Friend of Graduate & Extended Learning Award
A page within Graduate & Extended Learning
Friend of Graduate & Extended Learning Award Ceremony and Reception
April 17, 2025
1:30–2:30 p.m. | 3314 Student Union
The Friend of Graduate & Extended Learning Award recognizes University of Wisconsin-La Crosse faculty and staff who, through their collaboration with Graduate & Extended Learning, have created and supported learning opportunities that extend UW-La Crosse into the community. These individuals share Graduate & Extended Learning’s commitment to public service, life-long learning, and growth through collaboration.
Kelly Kamrowski, Catering Director
Everybody who works on a catering project with Kelly Kamrowski learns one thing in a hurry: she is absolutely the best. Kelly’s openness to questions, willingness to go the extra mile to bring in something special, and clear communication have earned her a stellar reputation on campus and Graduate & Extended Learning’s boundless gratitude. Kelly is central to the success of the conferences and workshops we hold on campus; evaluations from participants often mention the quality of the food they were served. For the workshops that include a field component, Kelly is willing to provide her famous “unboxed boxed lunches,” which are easier to pack into coolers than the boxed version! We were also impressed by Kelly’s support of the dinner UWL hosted for Robin Wall Kimmerer and Ho-Chunk Nation representatives last spring, including her willingness to consult with a native chef and arrange a menu featuring indigenous dishes. Kelly’s attention to detail and high standards of customer service are exemplary, and we in Graduate & Extended Learning feel very lucky to have her as a colleague.
Rob Dixon, Associate Professor of Psychology and Graduate Program Director for School Psychology Online
Rob Dixon has contributed in so many ways to graduate education at UWL that it is difficult to know where to start. He has been a member and Chair of Graduate Council, helped lead graduate strategic planning in 2014–15 and again in 2020–21, served for many years as the Graduate Program Director for School Psychology and was the founding director of the School Psychology Online graduate program. Graduate & Extended Learning has worked with Rob on several outreach programs over the years, but our collaboration on School Psychology Online has been the most significant. The online program allows school districts to “grow their own school psychologist,” supporting teachers who learn to take on new roles in their communities. The program has secured more than $400,000 in federal grants through partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, in support of program expenses and student scholarships. The first cohort of students starts their internship year in the fall and will graduate next spring.
Sandy Grunwald, Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
Sandy Grunwald is the glue that holds academic program planning and assessment together at UWL. Graduate & Extended Learning relies enormously on Sandy’s clear communication, creativity, and expertise in her role. She ensures the smooth progress of new programs from the Notice of Intent to final approval by the Higher Learning Commission. In the last three years alone, she has supported approvals for graduate certificates in five of UWL’s six graduate Collaborative programs, helped re-launch the Master’s of Public Health, and guided us through the suspension of two Collaborative bachelor’s degrees. Sandy also coordinates the Graduate Academic Program Review process, which helps ensure the excellence of graduate programs at UWL. Finally, Sandy is central to Graduate & Extended Learning’s work in supporting summer session, helping ensure that we maximize marketing impacts and are ready to answer student and family questions at START. The questions Sandy asks improve the projects she is involved in, and her follow-through is exemplary. She excels at making connections across units, which is critical to the success of complex, multi-partner projects.