Posted 3 p.m. Friday, March 28, 2025
UWL’s urban teaching program gets a boost from alumni Brian and Lori Hesprich
Brian and Lori Hesprich say they owe a lot to UWL.
It’s not only where they met as students in a Dance Appreciation course; it’s also where they gained skills and experiences that helped them launch successful careers — Brian in business, and Lori in education.
Now, Brian and Lori, both ’81, are giving back so current and future UWL students will have their own transformative opportunities. Through a gift to the UWL Alumni & Friends Foundation, the Hespriches are supporting the School of Education’s Milwaukee Urban Experiences program, which places student teachers in culturally diverse, academically engaging settings in urban school districts across Greater Milwaukee.
“Last fall, we had the opportunity to meet Dean Marcie Wycoff-Horn while visiting campus. Her enthusiasm and commitment to provide opportunities for the students of the SOE were impressive, (which) made it an easy decision to help support those initiatives,” Lori says. “Urban teaching opportunities are important because they expose young teachers to the challenges of teaching in a supportive atmosphere. Having spent 15 years in at-risk schools in the Green Bay Area Public Schools, I am aware that the more support and experience a young teacher gets, the more success they will experience.”
While Lori taught in the Green Bay school system, Brian enjoyed a successful career in business. At the time of his retirement, he was serving as the chief financial officer of Fox River Fiber, an industry leader in post-consumer recycled pulp that has worked on recycling solutions for companies such as Coca-Cola and Starbucks.
“My educational experience at UWL prepared me for the operational and strategic decisions I would have to make as we grew our company,” Brian says. “The diversity of experiences of my friends and roommates helped to shape the person I was to become, probably more so than any other time in my life. Those educational experiences that prepared me for the role of CFO is one of the main reasons we chose to give back to UWL.”
UWL and its partnering schools say the Milwaukee Urban Experiences program has been mutually beneficial: Student teachers work with diverse student populations in large, metropolitan school districts, while the school districts receive additional staffing support to promote student success.
Lori, who spent more than three decades in education, knows firsthand the transformative potential of branching out as a teacher.
“One of the main highlights of my 32 years in education was having the pleasure of working with a variety of students and families that helped me grow professionally,” says Lori, who went on to earn a master’s degree in reading while working and raising a family.
“The knowledge and experience I received at UWL were invaluable to me in my teaching career,” she continues. “My education provided me the foundation to become the teacher I strived to be in my career.”
In addition to their support of the School of Education, Brian and Lori are helping to fund enhancements to Murphy Library, where they spent many hours studying and working on assignments as students.
As for their support of aspiring teachers, Lori has a few pieces of advice.
“First, I would tell them to get as much exposure to students in a classroom setting as possible. Ask lots of questions, and don't feel like you have to know it all right from the beginning,” she says. “Second, get a handle on your classroom management style and figure out how best to make a connection with your students. Third, find a healthy way to manage your stress. Lastly, have confidence in your abilities and believe that you are truly making a difference in your students' lives.”
Learn more about UWL’s Milwaukee Urban Experiences program.
Consider making a gift through the UWL Alumni & Friends Foundation.