Larry Ringgenberg: Faculty Advisor

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!

Melissa Murray: Graduate Student Advisor  

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