If you want to catch up with Dana Wood ’81, it helps to move fast. Not only is she a seasoned government relations professional on Capitol Hill, she also co-founded a unique organization known as the Foundation to Eradicate Duchenne.

On any given day, you might find her attending hearings, advocating on behalf of energy or healthcare industry clients. Later, Wood might be raising awareness for Duchenne, a type of Muscular Dystrophy that affects primarily young boys before the age of five. Whatever her day brings, Wood brings a great deal of passion to the table.

Political spark

Originally from Illinois, Wood graduated from Winona State University’s paralegal program in 1981. In addition to being an active member of Student Senate, she took an internship with the U. S. Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber had a regional office in Minneapolis, where she gained experience covering the effects of Congressional activities on the state of Minnesota.

“My advisor, Roderick Henry, was head of the paralegal program and was wonderful in terms of choosing classes and internships,” she explains. “Another instructor, Frank Morello, taught Constitution Law with an emphasis on legal writing, which provided a great base from which to launch my career.”

Following graduation, Wood served as an admissions counselor at WSU. “I am so grateful for the education I received at Winona State,” says Wood. “The size of the university is perfect, because it allows students to get really involved in their interests.”

Through the connections made during her internship, Wood went on to assist Minnesota Senator David Durenberger, which spurred a lifelong interest in politics. “Between my classes, my internship, and the time I spent in Student Senate, I had a really great understanding of government in the broader sense.”

Lobbying for America

For the past 20 years, Wood has built a career in government relations, representing industrial clients and advocating on their behalf to members of the House and Senate and to federal agencies.

Recently, Wood has been involved in enhancing the “Buy America” requirements of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which gives preference to American products when the government spends on public works and public transportation. This bill has served as a model for other parts of the recent stimulus package to revitalize the economy.

Although her work has spanned a number of issues, including environmental, healthcare, and energy, Wood has focused on some concerns that directly affect Minnesota, such as the taconite mines in the northern part of the state.

“The Clean Air Act Amendment of 1990 had profound impact on the steel industry,” says Wood. “Through the efforts of Senator Durenberger and other key players, the amendment was modified so that the steel industry had time to come into proper compliance with emissions standards.”

Wood enjoys the variety of issues that she has tackled over the years, as well as the implications of each that effect everyone, including taxation and trade law. “The only drawback is that there’s not enough time to learn every detail,” she states.

After researching an issue as much as she can, Wood also makes a point of getting to know the politicians involved, their constituents, and their historical stance on policies. “Every time I approach a member of the House or Senate to advocate a position, I know that there’s another government relations professional representing the opposing view,” Wood says.

“You have to know the other side in order to know what to expect. It’s important to raise awareness on issues so that when a bill is introduced that affects these members and their constituency, they know both sides of the story.”

Talent for communicating

Wood’s talent for communicating issues and raising awareness extends beyond her professional work. Eleven years ago, after her son was diagnosed with Duchenne, a form of muscular dystrophy, Wood and her husband, Joel, noted the lack of public awareness and money going into research of the disease.

After dealing with her initial shock, Wood did exactly what she does best: she dove into the issue and developed a strategy to make a difference. In 2002, Wood and her husband co-founded the Foundation to Eradicate Duchenne, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness and raising crucial research monies needed to find a cure.

In addition to organizing three to four fundraising events per year, they have secured numerous corporate sponsors and have raised millions of dollars. The foundation has provided much-needed support to the centers of research excellence originally championed by the late Senator Paul Wellstone, one of the authors of the Muscular Dystrophy Care Act of 2001.

Wood takes all of her accomplishments in stride. She credits much of her success to the solid education she received at Winona State, where she learned not only the basics of government, and the importance of reaching beyond herself for the common good.

“I received a phenomenal education at Winona State, and to this day, I’m a huge supporter of the school,” she says. “I challenge all alumni, whatever you can do to help support and maintain the university, please do.”

Find out more about Dana and Joel Wood’s Foundation to Eradicate Duchenne at www.duchennemd.org.                

After working the last two years in Senator Herb Kohl’s office, Batta joined the U.S. Department of Agriculture in September. As legislative director for the Office of Congressional Affairs, he won’t be far from the Hill. In his new position, he will serve as a liaison between the USDA and Congress as work begins on the 2012 Farm Bill.

“Farm bills are comprehensive pieces of legislation that affect every American,” says Batta. “It sets federal policy for commodity programs, farm credit, trade, agricultural conservation, research, rural development, energy, and foreign and domestic food programs such as food stamps.”

During his six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, Tim Penny ’74 wrestled with many of the same problems confronting our nation today. A struggling economy. High unemployment. Growing debt. Questions about the size of government and how far it should reach into our lives.

