UWM Wisconsin Women in Higher Education Leadership

Diana Borders is the Assistant Director of Business Services for the Office of Charter Schools located in the School of Education. Diana provides specialized services associated in managing all contract compliance reporting of the 15 charter schools under the authorization of UW-Milwaukee. She manages and coordinates the internal operations for the Office including financial reporting, and fiscal policy activities that ensure regulatory conformity with the Federal Government, the Department of Public Instruction, UW-Systems and other governing entities. Prior to her work in the office, she managed several grants and initiatives at UWM.

Diana is committed to sharing her expertise to support initiatives that benefit and improve the overall campus environment. She served a three-year term as the Academic Staff Senator representing the School of Education. Recently reelected, Diana will continue to serve as a co-chair of the African Diaspora Council (ADC), an employee resource group at UWM. Diana passionately believes in the mission of ADC to promote and enhance a sense of community and equity on campus, develop professional and educational opportunities, provide senior level students with scholarships, and support the communities where members live and work by providing forums for discussion of issues and ideas to generate actions

Kate L Ganski is Assistant Director of Libraries for User Services and began her tenure at UWM in 2007. Kate has served on various Academic Staff committees and has found university service to be a great way to advocate and recognize her colleagues.

Angela Kelber is the Associate Director of the Department of Continuing Education and Professional Development at UWM’s School of Continuing Education, overseeing the Business, Engineering, Health and Human Services, Languages, Nonprofit, College for Kids, PK-12, and Customized Training programs. Angela previously worked as director of the Community and Professional Development department and program manager for Trauma and Human Services. She has years of professional experience in business, career services, marketing, training, and project management for large universities in the U.S. and Brazil. She has served on several boards, primarily for organizations focusing on adult education, marketing, and career transitions. Since May of 2022, Angela has been an active board member of the Wisconsin Women in Higher Education (WWHEL-UWM-Chapter)

Angela is a Master Trainer professional through UWM’s School of Continuing Education. Angela holds a master’s degree in Marketing from Sao Paulo, Brazil. She earned her second master’s degree at UWM in Adult and Continuing Education Leadership. Angela also earned a graduate certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education through the Administrative Leadership department at UWM.

Kathy Litzau, Senior Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator, oversees academic support services, sports medicine and strength and conditioning.  She oversees the departments strategic planning process and also serves as the sport administrator for men’s soccer, women’s basketball and swimming and diving.  Along with serving on WWHEL, she also serves on the Student Affairs Alignment & Action Team, Community Support and Impact Group, and conference committees:  Horizon League Board of Directors, Executive Council and chair of Senior Woman Administrators.

“A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be.” -Rosalynn Carter

Liza Longhini joined the UWM School of Continuing Education (SCE) in 2005 and currently serves a dual role as the Director of Development for the school and a Customized Training Consultant. In this latter role, she partners with organizations to explore their educational needs and designs custom programs to meet the changing demands of today’s workforce. Liza specializes in delivering courses with dynamic instructors and curricula, enabling businesses and their employees to stay current in the marketplace.

Along with recently joining WWHEL, Liza is a founding board member of the We Care Fund at the Medical College of Wisconsin raising money for the Department of Surgery. She also sits on the advisory committees for Aurora’s School of Diagnostic Medical Sonography and Radiologic Technology, the UWM Women Leaders Conference, and UWM Trauma Conference.

Liza is a Wisconsin native but spent her formative years in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, a true Yooper at heart. She and Mark and their Springer Spaniel, Jerry, live in downtown Milwaukee and cherish spending time with family and friends.

Dr. Chia Youyee Vang is Vice Chancellor for Community Empowerment & Institutional Inclusivity and Professor of History at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She recently led the development and implementation of UW-Milwaukee’s Racial Justice and Equity Program which is required professional development for all employees. Her teaching and research interests include twentieth-century U.S. international history, the Cold War in Asia, Asian American history, Hmong history, refugee migration, and transnational and diasporic communities.

Dr. Vang has received numerous recognitions for scholarship excellence and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in higher education: Organization of American Historians Distinguished Lecturer (2022), Wisconsin Community Leadership Choice Award (Woman of Excellence, 2021), Office of Research/UWM Research Foundation Senior Faculty Award (2021), Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce Professional of the Year (2021), Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee Special Recognition Award-Disruptors, Changing the Power Dynamics (2021), UWM Foundation Research Excellence Award (2016), University of Wisconsin Board of Regents Diversity Award-Individual (2016), Wisconsin Women Making History (2015); and UW System Outstanding Woman of Color in Education Award (2014). 

Gail Dukes is a Benefits Specialist and Chair of the University Staff Senate. She has been at UWM for 16 years and is so excited to be a part of the WWHEL Steering Committee!! She looks forward to assisting with all the good work WWHEL has done in the past and being a part of all the new and exciting programs in the future!