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Breaking ground for polytechnic partnerships: �� top story highlights of 2025

giffeyt — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Breaking ground for polytechnic partnerships: �� top story highlights of 2025 giffeyt January 21, 2026

Heritage Hall renovation, AI innovations, industry-sponsored focus among year ��. notable headlines

It was a year of big things at ��, from breaking ground for the biggest construction project in university history to posting some of the most notable enrollment growth in the Universities of Wisconsin to being chosen as the area ��. Large Business of the Year.

In 2025, Wisconsin ��. �� also earned big accolades, such as being named one of America ��. Best Colleges by Money Magazine for the second year in a row and made big waves by continuing to break down barriers and redefine higher education for the 21st century.

These milestones are just some of the university ��. Stout Story highlights as it looks back at 2025.

Reinvigorating renovations

The university began its fall 2025 semester with a groundbreaking for the long-awaited $144.3 million Heritage Hall renovation project, which will transform the half-century-old building into a cutting-edge educational hub to help meet Wisconsin ��. workforce needs. The project, which is expected to be finished in 2028, will be paid for with funding from the state as well as $13.5 million donated by university supporters, industry partners and alumni.

‘Power of Partnership’: �� celebrates groundbreaking for $144M Heritage Hall renovation

Chancellor, lawmakers, community and campus leaders join to highlight project that will boost Wisconsin workforce

“The renovation of Heritage Hall is a direct reflection of our mission as Wisconsin ��. ��: to provide career-focused, applied learning and research, and industry collaboration that meets the evolving needs of the state ��. workforce and communities,” Chancellor Katherine Frank said.

The campus also looked forward to another major project, a $31.7 million revitalization of the Recreation Complex. Funded through the 2025-27 state budget as well as a record-setting $5 million gift, the renovations are expected to begin this year. And in October, �� celebrated the opening of a $1 million Esports Arena, a new high-tech home for the championship-caliber esports team.

Advances in AI

Artificial intelligence isn’t a stand-alone subject at �� — it ��. been integrated across all programs, a 360-degree approach to create tomorrow ��. AI-ready workforce.

“Equipping students from every major with AI skills is not only important but necessary,” said engineering and technology Assistant Professor Yuan Xing, who is working with applied social science Professor Tina Lee on a cross-disciplinary program focused on an AI-enhanced farming robot.

AI, fully integrated: �� . 360-degree approach to artificial intelligence embeds skills across all programs

‘Equipping students from every major with AI skills is not only important but necessary.’

The university ��. AI Fellows and AI Innovation Committee, led by faculty and staff, ensure AI is embedded into learning, operations and innovation, while directing AI integration, governance, ethics and literacy. Among the many examples of faculty engagement with AI include employing machine learning in engineering and manufacturing processes as well as comparing human and AI-generated written communication.

Assistant Professor Cami Banger, program director of business information technology and digital marketing technology, created a business technology class with AI “baked in,” while Professor Betsy Pudliner used AI-driven prompts to transform hospitality industry experiences into interactive online course content.

Meanwhile, a $647,000 grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation will allow �� . Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Artificial Intelligence – CAM-AI – to provide advanced manufacturing and AI support to small- and medium-sized manufacturers.

Upgrading STEMM spaces

The completion of a two-year, $7.4 million renovation project ensured that labs in the Jarvis Hall Technology Wing provide the technology, accessibility and visibility necessary for students to succeed in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Management.

Some of the new equipment in labs in both Jarvis and Fryklund halls — including production-level 3D printers, a fully-integrated automated manufacturing system and more — was funded through a $3.1 million donation from the Ronald and Joyce Wanek Foundation. The gift was the result of an ongoing partnership between �� and the Wanek family and their business, Ashley Furniture Industries, based in Arcadia.

Ronald & Joyce Wanek Foundation donation transforms labs with advanced manufacturing equipment

Machinery for automated manufacturing, 3D printing and more will impact thousands of students’ polytechnic experiences

Such campus labs create space for innovation, such as work by Associate Professor Kevin MacDonald, director of the B.S. construction management program, and his students to create innovative low-carbon concrete using blast-furnace slag, which was tested in April in a campus project.

Labs also provide workspaces for students like mechanical engineering senior Heidi Benningfield, who received more than tuition and an internship through the U.S. military ��. SMART Scholarship program. After graduation, she ��. guaranteed a job with the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command in Huntsville, Alabama.

Other students brought research on optimizing plant growth through the use of robotics to the national stage, while a faculty-student collaboration created software for making better 3D models of priceless objects in museums from Minneapolis to Amsterdam.

Degree and university programs honored

�� and its programs continued to rake in top rankings in 2025. Princeton Review listed �� . undergraduate game design programs, which include the B.F.A. game design and development and B.S. computer science – game design concentration, No. 5 in the Midwest and No. 24 worldwide.

�� . game design programs ranked among international best by Princeton Review

Side gigs at Roblox, Respawn strengthen students’ skills; Stout Game Expo on May 8

�� . Bachelor of Science in cybersecurity was named a Top 25 Best Value Cybersecurity Degree Bachelor ��. Program in the U.S. by Programs.com, the only Wisconsin program on the list. And U.S. News and World Report said �� had some of the Best Online Programs in the nation, including the M.S. manufacturing engineering online (Top 20 in the Midwest), the M.S. education online (Top 45 in the Midwest), and the B.S. management and leadership online (Top 15 in the Midwest).

University programs also garnered state and national honors, with the Grow, Persist, Succeed on-campus job program earning an Academic Staff Excellence Award from the Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents and the Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute receiving the annual W.F. Faulkes Award from the National Rehabilitation Association for its nearly 60 years of helping tens of thousands of Americans with disabilities.

High-ranking services for veterans

For veterans and active military students, �� was named to the 2025 Best for Vets Colleges list by Military Times for its commitment to serving veterans and their families, ranking first in Wisconsin among traditional and online universities.

Serving those who served: �� among top 25 in Midwest on annual Best for Vets list

University lauded by Military Times for services to veterans, their families

The university was also honored as a Military Friendly® School. Its silver designation marked the 16th consecutive year the university was named a Military Friendly® School for its efforts to offer service and support to meet the needs of military students. It was also named a 2025-26 Military Spouse Friendly School.

