UWM will honor employees who have served the university over the years at the annual Length of Service awards ceremony Dec. 9 at noon. This year’s event, like many other celebrations during the pandemic, will be virtual, but organizers say it will also be as fun and casual as in previous years. Friends and colleagues are invited to share in the celebration via Microsoft Teams. The ceremony will also be available for viewing later at the same link.
Co-presenters this year are: Chancellor Mark Mone; Jen Murray of the LGBTQ+ Resource Center; Kelby Spann, director of student services in the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare; Provost Johannes Britz; and Robin Van Harpen, vice chancellor for finance and administrative affairs.
Among others, this year’s ceremony will honor more than 20 people who have been working for UWM for 35 to 45 years. They’ve shared some memories that will be highlighted at the event.
Without spoiling the fun of their stories in advance of the Dec. 9 celebration, a few of other employees who’ve been here almost as long – 25 to 30 years – shared their favorite memories for this article.
In addition to being one of the presenters, Kelby Spann will himself be celebrating 25 years at UWM. One of his favorite memories is of the university’s open houses.
“The UWM Open House was an opportunity for all departments to get together in the Union for a two-day long event to share the creativity and uniqueness of their departments, Spann said. “The end result was always beautiful and exciting to see. Visitors also shared in that enthusiasm.”
Donna Boxhorn, University Services program associate in Shared Services, is celebrating 30 years working at UWM. Before she started working at the university, she was a student in music therapy and went on to get a degree in Russian language and literature. Boxhorn has many memories of activities she has been involved in through UWM, including participation in the UWM community orchestra. The orchestra performance that deserves honorable, even reverent, attention is the program that included some Edvard Grieg. The cello section was very anxious about a particularly challenging passage. At the final rehearsal, hearing the section fall apart yet again, the director said that those who were nervous should play air cello. Boxhorn’s husband, sitting in the audience, told her later that the audience watched with fascination as every cellist carefully played the exposed passage – in silence.
Brenda Dugan, executive assistant to College of General Studies Dean Simon Bronner, spent most of her 30 years at what was the UW-Waukesha campus, which became part of UWM a few years ago. She started part-time in 1990 at the Department of Continuing Education when her children were small, and took on an additional part-time job in 1997 working for the associate dean. She eventually became executive assistant to the dean of the college UW-Waukesha became UWM at Waukesha.
“UWM at Waukesha is my second home, and the people I work with are like family. I can honestly say that’s the best part of working here – and that I learn something new each day,” Dugan said.
James Peoples, professor of economics, thinks about his students when asked about good memories.
“Some of my most fond memories during my 30-year tenure involve my association with our students,” he said. “I’ve had the privilege to observe the development of so many young adults who have matriculated through UWM to become leaders and contributors to the enhancement of societal welfare.” And he is thankful for “the gift of the UWM childcare center. Their dedication and the assistance in rearing my son has been invaluable, and has enriched my experience as a member of the UWM community.”
Timothy Ehlinger is associate professor of nursing and William Collins Kohler Chair in Systems Change and Peacebuilding. Like many people, he remembers one special moment in UWM athletic history – “the excitement and celebrations on campus during the UWM Panthers’ journey through the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2005.” Ehlinger came to UWM 30 years ago for the opportunity to be part of the Center for Great Lakes Studies, which evolved into the School of Freshwater Sciences. “I am a Wisconsin native, and it was a fabulous opportunity both personally and professionally.”
His mother, Margaret Otradovec, who’d graduated from what was then Milwaukee State Teachers College in 1936, walked him through the halls, showing him the rooms where she’d taken classes. It is a somewhat bittersweet memory, he added, because back then women who went into teaching had their contracts voided when they got married. His mom taught for four years, then devoted her teaching skills to raising a family.”My mom was the most intelligent person I’ve ever known, and would have been a great professor at UWM.”
DeAnn Huinker’s favorite memories over the years are related to projects she’s directed with classroom and mathematics teachers to help improve their effectiveness in mathmatics teaching and learning. Huinker is a professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning in the School of Education and director of the Center for Mathematics and Science Education Research.
“I choose to work at UWM because of its focus on urban education, the strong partnerships with area school districts, support for research and projects, and that it was a doctoral granting institution,” she said.
Dietmar Wolfram, senior associate dean and professor in the School of Information Studies, remembers the many students and visitors from abroad he has met during his 30 years at UWM.
“My fondest memories are of the international student and visiting scholar exchanges in which SOIS has participated. These opportunities have enriched our learning and research community and have resulted in long-lasting friendships with colleagues and graduates around the world.”
A list of the Length of Service recipients being honored is posted online.
A Zoom link to a real-time interpreter is available by contacting Amy Hogle at hogle@uwm.edu.
During the livestream ceremony, viewers are encouraged to participate in the ceremony by congratulating and cheering for their colleagues via the Teams Q&A feature.