Penny arrived in Washington in 1983, midway in Ronald Reagan’s two terms as president and following a deep recession when unemployment was at 10.8 percent. Known as a fiscal watchdog, he was determined to talk about the size of government and increased spending in an effort to stimulate the economy.

Although he left Congress in 1995, fiscal integrity has remained central to good government for Penny. He says that we should only get the government that we’re willing to pay for, and that deficit spending shifts to future generations the need to examine what we’re doing, set priorities, and make choices. To describe his philosophy, he quotes John F. Kennedy, “’To govern is to choose.’”

And Penny’s voice continues to be heard inside and outside Washington. He is co-chair of both the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget and the Concord Coalition, two bi-partisan organizations advocating fiscal responsibility.

While Penny is advocating for many of the same deficit solutions as others – a credible plan for reining in spending, fair and reasonable tax reform, restructuring and strengthening entitlement programs – he thinks that making the choice for good government is much harder than when he was in Congress.

“The fiscal problems have grown worse than they were then, while the politics have become much more difficult. We’re in a much more partisan environment, and that makes it hard to compromise.”

Penny has hope that the bipartisan Congressional “Super Committee,” charged with reducing the deficit by $1.5 trillion by the end of the year, is a first step towards a long-term budget solution. He recalls, however, his days in Washington when the inability to make decisions has left us with the hard choices of today.

In addition to his work on the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget and the Concord Coalition, Penny is also president of the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation. Two awards available to Minnesota State Colleges and Universities students, the Penny Fellowship and the Barbara J. Penny Scholarship, reward public and community service and leadership.

After 14 years as the man behind Winona State’s incredible athletic success, Larry Holstad ’67 has announced he is stepping down as the Warriors’ athletic director. He plans to remain in place until his replacement is found.

“I’ve loved every minute of it. It has been one of the most positive things I have done,” Holstad said in an interview with the Winona Daily News.

Holstad came to Winona State in 1997 after a long career as a teacher, principal, and coach at the high school level in his native Iowa. Despite his lack of experience at the college level, he quickly turned the Warriors’ athletics program into a NCAA Division II powerhouse.

Men’s basketball won national titles in 2006 and 2008 and won a Division II record 57 consecutive games. The softball team advanced to the Division II World Series in 2009. Last year, the baseball team finished second at the Division II World Series. Through last spring, the Warriors have won 35 NSIC championships and 27 conference tournaments under Holstad’s tenure.

Holstad is known for giving his coaches the tools to succeed. He oversaw the renovation of Maxwell Field and construction of Verizon Wireless Stadium. He formed partnerships to build a new softball field and upgrade the Paul Giel track and field facility, both adjacent to campus. He also played a key role in the $19.3 million Integrated Wellness Complex that houses new athletics facilities and offices as well as the WSU Athletic Hall of Fame.

Of the Warriors success, Holstad is characteristically humble. “People are people. It’s a matter of putting together a plan with coaches’ input and giving them the tools to get better.”

Holstad’s Winning Numbers

2 team national championships (Basketball 2006, 2008)
2 team national runner-ups (Basketball 2007, Baseball 2011)
2 individual NCAA champions (Emily King, Track 2007; Mary Theisen, Track 2011)
6 regional championships
35 NSIC championships
27 NSIC tournament titles
3.18 GPA for Warrior student-athletes (2010-11)

WSU-Rochester professor’s program earns White House visit

By Sarah Certa ’11

There are a few ways to get your foot inside the White House. While you might not guess that zebra fish would be the ticket, for several students, scientists, and educators, those little fish swam a long way.

In recent years, Winona State University-Rochester, Rochester Public Schools, and the Mayo Clinic have collaborated to strengthen science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education in elementary classrooms.

The partnership, named the Integrated Science Education Outreach (InSciEdOut), is “an authentic opportunity for our pre-service teachers to stretch themselves as scientists, and as teachers,” says Maggie Hoody, assistant professor of education at WSU-Rochester.

At the core of the project is Rochester’s Lincoln K-8 Choice school’s research on zebra fish, which share 75-percent of our genetic code. Because the embryo growth of zebra fish takes place outside of the fish, students are able to observe the development of the two-day gestation period, as well as blood circulation and other processes.

Last winter, eight Lincoln Choice students, along with several educators and scientists from WSU-Rochester, Rochester Public Schools, and the Mayo Clinic, demonstrated the zebra fish project’s impact at the country’s largest general science conference in Washington, D.C.

The group toured the White House and received a surprise visit from President Obama, who commended InSciEdOut for its success in demonstrating that partnerships can make dramatic changes in science proficiency in American public schools.

Lincoln students have also had opportunities to work alongside scientists in the Mayo Clinic’s zebra fish research lab, testing modules developed by their teachers. The students gave their teachers feedback on how well the modules worked, exemplifying InSciEdOut’s focus on both student and teacher development, as well as communication and partnership between students and teachers.

