University of Wisconsin-La Crosse: Notable Alumni and Their Achievements

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (UWL) has a rich history of producing accomplished graduates who have made significant contributions in various fields. This article highlights some of the university's notable alumni, recognizing their distinguished service, successful careers, and impact on their communities and beyond.

Alumni Recognition and Awards

The UWL Alumni Association annually honors outstanding graduates with its top alumni awards. These awards recognize alumni from various decades for their distinguished service and successful careers.

The Maurice O. Graff Distinguished Alumni Award

This award recognizes outstanding achievement of alumni who have brought honor and distinction to the university. It is named after long-time administrator Maurice O. Graff.

The Rada Distinguished Alumni Award

This award recognizes alumni who have graduated within the last 20 years, achieved professional distinction, and taken part in humanitarian activities. Professor emeritus Ron Rada and his wife, Jane, created the award in 2002.

The Parker Distinguished Multicultural Alumni Award

This award recognizes outstanding alumni who have contributed significantly to the improvement of multicultural understanding on the campus and in their careers.

Notable Alumni

Here are some notable alumni from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, recognized for their achievements and contributions:

Neil Duresky, '64

Neil Duresky is a decorated veteran, committed public servant, community volunteer, and musician. He is a retired IRS Revenue Officer, American Red Cross Chapter Level Executive Director, and Wisconsin Air National Guard Squadron Commander. Duresky has received numerous accolades, including being inducted into the La Crosse Logan High School Wall of Fame and serving as the Oktoberfest Maple Leaf Parade Marshal. He holds bachelor’s degrees in economics and political science from UWL, earned in 1964.

Colleen (Trantow) McDowell, '04

Colleen (Trantow) McDowell is a distinguished and respected researcher and scientific writer in the field of glaucoma. She is an assistant professor in the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Science at UW-Madison since 2019 and previously worked at the University of North Texas Health Science Center from 2010-19. McDowell has been awarded the William and Phyllis Huffman Research Professorship and the Dr. Douglas H. Johnson Award for Glaucoma Research, among others. She earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry/cell and molecular biology from UWL in 2004 and a Ph.D. from the University of Iowa in 2009.

Mark Gruen, '92

Mark Gruen is a distinguished and respected public school administrator, impactful instructor, educator, mentor, and life-long learner. He has spent over thirty-one years in Wisconsin education as an administrator, teacher, principal, curriculum director, and business manager. Since 2022, he has served as the District Administrator at Johnson Creek. Gruen was recognized as the Wisconsin Superintendent of the Year in 2021 and the Wisconsin Rural Administrator of the Year in 2021-22. He holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from UWL (1992), a master’s degree in education from Viterbo University (1995), and a specialist degree in education leadership from Winona State University (2005).

Anna Hatch, '09

Anna Hatch is a renowned scientist in biomedical research, science diplomacy, and science communication. She is a recipient of the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship and the P.E.O. Parker Distinguished Multicultural Alumni Award.

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Jerry Augustine

After 11 seasons as the head coach of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball program it has become obvious: Jerry Augustine can get it done. Look at these major points: Five 30+ win seasons. Three-time League Coach of the Year. Five MCC/Horizon League tournament or regular season championships. 20+ victories every year.

Webb Schultz

The University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse baseball program started in 1910. Webb Schultz was the first former Eagle to make it to the Major League level. Did you know that there were seven former University of Wisconsin-La Crosse ballplayers who made it to the majors?

Sandra Lee

Sandra Lee Christiansen, known professionally as Sandra Lee, is an American television chef and author. She is known for her "Semi-Homemade" cooking concept, which Lee describes as using 70 percent packaged and 30 percent fresh products. She received the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lifestyle/Culinary Show Host in 2012 for her work and her show. As the partner of former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, she served as the de facto first lady of New York from 2011 to 2019, when the couple ended their relationship.

Don Herbert

Donald Jeffry Herbert, better known as Mr. Wizard, was the creator and host of Watch Mr. Wizard (1951-65, 1971-72) and Mr. Wizard's World (1983-90), which were educational television programs for children devoted to science and technology. He also produced many short video programs about science and authored several popular books about science for children. It was said that no fictional hero was able to rival the popularity and longevity of "the friendly, neighborly scientist". In Herbert's obituary, Bill Nye wrote, "Herbert's techniques and performances helped create the United States' first generation of homegrown rocket scientists just in time to respond to Sputnik. He sent us to the moon. He changed the world." Herbert is credited with turning "a generation of youth" in the 1950s and early 1960s on to "the promise and perils of science".

