2010-2014

Year/Mo.	Visitor	Event Description
2010 March 23	William T. Boehm retired senior vice president at Kroger Co. and president of Kroger Manufacturing, and UWRF distinguished alumnus Photos by Jens Gunelson	Lecture: "Ethics Do Matter," presented by the spring 2010 Executive-in-Residence, who focused on three key elements necessary in the decision making process; Boehm also spoke with students in Associate Professor Brenda Boetel's World Food and Population class [sponsored by the College of Business and Economics]
2010 March 26	George Kuh Chancellor's Professor of Higher Education at Indiana University Bloomington, and director of the Center for Postsecondary Research Photo by Jens Gunelson	Presentation: Dr. Kuh spoke to faculty, staff, students, and guest about high impact educational practices, including specific recommendations for UWRF based on data from the National Survey of Student Engagement, an assessment instrument he founded; his visit was part of events leading to the inauguration of Chancellor Dean Van Galen
2010 April 26	Vaness M. Gezari, Washington, D.C.-based writer who covers national and international affairs; Jason Motlagh, freelance journalist based in Istanbul whose reporting focus includes India, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka; moderated by Dr. Patricia Berg, UWRF journalism professor	Lecture: "Fragile States from Sudan to Afghanistan" [Working Journalists Seminar Series, sponsored by UWRF Journalism Department and The Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting]
2010 September 25	Golden Dragon Acrobats Photo by Jens Gunelson	Performance: Traditional dance, spectacular costumes, and ancient and contemporary music created a performance of breathtaking skill and beauty for the large audience, held in Abbott Concert Hall [Wyman Performing Arts and Speakers Series]
2010 October 1	Heide E. Erdrich author (National Monuments, Fishing for Myth, The Mother's Tongue) and member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibway	Conference: Erdrich spoke at the fourth annual Undergraduate Conference on Critical and Creative Engagement [sponsored by the UWRF Literary Society and UWRF English Department]
2010 October 1	Chan E. Park associate professor of Korean Studies at the Ohio State University Photo by Jens Gunelson	Concert: Infusing East Asia Workshop, Dr. Park entertained and educated the audience about Pansori, a popular form of Korean traditional music usually performed by a singer and a percussionist
2010 October 7	Elaine Tyler May History and American Studies professor at the University of Minnesota Photo by Jens Gunelson	Lecture: "Security Against Democracy: The Legacy of the Cold War at Home," Dr. May's lecture examined democracy and security during the Cold War [4th annual Edward N. Peterson Lecture Series, sponsored by the History and Philosophy Department]
2010 October 14	Kenneth W. Morris CEO of Apercu Group and a nationally-known author and speaker on diversity issues and effective leadership Photo by Jens Gunelson	Lecture: "Building Your Brand: A Leadership Fundamental" delivered by the Fall 2010 Executive-in-Residence, who also spoke to students in the classroom [sponsored by the College of Business and Economics]
2010 November 16	Johan de Meij award-winning Dutch composer Photo by Jens Gunelson	Concert: "The Music of Johan de Meij," with de Meig conducting the UWRF Symphony Band and Saint Croix Valley Symphony Orchestra
2010 November 18	Jeff Zeleny national political correspondent for The New York Times Photo by Jens Gunelson	Presentation: Zeleny spoke about the 2010 election to students in the afternoon and again in the evening to approximately 300 students and community members [Working Journalists Seminar, sponsored by the UWRF Journalism Department, The New York Times, and the American Democracy Project]
2010 November 18	Sha' Cage Minneapolis-based spoken word artist Photo by Jens Gunelson	Performance: the talented Cage presented a thought-provoking spoken word performance to a packed house, which also featured UWRF student performances [sponsored by the Black Student Union and Falcon Programs]
2010 November 30	Boyd Huppert KARE-11 TV journalist and UWRF distinguished alumnus Photo by Jens Gunelson	Guest Speaker: in the Principles of Journalism class, where Huppert described his storytelling process and gave career advice
2010 December 2	Kurt Zuelke director of the National Animal Disease Research Center and UWRF alumnus Photo by Jens Gunelson	Lecture: "Science, Medicine, and Agriculture: A Perfect Mix for Building Your Dream Career," presented to about 100 students and other interested persons; Dr. Zuelke's visit was part of a developing collaborative research relationship between the UWRF Tissue and Cellular Innovation Center (TCIC) and the National Animal Disease Research Center (NDAC)