Since the start of InSciEdOut’s efforts, substantial improvements in science proficiency have been seen among Lincoln’s K-8 students, and over half of eighth-grade students received “Exceeds Expectations” in state science standards, making Lincoln Choice the only school in Minnesota where science excellence is now the norm.

ADRIENNE MITCHELL ’93

“Even as a fourth grader, I think I understood how I could help people as a psychologist,” says Mitchell.

Mitchell has remained true to her childhood vision. She majored in psychology at Winona State (where she was the university’s first female African-American Student Senate president) and went on to earn her master’s at Howard University and doctorate in clinical psychology at George Washington University, both in the Washington, D.C. area.

Today, Mitchell travels the world from her Washington base to provide counseling to military families, many with a member who has recently returned from active duty.

“I always had an interest in helping military families. Sometimes we civilians don’t fully appreciate what they experience.”

Richard Holle ’61/’62 (Houston, Minn.) generously donated more than 600 hundred volumes on China and Chinese culture to the Darrell W. Krueger Library in September. He speaks fluent Mandarin, Japanese, and Spanish. The 2011 Distinguished Alumnus also has a new book, A Seed Not Watered.

Harry Sieben ’65 (Hastings, Minn.) has been selected as a 2011 “Super Lawyer” by the magazine of the same name. Only 5-percent of lawyers in Minnesota are named to the list each year. Harry is an attorney at Sieben, Grose, Von Holtum & Carey. He was a member of the Minnesota Legislature for 14 years and rose to Speaker of the House, where he championed environmental legislation. Harry also served in the U.S. Army and Minnesota National Guard and achieved the rank of major general.

Lynn (Schumann) Theurer ’68 (Winona) was recently named to the Winona County Fair Hall of Fame for her long career as community health director for Winona County Public Health Department and involvement in the community. She was instrumental in organizing a countywide emergency response team and has served on numerous community boards and organizations. The WSU nursing graduate retired in 2010.

1970s

Amanda Bagniewski ’72 (La Crosse, Wis.) and Joe Gillett were married on June 18. Amanda works for Rochester Public Schools while Joe works at RTP in Winona.

Steve ’73 and Terri (Ryan) ’77 Kingsley (Vienna, Va.) made the move to Washington in 1985, when became chief of staff to friend and college roommate, Congressman Tim Penny. Twenty-six years later, Steve and Terri are still in Washington. Steve is head of government affairs for Pearson, the international education and publishing company. Teresa, from Goodhue, Minn., and an elementary education major at WSU, operates a daycare center. After Penny left Congress in 1992, Steve joined, NCS, an education testing company, as a government relations consultant. He was asked to lead Pearson’s Washington office when it acquired NCS in 2000.The Kingsleys have five children and all live and work in the Washington area. Kelly, however, took a similar route as his parents. He graduated from Winona State in 2000, where he also met his wife, Rebecca (Griffin) Kingsley ’01. Kelly, a political science major, returned to Washington and works for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Michael Rockers ’77/’84 (Honolulu, Hawaii) is the new superintendent of Hawaii Catholic Schools. He has worked as an educator for 34 years in Minnesota, Arkansas, and South Carolina. He earned his bachelor’s in elementary education and master’s in counseling at WSU, and doctorate at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. In 2005, he was named principal of St. Francis School in Hilton Head, S.C., and was named the state’s Private School Principal of the Year.

1980s

Ronald Andro ’81 (Gibsonia, Pa.) has been named the new senior vice president and chief operating officer at Baltimore Washington Medical Center (BWMC). He comes to BWMC from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s Mercy Hospital where he served as vice president of operations. He received a master’s degree in health systems management from Rush University in Chicago and a bachelor’s in nursing from Winona State.

Kathy Nieman ’81 (Mequon, Wis.) is proud that daughter, Alanna ’11, also earned her degree at WSU. Kathy earned her degree in education at Winona State, while Alanna graduated summa cum laude with degrees in mathematics and mathematics – secondary education. “Thirty years later, my daughter did what I did, only better,” says Kathy.

Lisa Seifert ’83 (Corinth, Texas) was recently featured for her success as head coach of the Southern Methodist University volleyball team. She has served as the team’s lone coach since its inception in 1996, and over her 16-year career has mentored 21 all-conference honorees and two All-Americas. Last season, her team went 25-6 and ranked in the top-25 nationally. Lisa played volleyball and softball while earning her bachelor’s in physical education at WSU.

David Matlon ’84 (Bloomington, Minn.) has been promoted to vice president of sales at Western National Insurance Group in Edina. David has been with WNIG for 20 years and was most recently assistant vice president of marketing.

Dave Rubenstein ’86 (Manhattan Beach, Calif.), a trustee for the WSU Foundation, married Camille on August 20 in Park City, Utah. Dave is the founder of California Ethanol & Power, which is working to develop the first sugar cane ethanol facility in the U.S.

