Karon Ohm: “Learning Is Making Mistakes”
SoHE’s 2019 Wisconsin Idea Alumni Award winner learns by doing—and she encourages others to do so, too.
Category Archives: Alumni
Rebecca Brown: Because of SoHE, “I Solve Problems in a More Holistic Way”
SoHE’s 2019 Early Career Alumni Award winner credits her SoHE Master’s degree with helping her serve clients better.
Dorothy O’Brien: “Appreciate SoHE’s Curious Community”
SoHE’s 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award honed her desire for learning at UW—and has applied that in her life ever since.
Linda Ahlers: SoHE Helped Me “See a Bigger World”
SoHE’s 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award winner rose through the retail ranks, spurred by her studies at UW–Madison.
Human Ecologist for Life: Bill Antonie
Bill Antonie (Consumer Science ’90) is the owner of The Curve in Madison, WI. “It’s all about relationships and how you treat people” Antonie grew up in the restaurant business and took over running The Curve from his parents after he graduated, then purchased the family business when his dad died in 1998. The Curve […]
Human Ecologist for Life: John Zeratsky
John Zeratsky (Family and Consumer Journalism ’05) is an Author and Technology Designer in Milwaukee, WI. “My work with SoHE is an opportunity” After he graduated in 2005, John Zeratsky cut his professional teeth as a technology designer at YouTube and Google, and eventually found his way to Google Ventures. It was there where he […]
Human Ecologist for Life: Sydney Sua
Sydney Sua (Textile and Apparel Design ’14) is a Content Strategist for Google in San Francisco, CA. “I want other students to have the experience I had” Sydney Sua’s journey from graduating with a degree in textile fashion to working with Google, is not one you hear often. It began with an internship that turned […]
Human Ecologist for Life: Carol Sapoznik
Carol Sapoznik (Interior Design ’69) is the Owner of Olive Connection in Brookline, MA. Sapoznik is also the recipient of the 2017 Human Ecology Distinguished Alumni Award. “I’m still learning and discovering every day” For Carol Sapoznik, whether it was meeting with students at a major retailing conference in New York City or participating in […]
SoHE News & Events: May 3-9
Hartley Fellowship | Jackson & Commencement | Textile Video |Papp Honored| Expert Robb| Lussier Nomination Hartley Receives H.I. Romnes Faculty Fellowship Congratulations to HDFS Associate Professor Sigan Hartley, one of 11 UW-Madison faculty who received a 2019 H.I. Romnes Faculty Fellowship. The award recognizes faculty up to six years past their first promotion to a […]
A Model of Leadership: Yolanda Jenkins
Yolanda Jenkins, chair of the School of Human Ecology Board of Visitors (BoV), was honored for her thoughtful leadership and dedicated service during the annual fall meeting of the BoV. Since joining the board of visitors in 2012, Jenkins has held a variety of positions and led teams aimed at improving the work and effort […]
Women in Leadership Fall 2018
A conversation with alum Linda Ahlers and author Jane Plitt Wednesday, October 17, an audience of over 100 SoHE student and the public gathered to hear from visiting author and business consultant Jane R. Plitt, who was introduced by Linda Ahlers (Retailing ’72), fall 2018’s Alumni Executive in Residence for the Kohl’s Center for Retailing […]
Neviaser, Toon, Sponem, Fitzgerald-SoHE’s 2018 Alumni Award Winners
Awards presented to SoHE alums Neviaser, Toon, Sponem, and Fitzgerald On September 28, 2018, four distinguished SoHE graduates were presented with Alumni Awards by Dean Soyeon Shim; B. Ann Neviaser, Al Toon, Kim Sponem, and Seamus Fitzgerald. With introductions by 2017 alumni award winners, the awards ceremony took place during the Back to School alumni […]
Center for Retail: Michael Stallsmith
Michael Stallsmith is a 2011 BBA Marketing graduate of UW-Madison who was highly involved with the Kohl’s Center for Retailing as a student.In this interview, Michael provides his background as UW graduate and advice for future graduates. What was you favorite part of your program? No question, it was every experiential learning opportunity I took […]
