News releases
TO: Editors, news directors
FROM: John Lucas, University Communications and Marketing, 608-262-8287 or 608-206-0310, jplucas@wisc.edu
RE: UW grads poised for the new economy
University Communications and Marketing has compiled a set of compelling grads heading off to employment in high-tech fields, along with information on the current job market, which is showing signs of improvement. All are reachable by cell phone this weekend, upon request.
Steve Schroeder, assistant dean in the Wisconsin School of Business, says the number of employer visits is up this year by 12 percent and WSoB had record employer attendance at its fall and spring career fairs. Schroeder is reachable at 608-265-3771.
Jacqueline Carville, Burlington, Wis.
Genetics and Life Science Communication
Marketing Specialist at DNASTAR
Jacqueline Carville was brought to the UW by the wide variety of opportunities available to students interested in biological sciences. When she first began her studies, she was unsure of whether she wanted to pursue a career path in health care, academic research or in the biotech industry. A turn as an undergraduate researcher in the Plant Physiology Lab helped her attain a summer internship in marketing at DNASTAR, where she secured a post-graduation position as a marketing specialist. She is excited to branch out in the biotech industry, boosted by the number of biotech companies with ties to the university.
Alex Kowalsky, Milwaukee, Wis.
Journalism (double track) and Political Science
Account Coordinator for Twitter Chicago
Kowalsky studied both reporting and strategic communication in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. He has worked in numerous campus units, including Financial Aid, the Bursar's Office, the Center for the First-Year Experience, UW-Madison Libraries, WAA and University Communications and Marketing. As the first social media intern for University Communications, Kowalsky played a large role in solidifying UW-Madison's reputation as one of the most social media savvy universities in the country. In addition to his coursework and involvement, he monitored several UW-Madison social media accounts during most of his waking hours for more than a year. He is passionate about integrating social media across campus and empowering students to leverage new media in their lives as engaged citizens. He'll move to Chicago, where he will work as an account coordinator for Twitter's Chicago office.
Robin Amado, Highland Park, Ill.
Library and Information Studies
Madison Metropolitan School District School
Robin Amado is graduating with a Master's in Library and Information Studies. She came to UW-Madison after teaching high school English for two years in the Navajo Nation. During graduate school, she has worked as the American Indian Studies Librarian and as a student worker at the MERIT Information Desk. She piloted a new Wisconsin Technology Initiative project assistantship, training teachers in the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) on how to use technology. As the Convening Culture Keepers Student Assistant this past year, Robin co-planned professional development mini-conferences for tribal librarians, archivists and museum curators in Wisconsin. She served as the President for the Tribal Libraries, Archives and Museums Student Group. She has accepted a position as a school librarian in MMSD and hopes to continue working with tribal communities.
Megan Kinneberg, Plymouth, Minn.
Industrial Engineering; minor in International Engineering
Operations Management Leadership Program at GE Healthcare
Megan Kinneberg is graduating with a degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering, a certificate in International Engineering and completion of the Leadership Certificate program. Kinneberg's experiences have led to many learning opportunities outside of the classroom, including studying in Spain, designing virtual reality environments and volunteering to teach younger students about teamwork and creative problem solving. In addition to serving as president of the Industrial Engineering Honor Society Alpha Pi Mu, Kinneberg has worked as a student assistant at the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery's Living Environments Laboratory, where she has spent the past four years conducting research and designing virtual reality scenarios geared toward home health care and medical environments. Kinneberg has received the Meyerhoff Undergraduate Excellence Award for Leadership, Scholarship and Service and enjoys participating in outreach efforts to encourage younger students to explore careers in math and science. After graduation, she plans to work at GE Healthcare in its rotational Operations Management Leadership Program.
Ellen Anevicius, Stockbridge, Wis.
Political Science, South Asian Studies certificate
Federal service
Ellen Anevicius is graduating with a BA in Political Science with a certificate in South Asian Studies. This past summer, she worked for the U.S. Department of Defense in Washington, D.C., studying the tactical employment of enemy weapon systems. This year, she has had the opportunity to pursue her research interest in the proliferation of military technology with faculty of the History Department. Through a Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship, Anevicius was able to study Persian at the intermediate level and develop focused regional expertise on Afghanistan, building language, regional and cultural capabilities critical to mission readiness and the priorities of 21st century defense. She is thrilled to eventually pursue a Master of War Studies degree from Kings College London after graduation.
Alec Walker, Madison, Wis.
Biology
National Cancer Institute research fellow
Alec Walker distinguished himself from other high-ability students through a variety of co-curricular and leadership activities. Alec actively lived the Wisconsin Idea by participating in educational and outreach activities targeting students and community members. He was an undergraduate instructor for the classes Food, Fungus, and Fermentation and Community Gardens in Southwest Madison. He also taught in a program called Engage Children in Science. In this program, Alec designed and implemented a hands-on science curriculum for elementary students in Ecuador. He presented his work on this project at the Wisconsin Society of Science Teachers Conference. Alec also produced cooking videos and wrote for the "What's in the Fridge" column of the Daily Cardinal. Even with all of these activities, Alec found time to serve as a BIOCORE Board member and peer advisor. Alec won a Hilldale Fellowship for his mentored research on immune cell migration. Alec is multitalented with wide-ranging interests. He'll work at the National Cancer Institute in a lab that develops immunotherapies for B-cell lymphoma. After that, he will plan to pursue a Ph.D. in Immunology to become a university professor.
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