Renae Ekstrand ’87/’00 (Dickinson, N.D.) joined Dickinson State University as an assistant professor of education. After earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees at WSU, she is working on her doctorate in educational leadership and administration at Bethel University.

Lisa Taylor Snyder ’88 (Merrill, Wis.) has been named superintendent of the Lakeville (Minnesota) Area Public School District. She was previously superintendent in Merrill, Wis., and previously worked in the Holmen and Sparta schools in Wisconsin and in the Winona district. After receiving bachelor’s and master’s degrees at WSU, Lisa earned her doctorate in education at the University of Minnesota.

1990s

David Anderson ’94 (Rochester, Minn.) is the new assistant principal at Winona Senior High School. He taught high school English for 16 years, mostly at Byron High School. He continues to reside in Rochester with his wife, Nicole (Szura) Anderson ’94 and their son.

Darin Lottig ’94 (Lake Geneva, Wis.) is taking his illustrious boys basketball coaching record to Lake Geneva Badger High School. Darin previously coached at East Troy, where he compiled a 122-59 record in eight seasons, with a 99-18 mark over the past five seasons.

Andrea Pitkus ’95 (Buffalo Grove, Ill.) received her PhD in health informatics at the University of Minnesota. After earning her medical technology degree at WSU and working at Duke University Medical Center, she began the clinical lab science program at Minnesota before moving to its doctoral program in health informatics. Andrea says she currently works for a fellow WSU alumna, Deb Konicek, as a clinical informatics consultant at the College of American Pathologists.

Marc Spieler ’95 (Houston, Texas) and his wife, Shelly, welcomed son Benjamin Mykel on August 5. He joins sister, Coral, and brothers Max and Noah.

Justin Barrientos ’98 (Winona) was nominated for an Upper Midwest Regional Emmy award as part of the HBC-TV 25 team that covered Winona State’s women’s basketball game against Augustana on March 2. Justin was play-by-play announcer for the eight-person crew. It was the second Emmy nomination for HBC, the other coming in 2005 when Justin was also nominated for play-by-play.

2000s

Jocelyn Bevis Braun ’00 (Madison, Wis.) welcomed Finnley Arvid on May 12. Finnley joined big brother Fischer Lawrence.

Amy Szotkowski Kaufmann ’00 (Chippewa Falls, Wis.) was recently featured in the Chippewa Herald after she and her husband, Martin, started a business providing braces and prosthetics to animals. The couple’s story also appeared on Good Morning America, CNN, People magazine, and USA Today. The Kaufmanns say they have worked with 8,000 animals in 25 countries over the past seven years. Amy earned her degree in education at WSU and taught for eight years before beginning her business with Martin, who is a certified pedortist.

Joshua Byrnes ’02 (Osage, Iowa) is campaigning for the newly created Iowa House District 51. He won the 2010 election for District 14 and served on the Environmental, Economic Growth, and Environmental Protection Committees and is vice chair of Ways and Means. He is currently chair of the Agriculture and Industrial Technology Division at North Iowa Area Community College.

Ted ’03 and Sarah (Givot) ’04 Benson (Peoria, Ill.) welcomed their daughter, Hailey Elizabeth, on July 1, She joined Carter, aged 3, and Abby, aged 2, as young Warriors fans.

Jessica Brockberg ’03 (Mankato, Minn.) and her husband, Rick, recently had their first child, Madison Katherine, who was born on May 14.

Amanda Hanson ’03 (Holmen, Wis.) joined the Winona Health Urgent Care Clinic in June. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing at WSU. Amanda previously worked at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center and has served as an adjunct faculty member at her alma mater.

Malachi Johnson ’03 (Rochester, Minn.) welcomed son Cashton (Cash) on May 5, 2009.

Stephanie (Castellano) Johnson ’04 (Milltown, Wis.) and husband, Nick, welcomed their second child, Grant Joseph, December 9, 2010. He joins big brother Aiden.

Chad Steinmetz ’04 (Eau Claire, Wis.) has been elevated to principal at Bloomer High School from his assistant principal position. Chad graduated from Bloomer in 1992. He earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and principal’s certificate at WSU.

Mindy Boberg ’06/’11 (Winona) recently joined the Otolaryngology Department at Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse. She earned both her bachelor’s and master’s at WSU and was previously a registered nurse at Mayo Clinic. In addition to being a clinical nurse specialist, Mindy is also an advanced practice nurse prescriber.

Sarah Malenke ’06 (Fountain City, Wis.) married Kelby Radatz on September 3. Sarah is employed at WinCraft, Inc. in Winona while Kelby works at Fastenal.

Dustin ’06 and Emily (Lueth) ’07 Sadnick (St. Paul, Minn.) were married on June 25 in Winona. Emily is a campaign specialist at Internet Broadcasting Systems while Dustin is an associate sales representative at MEDTOX. Both Emily and Dustin earned degrees in mass communication at WSU.