Army ROTC Northwoods Battalion students learn leadership theory, time management skills, basic soldier skills, map reading and other skills from experienced Army leaders. �� has a long-standing agreement with the Air Force ROTC program at University of St. Thomas, in St. Paul – a unique agreement among Wisconsin universities – that allows students to enroll in Air Force ROTC classes while completing their degrees.

Top design awards

While ��'s School of Art & Design celebrated its 60th anniversary, students from across degree programs celebrated top wins in state, national and international competitions.

Interior design senior Khendra Thompson rose to the challenge at the 12th Annual Steelcase NEXT Student Design Competition and won with her design of a 16,000-square-foot workplace spread across two floors in a Chicago office building, beating four other finalists from a field that began with 1,600 students from across the continent.

Interior design student tops international field to win Steelcase competition

Interior design majors who entered the 12th Annual Steelcase NEXT Student Design Competition faced a lofty challenge.

To address the concern of microplastics in food and water, Master of Fine Arts in design student Ashley Jandro created a social awareness campaign called “MicroWhat?,” for which she received a Student – Integrated Consumer Campaign Silver Pin at the Minnesota AdFed awards, sponsored by the Advertising Federation of Minnesota.

A team of four packaging students won first place among university teams from around the globe in the 2025 International Molded Fiber Association Student Competition. They created a sustainable packaging solution for a waffle iron, previously packaged in polystyrene, and replaced the components with molded fiber.

The claustrophobic, cooperative game Dread Not, in which players try to survive a sinking submarine, won the award for Best Student Entry at M+DEV, the largest game industry conference in the Midwest. Dread Not was developed by a team of 15 game design students.

With a design inspired by her adventures with her black lab, Max, studio art major Jaelyn Logterman won the 2026 Wisconsin State Park and Forest vehicle admission pass design contest, announced by the state ��. Department of Natural Resources.

Students lending a Helping Hand

Two interior design students are working to ensure their peers have a more efficient, comfortable and warm experience at Helping Hand Food+ Pantry, the university ��. student pantry. Emma Walstra and Klaire Johnson, project co-leads, reimagined the pantry space to create an “atmosphere that reflects the care �� places in serving its students.”

Interior design program partners with Helping Hand pantry to highlight ‘essential campus resource’

Student design team reimagines pantry space to ensure peers have comfortable, warm experience

In a cross-disciplinary collaboration, four groups of students in a Light Construction Methods class built two raised garden beds, one raised tool bench and one raised tool holder for The Neighbors of Dunn County, a senior living home. The project was part of a service-learning activity and was launched last summer during a new STEAM camp for high school students.

A team of animation and digital media students collaborated with Dunn County Humane Society to develop a public service announcement as part of the Animation Production junior capstone class. Their 72-second 2D animated film, “Stray,” was created to help advocate for pet adoption. The informative short features Bow, a stray orange tabby cat rescued during Wisconsin ��. bitter winter.

Industry-sponsored projects are standard practice

Arcadia-based Ashley Furniture sponsored multiple engineering student projects in 2025. A team of students, including Inspiring Graduates Luke Mertens and Zachary Morgan, designed an innovative nonstandard pallet stacker. Ashley Manufacturing Engineer Erik Kramer, the team ��. project manager, said, “The �� team built a better system, a better product for us. Now, with the team ��. documentation, our automation team can replicate their functional design to build six more stackers for our facilities.”

All stacked up: Ashley Furniture-sponsored project results in ‘better product’ developed by engineering seniors

Student team builds functional nonstandard pallet stacker to be implemented, replicated in company ��. facilities

Students also developed toolless bed connections for Ashley and worked in eight cross-disciplinary groups to research market trends, ideate preliminary designs, test materials and build professional prototypes. The class traveled to Ashley for a tour of the facility and to present their prototypes to the R&D team.

Packaging faculty and student research is poised to help Madison-based Tricky Foods deliver its tasty but temperature-sensitive charcuterie boards coast to coast. Associate Professor Kate Liu of �� . packaging program worked with Tricky Foods to test the insulating abilities of two eco-friendly packaging options – one made of cornstarch, the other of recycled paper.

Three industrial and product design students were awarded a cash prize by Room & Board in exchange for the rights to produce their designs if they choose. The senior’ project focused on storage solutions for media, dining, living, entry, bathroom and kitchen systems.

Blue Devil athletes excelling

The �� Blue Devil women ��. basketball team ��. Cinderella run to the Final Four last March marked the team ��. best-ever performance in the NCAA Division III National Tournament. They completed their historic season with a 23-8 record, going 10-4 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletics Conference. Senior Raegen Sorensen became ��'s all-time leading scorer with 1,754 career points.

Blue Devil women ��. basketball makes history in Cinderella run to the Final Four

Records set in tenacious battle against undefeated, defending champions NYU

Gymnast Jamie Beatty delivered a historic performance at the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association National Championships, capturing national titles in both the all-around and the uneven bars and being named WIAC Newcomer of the Year.

The inaugural women ��. flag football team hoisted the Midwest College Women ��. Flag Football League Championship trophy at the Minnesota Vikings’ TCO Performance Center in April. �� was a founding member of the collegiate league, which was kickstarted with support from the Vikings.

Women ��. golf took the WIAC conference championship, where they triumphed by a near-record margin. Sophomore Julia Imai and junior Brin Neumann placed first and second individually.

Blue Devils football made history at Bank of Sun Prairie Stadium, earning the program ��. first-ever postseason victory with a 31-23 win over Washington University in the Culver's Isthmus Bowl. �� finishes the season 6-5 for their second straight winning season.

Officer Harvey: University Police therapy-dog-in-training is already warming hearts

The newest police officer at the University of Wisconsin-Stout is also the department ��. furriest.

BONUS: Introducing Officer Harvey

Officer Harvey, a therapy dog in training, joined ��'s University Police as its newest member in March. Once Harvey is fully trained, he will serve University Police by assisting people experiencing mental health crises as well as victims of crime and will help the department bridge the gap with members of the community, said University Police Chief Gregory Kalosis.

