A celebration to officially welcome Katherine Frank as the eighth leader in the history of University of Wisconsin-Stout will cap off a week of special events planned on campus.
The UW-Stout Celebration Week will kick off with a community service day on Monday, Oct. 10, and end with the investiture celebration from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 14, in the Great Hall of the Memorial Student Center.
The presentation by Frank will focus on the story of the university and its partnerships within the community, state and beyond by honoring UW-Stout’s 131-year history in Menomonie, its role in the lives of its graduates and supporters, and its vision for the future.
She will address how the university remains true to its three educational tenets of applied learning, collaboration with business and industry, and career outcomes. The tenets form a three-pronged foundation for initiatives planned in 2023 and the university’s continued distinctiveness.
Along with the tenets, UW-Stout is guided by the pillars of the FOCUS2030 strategic plan as it continues to innovate and evolve.
UW System President Jay Rothman will provide opening remarks, and Provost Glendali Rodriguez will be the emcee.
Speakers at the investiture Friday include: Professor Cynthia Bland and Wade Lambrigtsen, an alum and owner of the Vintage Sign Shop; Lauren Martey, Stout University Foundation board member and alum; Renee Wachter, UW-Superior chancellor; recent graduates Nilu Umarova and Emily Laird; and Pat Meuers, alum, industry partner and vice president of FindLaw Digital Solutions, a division of Thomson Reuters.
Also speaking will be the university’s shared governance leaders, Cody Gentz, Stout Student Association president; Jamie Bowe, University Staff Senate chair; Nelu Ghenciu, Faculty Senate chair; and Josh Risler, Senate of Academic Staff chair.
A student and seven alumni will be involved in the celebration through local business connections. They are:
- Lizzy Averbeck, senior in fashion and retail, intern and employee with 7th Bone Tailoring
- Jordan Carpenter, 2022 graduate in apparel design and development, employed with Stitched Up
- Erin Hogan-Braker, 2005 graduate in apparel design and development, owner of Stitched Up and 7th Bone Tailoring
- Jennifer Joyce, 2004 graduate in interior design, floral artist and owner of Jennifer Joyce Design
- Micah Maraia, 2003 graduate in industrial design, owner and chief creative officer of Studio MLM, which employs 11 UW-Stout alumni
- Tyler Michaletz, 2016 graduate in graphic design and interactive media, creative director and design lead, Studio MLM
- Ashley Score, 2006 graduate in business administration, owner and operator of the Raw Deal
- Ryan Verdon, 2013 graduate in food science and technology, owner and operator of Brewery Nonic
Frank, the first female leader in UW-Stout history, began work as chancellor March 1, 2020. The investiture was delayed because of the pandemic, which impacted university operations for about two years.
The university has had seven previous leaders, beginning with Lorenzo Dow Harvey and followed by Burton Nelson, Verne Fryklund, William Micheels, Robert Swanson, Charles Sorensen and Bob Meyer. James Huff Stout founded the school in 1891 and oversaw operations until his death in 1910.
Opportunities to participate in the weeklong celebration are:
Monday, Oct. 10, Community Service Day. Students, faculty and staff can give back in two ways: from 8 a.m. to noon at nonprofits United Way of Dunn County, Bridge to Hope and Positive Alternatives; from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., a meal Pack-A-Thon with the Rotary Club in the ballrooms of the student center.
Tuesday, Oct. 11, Embracing Diversity Day, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., Great Hall. Enjoy refreshments and take part in conversations with Quin Brooks, assistant chancellor of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
From 10:30 to noon in the Great Hall, sex therapist and sexuality educator Roger Kuhn will present “Two-Spirit Love is Community.” The speaker was chosen in conjunction with Indigenous People’s Day, Oct. 10, and National Coming Out Day, Oct. 11.
Wednesday, Oct. 12, Community Art Day includes three events:
- 12:30 p.m., University Library, second floor. Comic art exhibit Step by Step opening reception, featuring narrative comics by UW-Stout students and alumni that illustrate the comic-making process from doodles to a finished bound book.
- 5 p.m., Raw Deal, 603 S. Broadway St. Spoken word and music performances, Arts Alive!, featuring student and faculty readings. University and community music groups performing will be the Symphonic Singers, Chamber Choir, Jazz Embers, Devil Tones Acappella and Menomonie Singers.
- 5 p.m., Raw Deal. Menomonie school district K-12 art exhibit, through Tuesday, Nov. 1, featuring more than 20 students; awards at 6 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 13, A donor and scholarship reception for invited guests, sponsored by Stout University Foundation, will be held in the Great Hall. The Foundation awarded a record $1.2 million in scholarships to students this fall.
The investiture celebration was funded through the generous support of the Stout University Foundation. No taxpayer or tuition funds were used for the celebration.
###