Elizabeth (Sullivan) Sand ’06 (Lake City, Minn.) married longtime boyfriend Jason on July 9. Elizabeth works as a high school special education teacher in Lake City.

Elissa Wisniewski ’06 (Buffalo Grove, Ill.) has been named head softball coach at Libertyville High School. A business administration major and softball standout at Winona State, Elissa previously was pitching coach at her old high school, Stevenson. She works full-time in finance for the Pactiv Corporation, a consumer food service and packaging company in Lake Forest.

Katie Katterheinrich ’07 (Maple Grove, Minn.) married Mike Pogatchnik over the summer. Katie is employed at Target Corporation as a senior tax accountant. Mike is a senior tax consultant with Deloitte.

Jenny Rognrud ’07 (Savage, Minn.) and Kyle Lyngstad were married in October. Jenny works for the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District as a paraprofessional is pursuing a master’s in elementary and Spanish education. Kyle works as a systems engineer at Oak River Technology.

Kara Wester Cook ’08 (Denver, Colo.) and Jon Cook were married on August 4. Kara graduated with a nursing degree and is a labor and delivery nurse at Rose Medical Center. Jon is the creative arts pastor at Sanctuary Christian Fellowship.

Daniel Glenn ’08 and Britty Dautel ’09 (Minneapolis, Minn.) were married on July 29. Daniel earned his degree in communication studies while Britty graduated with a degree in mass communication.

Justin Kunferman ’08 (Eau Claire, Wis.) married Amanda Eisold on August 12. Justin works with the Parks Department in Eau Claire; Amanda is an insurance accountant.

Jacob ’08 and Melissa ’09 Vogel (Albertville, Minn.) welcomed their first child, Lillian, on June 18.

Erik Jensen ’09 (Onalaska, Wis.) has received his Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation. He works as an accountant in the Winona office of Hawkins, Ash, Baptie & Company, LLP.

Amelia Kasten ’09 (Rochester, Minn.) has been named head coach of the St. Charles girls soccer team. A forward, Amelia was a first-team All-America for the Warriors and three-time All-Central Region Scholar Athlete.

Holly Sutton ’09 (Elk River, Minn.) has accepted a physical education teaching position at Rogers High School after working there last year as head girls soccer coach and track coach. (Read about Holly and her girls soccer team in the Spring 2011 issue of Currents).

Don Vieth ’09 (High Point, N.C.) has been named athletics multimedia coordinator at High Point University. He will oversee all video production for the university, including live streaming and post-production. He was director of sports broadcasting and new media at Winona State.

Amanda Waller ’09 and Rob Bergmann ’09 (Minneapolis) were married in October in Galena, Ill. Amanda earned her BS in Tourism and Recreation and works as a human resource specialist for Hilton Hotels in Bloomington. Rob graduated with a degree in Geology and is co-founder of Big Rock Exploration, a rare minerals exploration company.

Trevor Carrier ’10 (Winona) married Kayla Schultz on October 1. Trevor works for Lewiston Public Schools and also at Fastenal.

Chelsey Jorgenson Johnson ’10 (Dover, Minn.) married Cameron Johnson on July 30. Chelsey works for the Stewartville School District while Cameron works at Winona Health.

Dani Morcomb ’10 (Rushford, Minn.) and Brad Gorder were married on September 24. Dani works at Merchants Bank; Brad at Rushford Foods.

Adam Wilder ’10 and Heather Nelson ’11  (Mabel, Minn.) were married on September 17 in Canton, Minn. Heather works at Merchants Bank while Adam is employed at Cenex Harvest States and attends Saint Mary’s University.

Heather Pierce ’11 (Winona) has been named the Warriors’ new head tennis coach, a year after she graduated as NSIC Player of the Year. Heathr compiled a 17-2 overall record as a senior while leading WSU to the championship match of the NSIC Tournament. She was a first team All-NSIC performer in each of her four seasons and was Freshman of the Year in 2008.

Brady Strangstalien ’11 (Westby, Wis.), a standout golfer for Winona State, won the La Crosse Tribune County Amateur Golf Championship in August with the lowest ever 36-hole score and lowest ever one-day score. Brady was a three-time NSIC champion for Winona State.

Florence Larson Freed ’34 (Blooming Prairie, Minn.) passed away on July 14 at the age of 96. She taught in country schools in Waltham and Sargeant for seven years before joining her husband, Francis, on their family farm. They both retired in 1980 and moved to Brownsdale.

Harriet G. Conway ’37 (Emmetsburg, Iowa) passed away on July 14. She taught English and physical education until 1943, and after raising her family taught at Emmetsburg Catholic School part-time and later full-time at several other schools. Harriet also taught adult basic education at Horizons and Iowa Lakes Community College for 17 years before retiring at the age of 78.