Remembering Elizabeth Schar: A Bright and Shining Light
If you want to be a Badger, just come along with me, By the light, by the light, by the light of the moon. If you want to be a Badger, just come along with me, By the bright shining light of the moon. Human Ecology Board of Visitors Chair Emerita and All Ways Forward […]
Design Thinking Beyond UW-Madison with CNPL Grad Molly Reddy
When Molly Reddy ’10 started her academic studies at UW-Madison, she did not know how much her life path would be impacted by design thinking and the School of Human Ecology (SoHE). In fact, design thinking had not yet been established at the UW-Madison. As a freshman, Reddy started as a College of Letters and […]
Meet New HDFS Grad Olivia Saleh
This year 382 students graduated with a SoHE major. One was Olivia Saleh (’18), a Brooklyn, NY, native who earned a degree in Human Development and Family Studies. Learn more about this recent grad and new SoHE alumna. How did choose your HDFS major? I am incredibly curious about how and why people become who […]
SoHE News and Events: June 22-28
Students travel to China | Bennett’s artist-in-residence | Kirkorian research feature | Collins is “Big” of the year | APLUS research coverage | Kerr on “dad brains” Consumer Science’s Dr. Nancy Murray and Students in China This May, Teaching Professor Dr. Nancy Murray spent the month in China with a group of students studying abroad […]
The Celebration of 100 Women
On Thursday, June 7, 2018, we celebrated the completion of the building’s 100 Women Wall of Honor. Although beautiful and iconic, the event was not about the physical wall, but focused on the 100 generous donors who have given financial support to our students, faculty, research, and programs. Many of these donors and their families […]
SoHE News and Events: May 25 – 31
SoHE’s Olive Sagapolu is a Backflipping Extraordinaire Badger’s lineman and ukulele player Olive Sagapolu captured the hearts of all with his skillful backflipping videos on Instagram and toe-touches at basketball games. Also known as “Mr. Aloha,” Sagapolu brings joy and happiness to everyone he sees. He was recently featured in a national ESPN story that […]
SoHE and the Study of HAPPINESS
HAPPINESS is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions. — Dalai Lama In 2011, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution declaring the pursuit of happiness “a fundamental human goal” and urging countries to factor happiness into their measures of national well-being. While happiness may be a fundamental goal, it can also be elusive. […]
100+ Years: SoHE & the Wisconsin Idea
The Wisconsin Idea first sparked to life in 1914. That was the year federal funding established Cooperative Extension at UW-Madison. The same funding expanded home economics education—the field of study that became the seed of today’s human ecology. The goal of that 1914 initiative was to bring health and development research into Wisconsin farmhouses, and […]
Ann Neviaser, 2018 Distinguished Alumni Award Winner
Widely recognized by an assortment of titles, B. Ann Neviaser (MS ‘85) is first and foremost the President of Neviaser Investments, Inc., a company that owns and operates commercial real estate. As well as being managing partner of the DoubleTree Hotels in Madison and Milwaukee, she maintains a variety of roles within the community. Far […]
Albert “Al” Toon, Jr., 2018 Distinguished Alumni Award Winner
Since graduating from the School of Human Ecology, Albert “Al” Toon (’95; pictured second from right) has had many notable accomplishments. Between an outstanding career in the NFL, his successful entrepreneurial endeavors, and being a devoted husband and father, Toon has always found time to give back to his community. [Adapted from the nomination statement] […]
Kim Sponem, 2018 Wisconsin Idea Alumni Award Winner
Kim Sponem (’90) is committed to improving the financial well-being of families and cares deeply about her community at all levels: professional, local, and national. As CEO and President of one of the largest credit unions in Wisconsin since 2002, Sponem has received numerous awards for her leadership and community engagement. She regularly encourages women to […]