2011 February 24	Manal Hamzeh assistant professor of Sociology and Women's Studies at New Mexico State University	Speech: "De-veiling the Hijabs and Arab-Muslim Feminisms," this year's Women's History Month featured speaker; UWRF Assistant Professor Michelle Parkinson said that "Dr. Hamzeh's talk is particularly important because of her unique perspective as herself an arabyyah/muslimah in exile from her home country of Jordan, and her work on the hijab, or veil, in relation to young Muslim women"
2011 March 23	Brad Hewitt president and CEO of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Photo by Jens Gunelson	Lecture: "Social Business and Social Capital—What's Old is New Again" delivered by the spring 2011 Executive-in-Residence, who also spoke to students in the classroom [sponsored by the College of Business and Economics]
2011 March 31	Wing Young Huie award-winning cultural photographer Photo by Jens Gunelson	Presentation: "Identity and the American Landscape" [Working Journalists Seminar Series, sponsored by the Journalism Department]
2011 April 11	Tim Wise renowned anti-racist writer and educator	Lecture: "Challenging Racism, Privilege and Denial in the Age of Obama," Wise examined his book Between Barack and a Hard Place: Racism and White Denial in the Age of Obama; a goal of this event was to encourage a discussion about the impact and influence of race [Social Justice Series, sponsored by the Ethnic Studies Department, Falcon Programs, Residence Life, and Women's and Gender Studies Department]
2011 October 27	Dale Lindquist president and CEO of Fiberstar, Inc.	Lecture: "Reflections, Contemporary Venture and Vision of an Entrepreneur," presented by this semester's Executive-in-Residence [sponsored by the College of Business and Economics]
2011 October 27	Howie Padilla public information officer for the Saint Paul Police Department	Lecture: "Reporters and Public Relations Professionals: Fraternal Twins" [Working Journalists Seminar Series, sponsored by the Journalism Department]
2011 November 17	Temple Grandin professor of Animal Science, Colorado Sate University	Presentation: "The World Needs All Kinds of Minds," Grandin, internationally renowned public figure and pioneer for the autistic community and as a designer of livestock facilities that improve animal welfare and productivity, spoke to classes during the day and gave a public presentation to an overflow crowd in Abbott Concert Hall in the evening [sponsored by the College of Agriculture]
2011 December 12	David Swensen chief investment officer for Yale University, former member of the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board, and UWRF distinguished alumnus	Presentation: "Pioneering Portfolio Management," given to campus and community members in the University Center Photos by Kathy M. Helgeson
2012 January 27	Valerie Purdie-Vaughns assistant professor of Psychology at Columbia University Photo by Kathy M. Helgeson	Presentation: on stereotype awareness and action for faculty, staff, and students at the University Center; "Staff and faculty require ongoing dialogue about how to talk about race and identity," Dr. Purdie-Vaughns advised
2012 February 10	Tiyumba African Drum & Dance Co., featuring choreographer and master dancer/ drummer Fatawu Sayibu Photo by Kathy M. Helgeson	Performance: for the annual African Night, in the Falcon's Nest in the University Center [sponsored by the Black Student Union (BSU)]
2012 February 24	Leonard Foy jazz trumpeter and professor of trumpet/jazz studies at Depauw University's School of Music Photo by Kathy M. Helgeson	Concert: RADD Jazz Series guest artist Foy played trumpet with the UWRF Jazz Ensemble in Abbott Concert Hall, kicking off the 2012 UW-River Falls Jazz Festival; Dr. Foy also played with the UWRF Faculty Jazz Group and with Stolen Moments in the Falcon's Nest for a UWRF Jazz Club Cabaret Concert
2012 February 29	Michelle Alexander long-time civil rights advocate, litigator, and author	Lecture: Alexander spoke about her book, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness [Wyman Performing Arts and Speaker Series, sponsored by Falcon Programs]
2012 March 20	Duchess Harris associate professor of American Studies at Macalester College Photo by Kathy M. Helgeson	Speech: "Black Feminist Politics in the Age of Obama," Dr. Harris was the Women's History Month featured speaker
2012 March 22	Duchesne Drew managing editor of operations at the Minneapolis StarTribune Photo by Kathy M. Helgeson	Lecture: "The StarTribune's Digital Strategy," Drew gave insights about the newspaper's digital plan [Working Journalists Seminar Series, sponsored by the Journalism Department]
