Skip Navigation

WAA Alumni Advisory Council

The Wisconsin Alumni Association (WAA) Alumni Advisory Council provides advice and support to the Wisconsin Alumni Association, collectively working to advance the mission of the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association. The council celebrates the value and achievements of the alumni network and works to build pride and engage the alumni community. The members of the WAA Alumni Advisory Council act as informed champions for alumni interests and for WAA in promoting the welfare of the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Meet the Council

Leadership

Ben Havn

Ben Havn ’99, MBA’04
Chair
BS economics and political science, MBA investment and banking
Minnesota

Katie Hepler

Katie Hepler ’07
Vice Chair
BA journalism and French
Minnesota

Purnita Fields

Purnita Fields JD’11
Past Chair
Washington, DC


Members

Miriah Albouras

Miriah Albouras ’12
BA Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian studies
Wisconsin

James Amaro JD’02
Texas

Shaun Auckland

Shaun Aukland ’10
BA communication arts
California

Eric Buss

Eric Buss ’90, JD’96
BBA investment and banking, and accounting
Minnesota

Jemmy Chayadi ’00
BS mechanical engineering
Indonesia

Erin Elliott Kazik ’03

Erin Elliott Kazik ’03
MS life sciences communication
Wisconsin

Dave Florin

Dave Florin ’92
BA international relations
Wisconsin

Lillie Grace Faulkner
Wisconsin

Mark Guthier

Mark Guthier
Wisconsin

Charlie Hoslet

Charlie Hoslet JD’89
Wisconsin

Ali Khaleel

Ali Khaleel ’15
BS secondary education
Illinois

Rob Kozich ’96
BA french
Czech Republic

Jack Lindenberg ’19
BBA human resources management
Wisconsin

Amanda Manteufel ’01

Amanda Manteufel ’01
BS civil engineering
Wisconsin

Cindy Mason

Cindy Mason ’00
BBA accounting
Wisconsin

Jay Makowski MBA’18
MBA general management
Wisconsin

John Mills ’85
BBA Marketing
California

Michael Morgan

Michael Morgan ’78, JD’84
BA communication arts
Wisconsin

Aubrey Nigh ’19
BS food science
Illinois

Jeff Powers ’92

Jeff Powers ’92
BBA marketing
New York

Erin Ryan

Erin Ryan ’07, MS’09
BA journalism and communication arts, MS educational leadership and policy analysis
Oregon

Amy Salinas Westmoreland ’06
BA women’s studies, BA english
Washington

Nancy Schanke ’76
BS occupational therapy
Wisconsin

Patty Shinners

Patty Shinners ’88, MS’93
BS nursing, MS nursing
Wisconsin

Kris Theiler

Kris Theiler ’88
BS industrial engineering
California

Ryan Tobiasz ’02

Ryan Tobiasz ’02
BS behavioral science & law and psychology
Illinois

LéAndrea Vernon

LéAndrea Vernon ’06, MA’14
BA psychology, women’s studies
MS educational leadership and administration
Florida

Will Vraney
Wisconsin

Walter Williams

Walter Williams ’13, MS’16
BS rehabilitation psychology, MS rehabilitation psychology
Wisconsin

Serving on the WAA Alumni Advisory Council

Role of the Council

The Wisconsin Alumni Association Alumni Advisory Council comprises committed and enthusiastic alumni who volunteer their counsel, ambassadorship, and insights to make possible the widespread activity and impact of the Wisconsin Alumni Association.

The council has two roles. The first is to serve as a liaison between WAA’s executive leadership and the greater UW alumni community. In fulfilling this mission, the council welcomes alumni feedback, input, and advice on engagement and advancement initiatives.

The second role is that of leadership. Council members lead alumni advocacy efforts on behalf of WAA and the university. They also exemplify leadership as ambassadors of the university and as stewards of WAA. In addition, members encourage fellow alumni to advance their alma mater through participation in WAA events and fundraising.

Through their efforts, council members encourage engagement, outreach, grassroots support, and lifelong commitment and involvement among UW–Madison’s nearly 450,000 alumni.

How Members Are Selected

WAA Alumni Advisory Council advisers reflect the community of UW–Madison alumni in geography, age, ethnicity, university involvement, areas of expertise, and academic and professional fields. This diverse and expert set of members is selected based on a variety of criteria, including their experience and interest in matters related to alumni relations, WAA, and the university.

The WAA Alumni Advisory Council Nominating Committee conducts an annual nomination and selection process with broad input from current and past council members, Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association staff, campus, and alumni at large. Selections for open positions are made by April 1 each year for a three-year term, which begins July 1.

Contact Us

To provide input, ask questions, or just to get in touch, contact the council at AdvisoryCouncil@uwalumni.com.

Discover the many ways you can live a more Badger-filled life by paging through WAA’s comprehensive guide. Get the guide >