Alumni
After graduation, most of our alumni live and work in Wisconsin. Whether you graduated recently or long ago, you’re an important member of the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare community.
Stay Connected
Keep in touch! Follow us on social media to learn about news and upcoming events.
There are many opportunities to continue your involvement with the school. Each fall, the school raises money for student scholarships at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Prowl. We invite you to join our school’s Panther Prowl team the HBSSW Asphalt Kickers and enjoy time back on campus while networking with alumni.
As an alum, we encourage you to join us at informal gatherings throughout the year. Professional development classes and graduate certificate programs also present opportunities for you to keep learning.
Social Welfare Honorary Doctor of Philosophy Recipients
JoAnne Anton
JoAnne Anton is a longstanding community leader with an unwavering dedication to public service. The president and CEO of Herb Kohl Philanthropies, she has led significant efforts to improve education in Wisconsin.
Anton’s career has shaped prominent organizations across Wisconsin. She was central to the startup of Governor Evers’ leadership team and has held public service positions including state director for US Senator Herb Kohl, and special assistant to former Milwaukee Mayor John Norquist.
Anton currently serves on several boards, including the Greater Milwaukee Committee, First Federal Bank of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin State Fair Park Foundation, and Milwaukee World Festivals Inc. She is a past President of Downtown Milwaukee Rotary and a member of Professional Dimensions.
Anton holds a master’s degree in criminal justice from UWM.
Jeffrey Norman
UW-Milwaukee alumnus (BS ’96) and Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) Chief Jeffrey Norman received the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award from the UWM Alumni Association on Feb. 24, 2023. The award honors mid-career UWM graduates who have had a significant impact on their professions.
Jeffrey Norman joined the Milwaukee Police Department in 1996, rising in the ranks to become chief in 2021. Since graduating from UWM with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, Norman earned a law degree from Marquette University Law School and a Master of Public Administration from Kaplan University. He was selected for leadership training with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston University and the University of Louisville. He serves on the board for Wisconsin Community Services, a nonprofit that helps those entrenched in the criminal justice system build skills to better themselves.
Noble Wray
Originally from Milwaukee, Noble Wray graduated from UWM in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He went on to serve on the Madison Police Department for nearly 30 years, rising in the ranks from patrol officer to chief. A nationally recognized consultant for law enforcement organizations, he has lent his expertise to cities like Ferguson, Baltimore and New York. He presents around the country on topics like implicit bias, Blue Courage and procedural justice.
Wray has served in leadership roles at the national, state and local levels. In 2015, Wray was asked by the U.S. Department of Justice to help lead an initiative to implement President Obama’s 21st Century Policing recommendations. In 2019, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers appointed Wray to serve on the Governor’s Pardon Advisory Board, and in 2007, Wisconsin Gov. James Doyle invited him to co-chair the State Commission on Reducing Racial Disparity in the Criminal Justice System. He also served as president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Madison in 2014. Wray has received numerous awards, including the UWM Helen Bader School of Social Welfare’s Alumnus of the Year in 2011. – UWM Report
See What Our Alumni Are Doing Now
