has been named Emerging Business Woman of the Year by the Minnesota chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners. Full story.
Michael Andrew '87, a UW-Eau Claire communication and theatre arts graduate, will star in a new production of "The Nutty Professor," directed by Jerry Lewis, at Nashville's Tennessee Performing Arts Center. Full story.
Aric Carpenter '95, a UW-Eau Claire social studies graduate, has been named a Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Fellow for 2012. (Photo by Steve Kinderman of the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram) Full story.
Show how much you know about UW-Eau Claire — AND win great Blugold prizes! Email your answer to this month's question to the Blugold Trivia mailbox (trivia@uwec.edu). Those sending correct responses to this month's question will be entered in a drawing for a UW-Eau Claire golf towel and golf balls. The name of this month's Blugold Trivia winner will be published in the May 2012 issue of e-View.
April Blugold Trivia question:
The Viver Brasil dance company will give an Artists Series performance April 18 at UW-Eau Claire. What ensemble will present the final Artists Series performance of the 2011-12 season?
Know the answer? Email it, along with your name and class year, to trivia@uwec.edu. You'll be notified by email if you are this month's winner!
March's winner:
Congratulations to Betty Rasmussen, a 1981 UW-Eau Claire music graduate and winner of the March Blugold Trivia prize! Betty's name was drawn from among those who correctly answered that John Patitucci and Andy Martin were the guest artists and jazz greats who led master classes at UW-Eau Claire during Jazz Festival weekend.
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The big move of the Children’s Center to its new home at The Priory is happening soon. Join Kimera Way, executive director of the UW-Eau Claire Foundation, for a video tour of the facility to preview the possibilities for the Children's Center and other university programming. Also, we invite you to consider buying a personalized brick for the entrance of the new Children’s Center. .jpg)
UW-Eau Claire's Blugold Beginnings program will be among the programs to receive monies raised from the 2012 RCU Charity Classic, an annual summer event that features running races for children and adults..jpg)
Registration for summer session 2012 classes at UW-Eau Claire is now under way.