2012 March 27	Clarke Garry, UWRF Biology professor emeritus, and Gaylord Schanilec, artist Photo by Kathy M. Helgeson	Presentation: "Mayflies of the Driftless Region," a book authored and illustrated by the pair; the presentation was for the 10th anniversary of Celebrating Research, Scholarship and Creative Achievement (CRSCA) [sponsored by Chalmer Davee Library]
2012 March 30	Jon Scholl, president of American Farmland Trust, and Martin Lowery, vice president of external affairs for the National Rural Electric Co-op	Keynote Speakers for the inaugural Rod Nilsestuen Legacy Event, "Feeding the World, Sustaining the Land, Inspiring Cooperative Action"
2012 April 3	S. Mark Tyler founder and president of OEM Fabricators, Inc., in Woodville Photos by Kathy M. Helgeson	Lecture: In "Defining and Achieving Success" Executive-in-Residence Tyler drew from his personal experiences to demonstrate that setbacks, failures, and difficulties need not be barriers to success; Tyler also spent time with students in the classroom [co-sponsored by the College of Business and Economics and WESTconsin Credit Union]
2012 May 4	Cloud Cult, Jeremy Messersmith, The Bad Habits Brass musical groups	Concert: for Finals Fest [sponsored by Falcon Programs]
2012 October 1	Julie L. Bushman executive vice president at 3M and UWRF alumnus	Lecture: "Transformational Leadership," delivered by this semester's Executive-in-Residence; Bushman spoke to a management class in the morning, participated in a luncheon, and delivered her lecture in the afternoon in the Riverview Ballroom [sponsored by the College of Business and Economics]
2012 October 3	Zach Wahls same-sex marriage advocate and author of My Two Moms: Lessons of Love, Strength, and What Makes a Family	Presentation: "What Makes a Family?" Wahls shared his experience growing up with two mothers and becoming a celebrity after testifying at a court case challenging same-sex marriage in Iowa, and encouraged UWRF students to take advantage of the same social media and Internet sites that helped make his issue famous [Wyman Performing Arts and Speakers Series]
2012 October 24	Ron Johnson U.S. Senator from Wisconsin	Presentation: on the state of the economy to the Political Science Senior Seminar class, and another to the general public in the University Center
2012 October 26	Rudy J. Koshar professor of History, German and Religious Studies at UW-Madison	Lecture: "On Stillness: European Political Fiction in the Age of Extremes," presented to students, alumni, and the community in the University Center [Edward N. Peterson Lecture Series, sponsored by the History and Philosophy Department]
2012 October 30	Petrona Melgarejo U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission investigator	Presentation: Ms. Melgarejo spoke about how the EEOC enforces federal discrimination laws; the presentation was in Spanish [sponsored by the UWRF Spanish Professions Association]
2012 November 8	Lee Tien senior staff attorney with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, specializing in free speech law, including intersections with intellectual property law and privacy law; Tien also worked as a journalist before joining the EFF	Lecture: "Electronic Frontier Foundation" [Working Journalists Seminar Series, sponsored by the Journalism Department]
2012 November 16	Rev. Bernard Lafayette, Jr. an authority on nonviolent social change and a civil rights activist involved with the Freedom Riders and SNCC in the 1960s Photo by Kathy M. Helgeson	Lecture: "My Pilgrimage to Kingian Nonviolence," presented by Dr. Lafayette, an associate of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.; he outlined his journey from Tampa, Florida, where he was born, to his understanding of the effectiveness of King's nonviolent approach
2012 December 4	Diego Higuera owner of a successful company, Simply ¡Tíenda!, located in Bogotá, Columbia	Lecture: Higuera spoke about his personal and professional experiences in doing business between the United States and Colombia, about volunteer opportunities, and his time working in Forest Lake in a Spanish immersion school; the presentation was in Spanish [sponsored by the UWRF Spanish Professions Association]
2013 February 22	Mike Stern one of the premier jazz and jazz-fusion guitarist, six-time Grammy nominee	Concert: RADD Jazz Series guest artist Stern played guitar with the UWRF Faculty Jazz Group in the Falcon's Nest and with the UWRF Jazz Ensemble in Abbott Concert Hall [sponsored by the UWRF Music Department and the UWRF Office of Student Life] Photos by Kathy M. Helgeson