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Breaking ground for polytechnic partnerships: �� top story highlights of 2025

Heritage Hall renovation, AI innovations, industry-sponsored focus among year ��. notable headlines

January 21, 2026

Heritage Hall renovation, AI innovations, industry-sponsored focus among year ��. notable headlines Dignitaries with shovels at Heritage Hall groundbreaking

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Hero Caption: Representatives from the campus, community and state took part in a ceremonial groundbreaking.

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Charging toward a more sustainable future: �� unveils new electric vehicle charging stations

goersab — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 12:39:56 +0000

Charging toward a more sustainable future: �� unveils new electric vehicle charging stationsgoersab June 26, 2025

Stations open to campus and community members, visitors; adding to university ��. ongoing energy solutions

Abbey Goers

A sustainability project more than two years in the making was unveiled at �� on June 23, adding to the university ��. ongoing commitment to clean energy solutions and green transportation options.

Two electric vehicle charging stations, located in Lot 14, on the west side of Sorensen Hall, are now available for campus and community members and visitors.

The level two stations are part of the ChargePoint charging network and provide an opportunity for four electric or hybrid vehicles to charge simultaneously. They will be available for a charging fee of 35 cents per kilowatt hour, said Sustainability Manager Kadi Wright.

The project was made possible through the Stout Student Association (SSA) and its Sustainability Council, the Sustainability Office, the Campus Wide Energy Committee, Facilities Management and Parking Services.

Vice Chancellor Erik Guenard, Stout Student Association Vice President Chris Sander and Chancellor Katherine Frank

Campus stakeholders who spoke at the unveiling were Chancellor Katherine Frank, Vice Chancellor Erik Guenard, Facilities Management Associate Director Zenon Smolarek, Wright and SSA representatives.

Collection Development Librarian Cory Mitchell and Smolarek demonstrated how to activate the stations, how individuals can access them, and where to find more information.

“This event may seem like a small celebration, but it represents something much larger – our institution ��. ongoing commitment to sustainability, innovation, and progress. Every initiative like this is part of a larger strategic plan that represents our goals, is aligned with our mission, and demonstrates our responsibility to the future,” Frank said.

As Wisconsin ��. ��, �� prepares students for the future, Frank said, adding that, “At Stout, education encompasses what happens both inside and outside of the classroom, studio, and laboratory. This means that our campus infrastructure should reflect our values as a polytechnic university: forward-thinking, applicable, and engaged with the issues of our time.”

Guenard agreed. “These new electric vehicle charging stations are more than a convenience – they’re a clear sign of our institution ��. evolving role in addressing climate change and promoting environmental responsibility. We’re not just talking about sustainability – we’re building it into the physical landscape of our college.

“Sustainability is a shared effort. It ��. championed by students who speak up for cleaner systems. It ��. maintained by operations teams who innovate behind the scenes. And it ��. strengthened by every person who chooses to walk, bike, carpool – or now – charge an electric vehicle right here on campus,” he said.

Collection Development Librarian Cory Mitchell (left) demonstrates how the ChargePoint stations works

The Sustainability Office and the SSA council share common goals: to make �� greener and to care for the students, said Bergen Haag, SSA Sustainability director and transportation liaison, who was unable to attend the unveiling

“We have completed numerous projects, both large and small, and this initiative is just one step toward making our campus more eco-friendly. I hope this project benefits many people and inspires further initiatives on our campus. Let ��. keep the momentum going and keep charging toward a more sustainable future,” said Haag, who credited Wright for her many contributions.

“Projects like this show that our campus is serious about turning ideas into action. We’ve had a lot of conversations over the years – about climate change, clean energy, and how we can do our part as a college community,” added SSA Vice President Chris Sander. “This is one of those moments where you can see progress being made. These stations aren’t just about cars – they’re about access, about future-forward thinking, and about reducing our impact. It ��. also a sign that when students, staff, and leadership work together, good things happen.”

Learn more at the Sustainable Stout website.

The ChargePoint Network app shows the locations of available ChargePoint stations

�� . clean energy solutions

As a Charter Signatory of the Carbon Commitment, �� has a commitment to becoming carbon-neutral by 2050. The university incorporates sustainability into its academic programs and operations, including a multibuilding solar and energy efficiency upgrades project.

The U.S. Department of Education named �� a national Green Ribbon school, based on its long-term and ongoing efforts to infuse sustainability into operations and the classroom and to create a campuswide culture that advances environmental initiatives.

The Green Ribbon award, a one-time honor, is given annually to a select number of schools, including early learning centers, elementary, secondary and post-secondary institutions. In Wisconsin, �� was the only university to be recognized in 2024.

Sustainability efforts honored by U.S. Department of Education, statewide Focus on Energy

�� can officially add a new “color” to its identity – green.

�� was re-designated as a bronze Bike Friendly University by the League of American Bicyclists through 2028.

University Recreation ��. Stout Adventures offer StoutBikes, a bike share program through which students can rent a bike for a week, semester or over the summer. There are four bike fix stations around campus, a bike shelter at the University Library, bike lockers at CKTO residence hall and Jarvis Hall, as well as bike racks located all around campus.

Surplus Property helps keep more than 100 tons of materials out of area landfills each year to improve university sustainability and profitability. And the campuswide compost and recycling collection system results in a 48% decrease in landfill waste.

Last fall, �� hosted the Universities of Wisconsin Sustainability Annual Meeting, where sustainability leaders, faculty, staff, students, alumni and external partners gathered to collaborate on environmental topics and share resources, ideas and knowledge to develop strategic goals and support sustainability efforts on UW campuses, as well as career and economic development across the state.

Earth Week events, coordinated through the Sustainability Office and various student organizations, including UW-Sprout Campus Garden volunteer day and apple tree planting, thrift swap, plant sale, campus cleanup and an Earth Day Bash at the University Library.

More than 80 off-campus students participated in this year ��. Spring Move-Out event, when the Sustainability Office, Waste Reduction Work Group, and campus volunteers helped to properly dispose and recycle approximately 360 items, including furniture, bed frames, grills, electronics and appliances. The office also worked with Chippewa Valley Habitat for Humanity to donate items in good condition. This event was funded by the City of Menomonie and the Stout Student Association.

�� offers a B.S. in environmental science and a P.S.M. in conservation biology, as well as minors in environmental health and sustainability.