Dorothea Ebert Trelstad ’37 (Zumbrota, Minn.) passed away on August 5. She was 93 years old. She earned her bachelor’s at Winona State, master’s at the University of Minnesota, and completed additional graduate work at Minnesota and Minnesota State University Mankato. Dorothea taught elementary education in Pine Island schools for nine years and also taught in rural schools around the Goodhue County area for several years. She also farmed with her husband, Palmer, in the Zumbrota area.

Margaret Elise Wilson ‘38 (Red Wing, Minn.) passed away on September 9 at the age of 96.

1940s

Donitza Lumovich Kunelius ’40 (Waterville, Minn.) passed away on August 22 at the age of 94. She earned a master’s at Minnesota State University Mankato after receiving her BA at Winona State and was involved in education for her entire life, teaching in Columbia Heights for many years at Franklin Junior High in Mankato.

1950s

Gordon Danuser ‘52 (Rochester, Minn.) passed away on August 22. A well-known musician, he earned his bachelor’s at WSU and master’s at the McPhail College of Music in Minneapolis. Gordon was the music teacher and band director for the Dodge Center Public Schools for 13 years and a music educator at Rochester Community College for 19 years until he retired. An original “music man,” he played every instrument in the band and gave thousands of lessons. His bands won numerous awards and he performed for four U.S. presidents.

Mary Washburn Fahning ’55 (Dodge Center, Wis.) died peacefully on July 5. She taught English, music, and physical education in Dodge Center after graduating from Winona State, formally retiring in 1959 to raise her family. She continued to work as a substitute and taught swimming lessons for many years. Although she often said her parents urged her to choose teaching because it was one of the few professions open to women at the time, she maintained a deep love and respect for the profession.

Robert L. Goetting ‘55 (Winona) passed away on July 23. Although he never attended high school, Bob earned his degree at Winona State in three years and went on to earn master’s degrees in Spanish, English, and psychology. He taught at Drake University from 1965 to 1971 and later worked in human services with his wife, Karen Rae Pence.

Richard “Dick” Larson ’56 (Golden Valley, Minn.) passed away on August 19. A retired industrial arts instructor, Dick taught for three years in Ivanhoe and 31 years in the Robbinsdale school district. He was a member of the football team while a student at Winona State. Among his survivors is his wife of 54 years, Barbara Johnson Larson ’57.

Helen Reid Dittman ‘59 (Houston, Minn.) passed away on July 3. After earning her degree, Helen began her teaching career in Spring Grove and later returned to Houston, where she taught for many years and was beloved by her students. She later worked at a group home in Winona and volunteered at Gundersen Lutheran in La Crosse, Wis.

1960s

Richard “Dick” Gemmel ‘62 (Tyler, Texas) passed away on August 7 following a long battle with cancer. A native of Austin, Minn., Dick earned his BBA at WSU and later a master’s at Mankato State Teachers College. He taught for many years, much of it in Austin followed by positions in Texas. Upon his retirement in 2001, he was awarded the Texas Congress of Parents and Teachers Honorary Life Membership.

Judith “Judy” Bambenek Schmidt ’66 (Winona) passed away on September 6 at her home. She earned two master’s degrees after graduating from Winona State in 1966 and taught for 32 years in the Houston Public Schools. After retiring in 1999, Judy worked as an instructor in the master’s of education program at Saint Mary’s University. She was a beloved English and speech teacher in Houston and served as play director, speech coach, and cheerleading advisor. She was active in the community, directing numerous theater productions and serving on the Houston City Council for 12 years. A strong advocate for the arts, she was awarded grants by the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Among her survivors is Jim Schmidt ’86, vice president for University Advancement at WSU. Memorials may be directed to the M. Judith Schmidt Endowed Scholarship at Winona State.

1970s

James McArthur ’70 (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) passed away on August 22, 2009. James worked as a teacher for 34 years in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and retired after a 26-year career in the U.S. Army Reserves.

Greg Ritland ’75 (Plymouth, Minn.) died on September 12. He served in the U.S. Navy and graduated with a business degree from WSU and built a successful career in manufacturing.

Roger Rolbiecki ’76 (Shoreview, Minn.) died on July 21. He graduated from WSU and earned a master’s in physics at Ohio University. Roger was a passionate hobbyist, guitar and cycling enthusiast, collector of historical relics.

Bruce Meyer ’77 (Bemidji, Minn.) passed away unexpectedly on June 29. He graduated cum laude from Winona State and went on to earn MBA and law degrees. Bruce joined the Woodke Law Office in Bemidji in 1989, in which he eventually became a partner and shareholder, forming the new firm Brouse, Woodke, and Meyer PLLP.

