College Directory
Office of the Dean
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Ruthann Benson Interim Dean Benson has worked in UW-L Administration for nine years as Associate Dean/Director of the School of Arts and Communication. At the college level, she has worked with financial management, personnel planning and hiring, public relations, enrollment management, strategic planning, event planning, fundraising, physical facilities planning and arts management and advocacy. She chairs the UW-L Select Committee on Internationalization and administers the London Study Program. Dr. Benson is tenured in the Department of Theatre Arts, where she served for three years as Director of Theatre and over a 13-year period taught courses in acting, directing, playwriting, theatre management, contemporary theatre, theater appreciation and dramatic literature & theatre arts (Honors Program). Her directing credits at UW-L include Comedy of Errors, The Elephant Man, Glass Menagerie, Voice of the Prairie, Pippin, 1940’s Radio Hour and Little Women. She has taught in the UW-L Scotland Summer Program, the UW-L Ireland Summer Program and has accompanied the UW-L Orchestra, Concert Choir and Jazz Ensemble on performance tours to Europe to coordinate university relations with exchange universities and sister cities. Dr. Benson holds a Ph.D. in Fine Arts/Theatre from Texas Tech University, a M.F.A. in Arts Management from University of Iowa and a B.S. in English and a B.A. in Speech/Theatre (with teacher certification) from Iowa State University. |
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Charles Martin-Stanley As Associate Dean, Charles provides leadership in the areas of diversity, assessment and enrollment management. He is the contact person in the Dean’s Office for the Social Science departments and programs, which include Political Science/Public Administration, Psychology, Sociology/Archaeology, Ethnic & Racial Studies and Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies. Charles works closely with Search & Screen Committees and monitors hiring within the College. He is also the coordinator of the New Faculty Mentoring Program. Charles is a tenured member of the Psychology Department and continues to teach a course on personality theories. He is an active participant in the Teaching for Diversity Faculty Seminar. |
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Margaret Finders |
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Billy Clow Billy currently serves as Interim Associate Dean for the College of Liberal Studies and Director of the School of Arts & Communication. Billy began his career at UW-L in 1996 on a one-year academic staff appointment. He spent the last eight years as chair of the Department of Theatre Arts as well as Scenic and Lighting Designer. During this time Theatre Arts greatly expanded as a department and has cemented a reputation for passion and professionalism in the region. Billy has served the university in many areas serving as a faculty senator, on the Joint Planning & Budget committee, Strategic Planning and numerous campus-wide search and screen committees including the most recent Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor searches. He received his MFA in Scenic Design from Illinois State University and his BA in Theatre From the University of Missouri-Columbia. Billy continues to design professionally and is a founding member of the Shelter Repertory Dance Theatre. Billy is a full professor in the department of Theatre Arts. |
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Nancy Arens Nancy is responsible for CLS financial management, including travel and other grants, the computer replacement program, personnel management, including IAS appointments, and CLS data collection and analysis. A graduate of WTC, Viterbo University and UW-L, Nancy has over 25 years of business experience and has lived and worked in Asia and Europe. She also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kenya in 2004-2005. |
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Carol Beard |
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Joey La Sarge Joey is the administrative support for the Director of the School of Education, Dr. Margaret Finders and Associate Deans Dr. Charles Martin-Stanley and Dr. Chris Bakkum in the College of Liberal Studies. Her office duties are often varied, including budget, travel, meeting scheduling and other needs as initiated by the deans. She is also the Morris Hall building manager, which includes room and equipment scheduling for meetings or special functions for faculty and staff and the reporting of any general maintenance needs for Morris Hall. Working in the College of Liberal Studies has been a rewarding experience for her. In her spare time, Joey is an avid gardener (flower and vegetable) during the summer months, and in the spring works in her sister’s greenhouse on days off and weekends. During the winter months she enjoys creating stain glass designs and crocheting. |
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Sandy Keller |
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Tim Walls |
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Troy Richter Troy works with students, faculty and staff to explain academic policies and procedures. He works with the Pre-Education Advising Program and provides advising assistance to students. He is also a liaison with the History, Political Science/Public Administration and Sociology/Archeology departments. Troy verifies degree completion of students in these departments. He attended UW-L as an undergraduate student and has worked in several areas on campus including Residence Life, Student Activities and Centers and Upward Bound. |
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Laurel Devitt Laurel is the support person to the Assistant to the Dean/Certification Officer, the Academic Service Coordinators and the DES Admissions Committee. Laurel is originally from Madison, WI. At UW-Madison she earned a B.A. in English. In her spare time she writes poetry and short stories and enjoys various crafting and landscaping/gardening projects. |
All phone numbers are area code 608. Building abbreviations are GMH (Graff Main Hall), CWH (Carl Wimberly Hall), TMH (Thomas Morris Hall) and CFA (Center for the Arts).
