2025 Faculty and Academic Staff Awards

Edward W. Gimbel

Edward (Ted) Gimbel, associate professor and chair of the Department of Politics, Government, and Law, has been a faculty member at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater since 2012. He earned his B.S. in political science from the University of Iowa and his M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. In addition to contributing courses to the University’s general education program, Dr. Gimbel teaches courses in political theory including a sequence of courses on the history of political thought. He also regularly offers special topics courses focusing on issues including free speech on college campuses and defenses against threats to democracy. Outside of the classroom he advises the Political Science Student Association and Honor Society, and helped to guide student leaders in the drafting of the Student Organization Freedom of Expression Statement, a document committing student organizations to principles of free expression and civil discourse.

Kim Kostka

Kim Kostka is currently a professor of chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Kim has developed many courses for both in-person and online chemistry learners including lab-based online courses. Kim has served in a variety of administrative roles as well, including leadership roles at the Rock County campus, and for the UW-System. Kim earned an MS (1991) and a PhD (1993) in Chemistry from Carnegie Mellon University and a BS in Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls (1986). Kim earned the 1999 Green Chemistry Challenge Award from the EPA, the Women of Distinction Award from the YWCA of Rock County, and the Excellence in Instruction Award from the University of Wisconsin-Rock County. Kim enjoys traveling, fiber arts, language studies, gardening, attending live performances, walking, hiking, TikTok cat videos, and virtual reality games.

Julie Minikel-Lacocque

Julie Minikel-Lacocque, Professor in the department of Curriculum & Instruction, has been a faculty member at UW-Whitewater since 2011 and is part of the bilingual-bicultural and ESL minor and licensure program. As an instructor, Julie strives to create three interdependent spaces: a safe space, brave space, and grace space. Through cultivating these spaces she guides her students to step out of their comfort zones to interrogate traditional schooling practices, connect across difference, and build the foundation of their own pedagogies. The goal of creating equitable and just educational spaces, and teaching others to do the same, is the foundation of her teaching within and beyond the classroom. Julie is the 2018 recipient of the COEPS McClellan Endowed Teacher of Distinction Award and has been nominated for the same award ten times. She was also nominated for the W.P. Roseman Excellence in Teaching Award in 2018 and 2024 in addition to 2025.

K. Praveen Parboteeah

Dr. K. Praveen Parboteeah serves as Chair of the Department of Management and the Director of the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program. During the first half of his 25-year UWW career, Parboteeah was influential in business ethics efforts, including creating a student organization dedicated to ethics, curricular proposals in ethics, and an annual Business Ethics Week. During the last 12 years, Parboteeah played a pivotal role in developing and leading the only doctoral program on campus, namely the DBA. The program has graduated over ninety students shining in academia and industry. Parboteeah has won numerous teaching accolades, including being chosen as the inaugural COBE Distinguished Professor, being selected as the UWW Teaching Scholar twice, and being nominated for the Roseman Teaching Award and the college Hermsen Teaching Award. Dr. Parboteeah is also celebrated for his scholarly achievements, winning the UWW Research award twice and reaching 10,000 Google Citations.

Sharri VanAlstine

B.M.E. (Bachelor in Music Education) Bethel University-Minnesota; M.M. (Master of Music in Choral Conducting) St. Cloud State University-Minnesota; Ph.D. (Music Education) University of Minnesota

Sharri VanAlstine joined the faculty at UW-Whitewater in 2011. Her courseload revolves primarily around music education – teacher preparation coursework. Dr. VanAlstine also directs the UW-W Vocal Jazz Ensemble, an auditioned group that performs and presents frequently in the community and region. The ensemble focuses on contemporary a cappella literature and vocal jazz songs in a variety of genres. Dr. VanAlstine has served as a clinician and adjudicator at choral festivals, contests, and regional schools. She has received various awards for teaching, advising, and research, and her work is published in several music and music education journals. She regularly presents research and practical workshops at conferences locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally.

