Distinguished UW Alumni to Headline Spotlight Lecture Series
October 2, 2008
By Courtney Renick-Mayer x’08
MADISON, Wis.—The University of Wisconsin-Madison will welcome five prominent graduates back to campus this fall as part of a special lecture series hosted by the Wisconsin Union Directorate (WUD) and sponsored by the Wisconsin Alumni Association (WAA).
By Courtney Renick-Mayer x’08
MADISON, Wis.—The University of Wisconsin-Madison will welcome five prominent graduates back to campus this fall as part of a special lecture series hosted by the Wisconsin Union Directorate (WUD) and sponsored by the Wisconsin Alumni Association (WAA).
Linnea Smith '81, MD'84 will lead off the new Distinguished Alumni Series with a talk on Oct. 9.
“Bringing some of these alumni back to campus to share their own stories is a way to demonstrate to students the amazing opportunities a university like UW provides,” said Farha Tahir x’09, associate director for the new series, a parallel program of WUD’s popular Distinguished Lecture Series. “I think students are sometimes unable to conceptualize life beyond college and the immensely important role they can have on others’ lives. This series will offer inspiration.”
Alumni chosen for the series represent a wide variety of careers and each strive in different ways to positively impact their local, national or global community.
The series will begin Thursday, Oct. 9, at 7:30 p.m. in Memorial Union with a talk from Linnea Smith ‘81, MD’84, recipient of a 2008 Distinguished Alumni Award from WAA and founder and medical director of the Yanomono Medical Clinic, located in the Amazon jungle of northeastern Peru. After leaving a successful practice in Wisconsin, Smith voluntarily gave up her salary and medical insurance to provide medical care to remote Peruvians, who once had to travel 50 miles by canoe to reach a doctor.
Other speakers this year will include:
- Nov. 20: Kaleem Caire ’00 and Lisa Peyton-Caire ’96, MS‘99, recipients of a 2008 Forward under 40 award from WAA. Together, they founded a Maryland-based non-profit organization committed to increasing school success of minority students and helped establish the nation’s first federally funded private school voucher program;
- March 12: Amanda Rockman ’01, JD’05, a WAA Forward under 40 award honoree who became one of America’s youngest judges and one of the leaders of the Ho Chunk nation; and
- Anthony Shadid ‘90, a past WAA Distinguished Alumni Award recipient who won the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting for his work during the Iraq war. Shadid is expected to speak in late March.
“Each speaker brings such a unique element to our series,” Tahir said. “I can see all of them demonstrating how the values instilled in us through a Wisconsin education have impacted the choices they have made.”
According to Amy Manecke, WAA’s director of student services, the series will allow students to personally interact with alumni and engage in a dialogue about taking the necessary steps after graduation to make a positive difference in the community.
“Sharing the Wisconsin experience really brings alumni and students together in a powerful way,” Manecke said. “It provides a common ground that will hopefully encourage students to be the change they wish to see in the world.”
According to Amy Manecke, WAA’s director of student services, the series will allow students to personally interact with alumni and engage in a dialogue about taking the necessary steps after graduation to make a positive difference in the community.
“Sharing the Wisconsin experience really brings alumni and students together in a powerful way,” Manecke said. “It provides a common ground that will hopefully encourage students to be the change they wish to see in the world.”
Events
- Basketball Viewing, Badger Men's vs. Northwestern - January 7
- Twin Cities - Bucks at Timberwolves - January 10
- Boston's Community Servings - January 15
- Winter Warm Up Happy Hour - January 15
