Gayana Wanniarachchi was just starting her freshman year when she was chosen to do research with Bhagwant Sindhu, an associate professor in the Department of Occupational Science and Technology. They worked together for five years, studying the effectiveness of treatments in people with multiple mental health issues such as depression, fear and pain. Through her research, work as a peer health educator and involvement in the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Wanniarachchi gained a passion for advocating for people who need help. She also was accepted into her first-choice podiatry school and will study to be a podiatrist after receiving her degree in May. (UWM photo/Elora Hennessey)
Molly Scheibler (right) wanted to further her career as a children’s librarian with a master’s degree, but going back to school after 26 years was a difficult decision. It paid off. During her second semester in UWM’s School of Information Studies, she got a new, better job. Scheibler says teachers such as Catherine Hansen and Mary Wepking (pictured at left) helped her gain the confidence to not only get the job, but also to accelerate her process to graduation by working full-time with three classes. Scheibler says she’s proud of her work as children's librarian and her new Master of Library and Information Science degree. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)
Hannah Jost’s passion for engineering grew during an internship with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation in which she worked on bridges that were part of Milwaukee’s Zoo Interchange. She says Jian Zhao, an associate professor in civil engineering, pushed her to deepen her knowledge and helped guide her through her internship, classes and the transition into the work world. Her education and training led to multiple job offers, and she has accepted a full-time position with Michels Corp. as a field engineer in its tunneling division. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)
Daniel Zielinski is an aspiring sports journalist who covered hundreds of professional sporting events involving the Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers and Milwaukee Bucks while a Journalism, Advertising and Media Studies (JAMS) student at UWM. He interned for sports radio station WSSP-AM and has freelanced for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “Instructors like Jessica Marble made a significant impact on my journalism career, providing quality instruction and teaching me skills to become a well-rounded multimedia journalist,” he says. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)
Shannon McInnis says instructors like Alex Torinus (left) had a powerful influence on her as she was working on her degree in Film, Video, Animation & New Genres. Torinus is the adviser for “Reel Women,” a student organization that McInnis and four other students formed to discuss gender, race and ability disparities within the film industry and get practical experience in film production. McInnis says connections at UWM helped her network within the film community and gain an internship at SRH Marketing, where she will work full-time as a producer after graduation. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)
At the heart of every great university are great teachers and dedicated students. At UWM, teachers mentored and guided 26,000 students in 97 bachelor’s degree programs, 64 master’s degree programs, 33 doctoral degree programs during the 2016-’17 school year.
Here are a few of UWM’s 3,400 spring 2017 graduates and the faculty members who guided them.
