College Directory

Ruthann Benson
Dean
Dean's Office ~ College of Liberal Studies
235 Morris Hall
608.785.8113
rbenson@uwlax.edu

Dr. Ruthann Benson has served as Dean of the College of Liberal Studies since July 1, 2009. Prior to this, she was Interim Dean for two years and Associate Dean/Director of the School of Arts and Communication for nine years. As dean, Dr. Benson provides leadership for programs and departments in the humanities, social sciences, educational studies, multidisciplinary programs and the School of Arts and Communication.  

Dr. Benson is a tenured professor in the Department of Theatre Arts, where she served for three years as Director of Theatre. Over the years she has taught courses in acting, directing, playwriting, theatre management, contemporary theatre, theatre appreciation and dramatic literature and theatre arts. Her directing credits at UW-L include "Comedy of Errors", "The Elephant Man", "Glass Menagerie", "Voice of the Praire", "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 ensembles on performance tours to Europe to coordinate university relations with exchange universities and sister cities. She chaired the UW-L Select Committee on Internationalization and administered the CLS London Study Program for many years. 

Dr. Benson holds a Ph.D. in Fine Arts/Theatre from Texas Tech University, an 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. 

Charles Martin-Stanley
Associate Dean
Dean's Office ~ College of Liberal Studies
235 Morris Hall
608.785.8113
cmartin-stanley@uwlax.edu

As Associate Dean, Dr. Charles Martin-Stanley provides leadership in the areas of diversity, assessment and enrollment management. He is the contact person in the Dean’s Office for the Social Sciences departments and programs, which include Political Science/Public Administration, Psychology, Sociology/Archaeology, Ethnic and Racial Studies and Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies. Dr. Martin-Stanley works closely with search and screen committees and monitors hiring within the college. He is also the coordinator of the New Faculty Mentoring Program. Dr. Martin-Stanley 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.

Dr. Martin-Stanley holds a Ph.D. in Social Psychology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook with a B.A. from Amherst College.

Julia Johnson
Associate Dean/Director of School of Arts and Communication
Dean's Office ~ College of Liberal Studies
235 Morris Hall
608.785.8113
jjohnson2@uwlax.edu

Dr. Johnson holds a Ph.D. in Communication and Culture from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and an M.A. in Communication from California State University, Northridge, and a B.A. from California State University, Long Beach. 

Nancy Arens
Administrative Specialist/Budget Officer
Dean's Office ~ College of Liberal Studies
235 Morris Hall
608.785.6635
narens@uwlax.edu

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.

Maripat Coughlin
Dean Assistant
Dean's Office ~ College of Liberal Studies
235 Morris Hall
608.785.8113
mcoughlin@uwlax.edu

Sandy Keller
Assistant to the Dean/Certification Officer
School of Arts and Communication and School of Education ~ College of Liberal Studies
275 Morris Hall
608.785.8123
skeller@uwlax.edu

Tim Walls
Academic Services Coordinator
School of Arts and Communication and School of Education ~ College of Liberal Studies
273 Morris Hall
608.785.6634
twalls@uwlax.edu

If you are looking for help with general education, course requirements, transfer information or admission requirements to certain programs, Tim can be of assistance. He works with students in the following programs: Art, Communication Studies, Economics, English, Modern Languages, Music, Philosophy, Psychology, Theatre and first-year pre-education (early adolescence-adolescence and early childhood-adolescence).

Tim is a double alum from UW-La Crosse with a B.S. in Mass Communication, and a M.S.E. in College Student Personnel. He currently lives in West Salem with his wife. Both of his children are out of the house and married.

Peter Stovall
Academic Services Coordinator
School of Arts and Communication & School of Education ~ College of Liberal Studies
276 Morris Hall
608.785.5454 (Reception)
608.785.8446 (Direct)
pstovall@uwlax.edu

Peter works closely with students and faculty in the Archaeology, Anthropology, Education, History, Political Science, Sociology and Women's Studies Programs. He can help you navigate their program requirements as well as their admission requirements. Prior to joining the Dean's office Peter spent fours years teaching foundations courses in the Department of Educational studies. He has taught Math and Social Studies at the secondary level and has a Masters degree in Philosophy from the University of Wyoming.

During his free time he manages the volatile emotions of his three year old son and enjoys Legos with his seven year old son. He also spends time pondering why razor blades cost so much money.

Kathy Elgin
Student Services Coordinator
College of Liberal Studies Academic Services
260 Thomas Morris Hall and 343 Graff Main Hall
(608) 785-5454
kelgin@uwlax.edu
Ms. Elgin assists UW-L psychology students in policies and procedures of the college such as: course selection, study abroad, off-campus course work evaluation, and academic performance matters. She advises students new to the psychology major, including freshman, transfer students, and UW-L students who change their major. She is passionate about the value of a liberal arts education and loves assisting students with course selection in the General Education Program, as well as, the psychology major.

Ms. Elgin earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Arts in Counseling with an emphasis in Postsecondary Student Development from the University of Iowa. She brings thirty years of advising, teaching and collaborating in college work with students, faculty and staff to her advisor role. Ms. Elgin uses a quote from the novel, "Middlemarch" by George Eliot, to guide her advising life. The quote is, “What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?”

Tammy Haakenson
University Services Associate 2
Academic Services ~ College of Liberal Studies
260 Morris Hall
608.785.5454
thaakenson@uwlax.edu

Tammy is the support person to the Assistant to the Dean/Certification Officer, and the Academic Service Coordinators.  She graduated from WTC and Viterbo University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.  Tammy enjoys spending time with her two grandchildren.