 1980s

Richard Martin ‘84 (Winona, Minn.) passed away on July 26 following a bicycle accident. Rick graduated from Winona Technical College and Winona State and most recently worked as a photographer for Herff Jones. A collector of classic motorcycles and cars, he also was a music lover who played in bands and was a DJ for KQAL while a student at WSU.

Timothy Gustav McGill ’84 (Cumming, Ga.) passed away on September 13. He earned his business administration degree and headed south to pursue his career, first in Huntsville, Ala., and eventually to Cumming, Ga., where he worked for Wells Fargo for 20 years.

Rodney Rosaaen ’88 (Rochester, Minn.) passed away unexpectedly on July 21. He earned his MS degree in business at Winona State and worked in the banking field as well as for the Intercultural Mutual Assistance Association, a non-profit in Rochester.

1990s

Gene Nerad ’93 (Owatonna, Minn.) passed away on September 26. After attending Winona State, he was general manager of Holiday Inn in Winona and later worked at IBI Data in Brownsdale and Jostens.

Faculty Staff & Friends

Lisa Serwa (Winona) passed away on August 31 after a long fight with cancer. Lisa was a smiling and familiar presence to students, faculty, and staff in the WSU Bookstore. She also volunteered for the Winona County Humane Society and served as a steward for AFSCME.

William Schuler (Washington, D.C.) passed away on August 27. He attended Saint Mary’s College and was employed by Hughes Aircraft and White Candy Co. He returned to Winona to manage Schuler Chocolates following the death of his father, becoming one of the candy industry’s youngest executives at the age of 25. He was a generous benefactor to Winona State, working with faculty member Carol Jefferson to obtain and restore land at Garvin Heights overlooking Winona.

Joseph Schultz, Jr. (Rollingstone, Minn.) passed away on September 15 in Winona. A graduate of the University of Minnesota, he worked as a civil engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from 1954 to 1982. Remembering the scholarships he received while a student, Joe estalbished the Lois Olson Schultz Memorial Scholarship to honor his wife, and the Thomas Wayne Schultz Scholarship in memory of his son. In addition, he was a devoted supporter of the WSU’s Dixieland jazz ensemble because of his love for the music of that era.

“It’s the best job in the world,” says Terry Lierman ’69, emerging from the ornate office of U.S. Representative Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland). “It combines policy, politics, management, and working with a terrific boss. There are very few jobs in the world where you can do all that.”

As chief of staff, he works with policy and moves legislation forward while interacting with the White House as well as Congressional and other regional offices. He also manages Hoyer’s leadership team and communicates with a myriad of other constituencies. What makes him most proud? “Being at the center of the storm and working on priorities that will impact Americans for generations.”

He joined Hoyer’s staff in 2007. They met, however, years earlier when Hoyer attended a party Lierman was hosting for then Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill. The two have been friends ever since.

“It’s not very often you can know someone as a friend and then work in the trenches every day and respect that person even more than you did before,” he says. “Sometimes I wonder if he’s the big brother I always wanted.”

Raised in the small town of Shopiere, Wisconsin, he has two older sisters. Their father tended bar and their mother worked nights at a factory.

“My father gave me $20 when he dropped me off at Winona State,” recalls Lierman, a political science major who put himself through college by sweeping boathouse floors each morning and stocking groceries most nights.

Today Lierman is a long way from Winona State, but he remains grateful. “Winona State, through various experiences, internships, and professors, propelled me toward my interest in public service. Professors [Ahmed] El Afandi and [Jim] Eddy took me under their wings and helped me get an internship with the city manager in Winona.” After that, he landed a student assistant position for the chancellor of the Minnesota State University system.

Those internships, he says, allowed him to apply his education in real and tangible ways. They also made him rethink his plans to become a teacher.

After graduating with honors from Winona State, he pursued his master’s at the University of Wisconsin-Madison during the height of Vietnam War protests. “Looking back, it was an amazing time: tear gas, presence of the National Guard, protests day after day.”

A conscientious objector to the draft, Lierman saw a chance to serve through public service and politics. His education, internships, and life experiences, he says, “led me to believe I could make a difference. What better place to make a difference than Washington, D.C.?”

He graduated from UW-Madison in 1971 and planned a move to the nation’s capital. How he would get there is a story of perfect timing.

While distributing anti-war leaflets door-to-door for the Quakers, Lierman met Ed McManus from the National Institutes of Health. “We became fast friends,” he recalls. Their connection led to an internship with the NIH, the first step of his career in Washington.

After the NIH, he became director of the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations. Lierman left in 1980 to create a healthcare lobbying and public relations firm and start other related ventures. He returned to politics in 2003 as national finance co-chair for Howard Dean’s presidential campaign, helping raise $51 million, then a groundbreaking amount. From 2004 until his appointment as Hoyer’s chief of staff, he chaired the Maryland Democratic Party.

