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For more information contact mark.a.kinders@uwrf.edu or brenda.k.bredahl@uwrf.edu.

UWRF Employees Honored for Service, Retirements

MAY 25, 2007--While late spring is the time for University of Wisconsin River Falls graduates to commence new careers and educational plans, it's also the time when the university recognizes retiring faculty and staff and years of service milestones.

The University held the annual All-Campus Service and Retirement Luncheon in early May and acknowledged the service of retirees and those celebrating 10, 20, 25 and 30 year anniversaries with the UW System.

2006-07 Retirements:

Robert W. Baker has served on Faculty Senate as both the chair and a member for more than 15 years. He retires after 30 years of service as associate dean for the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES), and professor of geology. Baker holds a bachelor of science from Florida State University, an M.S. from the University of Maine, and a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. Before coming to UWRF in 1977, he was an assistant professor at LaFayette College in Easton, Penn. Baker's distinguished career in the sciences includes being named a fellow of the Geological Society of America, serving as past president of the National Association of Geoscience Education, and inducted as a member of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest, largest and most selective honor society for all academic disciplines. He was also named a Distinguished Faculty Member by CAFES.

Marlena Bischoff started working for the UW System in 1983 in the university stores and business services. She has also worked at the Department of Corrections from 1989 to 2001. She served the UWRF campus from 2001 to 2007 as a University Services Associate in the financial assistance department.

James Brantner has worked on campus since 1996 as a groundskeeper in the facilities management department.

Michael Drost joined the UWRF music department in 1980. Retiring as a senior lecturer at UWRF, he operates Three River Piano Service in River Falls.  

Charlotte Hamilton transferred from UW-Stout to UWRF in 1997.  She worked in the Dean's Office for the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences until her retirement in July 2006.  She began her service with the state of Wisconsin in 1979 working with junior high school students in the Ladysmith-Hawkins School District. In1986 she worked for Social Services of Rusk County. In 1988, she transferred to UW-Stout.   

Director of Facilities Management Waldo Hagen retires from a 24-year career at UWRF. After serving in the U.S. Army from 1967 to 1969, Hagen double-majored in computer science and finance for his undergraduate degree from UWRF. He also received an M.B.A. from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. During his educational career, Hagen was selected as a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, the international business honorary society and named a Bush Leadership Fellow in 1988. He received the Wisconsin Association of Physical Plant Administrators Associate of the Year in 1997. He is a lifetime member of the 11 th Armored Cavalry Veterans of Vietnam and Cambodia. While UW-River Falls, Hagen was involved with more than $150 million worth of campus construction, including the Wyman Education Building, the Child Care Center, South Fork Suites, the remodeling of the Hunt/Knowles Complex, and most recently, the University Center as well as numerous other projects large and small.

Jean V.L. Hector Faley retires with 30 years of service as a sociology and anthropology professor at UWRF. She holds a B.A. and M.A. from Ohio University and a Ph.D. from Wayne State University. She is the author of "Up Oor Close," about domestic life in the Glasglow, Scotland tenements from 1910 to 1945.

Anthony Jilek was named the 2007 Outstanding Teacher in CAFES. He joined UWRF Animal and Food Science Department in 1981.  Besides instructing several animal science related classes including genetics, biometrics, and animal breeding, he has served as academic advisor to undergraduates in the animal science department as well as advisor for Alpha Zeta and the UWRF Rodeo Club.  Jilek is a member of the American Society of Animal Science, Kappa Delta Pi, Alpha Zeta, and belongs to the Wisconsin-Nicaragua partners. He initiated Academic Quadrathlon at UWRF and established the Mexico: A Cultural Experience course.

Pamela Katzman joined UWRF in 1992 as an assistant professor in mathematics and was named an associate professor in 1998. She has presented at numerous professional conferences including the Minnesota Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and the American Mathematical Society. Her research has focused on the use of CAS Systems and Java Applets in Calculus I. Katzman has served in numerous service roles on and off campus including membership on the Faculty Senate Calendar Committee and arranging for private math tutors for K-12 students in the River Falls area.

Michael Keenan is as well known for his work as chair with the River Falls Parks and Recreation Board and member of the city's Plan Commission as he is as cofounder and former director of the renowned biotechnology program at UWRF. Keenan received his undergraduate education from Haverford College in Haverford, Penn., and his Ph.D. from Tulane University. He was also a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Florida from 1972 to 1974. He came to UWRF in 1974 as an assistant professor. He has served as chair of the chemistry department, and was a member of the group of faculty members who helped UWRF become a UW System Center for Excellence in Chemistry and Physics. Keenan was a Wisconsin Idea Fellow in 2004, and has served as advisor to the Chemistry Club and the Biotechnology Club. He has helped to establish an undergraduate student research, assisted start-up biotechnology companies in Western Wisconsin, and worked with economic development tech zone initiatives.

