Campus Connection

Longtime theater professors Anderson, Leonard honored for years of service

A pair of longtime UW-La Crosse theater professors are being recognized for their service to the campus and the community. 

On Thursday, Feb. 15, Rep. Jill Billings presented Joe Anderson and Mary Leonard with the Hometown Heroes Award for Wisconsin’s 95th Assembly District — an award honoring those who have made a difference through their dedication to helping others. 

Anderson has taught in UWL’s Department of Theatre & Dance for 33 years, including 12 as chair.  

Leonard spent more than 20 years teaching in the same department, retiring last spring after directing 70 shows on campus. 

“Since Joe and Mary moved to La Crosse three decades ago, their work for our community has been invaluable,” Billings says. “Beyond their work as professors, Joe and Mary have worked diligently in the La Crosse community by providing workshops and directing, designing and consulting for local productions.” 

Anderson and Leonard were recognized during a ceremony at the state Capitol on Thursday. 

Anderson says the award is affirmation of the importance of the arts, as well as the role of teachers and artists in higher education. 

“We are in a time when higher ed, and always the arts, are being scrutinized and minimized,” he explains. “The four years students are with us are incredibly formative. I think it's important to recognize that we have changed the trajectory of many lives for the better through the work we've done with students over the years. Teaching them the importance of being happy and passionate about what they do in the world has always been more important than any class I've taught or show I've designed. I want my students to be people I'd want to know if I met them out in the world. I think we do that.” 

Leonard says she is grateful life’s path brough her to theater and to UWL. She has met countless students, staff and faculty who made a lasting impact on her through a shared appreciation for the arts.

“I have seen people of all ages find their voices and believe in themselves,” she says. “I have seen the healing powers of all the arts, and come to understand the significant impact the arts have on all of us. 

“Simply put, the arts nourish, inspire and make us think. Throughout my 32-year career, I have witnessed firsthand the transformative power that theater has had on students, audiences and the community. It is so much more than entertainment!” 

What is most impressive about Anderson and Leonard, Billings says, is the passion they show and the pride they take in mentoring aspiring artists. It’s the type of legacy for which all educators should strive. 

“By providing a welcoming and caring environment for their students and other participants in their productions, they have provided empathetic and attentive guidance and support for countless La Crosse residents and students,” Billings says. “Their passion for artistic expression and care for their students is clear from their work both in and out of the classroom. I am proud to honor Joe and Mary with this award.”