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Stations open to campus and community members, visitors; adding to university ��. ongoing energy solutions Vice Chancellor Erik Guenard, Stout Student Association Vice President Chris Sander and Chancellor Katherine Frank

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Sustainability Office

��'s Sustainability Office works to foster a culture of sustainability among the campus and in the community.

Hero Caption: Sustainability Manager Kadi Wright and Facilities Management Associate Director Zenon Smolarek were part of a team of many to bring two ChargePoint electric vehicle charging stations to ��

Kadi Wright

Kadi is the campus Sustainability Manager, working on ways to improve sustainability on campus.

Bio Introduction: Kadi is the campus Sustainability Manager, working on ways to improve sustainability on campus.

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Paving the way for graduates: �� top story highlights of 2024

goersab — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 13:45:00 +0000

Paving the way for graduates: �� top story highlights of 2024goersab January 27, 2025

Supporting workforce development through career-focused programs, new research centers, sustainability initiatives, community collaborations

Abbey Goers

From new academic programs supporting workforce development in Wisconsin and the Midwest to new university centers focused on innovations in AI and sustainability, strengthening relationships with industry partners and the community, and celebrating student research and athletic victories, �� – Wisconsin ��. �� – is paving the way for graduates entering their careers.

These accomplishments and recognitions are just some of the university ��. Stout Story highlights as it looks back at 2024.

Best for students and staff

�� graduates are in demand, with 99% employed soon after earning their degree, receiving a record average starting salary of $58,000, the best among higher education institutions in west-central Wisconsin.

Money Magazine named �� one of two public Best Colleges in Wisconsin, as well as one of the 45 Best in the Midwest, for its focus on affordability and student outcomes.

Polytechnic advantage: Graduates see average starting salary rise to $58,000

In pure dollars and cents, the value of a degree from �� has never been greater.

“Being one of the best colleges reinforces the value of �� to prospective students, whether they are high school graduates, adults returning to elevate their career success or businesses seeking to upskill their workforce,” said Chancellor Katherine Frank. “We’re focused on continuing to ensure the upward mobility of our graduates and their contributions to the workforce.”

The university also received an Excellence & Innovation Stewards of Place award from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, a Top Talent Initiative award from Momentum West, and was recognized as a gold-level Family Friendly Workplace for its strong support of the needs of workers and their families and high level of family-related benefits.

Honoring and empowering veterans

For veterans and active military students, �� was named a 2024 Best for Vets College, one of 304 in the country, ranking first among public universities or colleges in Wisconsin.

�� also received a gold designation as a Military Friendly® School for 2024-25 for its efforts in creating sustainable and meaningful education paths for members of the military community. It also was designated a Military Spouse Friendly School. This was the 16th year the university was named a Military Friendly School.

Gold medal status: �� receives Military Friendly designation for supporting veterans, families

For 15th year, university recognized for providing best programs, services; receives new honor as Military Spouse Friendly School

�� currently has 198 military and veteran students, with 366 spouses and children using educational benefits. The university ��. most recent First Destination report stated that 100% of veteran graduates were employed within six months of graduation.

Sustainability in action

For its collaboration and commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency in multiple campuswide initiatives in the last two decades, �� was named a national Green Ribbon school by the U.S. Department of Education.

It also received the Energy Efficiency Excellence Award from Focus on Energy, Wisconsin ��. statewide energy efficiency and renewable resource program. �� was the only Wisconsin university to be recognized with these awards in 2024.

Sustainability efforts honored by U.S. Department of Education, statewide Focus on Energy

�� can officially add a new “color” to its identity – green.

USDA Under Secretary Alexis Taylor and Wisconsin Agriculture Secretary Randy Romanski explored sustainable packaging and AI innovations underway at ��, including research led by packaging Program Director Min DeGruson and food science and technology Professor Pranabendu Mitra, as well as collaborative work on sustainable packaging for cheese.

Top-awarded programs

CEOWorld magazine ranked �� No. 9 in the world for best hospitality and hotel management schools. �� has consistently been among the leaders in the rankings over the past seven years, with partnerships with industry leaders, such as Forbes Travel Guide, Destination Kohler and other top resorts and hotels creating student opportunities.

Starred review: �� executive hospitality programs recognized with No. 9 world ranking

With three undergraduate programs, university ��. expertise in the field recognized by CEOWorld magazine

The Princeton Review listed the Bachelor of Fine Arts in game design and development-art and Master of Fine Arts in design-game design focus as the best in Wisconsin and Minnesota, top five in the Midwest and, for public colleges, top 10 in the nation. The School of Art and Design is the largest in the Upper Midwest with approximately 1,300 students.

The U.S. Department of Defense Cyber Service Academy awarded �� a 12-month, $124,555 federal grant to create ACCESS — the AI-Powered Cloud CMMC and Education Support System – to help businesses guard against cybersecurity threats.

New degree programs in science, art and sustainability

While updating engineering and plastics labs, and with the renovation of Heritage Hall soon to be underway in spring 2025, five new degree programs began in fall 2024, approved by the Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents.

UW Board of Regents approves five new academic programs

Students who are ready to build careers in science or art, or pursue a cross-discipline master ��. degree, have new and in-demand options at ��.

“I am proud of �� faculty and staff who are working hard to continue to adapt and expand �� . polytechnic offerings to meet student needs and the needs of the workforce,” said Provost Glendalí Rodríguez, vice chancellor for Academic Affairs.

Bachelor's degrees in biology, chemistry and physics were built on the foundations of concentrations that were offered for years within the applied science program.
Bachelor of Fine Arts in illustration students will emulate industry practices and emerging trends, building skills in drawing, painting, printmaking, comics and more.
The online master ��. in design, entrepreneurship and sustainability aligns with industry demand. Jobs requiring “green skills” are growing by 8% a year.

New university centers

The Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Artificial Intelligence is a new resource for small and midsize manufacturers in Wisconsin and Minnesota in their quest for growth and success. CAM-AI, partnering with the university ��. Manufacturing Outreach Center, delivers comprehensive, proven solutions through consulting, training and workforce development.

Next gen manufacturing: New CAM-AI will leverage resources to support industry in Wisconsin

Small and midsize manufacturers in Wisconsin and Minnesota have a new resource — and ally — in their quest for growth and success.

