News

Editor’s note: The following message was distributed on the UW-W internal announcements page.

UW-Whitewater is proud to announce the recipients of the 2022 University-wide Awards. Please join us in congratulating these individuals on their well-deserved recognition. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to your respective units and our university!

University Staff Excellence Awards

Ann Dudzek, business manager, University Health and Counseling Services
Elizabeth Lamb, department assistant, Languages and Literatures
Paul Walton, power plant superintendent, Facilities Planning and Management

Faculty and Academic Staff Awardees

Roseman Excellence in Teaching
Jon Werner, professor, Management

Outstanding Research
Kristen Prock, assistant professor, Social Work

Everett and Ellen Long Award for the Advancement of General Education
John Frye, associate professor, Geography, Geology and Environmental Sciences

Faculty Service
Pilar Melero, professor, Languages and Literatures

University Faculty/Staff Academic Advising
Yao Fu, assistant professor, Curriculum and Instruction

Excellence for Instructional Academic Staff
Nadine Kriska, lecturer, Biology

Excellence for Academic Staff
Aaron Axelsen, teaching, learning and technology specialist, ICIT

Read more about the faculty and academic staff awardees and nominees >>

Chancellor’s Award for Disability Concerns

Bakhtear Talukdar, assistant professor, Finance and Business Law
Zac Gholston, housing coordinator, University Housing

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by Roberta’s Art Gallery at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

All are invite to dive deeper into their own psyche: soul, mind, and spirit, at Roberta’s Art Gallery, in the “PSYCHE” exhibit by Liala Amin, running through May 4 – May 27. Amin’s pieces in the exhibit consist of paintings of intricate details, exploring themes of personal identity, spirituality, and femininity.

Amin graduated from the Peck School of the Arts at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee with her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fibers, and is currently back in school pursuing her Bachelor of Arts in Art Therapy at Alverno College. Amin is experienced in multiple disciplines of art: mixed media paintings, drawings, and textiles, with painting being her preferred medium. Amin is fascinated and pulls inspiration from female Surrealist artists, and the concept of Surrealist autonomism: a method of curation where the artist allows the unconscious mind to take the lead in the creative process.

Amin’s “PSYCHE” exhibit features work done by using mixed media, with most of her pieces consisting of watercolor and acrylic paint to fuel the creative process. Most pieces in the exhibit feature a face, a silhouette, or other figures, surrounded by different beautiful watercolor strokes, challenging the viewer to investigate their own psyche.

To learn more about Amin, her art, and experiences, visit her website.

Roberta’s Art Gallery is located on the first floor of the James R. Connor University Center (UC) at UW-Whitewater. The gallery hosts multiple exhibits each semester by collaborating with the artists–both locally and regionally. Many of our events will be held in person this semester, with the option of a virtual exhibit. Our hours in semester are Monday – Thursday 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and Friday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., with our summer hours beginning the week of May 16, Monday – Friday 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Roberta’s Art Gallery prides itself on all of their exhibits being free and open to the public. This means anyone: whether you’re a student, a Whitewater community member, or someone wanting to support the artist, please stop by. For questions or further information, contact Roberta’s Art Gallery at (262) 472-3193 or ucart@uww.edu or visit our website.

Editor’s Note: The following was provided by Christine Hayes.

WUSD is thrilled to announce that the fifth grade choir students from Lakeview, Lincoln and Washington Elementary Schools will combine to perform their Spring Concert on Tuesday, May 17, at 7:00 p.m.  The concert is at the Whitewater High School Auditorium and is open to the public, free of charge.  

Selections include “La Vida”; “Music Alone Shall Live”; the spiritual, “Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel”; the Japanese children’s song “Hotaru Koi”; and two songs based on Robert Louis Stevenson’s poems from “A Child’s Garden of Verses,” The Moon and Pirate Story, entitled “Two Stevenson Settings.”  Conductors are Christine Hayes, Justin Kamp, and Val Troxel.  Accompanist for the choir is Lori Heidenreich. 

