Campus Connection

The UWL Foundation's "Share the La Crosse Experience" campaign for scholarships finding success.

  Five UW-La Crosse alumni have been elected to the UWL Foundation Board of Directors. The new board members, all elected to three-year terms at the Friday, Nov. 17, board meeting, include:   Laurie Andreoni Diekhoff, a 1983 alumna with a bachelor’s in psychology. Diekhoff’s career in higher education has included positions at Illinois State University, University of Illinois and Illinois Wesleyan. While at UWL, she was active in Residence Life and Vanguards. Her husband, John, an '82 graduate in computer science, spent his entire career at State Farm. They recently created an endowed scholarship for Woman in Technology through the UWL Foundation.   Jon Erickson, a 1976 graduate with a bachelor’s in history and social studies. He later received a master’s in educational psychology from UW-Milwaukee. Erickson retired in 2015 as President of ACT Inc. after spending 30 years with the company in a variety of roles. Prior to ACT, he was a specialist in both academic affairs and student services at UW-Milwaukee, as well as a high school teacher and coach in Wisconsin Rapids.   Michael McGinley ’82, a 1982 alumnus with a bachelor’s in microbiology. McGinley was appointed president of Heska Biologicals & Pharmaceuticals in February 2013. He has held numerous positions with Heska since June 1997. Prior to joining the company, McGinley held positions with Bayer Animal Health and Fort Dodge Laboratories. He holds doctorate and master’s degrees in immunobiology from Iowa State University and successfully completed the Advanced Management Program at the Harvard Business School in 2008. McGinley recently established an endowed scholarship for microbiology majors, along with funding undergraduate research opportunities.   David Rushlow, a 1986 graduate with a bachelor’s in biology. Rushlow practices family medicine and serves as chief medical officer for Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Healthcare, and is an assistant professor of family medicine at the Mayo College of Medicine and Science. Rushlow and his wife, Kial, live in La Crescent. He is also a member of the UWL Chancellor's Community Council.   Todd Taylor, a 1980 alumnus with a bachelor’s in management and computer science. Taylor grew up in La Crosse and at UWL. His father, Rollo Taylor, was a long-time faculty member and coach. His mother, Kay, a 1957 UWL graduate, still lives in La Crosse. Their family created the Taylor Scholarship Fund supporting students in the School of Education. After a career at Kraft Foods, Taylor is currently a senior consultant of strategic engagements with Flexion Inc.   Four current board members had their terms renewed. They include: Mark Dahlke, third term; Jay Lokken, third term; Roger Le Grand, second term; Terry Wirkus, second term.   The UWL Foundation, founded in 1967, has raised more than $10 million in its “Share the La Crosse Experience” campaign for scholarships that began in 2012. The new monies mean UWL students now have access to more than $1 million in scholarships each year — double of what was available before the campaign. The effort intends to raise $15 million by 2019.