Overview

After more than two decades of dedicated service to UW–Milwaukee and a remarkable forty-year career in higher education, CASL’s very own, Connie Schroeder will be retiring in May.

We invite all faculty, staff, and students that have known or worked with Connie to join CASL for a celebratory Open House Retirement Party on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 in Engelmann Hall B73 from 12:00–2:00 p.m.

Regardless of whether you are able to join us in person to celebrate Connie, we invite you to take a moment to share words of appreciation on her impact on UWM’s teaching and learning. 

Since joining UWM in 2002, Connie has been a foundational force in shaping the university’s culture of teaching excellence, equity, and student success. As the Senior Consultant for Instructional and Organizational Development, her influence has reached every corner of campus, where she has mentored generations of instructors and partnered with various departments to embed high-impact, evidence-based practices into the UWM curriculum.

Connie’s impact extended well beyond the boundaries of our campus as a recognized consultant, speaker, and scholar. Her 2011 book, Coming in from the Margins, helped redefine the strategic role of teaching centers in higher education transformation, while her leadership within the POD Network earned her the prestigious Robert Menges Award on two separate occasions. At UWM, she was instrumental in leading signature professional development programs, including the creation of the Course Design Institute, Educators’ Institute, multiple certificate programs, and heralding the Active Learning Classroom Initiative on campus, leaving behind valuable institutional infrastructure that will benefit the university for years to come.

What truly distinguishes Connie is the combination of professional depth and personal warmth she brought to her work every day. Whether spearheading campus-wide initiatives or providing thoughtful one-on-one consultations, she has always remained a steadfast advocate for faculty and student engagement. Her colleagues at CASL and throughout the university will remember her tireless work ethic and the mentorship she has extended to everyone she encountered. As Connie moves into this next chapter, we celebrate a legacy of service that fundamentally improved the learning experiences of countless students and wish her the very best in her retirement.

Event Location

Engelmann Hall (ENG) B73
2033 E. Hartford Ave.
Milwaukee, 53211
United States

Registration Form