Miri Yoon is an international student from South Korea whose work focuses on a public health nursing project to investigate the possible side effects of e-cigarette usage among young people. Yoon has been surveying the youth of Milwaukee and students of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to obtain her data.
Third-year student Noah Wolfe is one of six undergraduate researchers in the School of Education's Cognitive Research Group. Working alongside Chris Lawson, developmental psychologist and associate professor of education, Wolfe administers a fun flash-card-based test to kids ages 3-8. The tests are designed to be brief, pleasant and insightful, providing a window into how children learn information in one context and then apply that knowledge to new questions in a different context.
Michael Esson is a senior working with Krista Lisdahl, associate professor of psychology, on “Aerobic Fitness and Cognitive Functioning in Adolescents and Young Adults,” part of an NIH/NIDA-funded five-year adolescent brain and cognitive development study. In addition, Esson is a part of the ABCD Study (Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development) in which he interviews children, gives them games and puzzles that will assess their cognitive function and does a magnetic resonance imaging session to obtain a clear picture of the child’s brain.
As a high school student, Kari Berna interned at UWM’s foundry to study metal casting processes. Now a sophomore in materials science and engineering, she’s working with research associate Benjamin Schultz to invent a new material that could be used to 3D-print molds for bone scaffolds, which help patients regrow damaged bones. The material would allow doctors to easily customize scaffolds to suit individual patients’ needs.
Nancy Duque, a junior geosciences major, is analyzing how fluids affect rocks through extreme heat given off from the close proximity to the Earth’s crust and clashing tectonic plates. The rocks are part of the sample that Dyanna Czeck, associate professor of geosciences, brought back from her research trip to southern Spain.
Liam Brodie, a junior in mechanical engineering, tests nitrite levels in water that may be unnaturally high due to coal burning. High levels of nitrite can kill fish, harming Lake Michigan’s ecosystem. Brodie works with a team on UWM’s research vessel, the Neeskay, to collect samples from various locations in Lake Michigan.
Jennifer Wendlick, a junior in biological sciences, researches the process of cell development in the brains of embryonic zebrafish. Altering zebrafish DNA makeup during early growth stages allows Wendlick to relate her findings to the development of human brain diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, to her studies.
"Our students are at an impressionable age and…with that comes responsibility, especially when teaching sensitive subjects that involve issues like political philosophy or ethics. We need to take special care to present the subject matter in a scholarly way rather than in a way that represents our own values."
Tait Szabo, associate professor of philosophy, College of General Studies, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee at Washington County
"We have professional and legal standards we have to meet when it comes to posting the agenda and the public meeting notices. Our budget is transparent and easily accessible. I think that it’s important in rebuilding trust the student association lost a few years ago."
Alyssa Molinski, president UWM Student Association
"I would say that for me ethical behavior is providing the best support I can and making the right decision, given the IT guidelines I have to adhere to."
Emmitt B. Houston III, client services liaison, Campus Technology Support
"We serve a very diverse group of Latino students and families at the Roberto Hernandez Center, including undocumented and DACA students. We constantly tell them, ‘Don’t for one minute think you don’t belong here. You were admitted based on your academic achievements, hard work and the uniqueness you bring to this campus. You are wanted here.’ It’s very important that we say those words. For me it’s the right thing to do. It’s part of the ethical and moral values of our office and this university."
Alberto Maldonado, interim director of the Roberto Hernández Center
"I think that with the landscape of Division 1 athletics right now, it’s extremely important that I’m consistent with my athletes about what our ethical values are and how we will handle ourselves – in good and bad situations."
Kyle Rechlicz, head coach of the UWM Panthers women’s basketball team
"To put on our activities, I have to be super aware of accountability and responsibility so that what I’m planning and doing is positively impacting our campus as well as UWM’s main campus and the Washington County campus."
Catelyn Picco, sophomore at UWM at Waukesha County, president of the activities coordination team
"We have three stakeholder groups – the university, the vendor community at large and the taxpayers. Sometimes their priorities compete, but we have a responsibility to treat all fairly, and work openly and transparently in the best interests of all three parties."
Tom Scrivener, director of procurement
"What I try to do with the work that I do -- and how I teach technology and ethics to our students -- is to recognize how the technologies that they’re building might impact people’s lives."
Michael Zimmer, associate professor of information studies, director of the Center for Information Policy Research
"When it comes to decision making and policy, it's important for students to not only be in these conversations, but to be welcome in them…to feel that they have a voice and that voice matters. Just knowing there are people at the university who want us in the conversation helps build a sense of community and belonging."
Emily Kuester, UW-Milwaukee senior, president of Student Association at UWM
"Chancellor Mone has made it his practice to regularly visit and update governance groups, faculty, academic staff, students, as well as the University Staff Council. This is kind of unusual - other UW campus staff councils report occasional, not regular, meetings with the campus leadership."
Stan Yasaitis, UW-Milwaukee Admissions and Recruitment, chair of the University Staff Advisory Council
"I think inclusiveness and transparency are important because we're faced with complex issues, and in order to critically solve and analyze those complex issues we need to collaborate. I think the integration process (between UW-Waukesha and UW-Milwaukee) seems to be well organized and inclusive, which is great. I think I can speak on behalf of a lot of folks here, we felt very included."
Julianna Alitto, UW-Waukesha associate professor, senator in the UW Colleges Faculty Senate
"Transparency is open lines of communication and sharing of information and really listening to a variety of voices to help move this campus forward. I really love getting to work with people from all across campus and be a champion for my colleagues."
Susan Cashin, UW-Milwaukee clinical professor, chair of the Academic Staff Committee
"In any organization, but especially in academics, it's important to be as transparent as possible so people know the rationale behind actions even if they don't agree with the final decision. I think Chancellor Mone is very good at that. He tries to include as many voices as possible."
Kristian O'Connor, UW-Milwaukee professor; chair of University Committee, which is the executive committee of the Faculty Senate
"To me, transparency and inclusiveness mean everybody is working together, and there are no secrets. With the restructuring, it's very important that UW-Washington County, UW-Waukesha and UWM are willing to work together. The restructuring is truly showing us the importance of shared governance because we need to come up with solutions that all three schools can agree on."
Katelyn Van Raden, sophomore in business management, president of the UW-Washington County Student Government Association