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. 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 and staff. All of them have been instrumental in making the program what it is today, both On-Campus and Online.

         

Dr. Ahmed Ali has dual appointments in the SAA department and the School of Education. He received his MA in International Affairs and a Ph.D in instructional technology from Ohio University. Other trainings he received include school leadership from Harvard University. His scholarly activities focus on technology and pedagogy, constructivist instruction and digital divide. Although he usually teaches instructional technology courses, he has in the past taught curriculum, research, and diversity courses. He has also been involved in grant development and administration and k-12 education. Dr. Ali is also a reviewer and editorial board member for several journals and organizations.

Nizam Arain, J.D.,B.A., is the Assistant to the Vice Chancellor for Administration & Finance at UW–La Crosse. He received his J.D. degree from the University of Michigan and his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Illinois. Before coming to UW–L, he practiced law in Chicago for many years. In addition to the "Legal Issues in Higher Education" course in the SAA Department, he has taught courses in American Government and Constitutional Law for UW–L's Department of Political Science and Public Administration, and has given numerous guest lectures on issues of diversity, civil rights, civil liberties, and the legal system. Nizam is an advisor for Awareness Through Performance, UW-L's award-winning student performance troupe.

Dr. Chris Bakkum earned her Ph.D. in Educational Administration Higher Education with a distributed minor in Teaching and Learning from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has taught in the Student Affairs Administration graduate program since 1999, holds full graduate faculty status at UW-La Crosse, and is a core faculty member in the Department of Student Affairs Administration. Dr. Bakkum's areas of expertise include academic advising, enrollment management, higher education policy and curriculum development, and the history of higher education. In addition to her faculty work in the Department of Student Affairs Administration, Dr. Bakkum serves as the University Registrar.

Sara Flack,B.S., is the SAA Program Assistant.  She earned a degree in Nuclear Medicine Technology from UW-La Crosse and worked as a Nuclear Medicine Technologist for eleven years.  She has returned to the workforce after spending two years as a stay-at-home mom.

Dr. Jon Hageseth serves as an Affiliate Graduate Faculty member in the Department of Student Affairs and Administration.  He is also an Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse (UWL). Jon worked in the field of college mental health and served as the Director of the Counseling and Testing Center at UWL from 1989 until his retirement in 2009. Dr. Hageseth received his M.A. and Ph. D. in Counseling Psychology from Ohio State University and has held faculty rank as a Professor of Education and Psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University and Appalachian State University.  As a psychologist he has taught courses in abnormal psychology, research design, experiential learning, interpersonal leadership and student development theory.  Dr. Hageseth has had the opportunity to consult and present internationally in the Ukraine, South Africa, Scotland, Russia, and China and has been approved as a Fulbright Senior Specialist nominee. He holds a membership in NASPA and serves as an editor for the Journal of Counselling and Development in Higher Education Southern Africa.  Jon has been with the Student Affairs and Administration program since 1989 teaching courses, chairing theses, and advising students.

Dr. Jeannie Hanley, LPC, NCC, is a core faculty member in the Department of Student Affairs Administration who holds full graduate faculty status.  She has been in Student Affairs at UW-L since 1987 and gained Emeritus status at UW-L after serving as a Staff Counselor in the Counseling and Testing Center from 1994 through March 2012.  Dr. Hanley received her Master’s degree in Counselor Education from Winona State University and earned her Doctorate in Education in Leadership in Higher Education from St. Mary's University of Minnesota.  Her research interests include leadership, student development, and wellness issues.  Dr. Hanley serves on the La Crosse area Suicide Prevention Board of Directors and advocates for mental health wellness. She also is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and an Advanced Practice Social Worker in Wisconsin, holds National Counselor Certification (NCC) through the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC), and 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 -- and the Legal course online.

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. 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. Before being appointed as the Program Director, 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 (Go Eagles!). Dr. Rindt had the opportunity to represent the SAA program on a trip to China and in London with hopes of making more international connections for the program in the future.

Dr. Larry Ringgenberg is the Director of University 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, empowering employees and student learning outcomes . Dr. Ringgenberg also travelled to China to represent the SAA program and conducted a student development workshop in Melbourne, Australia.

Barbara Stewart is the Associate Dean for Campus Climate and Diversity, in the Division of Student Affairs, UW-La Crosse.  Previous to this position she was Director of the office of Multicultural Student Services.  Barbara achieved her Bachelors and Masters degrees at Iowa State University.  She has worked in the areas of housing, orientation, multicultural affairs and diversity.  Barbara enjoys working with students, faculty and staff around issues of diversity, inclusion and social justice.

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 served on the American College Personnel Association's Membership Core Council for six years.

Dr. Jörg Vianden is in his second year as SAA's first tenure-track Assistant Professor. Jörg is originally from Germany but has lived in the U.S. for nearly 20 years. As a graduate of Luther College and the The University of Iowa, Jörg is strongly rooted in the Upper Midwest. Prior to joining the faculty at UW-L, Jörg worked in residence life for four different research universities in four states. His Ed.D. is in Higher Education/Student Affairs from Indiana University.  This past year, Jörg conducted UW-L grant-funded research on college student persistence in Wisconsin and in Germany.  In addition, he presented and published research on African American men in college, college parents' transition, a qualitative methodological critique, and faculty engagement in students' co-curricular activities.  He has taught several courses in the SAA curriculum including History, Applied Research, Internship, Diversity, Administration, and Legal Issues.  He is very excited about the opportunities the partnerships with German universities present to SAA students and faculty over the coming years.  He has been involved in national student affairs organizations for over a decade and serves on the editorial review board of NASPA's Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice (JSARP).

Accreditation

The SAA program meets North Central Association (NCA) accreditation standards and the Council for the Advancement of Standards (CAS) requirements.