Faculty and students at the Center for Sustainable Communities, supported by a Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin grant, work to identify opportunities for research, service learning, outreach, community involvement and student experiences that strengthen environmental, social and economic sustainability in rural areas.

The indoor Pat Kell Golf Center provides the women ��. and men ��. golf team members and students majoring in golf enterprise management with a new, high-tech practice and learning hub on campus. The center is the first of many expected changes at the Recreation Complex, where a renovation supported by students is �� . next major capital project awaiting state approval.

Faculty research and advances in AI

Professors are helping to advance artificial intelligence research across various fields of study, including developing customized, energy-efficient, low-cost technology for precision agriculture to meet the needs of Wisconsin farmers.

Future of farming in Wisconsin: Professors design customized, energy-efficient, low-cost technology

Social science, engineering project for precision agriculture funded by Universities of Wisconsin

Engineering Professor Yuan Xing is studying AI related to the packaging of fruit. With his system, an automated guided vehicle in a warehouse would bring fruit to a vision sensor, an AI algorithm would determine freshness, and the vehicle would then separate the good fruit for packaging.

Engineering Professor Anne Schmitz is conducting sustainable manufacturing research on mesostructures, or 3D-printed internal lattices that absorb energy and reduce material use. Her research uses AI to fine-tune mesostructure design for maximum energy absorption and lighter, more efficient products.

Marriage and family therapy Assistant Professor Heather Hessel received the Carl Whitaker Award from the Wisconsin Association for Marriage and Family Therapy in December for advancing AI integration with therapy.

Community kids’ collaborations

STEM and art and design students joined in collaborative projects for and with community children. Students in the Design for Industry course joined kindergartners from St. Paul ��. School of Menomonie for a toy design project using AI rapid prototyping. Their toy ideas ranged from vehicles to a magic spell-casting kit, animals, dolls, action figures and more.

Design for Industry students create kindergartners’ ideal toys through AI rapid prototyping

Collaboration with St. Paul ��. School introduces children to engineering; completed toys gifted to school

Animation and game design students met with 4K students from the university ��. Child and Family Study Center for a Creature Collaboration, to bring their characters to life using 3D software.

The Women in Construction student organization and Sleep in Heavenly Peace volunteers built 25 twin beds to help meet the needs of children in the community.

It ��. more than a package

Stout Packaging Association student members hosted Pack Jam 2024, an annual three-day conference in April, when students from packaging universities and colleges in the U.S. and Canada connected with professionals to showcase the impact of the global industry.

Uncanny results: Students win international challenge to imagine new packaging for Pringles

Imagine creating a new package for a product that has been on store shelves around the world for more than 50 years. How would you make the package better?

Fall 2024 Inspiring Graduates Ethan Myers and Lukas David worked with video production student Zach Hoffmire to reimagine the Pringles potato crisps tube. Their innovative tube design won first place in an international competition sponsored by Kellanova, a division of Kellogg ��.. They received a congressional certificate from Rep. Derrick Van Orden.

�� is one of only a few schools in the U.S. and the only school in the Universities of Wisconsin that offers a B.S. in packaging.

Blue Devil athletes excelling

After winning the WIAC championship, the women ��. basketball team made the NCAA DIII championship, its first appearance in the national tournament since 2007. �� entered nationals with a 21-7 record and made the Sweet 16 semifinals.

Power to rewrite their script: �� women ��. basketball recovers from midseason losses to reach NCAA tournament

Blue Devils to play WashU in first round on March 1, first appearance since 2007

Women ��. gymnastics placed fifth in the nation in March at the NCGA DIII championship with a score of 191.650, its second-highest score in team history. The team set a program record at nationals on the balance beam with 47.800, and four teammates earned individual All-American honors.

The nationally ranked esports team won the state championship in May and qualified for two national tournaments in April. The team is excited about a new $1 million arena this fall, funded by the �� Foundation and Alumni Association.

Bonus: Top photos of 2024

10 Favorite �� Photos of 2024

StoutFam voted for their favorite!

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Supporting workforce development through career-focused programs, new research centers, sustainability initiatives, community collaborations FCSE graduate Hannan Timm at commencement with Chancellor Katherine Frank

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�� Center for Sustainable Communities aims to help rural areas thrive

polingj — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 19:33:54 +0000

�� Center for Sustainable Communities aims to help rural areas thrivepolingj June 4, 2024

UW, Freshwater Collaborative grants support environmental, social, economic efforts of faculty, students

By Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin

Rural communities experienced widespread population decreases between 2010 and 2020 for the first time in history, impacting jobs, health care, education and other services.

�� is in a unique position to help strengthen Wisconsin ��. rural communities. Since 2021, the university has received multiple grants from the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin to help faculty and students engage with and support local communities in western Wisconsin.

A key project was helping to establish the Center for Sustainable Communities. The goal of this emerging center is to help identify opportunities for research, service learning, outreach, community involvement and student experiences that strengthen environmental, social and economic sustainability in rural areas.

�� environmental science Professor Keith Gilland, left, and students conduct stream research near Menomonie. / ��

One of the first research projects to fall under the center ��. umbrella is being funded by a two-year, $175,000 Innovation Grant from the Universities of Wisconsin. A multidisciplinary team of �� faculty will build a network of eight sensors that monitor temperature, humidity, wind, soil moisture, heat and other factors. The data collected will help farmers make decisions about their crops and increase their profitability.

Faculty are also working with faculty at UW-Madison and Grassland 2.0 to create a learning hub around agriculture issues in the Red Cedar Basin. Grassland 2.0 is a collaborative group of farmers, researchers, and public and private sector leaders who focus on restorative agricultural process. Their goal is to work together to increase farmer profitability while also improving water quality, soil health, biodiversity, and climate resilience.

“The learning hub was proposed by our local community,” says Tina Lee, professor in the social science department who is helping to lead the center and is working on the Innovation Grant. “We are getting community input from the agricultural sector on what the learning hub will look like.”

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The center will go beyond farming, however. Keith Gilland, an associate professor of biology who teaches environmental science, leads the Red Cedar Basin Monitoring Group funded by the Freshwater Collaborative. He and his students work with Trout Unlimited, Prairie Enthusiasts and the City of Menomonie to evaluate the effects of trout stream and prairie restoration.