Yamin Ahmad

Yamin Ahmad is the Wahlin Foundation Distinguished Fellow and Professor of Economics at the College of Business and Economics. He holds a PhD and an MA in Economics from Georgetown University, and a MSc in Econometrics from the University of Bristol. He has been a visiting scholar at UW-Madison, Northwestern University, and at the Research Division of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. His research is a mixture of theoretical and applied work, focusing on understanding the dynamics of macroeconomic and financial variables. He has published within the top peer-reviewed journals in his field, including the Journal of International Economics, Journal of International Money and Finance, Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, and Economics Letters among others. He is a previous recipient of both the College of Business and Economics Research and Teaching awards. This is his third nomination for the University Outstanding Research Award.

Denise Roseland

Dr. Denise Roseland is associate professor in both the Business, Marketing, and Computer Science Education program and Higher Education Leadership program at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Her portfolio of peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations, centers on enhancing educational practices and institutional transformation. Roseland’s research addresses critical issues such as the transitioning programs from in-person to online education, exploring effective online teaching, and examining interventions to address workplace climate for educators. Notably, her recent collaborative project, NSF-funded ADVANCE UWO initiative, aimed to promote gender equity and inclusivity for STEM faculty across multiple UWO campuses. Dr. Roseland's innovative approaches and commitment to evidence-based practices not only improve the classroom environment but also contribute significantly to reshaping educational institutions.

Matthew Sintchak

Matthew Sintchak is a Professor in the Music Department, focusing on Saxophone, at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where he has taught since 2001. He holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts and Master of Music from the Eastman School of Music, studied at the Paris Conservatory, and earned a Bachelor of Music from the New England Conservatory. A champion of contemporary music, he has commissioned and premiered over 100 works. He performs with the Ancia Saxophone Quartet, Fuse Trio, and Sonict Duo, and has collaborated with leading jazz and classical musicians. His recordings appear on Naxos and Albany Records, and he performs with orchestras including the Milwaukee Symphony and Madison Symphony.

Nic Tippery

Nic Tippery is a Professor in the Biology Department and has been a faculty member at UW-Whitewater since 2011. He received his Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Connecticut, studying the evolution of the aquatic plant family Menyanthaceae. At UW-Whitewater he teaches Genetics and two Botany classes: Plant Taxonomy and Aquatic Plant Biology. Dr. Tippery’s research applies molecular tools to questions of evolution, biogeography, taxonomy, and invasive species biology. He has collaborated with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources on projects studying invasive plants such as Japanese knotweed and Phragmites. His recent projects have investigated the evolutionary relationships among carnivorous bladderworts, water-hyssops, and water-pennyworts. Dr. Tippery also has published several comprehensive studies of major aquatic plant groups.

Rachel Chaphalkar

Dr. Rachel Chaphalkar is an associate professor in the Department of Mathematics. She earned her Ph.D. in Mathematics in 2014 from the University of Montana. Her research focuses on student understanding of statistics and student success in mathematics both at the K-12 level and in first year college mathematics courses. Dr. Chaphalkar has coordinated the Proficiency Mathematics courses and their co-requisites since Fall 2021. She has spearheaded many assessment projects as well as professional development at the department level as well as being a team member in the development and application of quantitative literacy rubrics to assess general education courses. Dr. Chaphalkar teaches a variety of courses including Quantitative Reasoning and its co-requisite course, as well as mathematics content courses for future teachers at both the elementary and secondary levels. In her courses, students actively participate in learning mathematics through discovery and group activities.

Jodie Parys

Dr. Jodie Parys is a Professor in the Department of World Languages and Cultures, teaching courses in Spanish language, professional Spanish, and Latin American literature and civilization. She is the author of Writing AIDS: (Re)Conceptualizing the Individual and Social Body in Spanish American Literature, as well as numerous articles on the intersection of disease, narrative, and culture in Latin American literature, centered specifically on the AIDS epidemic. Drawing on her experience as a nationally certified Spanish medical interpreter, Jodie co-designed the Professional Spanish minor. Jodie also serves as the Director of Community-Based Learning and is a leader in the field of faculty development and community engagement. Jodie is an experienced educational innovator, leading UW-W as an Academic Innovation Fellow and as co-director for the Re-Imagining the First Year Initiative, as well as ongoing academic innovation efforts across campus.