Department Chairs
| Department | Chair | Office | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art | Jennifer Terpstra williams.jenn@uwlax.edu |
107 CFA | (608) 785-8233 |
| Communication Studies | Ronda Smith smith.rond@uwlax.edu |
344 CFA | (608) 785-6703 |
| Educational Studies | Margaret Finders finders.marg@uwlax.edu |
235 Morris | (608) 785-8134 |
| English | Richard Sullivan sullivan.rich@uwlax.edu |
433A CWH | (608) 785-8296 |
| Modern Languages | Barbara Rusterholz rusterho.barb@uwlax.edu |
315F GMH | (608) 785-8319 |
| History | Charles
Lee lee.char@uwlax.edu |
403F CWH | (608) 785-8358 |
| Military Science | LTC Mark Johnson |
302 Wilder | (608) 785-8405 |
| Music | Greg Balfany balfany.greg@uwlax.edu |
233 CFA | (608) 785-8419 |
| Philosophy | Eric Kraemer kraemer.eric@uwlax.edu |
245E GMH | (608) 785-8423 |
| Pol Sci/Pub Admin | Cecilia Manrique manrique.ceci@uwlax.edu |
421A CWH | (608) 785-6642 |
| Psychology | Emily Johnson johnson.emi2@uwlax.edu |
335A GMH | (608) 785-6888 |
| Sociology/Archaeology | Kimberly Vogt vogt.kimb@uwlax.edu |
435A CWH | (608) 785-8458 |
| Theatre Arts | Margaret (Beth) Cherne cherne.beth@uwlax.edu |
153 CFA | (608) 785-6706 |
| Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies | Deborah Hoskins hoskins.debo@uwlax.edu |
426B CWH | (608) 785-8734 |
Undergraduate Program/Institute Directors
| Program/Institute | Director | Office | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Environmental Studies | Keith Beyer beyer.keit@uwlax.edu |
443 CH | (608) 785-8292 |
| Ethnic & Racial Studies | Jonathan Majak majak.jona@uwlax.edu |
223 GMH | (608) 785-6632 |
| Honors Program | Deborah Hoskins hoskins.debo@uwlax.edu |
336 CWH | (608) 785-6644 |
| International Studies | Eric Kraemer kraemer.eric@uwlax.edu |
315F GMH | (608) 785-8427 |
| Latino/a and Latin American Studies |
Víctor M. Macías-González macias.vict@uwlax.edu |
403J CWH | (608) 785-8349 |
| Mississippi Valley Archaeology Center (MVAC) | Joseph Tiffany tiffany.jose@uwlax.edu |
310 CWH | (608) 785-8463 |
Graduate Program/Institute Directors
| Program/Institute | Director | Office | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Affairs Administration (SAA) | Jodie Rindt rindt.jodi@uwlax |
349B GMH | (608) 785-6450 |
| Education-Professional Development (MEPD) | Rhonda Rabbit rabbit.rhon@uwlax.edu |
269 TMH | (608) 785-8146 |
| Reading | Delores Heiden heiden.delo@uwlax.edu |
240C TMH | (608) 785-8149 |
| Special Education | Carol Angell angell.caro@uwlax.edu |
300F TMH | (608) 785-8135 |
| School Psychology | Rob Dixon dixon.robe@uwlax.edu |
341A GMH | (608) 785-8445 |










