October 2007
Will a UWSP history major be your next VP?
Mark Williams
Sometimes it takes years of reflection to see the picture
clearly. An education from the College of Letters and
Science has often led the way to remarkable experiences in the workplace and to serving the greater good
in one’s personal life. Sometimes it just takes awhile
to understand this connection.
Perhaps your ability to speak Spanish helped build a
relationship with a customer? Did you ever experience
a real life conflict that reminded you of a case study
from Psychology class? Will a UWSP history major
be your next VP?
We asked a few of our College of Letters and Science
alumni to share their stories. Do you hear any bells
going off? If so, we invite you to share your story with
us as well.
Corey and Ann Jaskolski (also an L&S graduate) on
top of Mount Ulriken in Norway
Corey Jaskolski
Past: Physics and Mathematics major, Class of 2000
Present: President, Hydro Technologies
Testimonial from Corey Jaskolski
grow Hydro Technologies, a company focused on
developing cutting-edge technologies for underwater
applications. Through Hydro Technologies, I have gotten the chance to do some pretty amazing things such
as descend to the Titanic (12,500 feet deep) in a 3-man
Russian minisub with the director James Cameron,
work with some of the most brilliant marine animal
researchers in the world at National Geographic Society, and take part in the development of exciting new
technologies such as autonomous underwater vehicles.
Although much of this work takes me far from home,
The sound, core education I received at UWSP has
also gone a long ways towards enabling me to start and part of me is always back at UWSP!
I earned my bachelor’s degree in both Physics and
Mathematics from UWSP in 2000, and know that
my experiences there have directly enabled all of my
successes since then. As an example, being able to be
directly involved in research while I was an undergrad
was a major contributing factor that helped me get into
MIT for graduate school. Being able to be involved in
research this early in an academic career is quite rare at
most other schools.
• Biology • Business & Economics • Chemistry • Computing & New Media Technologies • English • Foreign Languages • Geography &
Geology • History • Mathematical Sciences • Philosophy • Physics & Astronomy • Political Science • Psychology • Sociology •
Page 2
Dick Huseby
To the Point
Past: Psychology major, Class of 1972
Present: VP, Human Resources & Strategic Initiatives, Church Mutual
Insurance Company
Testimonial from Dick Huseby
I graduated with a bachelor of science degree from
UWSP in 1972, with a major in Psychology and a minor
in English, an unlikely combination of academic disciplines. For the past 35 years, I have worked in leadership positions in education, in the armed forces and in
the insurance industry. Successfully managing change
and resolving conflict in a performance-based environment demanded solid leadership ability, team-building
skills and concise communication. Looking back, I
easily trace the knowledge I needed to develop these
personal traits to the positive educational experience
I had in the College of Letters and Science at UWSP
earning my degree. The support and encouragement I
received from the faculty
gave me the confidence
I needed to step forward
in future work settings,
accept responsibility and
achieve results. Little did
I know back in 1972 how
important understanding human behavior and effectively
communicating goals and results would be to consistently producing successful outcomes. I no longer consider
Psychology and English strange bedfellows, but partners
in my personal and professional growth.
An Enhancing Experience
Anthony Ellertson and Whitney Medo
Prof. Anthony Ellertson, Lynn Dombrowski, Kaynen Heikkinen, Adam Schaumberg, Adam Zucchi, and Joe Frost
Last spring semester, eight Web and Digital Media Development (WDMD) students took on an independent
study project for the City University of London (CUL)
to develop an online Web radio station and distance
learning application. During this summer, 5 students
from the independent study project traveled to London
with Dr. Anthony Ellertson to present the Web radio
station to the faculty and staff of CUL. As Dr. Ellertson
explained, this learning experience started with a call
from Adobe last fall.
“Last year, Adobe approached me to consult with the
City University of London on their purchase of a Flash
Media Server. I was asked because of my prior experience using this platform for creating distance learning
and eportfolio applications. After talking with them,
I realized that there was an opportunity for WDMD
students to do some exciting project work, as well as
develop applications for an international client. WDMD
is uniquely positioned to do this work because it is one
of a handful of programs in the United States that has a
professional Flash Media Server for our students to develop on. In addition, Adobe told me last summer that
we are the only university that it knew of teaching Flash
development with Flex & Flash Media Server technology (both of these technologies are integral to the Rich
Internet Application model).
After talking with City University of London, it became
clear that they needed a series of distance learning applications to reach out to their geographically-diverse
student body. Last spring our students started working
on a Web radio station that would enable listeners to not
only receive audio broadcasts via the Internet, but also
enable them to text and interact with the DJ and other
listeners for both recreational and classroom purposes.