Mark Kimball is an alumnus of the agriculture program at UWRF. He accepted a position to manage the campus greenhouse and nursery in 1972 for the plant and earth science department. In 1991, he took a position in risk management, hazardous waste management, and capital inventory in the general services department. Kimball earned Hazardous Materials Manager certification in 1996, and the National Safety Council awarded Kimball a certificate in safety in 1999. Kimball's position transferred to the Public Safety office where he became the safety investigator for risk management, occupational safety, hazardous waste management and worker's compensation. Kimball took on the job of interim director of Public Safety in March 2005, and remained until the current director, Dick Trende, was hired.

Judith Mikunda joined UWRF In 1989 and has worked most recently in the counseling and school psychology and teacher education departments. She has also worked in the dean's office of the College of Arts and Sciences as well as the music department. She enjoyed working with teachers-in-training as well as the student and faculty musicians over the years. Mikunda was often behind the scenes coordinating the concerts in the Abbott Concert Hall and other public venues on campus.

Charles Nelson joined UWRF in 1996 and has worked as a custodian for student services and programs for 11 years.

Barbara Shank retired as a financial specialist in the accounts payable department. Joining UWRF In 1975, Shank also has worked in the art department, cashier's office, and accounts receivable department. During her more than 30 years on campus she's experienced the rapid technological changes the campus has gone through.

Terry Willson joined UWRF in 1976 as the director of Crabtree Hall. He also has been the assistant director of Residence Life and the associate and co- director of the Leadership Center.  Willson has served many campus committees including Academic Staff Council and was part of the team that designed and opened the South Fork Suites and the University Center.

Joyce Wynveen worked into the Dean's Office in the College of Arts and Sciences for 18 years and, since 2000, in the Field Experience Office for the College of Education and Professional Studies. Wynveen has worked with many campus administrators and students over the years.

Years of Service Awards

Those marking 30 years of service include: Robert Baker, plant and earth science; Steven Carlson, plant and earth science; James Engebretson, art; Philip George, academic success center; Jens Gunelson, University Communications; Suzanne Hagen, speech communication and theatre arts; Vicki Hajewski, student services and programs/equity and affirmative action; Peter Johansson, modern language; Sheue Keenan, chemistry; Joel Morrow, student services and programs; Julia Persico, outreach and graduate studies; James Pratt, speech communication and theater arts; Purnendu Vasavada, animal and food science; Paul Stratton, student services and programs.

Those celebrating 25 years of service include: Gayle Dodge, agricultural economics; Joyce Kapszukiewicz, mathematics; Robert Karras, student services and programs; Jane Lubich, cashier's office; Lewis May, animal and food science; David Rainville, chemistry; Jeffrey Rosenthal, chemistry; David Rusterholz, chemistry; Steve Watters, animal and food science; Ian Williams, plant and earth science.

Those marking 20 years of service include: Daniel Asp, facilities management; Marilyn Cossette Baker, Chalmer Davee Library; Robert Coffman, mathematics; David Furniss, English; Larry Harred, English; Monika Johansson, modern language; Angela Kaiser, teacher education; Annette Klemp, English; Daniel Linwick, psychology; Jean Lundholm, counseling and school psychology; Robin Murray, speech communication and theatre arts; Reza Rahgozar, speech communication and theatre arts; Barbara Rebhuhn, psychology; Richard Seefeldt, psychology; Ann Schwebach, university advancement.

The following individuals completed 15 year of service: Jacklyn Bennett, student services and programs; Gary Cottrell, communicative disorders; Bernice Ficek-Swenson, art; Patricia Ford, athletics/health and human performance; Brad Gee, library; Brian Huffman, business administration; Kristine Jones, facilities management; Michael Kahlow, chemistry; Pamela Katzman, mathematics; Valerie Malzacher, library; Brad Mogen, biology; Kim Mogen, biology; Patricia Radle, College of Education and Professional Studies/social work; Eric Sanden, plant and earth science; Bonnie Walters, animal and food science.

Marking a decade of service includes the following employees: Marlys Carsten, student services and programs; Wes Chapin, political science; Sandra Ellis, journalism; Sandra Haines, facilities management; Keith Hansen, facilities management; Gregg Heinselman, student services and programs; Kerry Keen, plant and earth science; Claire Kilian, business administration; Laurel Langford, mathematics; Mark Lambert, facilities management; Michael Martin, College of Education and Professional Studies; Deborah Meyer, central stories/postal services; Jill Moe, Upward Bound; Kathleen Olsen, speech communication and theatre arts; Dean Olson, agricultural engineering technology; Gary Onan, animal and food science; Karen Ryan, Educational Technology Center; Jason Winget, student services and programs; Steven Wodarz, facilities management.

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Last updated: Thursday, 22-Apr-2010 16:08:19 CDT