Posted 8 a.m. Friday, Oct. 17, 2025
UWL’s Speer, Ericson recognized for early-career success
Two up-and-coming leaders at UW-La Crosse are being recognized for making a difference in their careers and in the community.
Jake Speer, director of Web & Design Services, and Andrew Ericson, Sustainability Program manager, have been named 2025 Rising Stars under 40 by the 7 Rivers Alliance and River Valley Media Group.
Rising Stars from across the community will be recognized at a reception and award presentation Monday, Oct. 20, at the La Crescent Area Event Center.
Speer started at UWL in 2013 as a content manager and designer. In 2020, he was promoted to his current position, in which he oversees web design and development, graphic design, visual brand strategy, and digital signage across campus.
Although much of Speer’s work happens behind the scenes, he plays a crucial role in establishing UWL’s reputation among the public, including prospective students and families.
“A lot of people tell me they appreciate the website because it’s really their first gateway to UWL,” Speer says. “The web is where they get their information, even if we can’t see them. When I look at reports and page views, it blows me away how many people are looking at the website at any given second.”
Speer’s contributions to campus have been celebrated through two recent UWL awards: the Academic Staff Excellence Award and the Friend of Graduate & Extended Learning Award, both of which he received in 2023.
The nature of web development means Speer is often called upon when something breaks down or someone is dissatisfied. Being recognized for the positive work he and his colleagues have achieved makes the award particularly meaningful.
“This award was a great reminder that the work my team and I do matters, and we impact people in a lot of good ways, too,” Speer says. “I often question my own abilities or second guess myself. This award helps me know I’m on the right track. It’s a major achievement for me both professionally and mentally.”
Ericson, ’22, became the university’s Sustainability Program manager shortly after earning his bachelor’s degree from UWL in chemistry: environmental science.
In his three years on campus, Ericson has spearheaded several initiatives that have made UWL a more sustainable campus, including:
- Participation in the national Week without Driving campaign, aimed at reducing emissions caused by commuting and sparking conversation about sustainable transportation strategies
- The Reduce, Reuse, Reimagine program — launched in partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Greater La Crosse — which diverts furniture and other items from the landfill during campus move-out (The program received the 2024 State Recycling Excellence Award from the Wisconsin DNR)
- And a marketing campaign that led to a significant increase in UWL students using the city of La Crosse’s Municipal Transit System.
Ericson’s passion for sustainability started early in life, but it was reignited during his sophomore year at UWL, when he joined the Students for Sustainability organization.
“I remember being energized by the people around me, a group of passionate do-gooders trying to make real progress on sustainability,” he says.
In his career, Ericson has learned that progress in an emerging area like sustainability can be difficult to define and measure. The Rising Stars award, he says, goes a long way toward validating his work and the impact it has made on the community.
“It is always nice to be recognized for good work, and I am very grateful for it,” Ericson says. “My role often involves navigating new areas, sometimes without a clear roadmap, so it can be hard to know if what I’m doing is making an impact. Recognition like this is a good reminder, that yes, my work is moving the ball forward, and I should keep trudging ahead!”