CUL faculty and staff were impressed with the work
done by the WDMD students. Our hope is that this
experience and trip have opened doors for future UWSP
students to do more work for CUL.”
Page 3
To the Point
Friends of Letters & Science are Enriching Student Success
Mark Williams
On the first two pages you read about diverse and often
unpredictable ways an education from the College of
Letters and Science has influenced us. You can read
more interesting life stories from our alumni by visiting our website at www.uwsp.edu/cls and clicking on
“L&S Education Testimonials.”
You have also seen one example of the great things that
are happening as a result of your gifts to the College of
Letters and Science. While you are visiting our website,
you can click on “L&S Enhancement programs” and
get a glimpse of other unique programs in Psychology, Philosophy, Biology, Chemistry, English and Web
and Digital Media Development that were made available through the L&S Enhancement Fund. Perhaps
Dr. Lance Grahn
the experience fostered a competitive advantage in the
workforce or a life changing event that developed even
more.
These experiences are your experiences, because many
of you made them possible by donating to the L&S
Enhancement Fund. They wouldn’t happen any other
way, and we are so thankful you are enriching student
success with your continued support.
To make a contribution to the L&S Enhancement Fund
or for information on supporting scholarships please
contact Mark Williams at (715)346-4211 or email:
mark.williams@uwsp.edu. Contributions may be made
online by visiting www.uwsp.edu/cls under the “Support the College” tab.
From the Dean’s Desk
Once again, the College
of Letters and Science has
begun the academic year
with great enthusiasm,
high hopes, and justifiable
confidence in our mission
of teaching, learning, and
public service. As the College continues to back the
campus vision of “Connecting to the Future” and to
accept Chancellor Bunnell’s
challenge to have “the courage to flourish,” it has rededicated its commitment to
serving the public good through the academic expertise
of its faculty and the educational energy of its students.
Importantly, you will see this theme of “Connecting to
the Future, Serving the Public Good” on the College’s
several publications, including its web site, as it provides that constant reminder of its mission, vision, and
values. As Dean, I am proud that the College of Letters
and Science has so explicitly embraced Vision 2015,
and done so in the official UWSP font and purple, no
less. But also I am happy to tell you that the College is
now developing its own mission statement.
I invite you to review the current draft, found at
www.uwsp.edu/cls/mission_statement.htm, and give
me your feedback. I hope to have the final version
determined by the end of the fall semester, and so I
welcome your responses and suggestions.
We all know, however, that simply proclaiming a
charge does not actuate it. Instead, the College’s mission needs to be concretized, personified, and made
real in the things that our scholars—students, faculty,
and instructional staff alike—in the College of Letters
and Science do, as these following accomplishments
attest. This past spring, L&S faculty swept the University Scholar Awards as Drs. James Stokes (English)
and Jeana Magyar-Moe (Psychology) were recognized
for their outstanding records in scholarship. The lone
University Service Award went to another member of
the English faculty: Dr. Dan Dieterich. And three of
the University’s five Excellence in Teaching Awards
were bestowed upon superb teacher-scholars in Letters and Science: Drs. Lorri Nandrea (English), Justin
Reub (Psychology), and Steve Wright (Chemistry).
Similarly, the excellence of our faculty was recognized
by the prestigious Council for International Exchange
of Scholars when it awarded two of the six 2007-2008
Fulbright Scholarships among all eleven UW comprecontinued on page 4, From the Dean’s Desk
Page 4
From the Dean’s Desk
Dr. Lance Grahn
hensives to faculty in UWSP’s College of Letters and
Science: Dr. Erik Wild (Biology) for research in Brazil and Dr. David Gibbs (Computing and New Media
Technologies) for teaching in Malta. It is no surprise,
then, that such excellence among our faculty guides and
mentors produced similar results among our students.
Nine of the fourteen 2007 Albertson Medallions went to
L&S majors, and 53 of the 99 Chancellor’s Leadership
Awards went to students whose first major was in the
College of Letters and Science.
To the Point
As this academic year moves ahead, the College will
have even more good news to share with you--our
alumni, donors, friends, and faculty. So, stay tuned as
the teacher-scholars and students in Letters and Science
continue to promote Vision 2015 and fulfill its mission of education, training, outreach, and service. And,
please, keep us informed of your own accomplishments.
We are proud of our entire L&S community.
Let’s Stay In Touch
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College of Letters & Science
News, Events, Awards, & Department Information
Whitney Medo, Editor
College of Letters and Science
109 Collins Classroom Center
1804 Fourth Avenue
Stevens Point, WI 54481
(715) 346-2487
To the Point:
www.uwsp.edu/cls
from the College of Letters and Science, UWSP
Connecting to the Future, Serving the Public Good
STEVENS POINT
WI 54481
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