Calahan Skogman

Calahan Wade Skogman is an American actor, writer and former collegiate basketball and football player. He played Matthias Helvar in the Netflix series Shadow and Bone (2021-2023).

Read also: Legacy of Fordham University

Sharon Weston Broome

Sharon Weston Broome is a Louisiana politician who served as mayor-president of Baton Rouge, Louisiana between 2017 and 2025. She was elected mayor-president in a runoff election held on December 10, 2016. Broome is the first African-American woman to serve as mayor-president.

Elżbieta Kruk

Elżbieta Małgorzata Kruk is a Polish politician, a member of Law and Justice (national conservative political party in Poland). She was elected to Sejm on 25 September 2005.

Ernest Emerson

Ernest R. Emerson is an American custom knifemaker, martial artist, and edged-weapons expert. Originally an engineer and machinist in the aerospace industry, Emerson became a knifemaker by producing knives for a martial arts class and making art knives early in his knifemaking career. In the 1980s he became better known for his combat knives and popularizing a style of knife known as the Tactical-folder.

Jennifer Shilling

Jennifer Shilling is an American Democratic politician, lobbyist, and former state legislator. She was a member of the Wisconsin State Senate for nine years and was senate minority leader from 2015 to 2020. She previously served 10 years in the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing the city of La Crosse and La Crosse County.

David Wroblewski

David Wroblewski is an American novelist whose first novel was The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. Enrolled in the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse 1979-1981 graduated with Bachelor of Science

Lisa Graves

Lisa Graves is a progressive activist who is the executive director of True North Research and president of the board of the Center for Media and Democracy. She served as executive director for CMD from 2009 to 2017, when she left to co-found Documented Investigations (now Documented.net). Right to Know, and has previously advised UnKoch My Campus and the Bill of Rights Defense Fund.

Craig Kusick

Craig Robert Kusick was an American professional baseball first baseman and designated hitter. He played in Major League Baseball for the Minnesota Twins and Toronto Blue Jays.

Dan Kapanke

Daniel E. Kapanke is an American politician who was a former Republican member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 32nd District from 2005 until losing his seat to Jennifer Shilling in the 2011 Wisconsin Senate recall elections.

John Dickert

John T. Dickert is an American Democratic politician and was the 57th mayor of Racine, Wisconsin. He subsequently served as administrator of the Division of State and Local Finance in the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, appointed by Governor Tony Evers in May 2019.

Robin Greenfield

Robin Greenfield, who until February 2023 called himself Rob Greenfield, is an American environmental activist and adventurer. He is known for raising awareness for sustainability issues, often through attention-grabbing tactics.

Chauncey H. Cooke

Chauncey Hibbard Cooke was a United States Army soldier from Buffalo County, Wisconsin who fought in the American Civil War. After the war ended, he worked as a schoolteacher, teaching former slaves in Texas.

Dan Davies

Daniel Joseph "Dan" Davies is an American actor, screenplay writer, and producer. Davies wrote, co-produced and starred in the comedy film Ed Gein, the Musical (2010), about the cannibalistic murderer and graverobber, Ed Gein.

Mary Kolar

Mary Masters Kolar is an American retired military officer and politician who is the Wisconsin Secretary of Veterans Affairs in the Administration of Governor Tony Evers. Enrolled in the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Graduated with Bachelor of Science in marketing

Mabel Deutrich

Mabel Evelyn Deutrich was an American archivist. In 1975 she was the highest ranking woman in the history of the National Archives. Enrolled in the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Graduated with associate degree in rural education Graduated with Bachelor of Science

Norris J. Kellman

Norris J. Kellman was a politician in the State of Wisconsin.

Athletics

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse has a strong athletic tradition, with several alumni making their mark in professional sports.

Baseball

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse baseball program started in 1910. Seven former Eagles have made it to the Major League level, with Webb Schultz being the first.

Nominating Deserving Alumni

The UWL Alumni Association encourages nominations for deserving alumni for the university’s distinguished alumni awards. Nominations are accepted throughout the year but must be received by October 1 to be considered for the award the following year.

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