Reuben Harpole (BS Education `78, Honorary PhD of Humane Letters `05) is highly respected in Milwaukee for his unparalleled contributions as mentor to countless inner city youth and their families.

Reuben and his wife, Mildred, have dedicated themselves to the advancement of teaching and learning in the Milwaukee community for more than 50 years. Those decades have seen Harpole contribute to the founding of more than 25 community centers and programs that promote education as the ultimate equalizer among young people. Among them are Milwaukee Public Schools’ Homework First program, the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center, 100 Black Men of Greater Milwaukee and Bader Philanthropies’ Community Partnerships for Youth, which has invested $15 million to date and counts Harpole as its primary architect. Since 2007, the Reuben J. Harpole Jr. Education Scholarship at UWM has invested $19,000 in the college education of young black men interested in teaching.

The UWM Alumni Association honored Reuben with its Community Service Award in 2016.

If you would like to help fund Community Engagement, please visit the Give to UWM webpage.

Or contact Carol Wacker at (414) 229-3080 or wackerc@uwm.edu to explore opportunities to support students, ensure research excellence and enable ongoing collaborations with community schools and organizations.