2013 March 13	Jose Antonio Vargas Vargas wrote the June 2011 cover story for Time magazine titled "We Are Americans, Just Not Legally" and brought the term "undocumented Americans" into popular discourse as a way to describe the country's 11.5 million undocumented immigrants; Vargas founded Define American, a nonprofit organization, to elevate and reframe the immigration conversation	Lecture: "How Do We Define American?" [Working Journalist Series, sponsored by the Journalism Department, and the Wyman Series, sponsored by the Office of Student Life]
2013 March 20-21	Fang Man Chinese-born composer living in the United States; she is currently a research assistant professor at the University of South Carolina	Commissioned Composer Concert: world premiere of "Concerto for Piano, Percussion and Wind Instruments" on March 21 [the Commissioned Composer Project is sponsored by the Music Department] In the photo to the left, Man (on right) explains layers in her work to music education students and UWRF Associate Professor Kristin Tjornehoj in a KFA music room on March 20
2013 March 21	Ruth Evans professor of English at St. Louis University and executive director of the New Chaucer Society	Lecture: "Two Become One?: Sexual Anxieties in Late Medieval English Romances," Evans spoke in the Kinnickinnic Theater as part of Women's History Month [sponsored by the Women's and Gender Studies program]
2013 April 5	Jonathon Scholl president of American Farmland Trust Photo by Kathy M. Helgeson	Keynote Speaker: "What Are the Best Uses of Rural Land and Water Resources in the 21st Century" for the world to feed itself as its population continues to grow [Rod Nilsestuen Legacy Event]
2013 October 22	Shannon Zimmerman CEO of Sajan Photo by Kathy M. Helgeson	Lecture, presented by the 22nd Executive-in-Residence, in the UWRF University Center; Zimmerman discussed the founding of Sajan in 1997, a global language translation services, software localization and cloud-based translation management software company that is headquartered in River Falls [sponsored by the College of Business and Economics]
2013 October 24	Dr. Kathleen Neils Conzen Thomas E. Donnelley Professor Emerita of American History, The University of Chicago Photo by Kathy M. Helgeson	Lecture: In "German Immigrants, Transatlantic Ties, and the Perils of American Pluralism, 1840-1940" Conzen addressed the German immigrant experience to explore the links between migration processes and community formation, the construction and reconstruction of ethnic identities, the relationship between religious, ethnic, and regional cultures, and the political integration of immigrants into the national community [Edward N. Peterson Lecture Series, sponsored by the History and Philosophy Department]
2013 October 24	Byron Hurt filmmaker Photo by Kathy M. Helgeson	Film Screening and Discussion: Hurt began the evening with a screening of his acclaimed film, Soul Food Junkies, which explores the health advantages and disadvantages of the quintessential American cuisine, Soul Food; Hurt uses Soul Food as the lens to investigate the dark side of the food industry and the growing food justice movement that has been born in its wake [Wyman Performing Arts and Speaker Series]
2013 November 5	Zagreb Saxophone Quartet musicians: graduates of the Zagreb Academy of Music under the tutelage of Josip Nochta, the Quartet has been performing with its current members since 1989	Concert: The Zagreb Quartet brings a superb level of artistry to their performances with a level of technique and expressiveness beautifully showcased in a blend of classic saxophone literature and exciting new compositions [Wyman Performing Arts and Speaker Series]
2013 November 15	Phillip Phillips singer, "American Idol" season 11 winner Photo by Deb Toftness	Performance: Phillips performed in front of an energetic crowd in Knowles Center; after the opening band DUGAS, Phillips wowed the crowd with his songs including "Gone, Gone, Gone" and ended the concert with "Home" [sponsored by Office of Student Life]
2013 December 6	Charmin Michelle jazz vocalist based in Minneapolis Photos by Kathy M. Helgeson	Performance: Charmin Michelle was the guest vocalist at the Holiday Swing Dance featuring the UWRF Jazz Ensmble; presented as part of the RADD Jazz Series [sponsored by the Music Department and the Office of Student Life]
2014 February 14-15	Matt Harris Los Angeles-based jazz pianist and composer	Concerts: Harris was the guest artist with the UWRF Faculty Jazz Group (14th) and the UWRF Jazz Ensemble (15th); presented as part of the RADD Jazz Series [sponsored by the Music Department and the Office of Student Life]
