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 nearly 210,000 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%of UWM alumni have stayed in Wisconsin.
UWM Foundation manages$337 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

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

  • UWM track reunion brings together generations of excellence
    What started as a casual conversation between a few friends in the summer of 2024 turned into a heartfelt reunion for UWM track and field alumni on June 28, 2025. More than 100 former Panthers, family members and friends gathered in Milwaukee’s Best Place at the Historic Pabst Brewery to share memories and catch up …
  • UWM Chancellor’s Report: A Conversation with Star Alumni
    Three accomplished UWM alumni share how their university experience shaped their paths to leadership in communication, occupational therapy and education. Listen to the conversation
  • UWM School of Freshwater Sciences joins project to deploy buoys for public use in Lake Michigan
    In partnership with Michigan Technological University, the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Freshwater Sciences, mooring buoys are being installed to improve safety and access for boaters, divers, paddlers and snorkelers at sanctuary sites. These buoys help protect sensitive resources, such as coral reefs, seagrass beds, and historic …