“There ��. a big component of what we’ve done with the Red Cedar Basin that ��. rooted in the idea that for healthy, thriving rural areas it ��. not just about farms,” he says. “We also need healthy natural environments. We need recreational activities and places people want to go to spend time.”

Gilland is exploring ideas to expand his research and partnerships through the center. He wants his research to improve conditions in Menomonie from an environmental standpoint while also getting more students involved in that work so they can get hands-on experience that trains them for the workforce.

As the center grows, it will become a central place where community members can tap into faculty expertise beyond water quality and create service-learning projects for students in a variety of areas from economics to healthcare to rural education.

“The goal is for people in the community to bring projects to us that they are interested in having done so that students could work on them,” Lee says. “This could become a one-stop shop for small communities in the area with a focus on improving both the natural environment and local economies.”

###

Rural communities experienced broad population decreases between 2010 and 2020 for the first time in history, impacting jobs, health care, education and more. Red Cedar Basin 2

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Interdisciplinary innovation: �� professors’ wireless sensor network for crops receives $175,000 grant

In a perfect world, farmers could wave a magic wand over their fields and get bigger and better crops, save money and energy, and help the environment.

Tina Lee

Dr. Lee is an applied anthropologist who specializes in the anthropology of the contemporary United States, specifically public policy and inequality. She is a graduate of the Anthropology PhD program at the City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate Center and has conducted research about the child welfare system, environmental governance, and humanitarian engineering. She is the author of Catching a Case: Inequality and Fear in New York City's Child Welfare System, published by Rutgers University Press in 2016, as well as serval articles based on her fieldwork in New York City. A book chapter on her follow-up work on child welfare in rural Wisconsin will be published soon. She is also the co-director of the LAKES REU, an NSF-funded research experience for undergraduates site which trains students through research on phosphorous pollution in the Red Cedar Watershed and how it might be mitigated. She teaches anthropology, research methods, and women and gender studies courses and is the program director for the Applied Social Science major as well as the Stout Core Director (Stout's polytechnic version of general education).

Teaching Interests: Cultural Anthropology, Anthropology of Gender, Anthropology of the Contemporary U.S., Qualitative Research Methods, Applied Anthropology

Research Interests: Gender, Race, Poverty and Class; Family and the Law; Women ��. Activism; Public Policy; Urban United States

Full Name: Dr. Tina Lee

Job Title: Professor / Program Director / Certificate Advisor

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College: College of Arts & Human Sciences

Department: Social Science Department

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Curriculum Vitae: Tina Lee CV (57.7 KB)

Education:

Degree: Ph.D. Anthropology

University: The Graduate Center, City University of New York

Degree: Women's Studies Certificate Women's Studies

University: Graduate Center, City University of New York

Degree: M.A. Anthropology

University: Arizona State University

Degree: B.A. Anthropology

University: University of Houston

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Keith Gilland

I am interested in the impacts humans have on the environment and the ways we can mitigate those impacts through the restoration of Wisconsin's natural communities. Here at Stout, I work on the reclamation and restoration of oak savannas, prairies, and riparian corridor communities in the Red Cedar Watershed with the aim to improve surface water quality through land management practices. I work with several local groups including the Prairie Enthusiasts, Trout Unlimited, the Lower Chippewa Invasives Partnership, and local governments to implement and monitor restoration projects involving students in the Environmental Science Program as well as our General Education courses.

I manage the UW-stout Greenhouse, advise the Natural Areas Club student org, and teach courses in Plant Biology, Restoration Ecology, Biostatistics, Research Methods, and Sustainability. My student researchers and I are currently working on projects involving urban stream stressors and restoration, invasive plant management, wetland restoration, and prairie/savanna restoration on former sand and gravel mine sites.

Full Name: Keith E. Gilland, Ph.D.

Job Title: Associate Professor

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College: College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Management

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B.S. Environmental Science

Curriculum Vitae: Keith Gilland CV (197.36 KB)

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Degree: Ph.D. Plant Ecology

University: Ohio University

Degree: B.S. Botany/Environmental Science

University: Miami University

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Interdisciplinary innovation: �� professors’ wireless sensor network for crops receives $175,000 grant

polingj — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 18:26:32 +0000

Interdisciplinary innovation: �� professors’ wireless sensor network for crops receives $175,000 grantpolingj January 17, 2024

Social science/engineering project, funded by Universities of Wisconsin, aims to boost profitability of state ��. small farms

In a perfect world, farmers could wave a magic wand over their fields and get bigger and better crops, save money and energy, and help the environment.

Professors at �� are developing a low-cost, wireless sensor network to monitor farm fields that isn’t a magic wand — but comes close. Using research, engineering and the power of modern technology, including the Internet of Things, it has the potential to make small farms more profitable.

The social science/engineering project has received a two-year, $175,000 Innovation Grant from the Universities of Wisconsin. President Jay O. Rothman announced the grant Thursday, Jan. 18.

“We are very excited to see this proposal ��. future development and how its innovations will positively affect the Universities of Wisconsin, Wisconsin citizens and communities, and the state ��. economic growth,” Rothman said.

Students from �� . LAKES summer research program visit a Dunn County Farm. / ��

�� . project, A HumanCentered Collaborative Approach to Designing an Energy-Efficient Wireless Sensor, will be a network of eight sensors that monitor temperature, humidity, wind, soil moisture, heat and more. The sensors feed data to a central unit in the ground, a sink node, which relays it to a satellite tower and the Internet.

Farmers would then evaluate the information to support decision-making regarding their crops.

Research has indicated that precision agriculture can significantly enhance farming efficiency, increasing crop yield and quality by at least 15%, reduce the cost of water and pumping it by 30% and boost profitability by up to $100 per acre.

Farmers have been slow to adopt similar technology because of cost and maintenance issues. But this network will be battery-operated — no wires to bury. Plus, the sensors will harvest various types of ambient energy, such as geothermal, to reduce the need for battery replacement.

