Christine DeSmet ’76, MA’87 to Judge WWA’s Annual Contest
- Mar. 30, 2023

Christine DeSmet, UW–Madison distinguished faculty associate (retired), is honored to judge the 2023 fiction category of the Wisconsin Writers Association (WWA) 74th annual contest. Christine was also asked to be a keynote speaker at the 75th celebration conference of the WWA, to be held October 6–7, 2023, in Brookfield, WI. The WWA began in 1948 as the Wisconsin Regional Writers Association, founded by Madison-based UW Extension professor Robert Gard. Christine created the Writers’ Institute conference and the Write-by-the-Lake Writer’s Workshop & Retreat, both decades-long programs attended by writers from across the country until the writing and arts units in UW–Madison Continuing Studies were shuttered during the pandemic. Christine continues her teaching as a private writing coach and is a multi-published author.
More Alumni Notes
Samuel Bowie Gardiner ’63, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel and expert in war gaming and military strategy, died November 25, 2025, in Roanoke, VA, at the age of 84. Gardiner, influenced by the World War II service of his father at Omaha Beach and...
The Peace History Society has given its inaugural Edited Book Prize to The Oxford Handbook of Peace History, edited by Charles Howlett, Deborah Buffton PhD’87, Christian Peterson, and David Hostetter. Deborah received her PhD in history from UW–Ma...
Aziz Hoodbhoy, Class of 1965, passed away on December 19, 2025. He cherished his time at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and his memories of campus life and Lake Mendota. He talked “fondly” of Wisconsin winters and how his snow sho...
Gerald Keith Erickson, Class of 1964, passed away on November 10, 2025. He had a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering.
At its annual meeting in October 2025, the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) presented the 2025 CSEP Honour Award to Peter WR Lemon PhD’79. This award is designed to honor a CSEP member who has made exceptional contributions to the f...
Glen Zipper ’95, Oscar-winning producer of such documentaries as John Candy: I Like Me and IMAX’s The Blue Angels will be adding scripted projects to his filmography with Sony’s upcoming science fiction film Grand Gear, from Godzilla Minus O...
Alanna Goldman ’20 founded a sports media company, 5wins, based on her own experience growing up a Badger sports fan. As her interest in women’s college sports grew, she realized that understanding athletes as people and the passion of the w...
Samuel Bowie Gardiner ’63, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel and expert in war gaming and military strategy, died November 25, 2025, in Roanoke, VA, at the age of 84. Gardiner, influenced by the World War II service of his father at Omaha Beach and...
The Peace History Society has given its inaugural Edited Book Prize to The Oxford Handbook of Peace History, edited by Charles Howlett, Deborah Buffton PhD’87, Christian Peterson, and David Hostetter. Deborah received her PhD in history from UW–Ma...
Aziz Hoodbhoy, Class of 1965, passed away on December 19, 2025. He cherished his time at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and his memories of campus life and Lake Mendota. He talked “fondly” of Wisconsin winters and how his snow sho...
Gerald Keith Erickson, Class of 1964, passed away on November 10, 2025. He had a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering.
At its annual meeting in October 2025, the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) presented the 2025 CSEP Honour Award to Peter WR Lemon PhD’79. This award is designed to honor a CSEP member who has made exceptional contributions to the f...
Glen Zipper ’95, Oscar-winning producer of such documentaries as John Candy: I Like Me and IMAX’s The Blue Angels will be adding scripted projects to his filmography with Sony’s upcoming science fiction film Grand Gear, from Godzilla Minus O...
Alanna Goldman ’20 founded a sports media company, 5wins, based on her own experience growing up a Badger sports fan. As her interest in women’s college sports grew, she realized that understanding athletes as people and the passion of the w...
Samuel Bowie Gardiner ’63, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel and expert in war gaming and military strategy, died November 25, 2025, in Roanoke, VA, at the age of 84. Gardiner, influenced by the World War II service of his father at Omaha Beach and...
The Peace History Society has given its inaugural Edited Book Prize to The Oxford Handbook of Peace History, edited by Charles Howlett, Deborah Buffton PhD’87, Christian Peterson, and David Hostetter. Deborah received her PhD in history from UW–Ma...
Aziz Hoodbhoy, Class of 1965, passed away on December 19, 2025. He cherished his time at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and his memories of campus life and Lake Mendota. He talked “fondly” of Wisconsin winters and how his snow sho...
Gerald Keith Erickson, Class of 1964, passed away on November 10, 2025. He had a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering.
At its annual meeting in October 2025, the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) presented the 2025 CSEP Honour Award to Peter WR Lemon PhD’79. This award is designed to honor a CSEP member who has made exceptional contributions to the f...
Glen Zipper ’95, Oscar-winning producer of such documentaries as John Candy: I Like Me and IMAX’s The Blue Angels will be adding scripted projects to his filmography with Sony’s upcoming science fiction film Grand Gear, from Godzilla Minus O...
Alanna Goldman ’20 founded a sports media company, 5wins, based on her own experience growing up a Badger sports fan. As her interest in women’s college sports grew, she realized that understanding athletes as people and the passion of the w...