His career path has taken turns over the years; his faith in public service has not wavered. “One of the things I’m most proud of is my volunteer efforts. If it’s a priority, you make the time.”

He has most definitely made the time. Lierman is dedicated to helping others:  by founding the Pancreatic Cancer Network, founding and chairing the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, serving as vice chair of UNICEF, and founding the Children’s Research Institute at the Children’s National Medical Center. At Winona State, he created a scholarship for political science students involved in service.

“I believe the most noble thing one can do is public service,” he says. “That can come in many forms, be it elected official, public servant, or volunteer in the community.”  

What sparks this passion for service?

“For me, everything comes down to human rights. If people are treated with respect, if they have self-worth and a sense of purpose, that equates into good things happening. I believe things always come around in circles. Look at what has happened in my life. I’m the most blessed person you’ll ever meet.”

Terry Lierman ’69 comments on issues other than national policy and politics:

Paying for college:  “The crazy thing is that you can’t work your way through college now like I did. There’s such a disparity of what you get paid and what higher education costs. That’s a huge disincentive to students today.”

Making a difference:  “You don’t see protests [like those I saw at the University of Wisconsin] as much anymore. Our campuses have gone silent at a time when we need them most.” How to make your voice heard? “Letters to the editor, opinion pieces, peaceful protests, campaign involvement, and conversations with your elected officials.”

Staying true to your roots: “If you’re from the Midwest you are the heart of this country for other than geographic reasons.”

Quoting a favorite: “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”  (Aesop)

Memorable words: “Children are living messages we send to a time that we will not see. What message are we sending through our daily deeds?”

The congresswoman from Minnesota’s 6^th District announced her candidacy for the presidency on June 27, 2011. A month later, she emerged as leader of the Republican field when she topped the Iowa straw poll. Colleagues in the House have referred to her “impeccable political instincts” and fundraising ability. During her 2010 re-election campaign, Bachmann raised $13.5 million, more than any of her fellow incumbents.

Her chances have seemed to ebb over the fall, as Texas Governor Rick Perry entered the race and other conservative hopefuls seized the stage in a series of GOP debates. The New York Times, however, continues to call her a credible candidate for the Republican nomination, citing her charismatic and hard-charging style that motivates voters on the right. In April, Time magazine calls her as one of the world’s hundred most influential people.

Bachmann, who has described herself as having a “titanium spine,” picked up steam during a September speech at Liberty University. Addressing her student audience, she repeated a single phrase over and over:  “Don’t settle.”

She used those words to refer to decisions about her family, career, and religious faith, as well as her vision for the nation’s future. Implied was that voters should not settle for a presidential nominee less conservative than she.

That same theme of not settling for the easy choice reappears throughout Bachmann’s life and career, including her time at Winona State University. Then known by her maiden name, Michele Amble, she has often spoken of choosing to marry her husband, Marcus Bachmann ’78, while at WSU. On the campaign trail, she has described watching a series of evangelical films in 1977 that profoundly influenced her worldview, including a switch to Reagan Republicanism after arriving on campus as a Carter Democrat.

It could be said that Bachmann first chose the political life when she ran for WSU Student Senate vice president before her senior year. She conducted a successful campaign, but demonstrated her no-compromise principles when she resigned a few months short of fulfilling her term.

In an April 18, 1979 story in the Winonan, Bachmann (who had graduated and was working as an assistant to a circuit court judge in Wisconsin) reflected on her Senate experience, and expressed frustration with the group’s direction. She also opposed what she termed a preoccupation with the Minnesota Public Interest Research Group, a student organization founded by Ralph Nader that is viewed by some as taking a liberal stance on political and social issues.

Bachmann told the Winonan that her fellow senators offered a deal to stay on as vice president:  “If you change, we’ll change, too.” But Bachmann felt the two sides had reached a stalemate. She resigned in the winter of 1978.

After graduating from Winona State, Bachmann earned her law degree at Oral Roberts University, where she was research assistant to for a fundamentalist professor. In 1988, she received an LLM degree in tax law at the William & Mary School of Law and worked as a tax litigation attorney for the Internal Revenue Service. She left that position after two years when she had her first child.

Bachmann got her start in public activism when she co-founded a Stillwater, Minnesota, charter school in 1993. She gained media attention for her campaign against the Profile of Learning, a controversial set of state education standards. In 1999 she lost a run for the Stillwater school board, but the next year won a seat in the Minnesota Senate by defeating an 18-year incumbent.

While her public statements have revealed little about her academic experience at Winona State, Bachmann’s reformist approach to education has been unequivocal. In the U.S. House, Bachmann has consistently questioned the federal government’s role in public education and has said that one of her first acts as president would be to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education.

At press time in late October, poll numbers indicated that that the country was unlikely to elect its first female commander-in-chief, and the first Winona State alumna. If anything, Bachmann will likely stiffen her titanium spine and settle on fighting to the end.