Good morning, colleagues.  Here is this week’s update from Academic Affairs.

College of Health Sciences Dean Candidates
We have four finalists for the Dean of the College of Health Sciences position. As soon as we have their updated CVs, we will share candidate and visit details with campus. The candidates will visit campus during the month of February. Thank you to the Search Committee, and especially Chair Paul Auer, for their service to the University and for producing a strong pool of candidates.

Student Affairs Leadership Positions

Adam Jussel will become the new Dean of Students effective February 25. Adam comes to us from Washington State University where he served as Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Student Conduct/Community Standards. Adam earned his BS in Business Information Systems from California Lutheran University and his JD from Seattle University. Welcome to UWM, Adam!

After a national search, Mai Yer Yang has been appointed as the new director for the UWM Inclusive Excellence Center (IEC). Mai Yer has served as the Assistant Director of the IEC since 2016 and as Interim Director since January 2018. In addition to the years she has worked at UWM, she brings relevant experience from UW-Whitewater as the Intergroup Relations Coordinator, and as an Academic Coordinator in their Upward Bound program. Congratulations, Mai Yer!

Kudos

Neal Pease (History) received the Swastek Prize from the Polish American Historical Association at its 76^th Annual Meeting in Chicago in January for his article, “Mighty Son of Poland: Stanislaus Zbyszko, Polish Americans, and Sport in the 20^th Century.” Well done, Neal!

Dimitri Topitzes (Social Work) received grant funding from Bader Philanthropies, the Isabel & Alfred Bader Fund, to study Trauma-Informed Employment Services. Joshua Mersky is the Co-PI and Daria Mueller is the RA. Congratulations, Dimitri, Joshua, and Daria!

Colleen Galambos (Social Work) was recently appointed as a committee member to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’sCommittee on Health and Medical Dimensions of Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults. Well done, Colleen!

In the News

Lisa Williams (Center for Economic Development) was quoted in a New York Times story earlier this month.

Milwaukee Athletics

The Milwaukee women’s basketball team will be hosting its annual alumni celebration on Saturday, January 26 at the Klotsche Center. Alumni from all eras and their families are invited back to UWM for a day-long celebration starting at 10 a.m. The celebration continues when the Panthers tip off against UIC at 2 p.m., with alumni and past coaches honored during the game. Please RSVP to hansonme@uwm.edu or 414-312-0212.

The Week

Tuesday

I start the day with the Deans’ Morning Meeting, followed by my weekly meeting with Robin Van Harpen, my monthly meeting with Val Klump and Tim Grundl, and my monthly meeting with Tom Lipinski. In the afternoon, I meet with the University Committee, I have a budget meeting with Finance and Administrative Affairs, and then standing meetings with Pat Borger and Stephen Schmid.

Wednesday

This morning, I’ll be in Waukesha for the College of General Studies Day of Development where I’ll make opening remarks. Later, I have standing meetings with Trudy Turner and Mark Harris. I have my weekly staff meeting and my weekly meeting with the Chancellor.

Thursday

Today, I attend the Academic Planning and Budget Committee meeting, a Campus Space Planning meeting, a Nursing Collaboration meeting with Carrol College, and the Faculty Senate.

Friday

Electa Quinney Institute Director Margaret Noodin and I will visit the College of Menominee Nation in Keshena.

Announcements

LACUSL Speaker Series

Dr. Laura Wagner (Anthropology, Duke University) will present, “Bringing Memory Home or a Journey of Rebuilding: The Digital Repatriation of the Archive of Radio Haïti-Inter,” on Friday, January 25 at 2:30 p.m. in the American Geographical Society Library.

Focus on the Future: Spring Break Leadership Program

Seeking faculty and staff assistance to promote the second annual Focus on the Future Student Leadership Program to potential student participants. Application deadline is January 29.

Fostering Success

Fostering Success invites you to an introductory training about Wisconsin foster youth and how to support them at UWM on Thursday, January 31 at 10 a.m. in Union 181.

Film Screening

The Stahl Center for Jewish Studies invites you to attend a screening of the film, “Who Will Write Our History?” on Monday, February 4 at 7 p.m. in the Union Cinema.

Call for Papers

The Wisconsin Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies invites faculty and students to submit proposals for their one-day conference entitled, “Forced Migration and Human Flourishing,” which will be held on Friday, April 5 at St. Norbert College in De Pere. The field is interdisciplinary, and papers are welcomed from all over the research spectrum. Since UWM is a member of the consortium, there will be no registration fee. The deadline to submit proposals is February 15. More information.

Fight for Air Climb

Join UWM’s 2019 rollout of the Smoke- and Tobacco-Free Campus initiative by climbing to new heights with fellow Panthers. Sign up for the Panthers Puff-Out team for this year’s Fight for Air Climb on March 9 at the U.S. Bank Center. The UWM team will climb 1,034 stairs together. Participants who sign up will be asked to fund-raise at least $100 each. UWM’s goal is to raise $5,000 for the American Lung Association.

UWM Accessibility Training

Learn more about Student Accommodations and Accessibility by completing and earning the new, self-paced Certificate in Accessibility for UWM Instructors. The UWM Accessibility Training Site for instructors is an online, self-paced resource developed by the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning and the Accessibility Resource Center that provides valuable, just-in-time information for instructors on student accommodations and Universal Design.

Alumni Employee Awards

Nominate exceptional faculty or staff members for an Alumni Employee Award. Any current UWM employee or student can submit a nomination using the online form. Nominations are due Friday, January 25. All nominees must be current UWM employees who are graduates of UWM. Awards will be presented at the UWM Alumni Employee Awards & Appreciation Luncheon on Wednesday, March 27. For more information, please contact Amy Lensing Tate at 414-229-3844 or lensing@uwm.edu.

UWM Visitor Wi-Fi Network

The password for the UWM Visitor Wi-Fi Network has been updated.

Other

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. left his legacy also on Milwaukee.

Take care,

Johannes