Decorated graduation cap that says, "My Future is Booked"

UWM’s Impact

UWM is Wisconsin’s only university with the dual mission of performing world-class research and ensuring collegiate access for students from all backgrounds. Located in Wisconsin’s largest metropolitan area, UWM educates a diverse student body, striving to ensure that all students have equitable opportunities to earn a degree.

We’re also a trusted community partner and a driving force for the region’s economy. More than 80% of our graduates in the last decade stay in Wisconsin to live, work and help their communities thrive.

UWM is Impacting the World

UWM students, alumni, researchers, educators and donors are working to make a difference across the globe. With over 215,000 UWM alumni living in more than 110 countries around the world, Panthers are making a difference near and far.

Class Notes

Share your success with UWM and explore what fellow Panthers are accomplishing and achieving in their personal and professional lives.

Alumni Awardees

Learn more about our notable UWM Alumni awardees.

Donors Making a Difference

Donors are critical to the mission and success of UWM. Read about the people who make a gift or lasting impact to the UWM Foundation.

Chantell JewelChantell Jewell, 2024 Distinguished Alum Awardee
In the past 10 years,81.74%of UWM alumni have stayed in Wisconsin.
UWM Foundation manages$347 millionin total assets.
Gina Stilp from Zilber Family Foundations speaking at podiumGina Stilp, Zilber Family Foundation, announcing $20M gift

Building a Legacy of Excellence

UWM alumni, employees, donors and partners are shaping the future of the university through generous contributions to the UWM Foundation.

These gifts bolster UWM’s impact by providing scholarships, advancing groundbreaking research, enhancing academic programs and supporting state-of-the-art facilities. Together, we help to empower students to achieve their dreams, equip faculty with resources to innovate, and strengthen the university’s role as a driver of community and economic growth.

Learn About Ways to Give
Darian Dixon

During my first year taking STEM classes, my scholarship was a huge help in me getting those pricey books. That was a hard year for me financially, so I know that without the John and Cynthia Jackson Scholarship, affording books would have been a lot tougher.

Darian Dixon ’15Scholarship Donor and Alumni Board Member

Stories of Impact

  • Milwaukee-based and alumni-owned news outlet selected for Goldman Sachs “One Million Black Women: Black in Business” program
    Milwaukee-based positive news company Carvd N Stone’s founder has been selected to join Goldman Sachs’ One Million Black Women: Black in Business program. Nyesha Stone, founder and publisher of Carvd N Stone, is one of around 1,000 Black women entrepreneurs around the country. The program was created by a $10 billion investment and $100 million in …
  • UWM architecture alum wins awards, builds bridges for Black architects
    As a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Richie Hands had a building-block moment. He’d completed an assignment for a studio class taught by James Shields, an associate professor of architecture. But this bit of feedback from Shields was different, and particularly to-the-point: “Good luck,” as Hands remembers it. …
  • Family tragedy spurs UWM alum in work to save lives with AI
    Deepak Arora didn’t set out to start a company. When he arrived in the U.S. in 2015, he’d already spent two decades forging a successful career in IT and health care technology in India and Canada. As a senior manager at IBM Watson Health, Arora directed global teams, oversaw projects involving artificial intelligence-integrated products, and …