Faculty & Staff
Since this program was established in 1968, its faculty have consisted of student affairs administrators who hold high-level positions across the UW-L campus and also teach in the program. The knowledge and experiences they bring into the classroom has always been a definite strength of this program. This past summer, the hiring of a permanent full-time director of the program represents the first full-time position that the program has ever had in its history.
Below is a list of the current SAA faculty. All of them have been instrumental in making the program what it is today, both On-Campus and Online.
Dr. Chris Bakkum is the Registrar at UW-L. Previously,, she was the Program Director for the College Student Development & Administration program (now SAA) in addition to serving as the Assistant to the Dean in the College of Liberal Studies and as the Assessment Coordinator for the School of Education. Her Ph.D. is in Educational Administration from UW-Madison. Dr. Bakkum's primary research interests are in the history of higher education, educational administration, and teaching and learning. She is also interested in on-line education. Dr. Bakkum was the founding advisor for the UW-L chapter of the Golden Key National Honor Society and was named advisor of the year by the International Golden Key Organization. She was also a founding officer of the Wisconsin Academic Advising Association (WACADA), which is an affiliate of the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA). Dr. Bakkum served in a number of executive board positions with WACADA, including president. In 2006, she had the opportunity to represent the SAA program on a trip to China.
Dr. Jon A. Hageseth, LP, is the Director of the Counseling and Testing Center and a member of the Graduate Faculty. Dr. Hageseth received his M.A. and Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Ohio State University. Previously, Dr. Hageseth served as a Professor of Education and Psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University and Appalachian State University. He has taught courses in abnormal psychology, research design, experiential learning, and student development. Recently, he has had the opportunity for international work and has presented and consulted in the Ukraine, South Africa, Scotland, Russia, and China. His research and programming interests include depression, suicide prevention, parental involvement, needs assessment, and retention. Dr. Hageseth is a senior site visitor for the International Association of Counseling Services, Inc. (IACS) and holds memberships in the American College Personnel Association (ACPA), the National College Testing Association (NCTA), the Association of University and College Counseling Center Directors (AUCCCD), and is a Licensed Psychologist in Wisconsin.
Dr. Jeannie Hanley, NCC, LPC is a Staff Counselor in the Counseling and Testing Center. She received her M.S. in Counselor Education from Winona State University and earned her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. She currently teaches Interpersonal Leadership and Applied Research. Her current research interests include leadership, emotional intelligence, and wellness issues. Dr. Hanley serves on the La Crosse Suicide Prevention Task Force and the Greater La Crosse Mental Health Coalition. Her professional affiliations include the Wisconsin Coalition against Sexual Assault (WCASA), American Counseling Association (ACA), and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA). Dr. Hanley also holds National Counselor Certification (NCC) through the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC), is an Advanced Practice Social Worker in Wisconsin, and is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Wisconsin. Dr. Hanley is a member of Chi Sigma Iota Counseling, Academic, and Professional Honor Society.
Dr. Robert Hetzel is the Vice-Chancellor for Administration & Finance at UW-La Crosse. He graduated from UW-Whitewater with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Finance in 1977. He went back to Whitewater to get his Master of Science, Accounting and later his Master of Business Administration, Management. Thirteen years ago, he received the title of Doctor of Philosophy, Educational Leadership: College Students Personnel Administration. His last position included serving as Associate Vice President for Planning and Chief of Staff at the University of Northern Colorado. Dr. Hetzel will be teaching in the On-Campus program in his area of expertise -- University Budget & Finance.
Dr. Paula Knudson is the Assistant Chancellor & Dean of Students. She received her B.A. in Mathematics Education from the University of Iowa, Master of Public Administration from the University of Hartford in Connecticut, and Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Minnesota. Her division currently consists of Child Care Center, Counseling and Testing, Disability Resource Services, Student Health Center, Intercollegiate Athletics, Multicultural Student Services, Student Support Services, Recreational Sports, Residence Life, Student Activities and Centers, Student Life, Upward Bound, and the Dean of Students office. Her approach to student affairs is truly student-centered and concerned about the holistic development of the student and this approach is reflected in her approach to leadership and teaching.
Dr. Mick Miyamoto is the Assistant Dean of Students in the Office of Student Life. He graduated from UW-L in 1979 with a baccalaureate in Art Education. After teaching middle school art and coaching high school football and track for five years in the early 1980s, he completed a M.S.E. in College Student Personnel also here at UW-L. In 1985, he made a decision to pursue his Ph.D. at UW-Madison in Education Administration (Higher Ed emphasis), and supported this endeavor by working as a Graduate Assistant Football Coach for the Badgers. Post Madison, he worked as an Assistant Director of Career Services and Assistant Football Coach at UW-River Falls (1987-1989) and then returned to La Crosse in December of 1989 to the Dean of Students Office. In addition to teaching in the SAA program, Dr. Miyamoto serves as the Offensive Coordinator of the UW-L football team.
Dr. Nick Nicklaus is the Director of Residence Life. His degrees include a B.A. in History and Sociology from Bowling Green State University, a M.A. in College Student Personnel from Bowling Green State University, and an Ed.D. in Adult and Community Education (cognate in College Student Personnel) from Ball State University. He has previous graduate teaching experience at Ball State University. His research interests are in student development theory, student learning, and student needs/issues. He is very active in several housing professional organizations and has served as a faculty member for the National Housing Training Institute and currently is the treasurer of the Association of College and University Housing Officers-International (ACUHO-I).
Dr. Jodie Rindt is the Program Director of the SAA program and is currently teaching in the Online program. Her M.S. is in Counselor Education and her Ph.D. is in Counseling Psychology from UW-Madison. For the past few years, she was the SAA Online Coordinator and taught in both the CSDA and Psychology departments. Previously, she spent the past 20 years as a Counselor/Psychologist in the Counseling & Testing Center. Dr. Rindt's primary interests are in higher education, international studies, and online education. In addition, she has a special interest in athletics and is the UW-L NCAA Faculty Athletic Representative. Dr. Rindt had the opportunity to represent the SAA program on a trip to China in 2006 and in London this past May with hopes of making more international connections for the program in the future..
Dr. Larry Ringgenberg is the Director of Student Activities and Centers. Dr. Ringgenberg holds a Master's in College Student Development from the University of Iowa and a Ph.D. from the University of Northern Colorado in College Student Personnel Administration. His primary research interests include student development, student involvement, participatory management, and empowering employees. Dr. Ringgenberg also travelled to China to represent the SAA program and has more travel plans in his future as well.
Ms. Barbara Stewart is the Associate Dean of Campus Climate & Diversity. She has been at UW-La Crosse since the fall of 1999 in the capacity of Director of Multicultural Student Services. She achieved her undergraduate and Masters Degrees at Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. In addition to her responsibilities in Multicultural Student Services, she is an associate graduate faculty member in the Student Affairs Administration and Masters of Educational and Professional Development Programs. Her research interests include diversity, cultural leadership, and staff training and development.
Dr. Mary Beth Vahala is the Associate Director of Student Activities and Centers. She received a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Administration from Ball State University, a Masters degree in Counseling and Personnel Administration from Western Michigan University, and a Ed.D. in Counseling and Human Development from the University of Georgia. Dr. Vahala has had a variety of experiences in CSDA: Hall Director, Coordinator of Student Organizations, Leadership Programming, Career Counseling, and Academic Advising. Research interests include management, leadership, and environments. She has served as past president of the Wisconsin College Personnel Association and currently serves on the American College Personnel Association's Membership Core Council.
Accreditation
The SAA program meets North Central Association (NCA) accreditation standards and the Council for the Advancement of Standards (CAS) requirements.