Rowand Robinson

Rowand Robinson is a Professor in the Special Education Department and has been teaching at UW Whitewater since January 2001. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Florida in 1999 with an emphasis in mild disabilities. His service work focuses on meeting the needs of students (k-12 and post-secondary), as well as individuals with disabilities at large. He strives to add value to the greater community, including the university.

Kerri Wrinn

Kerri has been a faculty member at UWW at Rock County (formerly part of the UW colleges system) since 2012. Since the Rock County campus joined UWW in 2018, she has served on multiple Department and University committees and is especially active in curriculum development as chair of the College of Integrated Studies Curriculum Committee. Kerri also served as Group coordinator for the Natural Sciences and Mathematics group for 4 years. She has served as a peer-reviewer for several professional journals in her field (biology). She also enjoys community service and outreach activities and participates in multiple yearly events teaching kids about science and nature.

Rimi Zakaria

Rimi Zakaria, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Management at the College of Business and Economics. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in strategic, global, and behavioral domains. Dr. Zakaria is passionate about educating her students through experiential, technology-forward, feedback-driven, and inclusive pedagogy. Dr. Zakaria's research examines questions at the crossroads of strategy, sustainability, and international business. Her publications focus on inter-firm cooperation, cross-border mergers and acquisitions, employee well-being, and business's environmental impact and social purpose. As an at-large faculty senate leader at UWW, she advocates for cultivating an organizational culture of equity, collaboration, and shared governance. She is currently facilitating the Chancellor's Leadership Council in leading organizational change. Dr. Zakaria's work received many campus and external nominations and awards for teaching, research, and leadership excellence.

Jolly A. Emrey

Jolly A. Emrey is a Professor of Political Science in the Department of Politics, Government, and Law. She is going on her 20th year as a faculty member at UW-Whitewater. She is currently the Coordinator of the Legal Studies major and minor, the Legal Eagles Learning Community, and the Legal Studies internship program. She is a faculty advisor for majors and minors, summer SOAR advisor, department Master Advisor, UWW Pre Law Advisor, and an advisor to the Law Society student organization. She has also served as a mentor to students in the Undergraduate Research Programs, and for several McNair scholars over the years. In addition, she had the opportunity to co-lead a Travel Study to the UK last spring with great students who got to visit courts and legal institutions abroad. Watching students achieve their goals and dreams, because of their hard work, is the best part of her job. In her down time, she hangs out with her twin granddaughters or her three hounds.

Denise Roseland

Dr. Denise Roseland has been a faculty member at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater since 2018, where she serves as an associate professor within the College of Education and Professional Studies. Her advising philosophy emphasizes understanding and meeting the unique needs of diverse student populations, including traditional, adult, veteran, graduate, and transfer students. Known for her proactive and student-centered approach, she maintains frequent communication with her advisees, initiating contact several times a year beyond course enrollment discussions. She believes in empowering students to identify their strengths and pursue authentic goals, and promotes a holistic view of the college experience, advocating for high-impact learning opportunities, such as internships, study abroad programs, and community engagement. Her contributions to student success have been acknowledged by her advisees, who consistently commend her for her unwavering support, guidance, and compassion.

Marieke Spiegelhoff

Marieke Spiegelhoff earned her Master’s degree from UW-Milwaukee in the field of communication, and has been teaching at UW-Whitewater since 2006. She teaches a variety of classes in the department. In addition to teaching, Marieke advises all online undergraduate communication majors. Marieke feels the best thing about advising students is getting to connect with them one-on-one and help them progress towards their goal of graduation. She loves hearing about their jobs, their families, and their communities. Marieke enjoys working with students to ensure that they get both the classes and the support they need to have a positive collegiate experience while at UWW. Beyond work, Marieke stays busy raising her seven kids alongside her husband. She was a foster parent for Walworth County for 15 years, and is passionate about kids in foster care having permanency. She also finds time to use her creative side in the kitchen, baking and decorating gourmet cakes.

