Campus Connection

How UWL experiences sparked lifelong love for careers

Love doesn’t typically arrive in a single moment. Instead, it often grows through experiences, relationships and unexpected opportunities. At UW-La Crosse, many students find themselves falling in love with a career path through hands-on learning, mentorship and involvement across campus.  

The alumni featured here discovered passions they didn’t initially set out to pursue, but ones that ultimately shaped their lives and work. Their stories highlight how UWL helps turn connection and curiosity into careers that students truly love.  

Something so special about the REC

Sam Mulrooney has many fond memories of her first year at UWL. Early mornings and late nights on campus were often spent folding towels or tracking down missing basketballs during her part-time job at the Recreational Eagle Center (REC). While these tasks may have seemed trivial, Mulrooney remembers them as genuinely fun — largely because of the strong relationships she formed with her fellow REC staff members. 

Under former REC leaders Mo McAlpine and Sue White, the REC felt less like a job and more like a family, Mulrooney says. Her coworkers quickly became close friends, united by a shared commitment to both work and play. That sense of camaraderie extended beyond daily operations to larger community events hosted throughout the year — from the annual Turkey Trot to regional and national intramural tournaments held at the REC. While helping plan these events was optional, Mulrooney says opting out felt like “missing out.” 

“There was just something truly special about working with a team of motivated individuals to create meaningful, impactful experiences that we could all be proud of,” she recalls. 

It was through these experiences that Mulrooney discovered her passion for event coordination — a passion that has shaped her career for more than 20 years. Since graduating, she has planned events across Wisconsin and beyond, promoting physical fitness, community connection, scientific discovery and more, all with the goal of enhancing lives. 

Her deep involvement with REC programming inspired Mulrooney to further explore campus recreation through a graduate assistantship with the Rec Department at UNC-Greensboro. After two years in North Carolina, she returned to Wisconsin, continuing her work in large-scale event planning through roles with the Badger State Games and a for-profit community sports facility, where she coordinated youth programs, adult leagues and recreational tournaments. 

Today, Mulrooney continues to grow her career as a program manager at the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery on UW-Madison’s campus. She plans science-based public events and programs and serves as director of the statewide Wisconsin Science Festival — an annual 10-day celebration of science, technology, engineering, art and math held each October. 

“It’s a rewarding career that still allows me to collaborate with incredible individuals and be part of a hardworking team — just like I experienced at UWL,” she says. “My time at the REC helped me understand not only event and program development, but also the importance of building meaningful relationships.” 

Outside of work, Mulrooney carries the REC spirit into her everyday life, coaching rec and club basketball, soccer and softball for her children, ages 7 and 9, and cheering on Wisconsin sports with her husband — whom she met at UWL. 

Discovering a love of public service

Grant Mathu ’23 & ’25, credits UWL Assistant Professor of Political Science and Public Administration Jeremy Arney with encouraging students to step beyond the classroom and engage directly in local government. Mathu took that advice to heart. 

“What began as curiosity turned into service,” he says. 

While still a student, Mathu ran for office and, at age 18, was elected in 2020 to the La Crosse County Board of Supervisors. He represented a district that included much of UWL’s campus, bringing a student perspective directly into local government. 

“Listening to fellow students, serving my neighbors and ensuring youth representation in local government brought my coursework to life in a way I never could have imagined,” Mathu says. “I wasn’t just learning about government — I was actively practicing it.” 

Mathu continues to serve on the county board today, now representing downtown La Crosse. In his day-to-day work, he regularly draws on what he learned at UWL — from navigating complex public budgets to participating in local economic development and housing initiatives, and providing thoughtful, accountable representation to the community. 

“My education didn’t just prepare me for a career; it equipped me to serve,” he says. 

Mathu discovered his passion for public administration and political science at UWL, graduating in May 2023 with a double major in both fields. He was especially drawn to the practical, nonpartisan ways local governments can solve problems and improve people’s lives. 

He also found a second calling at UWL. After completing his undergraduate degree, Mathu stayed in La Crosse to earn a master’s degree in student affairs administration, graduating in May 2025. His experiences in local government and collaboration with campus partners deepened his appreciation for the role higher education plays in expanding opportunity through advising, academic support and community building. 

While completing his graduate program, Mathu worked full time as a campus community safety coordinator at Western Technical College, where he managed staff, supported crisis response efforts, and connected students with basic-needs resources. 

“Once again, what I was learning in the classroom immediately translated into real-world impact,” he says. 