A diagram shows how the wireless sensor network would be set up in a field. / ��

“This represents a fundamental shift towards support for sustainable and efficient farming practices in a way that is available to smaller farms while supporting them and, as a result, rural communities,” said Assistant Professor Yuan Xing, engineering.

Multidisciplinary team

Xing and Professor Tina Lee, social science, are leading the team along with Professor Cheng Liu, engineering; Assistant Professor Abhishek Verma, engineering; and UW-River Falls Assistant Professor Bob Zhiwei Zeng, agricultural engineering.

�� has four undergraduate programs and one in Graduate Studies in engineering, part of the Robert F. Cervenka School of Engineering, and an engineering technology degree.

During the first year of the grant, social science professors and applied social science students will collect data from farmers and organizations in the agriculture industry regarding issues they need addressed and how such a system could help them. Engineering faculty will design a prototype. Then, the prototype will be tested to get farmers’ feedback.

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“The human-centered design process will help ensure the technologies meet the needs of small farmers and fit into their lives and farming practices, making them more likely to be adopted,” Lee said.

During the second year of the grant, engineering faculty will develop a final design and test it at several area farms. Social science faculty and students will gather more feedback for potential design improvements. A user-friendly control system also will be designed.

Finally, seminars will be held in select counties around the state to explain the system and offer farmers free trial use of the device.

A prototype of the sensor network has potential to be produced and marketed for a larger audience, Xing and Lee said, possibly through WiSys, a state nonprofit that supports UW research, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Robert F. Cervenka School of Engineering

The Robert F. Cervenka School of Engineering focuses on enhancing the learning experience for students in ��'s engineering programs.

The project is an outgrowth of �� . CROPS — the emerging Center for Rural Opportunity, Prosperity and Sustainability. CROPS is piloting ongoing research about issues facing rural communities, including farm consolidation, the loss of population and small businesses, rural poverty and environmental issues related to conventional agriculture.

Professors have received initial support from the Dunn County Land and Water Conservation Division; Joe Ailts of Ailts Agronomy, a crop consultant serving farmers in northwest Wisconsin; and a local farmer.

Two other grants were approved from among 17 proposals submitted by UW campuses. The grants run through 2025. As the three projects develop, one will be selected for an additional three years of funding totaling $400,000. Recipients will also be invited to a future UW Board of Regents meeting to present their winning proposal and its projected outcomes.

In 2022, �� mathematics professors received a $36,000 grant from the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin for a similar project, Crop Per Drop in Sandy Soils.

###

In a perfect world, farmers could wave a magic wand over their fields and get bigger and better crops, save money and energy, and help the environment. LAKES farm visit

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Crop Per Drop project will use data science to dig into sandy soil irrigation issues

Chippewa Valley Bean, of Dunn County, is the world ��. largest producer of dark red kidney beans.

Tina Lee

Teaching Interests: Cultural Anthropology, Anthropology of Gender, Anthropology of the Contemporary U.S., Qualitative Research Methods, Applied Anthropology

Research Interests: Gender, Race, Poverty and Class; Family and the Law; Women ��. Activism; Public Policy; Urban United States

Full Name: Dr. Tina Lee

Job Title: Professor / Program Director / Certificate Advisor

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College: College of Arts & Human Sciences

Department: Social Science Department

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All Degree Programs

Curriculum Vitae: Tina Lee CV (57.7 KB)

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Degree: Ph.D. Anthropology

University: The Graduate Center, City University of New York

Degree: Women's Studies Certificate Women's Studies

University: Graduate Center, City University of New York

Degree: M.A. Anthropology

University: Arizona State University

Degree: B.A. Anthropology

University: University of Houston

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Yuan Xing

Full Name: Yuan Xing

Job Title: Assistant Professor

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Area of Expertise: Energy-Efficient AI Algorithms AI System Integration

College: College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Management

Department: Robert F. Cervenka School of Engineering Engineering & Technology Department

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B.S. Computer & Electrical Engineering

Curriculum Vitae: Yuan Xing CV (113.57 KB)

Education:

Degree: Ph.D. Electrical & Computer Engineering

University: Baylor University

Degree: M.S. Electrical & Computer Engineering

University: University of Rochester

Degree: B.S. Telecommunication Engineering

University: Beijing Jiaotong University

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Better health: That ��. the goal of Mayo Clinic ��. Advanced Care at Home program, professors’ research

polingj — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 17:32:51 +0000

Better health: That ��. the goal of Mayo Clinic ��. Advanced Care at Home program, professors’ researchpolingj October 26, 2023

Social science-based studies by Paulson, Sweat support clinic ��. initiative that could be the future of health care

What could health care of the future look like? It could look exactly like a program called Mayo Clinic Advanced Care at Home — hospital-quality care in your home — that already is offered at select locations across Mayo Clinic.

Just like it sounds, ACH gives certain types of patients the option to remain at home — using 21st century technology for virtual care and home visits to stay in touch with providers around the clock — rather than be admitted to a brick-and-mortar hospital.

Whether or not ACH and the growing hospital-at-home movement blossoms into the health care model of the future throughout the Mayo system and across the nation will take more time and more work. A piece of that work is being done by two �� sociology professors, Nels Paulson and Jeffrey Sweat, in collaboration with Mayo Clinic.

Margaret Paulson, in her Mayo Clinic office, visits with an Advanced Care at Home patient. / Mayo Clinic

Paulson and Sweat, along with Dr. Margaret Paulson of Mayo and other co-authors, each have published a research paper in medical journals analyzing aspects of ACH and what barriers exist to expanding it. ACH began during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 in Jacksonville, Fla., and expanded to Mayo facilities in Eau Claire and Phoenix, Ariz.

“There ��. an acknowledgement in the medical community that you can only build so many hospitals,” Nels Paulson said. “Patient satisfaction is just really high with hospital at home. You can be surrounded by families and home with your dogs. Even though there are challenges in the short-term, this is a long-term, important movement.”

Dr. Margaret Paulson, an internal medicine physician, helped launch the program and is medical director for Mayo ��. Eau Claire ACH. “With the power of technology, we can be at the patient ��. bedside 24-7. If we can provide increased access to our communities, that would be a huge win. We think the future is bright with this model of care.”