Maria Glorioso

Maria Glorioso earned her Bachelor’s degree in English from UW-Whitewater in 2008 and her Master’s degree in Counseling in 2014. Following the completion of her master’s degree, Maria held roles at Marquette University and UW-Milwaukee. However, her strong connection to UW-Whitewater never wavered, and she was determined to return. Since rejoining University Housing in 2018, she has worked in various capacities, including advising the Residence Hall Association, coordinating RA training and selection, collaborating on learning communities, supervising Jitters, and managing University Housing’s marketing efforts. Maria is deeply committed to developing student leaders and helping them bridge the gap between their curricular and co-curricular experiences. Beyond UW-Whitewater, she is an active volunteer with the Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast and runs her own custom sugar cookie business.

Sarah Harvey

I have had the privilege of working in admissions, advising, adjunct instruction, and academic program management for over 14 years. I have worked with a wide range of institutions and organizations, which has helped me gain an understanding on navigating higher education. I strive to be an advocate for students by putting access to higher education and achievement of educational goals as a focus in my daily work.

Frank Lanko

Frank Lanko works as the Business Career Services Manager for the Career Services Department. After earning a BBA in Marketing from UW-Madison, Frank spent nearly 10 years working in industry, primarily as a campus recruiter for a Fortune 500 technology company. In 2011, Frank arrived at UWW where he has served as the primary career advisor for all CoBE students ever since. He is a passionate advocate for his students, dedicated to guiding them through career exploration and successful job and internship searches. His passion for assisting students extends into the classroom, where he teaches multiple sections of Career Information courses each year. Outside of his advising and teaching role, Frank has served as the faculty advisor for the award-winning and nationally recognized UWW Collegiate DECA student organization since 2012. He was awarded the UWW Outstanding Student Organization Advisor in 2014 and honored by DECA as the Wisconsin Association Advisor of the Year in 2018.

Glen Oeding

I received a BBA in Finance from UW-Whitewater in 1990. I have been working and managing textbook departments for campuses across the Midwest since 1992. With my wife Amy at my side, we have traveled and visited over 600 different breweries. I have been the Textbook Manager at UWW for 5 years, working to merge two full-time positions. I have enjoyed working with the greatest group of co-workers, as we have handled many changes and challenges together. Working and interacting with our student workers keeps my spirit young and gives me a varied perspective on life. My passion is providing the resources needed for all students to succeed in their academic endeavors, while being a steward of their funds. I appreciate working alongside the dedicated members on this campus who are providing an educational opportunity to our students. Go Warhawks!

Jesica Schwarz

Jesica Schwarz, a proud UW-Whitewater alum, transitioned to the role of Graduate Academic Advising Manager for the College of Business and Economics in 2022 after serving for six years as the college’s first Graduate Recruitment Manager. In her current role, she champions student success by helping students discover programs and/or courses that best align with their career aspirations, connecting students with campus resources, and ensuring a smooth academic experience. Jesica works closely with a diverse range of learners—online, military, international, UWW undergraduates, and other traditional and non-traditional students—providing guidance throughout their academic journey. She also continues to contribute to program development and remains a valuable resource regarding graduate school policies for both students and colleagues.

Dorothy Stepp

Dorothy Stepp is an Academic Advisor for first-year and undeclared students in the Academic Advising and Exploration Center. A first-generation student, she earned a Bachelor’s in Psychology and a Master’s in Administrative Leadership with a focus on Higher Education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Before joining UW-Whitewater, Dorothy worked at UW-Madison’s School of Medicine and Public Health. At UW-Madison, she received the 2022 Administrative Improvement Award and the 2021 Fauci Award in Education for her innovative work improving program efficiency and the student experience. In her 2.5 years at UWW, she has leaned on her experiences, passion for supporting student success, and the collaborations of campus partners to create innovative opportunities to meet student needs. She is responsible for the development, growth, and management of the “Check Your Holds” campus-wide initiative and several other centralized re-enrollment strategies.

