Campus Connection

Gow highlights successes, opportunities during spring address

During his spring address to staff and faculty on Monday, March 20, Chancellor Joe Gow said the future of UWL continues to look bright, in large part due to the people. 

“We know this is a great university, a great place to be, and we hope you feel it’s a fantastic place to come to work,” said Gow, speaking on the first day of classes following spring break. “But we can always be better, and we want to know how to be a better campus community.” 

Gow wasn’t alone in his praise for UWL. 

Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez offered brief remarks at the address, emphasizing UWL’s success in training the workforce of tomorrow. 

“Each of you plays a vital role in helping develop and grow the next generation of leaders we want to see for our state — innovators, health care providers, archaeologists, historians, musicians and maybe even lieutenant governors as we move forward,” she said. “The work you do each day is incredibly important to ensure every student has resources to achieve their academic and career goals, and be an active participant in our state, our economy, our democracies and our communities.” 

UW System President Jay Rothman, who spent much of the afternoon touring campus with Gow and Rodriguez, described UWL as a top performer within the System.  

The Prairie Springs Science Center Completion and Cowley Hall Demolition Project — which the state Legislature will consider this budget cycle — will only strengthen UWL’s position, he says. 

“I think all of you here know it’s important, and System in Madison also knows the importance,” Rothman said of the project. “From a science perspective, you need world-class facilities to turn out world-class education.” 

Other highlights from the address: 

• Gow recognized several recent award recipients: 
  • The men’s and women’s outdoor track and field teams, which both brought home national championships last weekend 
  • Miranda Panzer, who received the 2023 Emerging Leader Award from the La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce Young Professional Group 
  • Andrew Ives, who received the Marylu McEwen Dissertation of the Year Award from the American College Personnel Association 
  • The ROTC Eagle Battalion, which claimed first place in the Northern Warfare Challenge.
    
    
• Christa Kiersch, associate professor of management, and John Acardo, chief human resources officer, presented findings from the fall 2022 employee engagement survey. The survey, which will be further discussed at future campus governance meetings, is designed to drive positive change in the UWL work experience. 
  
  
• Kyle Burke, director of University Centers, presented on the Six-Week Engagement Program, which tracks participation of first-year and second-year students in a number of events and activities during the first six weeks of the fall semester. Higher levels of participation are associated with improved academic performance and higher retention rates.
  
  
• Gow shared that recruitment and enrollment for the 2023-24 academic year are looking strong. Already, UWL has exceeded the number of applications and deposits it received in each of the past two years.
  
  
• Gow noted three key staff departures:
  • Antoiwanna Williams, director of Affirmative Action and the Youth Safety Program, is retiring after 24 years with the university.
  • Dany Thompson, director of TItle IX and Compliance, has accepted a position with UW System.
  • Dina Zavala, interim vice chancellor for Diversity & Inclusion, has been named the inaugural vice president for inclusion, equity and community at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota.

• Finally, Gow reflected on the life and career of longtime Professor of Biology Tom Volk, who died last November after a long and remarkable health struggle. Volk didn’t let cancer, heart failure and a heart transplant dim his spirits, or his passion for teaching. He was one of UWL's most admired and inspirational instructors: the professor with two hearts. By being so open about his own challenges, Volk hoped to inspire others going through difficult times. “I knew Tom did a lot of good things, but going to the memorial was amazing,” Gow said. “(Hearing from) students, faculty, people in the community — people he had helped in various ways. I hope that as we finish the year, we remember his example and choose on our own to do good for people.”