�� professors Nels Paulson, left, and Jeffrey Sweat have collaborated on sociology research to support Mayo Clinic ��. Advanced Care at Home program. / ��

Patients whose health issues are a good fit for ACH, such as those with congestive heart failure or skin infection requiring IV antibiotics, are connected online around the clock to a command center staffed with doctors and nurses, who visit patient homes to administer IV medications, conduct exams, do physical therapy and more. Medical equipment, personalized to each patient, is delivered to the home.

Mayo is finding that ACH patients, close to 3,000 to date, are less likely to be readmitted to the hospital and have lower mortality rates than similar hospitalized patients.

“When it comes to safety, affordability and satisfaction, we’re at least equivalent – if not better – than the physical hospital,” Dr. Michael Maniaci, ACH medical director for Mayo ��. Florida program, told Home Health Care News.

Mayo Clinic staff connect virtually with a patient in the Advanced Care at Home program. / Mayo Clinic

Turning conversation into collaboration

Margaret Paulson and Nels Paulson are married. When they discussed the program at home around dinner, Nels realized some of the questions surrounding it, such as patient hesitation to try ACH, challenges of equity and inclusion in rural places, and issues facing doctors and staff, were sociological.

“We aren’t trained in the science of asking questions like social scientists do, so it was a natural collaboration with ��, Nels and others on the team,” Margaret Paulson said.

Dr. Margaret Paulson, internal medicine, helped launch Mayo Clinic ��. Advanced Care at Home program and is medical director for Mayo ��. Eau Claire ACH site. / Mayo Clinic

�� has an applied social science major, with a concentration in sociology and anthropology. Sweat is an expert in medical sociology who has conducted prior research on social factors that contribute to health disparities. He has also studied barriers to accessing medical care, an issue that is of particular relevance to ACH.

“Social determinants of health are a top line of inquiry in health care right now,” Nels Paulson said.

In August, Nels Paulson, Margaret Paulson and four others published “Why U.S. Patients Declined Hospital-at-Home during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency: An Exploratory Mixed Methods Study.”

Key findings about why patients refused to participate included not fully understanding the program and domestic issues. Women, for example, “cited an inability to perform domestic roles while receiving care at home as a challenge.”

In April, Sweat, Margaret Paulson and two others published “Staff Successes and Challenges with Telecommunications-Facilitated Patient Care in Hybrid Hospital-at-Home during the COVID-19 Pandemic.”

They interviewed health care providers at the Florida and Wisconsin ACH locations to identify themes related to hospital at home and hybrid care from the perspective of the personnel delivering the care. They also identified areas for future research related to staff satisfaction.

Nels Paulson is scheduled to speak at the Hospital at Home Leadership Summit Nov. 29 to Dec. 1, in Scottsdale, Ariz. / ��

Nels Paulson and Sweat have begun research on a third article, which will focus on social determinants of health and ACH patient outcomes. Nels Paulson is also working on another article related to public policy and equity for hospital and home programs with physicians at Harvard University. Currently, Medicaid doesn’t cover the cost of home care programs, one of several regulatory challenges ACH faces before it and other programs like it across the U.S. can expand.

Nels Paulson is scheduled to speak at the Hospital at Home Leadership Summit Nov. 29 to Dec. 1, in Scottsdale, Ariz.

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“The research is helping us find blind spots to improve our team. We want to be clear in how to communicate with patients,” Margaret Paulson said. “A lot of people just don’t know enough about what hospital at home is even internally, so having everyone on the same page is very important in recognizing issues and ensuring our patients can make informed decisions about their care.

“The broader concept of collaboration and partnership is something leaders at Mayo are very interested in. It ��. a blessing to have access to the social sciences,” Margaret Paulson added.

Nels Paulson also is excited to be involved in a new frontier in health care where inequities involving such things as race, gender, ethnicity and poverty are built into the care model.

“It ��. really a struggle for a lot of institutions to remedy those problems of equity, diversity and inclusion. When you overtly plan ahead you can try to do things better. The Advanced Care at Home staff are very open to hearing about and addressing that. It makes me feel good to contribute to that movement in our health care system,” he said.

###

What could health care of the future look like? It could look exactly like a program called Mayo Clinic Advanced Care at Home. Nels Paulson and Jeffrey Sweat

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Student ��. brochure for Mayo Clinic focuses on healthy relationships

Valentine ��. may be a day when many think of chocolate hearts and flowers, but it is really a day about relationships.

Hero Caption: Dr. Margaret Paulson checks in remotely with a patient who is part of Mayo Clinic ��. Advanced Care at Home program, in which patients receive care while in their homes. / Mayo Clinic photo

Nels Paulson

Brief Biography: Nels Paulson is a Professor of Sociology at University of Wisconsin-Stout and received his doctorate from Arizona State University. His research generally focuses on science and building civil society. Past research projects include hunting as a conservation strategy, phosphorus pollution in Wisconsin, disaster relief and religion, and the place of indigenous groups in global environmental governance. Dr. Paulson was a Principal Investigator on National Science Foundation, Wisconsin DNR, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineer research grants and his publications have appeared in Conservation and Society, Nature and Culture, and Environmental Values, among others. His current work is on expanding access in health care through innovative strategies that are adaptive to varied communities and needs.

Teaching Interests: Introductory Sociology; Social Theory; Political Ecology; Sociology of Health and Illness; Quantitative Research Methods; Qualitative Research Methods; Society and Leisure; Globalization and Social Change; Sociology of Altruism

Research Interests: Science, civil society, environment, health, organizations, food, leisure, and religion

Full Name: Nels Paulson

Job Title: Professor / Department Chair

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Area of Expertise: Sociology

Video Caption: Nels Paulson TEDx Talk

College: College of Arts & Human Sciences

Department: Social Science Department

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B.S. Applied Social Science

Curriculum Vitae: Nels Paulson CV (208.13 KB)

Education:

Degree: Ph.D. Sociology

University: Arizona State University

Degree: M.A. Sociology

University: Arizona State University

Degree: B.A. History Education

University: Concordia College

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Interdisciplinary innovation: �������� professors’ wireless sensor network for crops receives $175,000 grant

Multidisciplinary team

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Robert F. Cervenka School of Engineering

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Interdisciplinary innovation: �� professors’ wireless sensor network for crops receives $175,000 grant

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