Chris Skrandzius

Chris Skrandzius graduated from UW-Whitewater in 2017 with a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology. Shortly after, he began working with IT Services, leading a project focused on search engine optimization. His work included enhancing Google Map listings with professional photos and 360° panoramas to improve the discoverability and navigation of campus locations. Currently, Chris is part of the Web Team, helping to maintain the UW-Whitewater website information and accessibility. He also assists the Help Desk in his role as Front-Line Quality Assurance, providing guidance and support. Chris enjoys working with his colleagues and contributing to the team. Outside of work, he spends his time building websites, working on computers, and enjoying time with friends and family.

Amy Zelinger

Amy Zelinger graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (UW-W) with a master's degree in 2005 and has been a dedicated member of the university community ever since. With a strong passion for helping students, Amy has focused her career on academic advising and guiding students through their academic journey. Over the years, she has taught several classes on campus, thoroughly enjoying the opportunity to interact with and mentor students. As the leader of the CoBE advising team for SOAR each summer, Amy plays a vital role in supporting incoming students. Additionally, she manages the CoBE Advising Instagram and Canvas, always seeking new ways to engage with students and enhance their experience. Embracing each new challenge that comes her way, Amy remains committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive academic environment.

Dawn Bacon

Dawn is a proud grad of UWW's Accounting program. After over 20 years working in industry, she decided to return to Whitewater in 2011 to help teach and guide the next generation of accountants. In addition to teaching the financial and managerial accounting courses where she can add color to the topics through examples from her professional experience, she also directs the Accounting Internship program that offers students academic credit for experiential learning. These transformational opportunities often lead accounting graduates to their first full-time jobs after graduation. She loves to help students in both academic and career advising and is excited to continue to watch their progress in their careers long after they have left UWW.

Mark J. Gmach

Mark J. Gmach CLU, ChFC, CRCP, MSFS is the Co-Director of Financial Planning. This CFP Board-certified curriculum offers a unique opportunity for our students. Mark, an alum, has spent 35 years in the financial services industry, holding various senior executive roles at Northwestern Mutual's headquarters in Milwaukee. He pursued his master's degree in financial services with a desire to teach upon retirement. He teaches a variety of courses, from Advanced Retirement and Financial Planning (the CFP capstone course) to Personal Finance 101, which is open to all majors and levels of students. He particularly loves teaching this course because he knows that no matter what you study, everyone must deal with personal finance. Mark is also viewed and utilized as a subject matter expert in the financial services industry and has worked nationally and internationally with various companies. At this stage of his career, he loves working with students and serving as a resource to help provide direction for what lies ahead.

Lilly Handley

Lilly Handley is a Lecturer in the Department of Art & Design at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. She Has taught at UW-Whitewater since 2021 and previously taught at a university in Pennsylvania. Since joining The Department of Art & Design Handley has taught Drawing 1, Drawing 2, Drawing 3-The Figure, Drawing 4-Advanced Drawing, Two-dimensional Design, Three-dimensional Design, and World of the Arts. She is passionate about sharing the arts with her students. Handley received her MFA from Parsons The New School for Design and her BFA from The Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University. Handley shows her interdisciplinary work nationally and internationally.

John Klinger

John Klinger is the engineering instructor in the College of Integrated Studies. His mission is to make his classes accessible to as many students as possible by offering courses in all modalities. He enjoys working with the Whitewater Physics Department to offer a streaming class to both campuses. He also enjoys working with faculty that want to stream classes from the Whitewater campus to Rock. Prior to joining UW-Whitewater at Rock County in 2011, he worked in various industries such as computer, printers, surgical instruments, and robot vision systems. He has been a manufacturing engineer, design engineer, development engineer, project manager, and new product development manager. He enjoys bringing these work experiences into the classroom. John has had many of the same students for two years, and he takes great pleasure in seeing these students develop. He earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering from UW-Madison and an MS in Mechanical Engineering from The Ohio State University.