Artanya Wesley, vice chancellor for student affairs, announces the appointment of Frank Bartlett as the next assistant vice chancellor at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

“I am pleased that Frank Bartlett has accepted the position of assistant vice chancellor for student affairs. Frank has demonstrated a strong commitment to serving as a leader within the Division of Student Affairs. He brings great institutional knowledge to the position as well as fiscal management and projection skills. He is always looking for ways to partner and collaborate with campus constituency groups to serve students and ensure their success on campus. He understands system and campus policies and keeps compliance as a top priority. I look forward to working with Frank as we serve the students, the Division of Student Affairs and the institution.”

Since July of 2021, Bartlett has served in the critical leadership role of interim assistant vice chancellor for student affairs in addition to his permanent duties as executive director of university housing. As interim assistant vice chancellor for student affairs, he has provided senior level administrative leadership, strategic planning, vision and direct supervision of University Housing, University Bookstore and Textbook Rental, and the University Center and UW-Whitewater Dining Services. 

Bartlett will assume the new role on July 1.

After serving as assistant director of residence life for facilities and custodial services at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Bartlett came to UW-Whitewater in 2000 and served as associate director of residence life until 2008, interim executive director from 2008 to 2010, and was appointed as the permanent executive director of university housing in 2010. For nearly 22 years, Bartlett has provided leadership to University Housing, a department of over 60 professional staff, more than 300 student employees, and a budget of approximately $17.4 million. Bartlett has overseen largescale projects such as the planning and construction of Ma’iingan Hall, Pulliam Hall (previously Starin Hall), the Arey/Fricker renovation and others, as well as successfully led the department and assisted guiding the division through the difficulties and revenue losses related to COVID-19. He earned bachelor’s degrees in history and finance and a master’s degree in higher education administration.  

“I would like to express my appreciation to Kristin Fillhouer and Dale Pinzino for their leadership of the search as well as Erica Johnson for support throughout the process,” Wesley said. “Also, I would like to extend my gratitude to each search committee member for their time and commitment to the process.”

It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society!

This week, we begin a set of three photos that are related to the Open House at the Depot Museum on May 22, 1:00-4:00. The Open House is a celebration of the completion of the permanent Whitewater History Gallery that features eight history exhibits. This week’s photo is related to the exhibit “Commercial-Agricultural Era, 1900-1945.” An important industry in this era was the Whitewater Condensery, later the Hawthorn-Mellody Milk Plant, established in 1913. The photo shown here was probably taken around that time. Note the horse-drawn wagons lined up to drop off milk cans at the condensery.

Please join us on May 22 or come to the museum beginning in June when we will begin our summer hours to see more of this exhibit and a special attraction, Don West’s c.1900 model of the Whitewater rail yard in the temporary gallery.

Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society collections.

(3110P, Whitewater Historical Society)

By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

Kohl’s at Uptown Janesville (formerly the Janesville Mall) reopened on May 2 after having been evacuated on April 1 due to a fire that started in the bedding department. The police department concluded that the fire was set intentionally, with three juvenile suspects being arrested for arson and recklessly endangering safety. The suspects are a 17-year-old female, a 15 year old male, and an 11-year-old male, all Janesville residents.

A large portion of the store’s inventory was destroyed by smoke, or by water from the fire sprinklers or from firefighters. Removal and replacement of merchandise as well as repair of the building kept the retailer closed until it finally reopened on May 2. Regular hours have resumed: Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. – 9 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Mall hours, however, are Monday – Saturday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. A “youth escort policy” is in effect at all times for the mall, requiring persons 17 years of age or younger to be accompanied by a parent or guardian 18 years or older.

By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

According to a post on the Purdy Elementary School Facebook page, Mary Kilar will become principal of that school in Fort Atkinson effective with the 2022-23 school year. Kilar has served as principal of Lincoln Elementary School since 2014. In 2021 she was among 16 statewide winners of the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Principal Leadership Award. The current Purdy principal, Leigh Ann Scheuerell, was recently named the new principal of Fort Atkinson High School effective July 1.

Per the Facebook post, Kilar stated, “It is with great excitement and honor that I become the next Principal of Purdy Elementary. From the minute I met the team at Fort Atkinson, I could feel the pride they have in both the culture of community and excellent learning environment created here. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity, look forward to the connections I will be making, and can’t wait to grow and learn among the wonderful staff, students, and families. I was drawn to the mission and vision of Fort Atkinson School District, cultivating an inclusive high-performing culture of growth and community, and can’t wait to be part of it!”