Chancellor Mark Mone hosted a Thankful Thursday event in the UWM Student Union Gasthaus recently, where employees gathered to enjoy each other’s company and complimentary refreshments. More than 100 faculty and staff members attended.
In his remarks, Mone expressed his gratitude for the faculty and staff, and he congratulated all on UWM receiving, for the fourth time in a row, the highest research status (R1) from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
In addition to recognizing this achievement, Mone also reflected on what he was grateful for, noting UWM’s exceptional employees.
“There’s a reason why I’ve stayed in my role for 11 years,” said Mone, who is stepping down as chancellor and returning to a faculty position in the Lubar College of Business on July 1. “It’s hard to leave a job you love, especially when you’re working with so many great people. Thank you again for all you do. You’re amazing.”
While registering for the event, attendees were given the opportunity to share what they were thankful for, and the overwhelming majority said they appreciated their coworkers.
One person wrote: “I’m thankful for truly supportive and encouraging colleagues. We’re all in this together, and I don’t know what I would do without the generosity and understanding of the people I work with. I’m thankful that we work at an institution who values its employees.”
Several others said they appreciated their students. One noted, “I am thankful for the amazing students whose excitement, creativity and engagement in their learning is so uplifting and exciting for those of us in academia.”
And many expressed gratitude for the meaningful work they do. “I am thankful for the mission of UWM, its success in helping students afford college, creating wonderful experiences through curriculum and programming, and its transformational effect on student lives,” Advancement Director Jean Opitz said.
During the event, attendees were asked to make predictions on how many lemon drops were in a jar. Two winners – one from the Lubar College of Business and one from the UWM Police Department – came the closest to the official count of 433. The winners each received a plush Pounce keychain.
