Larry’s life has been pretty much
dedicated to higher education.
His enjoyment of student government began at UW-Eau
Claire, where he earned his bachelor’s degree.
Several years later, he is still active in student
government, through his role as Student Association Advisor
at UW – La Crosse, which he greatly enjoys.
Larry’s master’s degree is from the
University of Iowa. His first position after earning his
master’s degree was at Bemidji State University in northern
Minnesota. He
earned his doctorate from the University of Northern
Colorado, and he has been at UW-La Crosse since 1985.
He really enjoys traveling and has had the
good fortune to travel internationally through his positions
at UW-L. His family and he traveled to Melbourne, Australia,
in the summer of 2001, where he spent two weeks at Monash
University teaching student development to their staff.
Spring break of 2006 presented another opportunity for
travel as he journeyed with other faculty members, to Hong
Kong, Guilin, and Nanning, China.
Although he likes to travel and
appreciates the opportunities when they arise, he always
enjoys coming home.
He grew up in southern Wisconsin in the small town of
Belleville, which is just south of Madison. Growing up in
Belleville fostered his interest in gardening and spending
time outdoors, which he continues to do today.
Larry is married to his wife, Ingrid, who
grew up in the Minneapolis area. They have three children,
all six years apart. Matt, the oldest, and just finished his
doctoral program in finance at the University of North
Carolina. The oldest daughter, Jessica, is in law school,
and Kristin is their third child and just graduated from
Central High School in La Crosse.
Larry has a deep interest in student
development and always looks forward to working with the
executive team and senators every year!
Background:
I was born in Chicago and grew up in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin,
where I went to Badger High School. I then completed my
undergraduate degree from UW-L with a major in Communication
studies with an emphasis in Advocacy and Cultural Criticism
and a minor in French in 2006. During my undergraduate
career, I was the PR exec, Small Group Coordinator, and
eventually Co-President of the La Crosse International
Friendship Exchange (L.I.F.E.). I also worked quite a few
jobs during my time at UW-L. I was a Desk Assistant in Drake
Hall, a phonathon caller for the Alumni Association, an ice
cream scooper, a tutor for the La Crosse school district,
and an International Peer Advisor. Last year, I worked in
the Admissions Office as the graduate assistant.
Interests:
I love to travel, see new places and learn about new
cultures. This past summer, I taught English in Poland and
it was an amazing experience! While I was in Europe, I also
visited Ireland, Germany, Sweden, and Ukraine. Aside from
travelling, I really enjoy cooking and trying new food. I
like to stay active and did gymnastics and track for most of
my life. My favorite sports teams are the Cubs, Bears, and
the Badgers. I also like to learn new languages, spend time
with my family, and hang out with my
friends.
I have been very fortunate to meet people through all of my
experiences (both in the U.S. and abroad)
who have given me new insight and perspectives on life. This
year, I look forward to meeting all of the
senators and executives and learning about their unique
experiences!
You can contact Melissa by:
email: murray.meli@uwlax.edu
phone: (262) 325-5339