The newest class of WiSys Ambassadors, a record-setting 22 students, will work throughout the year to enhance WiSys’ connections with the research community on 10 of the regional comprehensive UW System campuses.
The WiSys Ambassador program began in 2014 with just four students on two campuses to strengthen the foundation’s outreach efforts. Now in its third year, the program has already made an immense impact on WiSys’ presence and visibility in the UW System, and this year’s class is excited to take this goal a step further.
“I am very committed to connecting people with opportunities to grow,” says UW Oshkosh Ambassador Alex Horkman, who transferred from UW-Fox Valley this year. “To be successful it is all about the connections you make. You can have a great idea, but if you do not get in touch with the right people it will never go anywhere. By helping others make those connections I hope to network as well to improve my chances of being successful in the future.”
Over the next year, each ambassador will commit five to 10 hours each month to enhancing the understanding and awareness of WiSys’ role across the campuses. They will work together with the Regional Associates on their campuses to plan events, host educational workshops, hold meetings with students and staff, and present to academic departments.
Beyond being the largest ambassador class to date, this year’s network of ambassadors is also the most diverse. Their areas of study range from biochemistry to environmental planning and policy, to business management and marketing and everywhere in between. They include international and graduate students and represent a variety of backgrounds.
The team met in Madison this week to receive training in intellectual property, licensing and the ins and outs of WiSys’ complicated portfolio. They also participated in interactive role playing to help practice common situations they may encounter and begin getting to know each other.
Student Ambassadors by Campus
- UW-Eau Claire: Anna Scheunemann
- UW-Green Bay: Kayla Billett and Evan Miller
- UW-La Crosse: Rachel Butler, Anna Dineen and Rachel Zastrow
- UW-Oshkosh: Alex Horkman and Jeshanah Zolkowski
- UW-Parkside: Thalia Aleman, Jacky Meremable and Haley Willis
- UW-Platteville: Joshua Dust, Paige Hagen, Katie Schulteis and Michael Viola
- UW-River Falls: Aiyappa Bachettira, Siri Doyle and Anna Miller
- UW-Stevens Point: Steven Macherey
- UW-Stout: Shelby Kaufer
- UW-Whitewater: Amanda Danno