In mid-2024, when a residence hall director position unexpectedly opened, Mathu stepped into the interim role — confident in his ability to lead, support students and manage complex situations because of his UWL education. 

“The skills I gained allowed me to serve authentically and effectively in roles I never would have imagined for myself before attending UWL,” he says. “Balancing full-time work, public service and college was not always easy. But UWL made it meaningful and worthwhile. What I truly fell in love with at UWL was purpose — and the people, campus and broader La Crosse community that helped me grow while I worked to support others.” 

Falling in love with Residence Life

Sara Olson’s career path began to shift when she was quite literally on one — biking across a bridge to Pettibone Park as a UWL student. As she pedaled alongside a friend, the two talked about their futures, a conversation Olson still remembers vividly. 

When Olson arrived at UWL, she planned to attend medical school and become a pediatrician. But college opened the door to unexpected opportunities, including becoming a resident assistant in Hutchinson Hall as a sophomore. In that role, Olson found fulfillment in building community, supporting residents, and taking on leadership responsibilities — work she genuinely enjoyed. 

During that bike ride, her friend posed a simple question that stayed with her. 

“My friend asked if I had ever considered a career in student affairs, noticing how much I seemed to enjoy being an RA,” Olson says. 

The question lingered throughout the summer. 

“When I returned for my junior year and my second year as an RA in Laux Hall, I fully embraced the idea of pursuing student affairs and residence life as a career path,” she says. “I was fortunate to have one of the hall directors (Julie Faust) at the time as an incredible mentor.  She provided so much guidance and helped me gain specific and valuable experiences as an undergraduate student to set me up for success in the future.” 

Now, 20 years after graduating, Olson is still working in university housing as the director of Campus Living Facilities at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona. 

“I credit my experience with UWL Residence Life for helping me discover a career I truly love,” she says. 

Lights, camera, career love

Dakota Nyberg, a UWL graduate and owner of his own video production company, works in a field that clearly demands both technical skill and creativity. What may be less obvious, he says, is how heavily his success depends on business building and marketing — which he estimates make up about 90% of his job. 

“Without a background in business and marketing — or at least the willingness to learn it — most creatives stay freelance,” Nyberg says. “UWL helped me fall in love with business first, and production second. That’s what’s helped me become successful.” 

A marketing major, Nyberg discovered his passion for business while at UWL, even as his interest in video production continued to grow. He created short films while learning to use cameras and drones, and he also collaborated with the business department to produce video content. Throughout his time on campus, he steadily built a freelance photography and videography business. 

Along the way, Ken Graham, associate professor of marketing, played a key role in inspiring Nyberg. 

“I felt like I was learning things that could be directly applied to building my business,” Nyberg says. 

During his final semester at UWL, a UWL alumnus offered Nyberg a video production job with competitive pay, long-term growth potential, and ownership equity. While the offer was appealing, it ultimately clarified what he wanted most: to own his own business. 

After graduating in December 2023, Nyberg drew on the business and marketing knowledge he gained at UWL to launch DMM Productions, turning his passion into a company of his own. 

No wrong path to passion

Nick Lechnir, ’95, a double major in psychology and sociology, discovered his passion for the social sciences at UWL through a deep interest in human behavior and motivation. Shaped by childhood experiences, he was particularly drawn to understanding addiction and neuropathology. 

“My goal was to build a career in clinical psychology or mental health counseling to help others heal from childhood trauma, or eventually pursue a Ph.D. and teach at the college level,” Lechnir says. 

As he progressed through his studies, however, Lechnir began to see how psychological and sociological principles applied broadly — not only in clinical settings, but also within organizations, systems and professional relationships. That expanded perspective ultimately led him down an unexpected, but connected, career path in information technology. 

“I now have a wonderful long-term career in learning and development administration and systems management/analysis,” he says. 

Lechnir credits many professors, courses, and hands-on experiences at UWL for shaping his thinking and guiding his journey. Among the most influential were Lou Stamps (Abnormal Psychology), Harry Gardiner (Developmental Psychology), Robert Bilby (Sociology), Phillip Berg (Religion and Society), Joseph Motivans (Sociology), Bart VanVoorhis (Experimental Psychology), and Ryan McKelley (Clinical Psychology), with whom he connected through a Careers in Psychology alumni panel. 

An internship and field experience at Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse also proved to be a pivotal turning point, along with ongoing connections to professionals working in psychology- and sociology-related fields. 

“The most valuable lesson I learned is that everyone’s path is different, and there is no right or wrong route,” Lechnir says. “Keeping an open mind to new opportunities was the key to building a successful and fulfilling career.”