2014 February 20-21	Eric Deggans National Public Radio's first full-time TV critic; author of Race-Baiter: How the Media Wields Dangerous Words to Divide a National Photos by Kathy M. Helgeson	Speaker: in his talk on "Media, Race and Stereotypes," Deggans discussed issues of race portrayal and stereotypes in the media to a group gathered in the Kinnickinnic Theater in the University Center. Deggans also lead a session during the Reporting on Race, Gender and Ethnicity Seminar held at the Hudson Center on February 21; the annual seminar was designed to look at the role that race and ethnicity play in newsrooms and reporting and how to recruit a diverse news staff [co-sponsored by the Bank Center for Interdisciplinary Inquiry and the UWRF Journalism Department]
2014 March 29	One Voice Mixed Chorus, with special guest artist Melanie DeMore, and teens from Avenues for Homeless Youth Photo by Kathy M. Helgeson	Concert: One Voice Mixed Chorus, the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and straight alliance chorus, performed in Abbott Concert Hall [Wyman Performing Arts and Speaker Series]
2014 March 31	Stephen Metcalf president and CEO of Air Motion Systems Photo by Kathy M. Helgeson	Lecture: Spring 2014 Executive-in-Residence Stephen "Steve" Metcalf presented "It's Not WHO You Know, but HOW . . . and Other Strategies from a Global CEO" in the Riverview Ballroom of the University Center; Metcalf also talked to students in the ECON 480 Senior Seminar class held in South Hall [co-sponsored by the College of Business and Economics and the First National Bank of River Falls]
2014 April 1-3	Guy Klucevsek versatile and highly-respected accordionist, and the UWRF 2014 Commissioned Composer	Concert and Residency: The annual Commissioned Composer Project concert was April 3, and featured many works by Klucevsek, as well as the world premiere of the commissioned work, "Little Big Top (suite)" [sponsored by the UWRF Music Department ]
2014 April 4	Tom Lyon former CEO of Cooperative Resources International and former UW regent	Keynote Address: Lyon spoke on the changes that are facing agricultural producers and the companies in the food economy, and the skills and attributes that new leaders must develop to respond to these changes, in the Kinnickinnic Theatre in the University Center [Nilsestuen Legacy Event]
2014 April 16	Tom Rath author; senior scientist/advisor at Gallup, Inc.	Lecture: Rath reviewed his latest research on how small choices can affect our health, life, and work; based on his book Eat Move Sleep, published in October 2013 [Wyman Performing Arts and Speaker Series]
2014 April 29	Alberto Fierro Consul of Mexico in Saint Paul, Minnesota, since 2013; as a member of Mexico's Diplomatic Corps Fierro has served as Consul of Mexico in Orlando, Florida (2010-2013); Director General for Educational and Cultural Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2007-2009); Deputy Director General for North America (2001-2003); Cultural Attaché at the Mexican Embassy in Canada (1998-2001); Deputy Cultural Attaché at the Mexican Embassy in Washington, D.C. (1994-1997); and Director of Cultural Agreements (1992-1994).	Presentation: Consul Fierro, speaking in Spanish, reflected on the challenges Mexico faces with the United States and also its involvement as a member of NAFTA [sponsored by the Spanish Professions Association (SPA)]
2014 May 2	Bob Woodward two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter and currently assistant managing editor of the Washington Post	Keynote Speaker: for the Third Annual Scholarship Benefit Dinner
2014 June 19	Rebecca Kleefisch, Wisconsin Lt. Governor, and Richard Chandler, Wisconsin Department of Revenue Secretary	Forum: Chandler held a tax policy forum at the UWRF Hudson Center on Thursday June 19. During the forum, attended by approximately 30 members of the community, Lt. Governor Kleefisch and Secretary Chandler gathered opinions on the appropriate levels of sales, property, corporate, and income taxes required to fund state and local government services.
2014 November 4	Xiaoyuan Liu David Dean Professor of East Asian Studies and Professor of History, University of Virginia Photo by Kathy M. Helgeson	Lecture: Liu spoke in the Kinnickinnic Theater on "Time, Space, and China's Tibetan Frontier in the 20th Century," about the Tibetan-Chinese relationship during the Cold War and the perception of how that relationship is interpreted in the West [Edward N. Peterson Lecture Series, sponsored by the History and Philosophy Department]
2014 December 5	Jeremy Bloom playwright	Discussion: Bloom attended the presentation of his play, "Peter/Wendy," in the Davis Theatre in UWRF's Kleinpell Fine Arts building; a post-show discussion with the playwright followed the performance Photo by Kathy M. Helgeson