Learn About UW-Richland

Middle School U Instructors

Nick Ehlinger

Killer Keyboards

After teaching elementary music in the River Valley School District for seven years, I am now the district’s middle school vocal music and drama teacher. In addition to singing, I also play several instruments, including guitar, electric bass, violin, viola and piano. One of the things I like best about being with middle school students are the opportunities I have in my 7th grade general music classes to teach the students how to play many different kinds of instruments. The students especially like their work with the electric piano, an instrument that includes hundreds of synthesized sounds and rhythms. Middle School U students participating in Killer Keyboards will learn beginning piano techniques and have fun exploring many of this electric instrument's many components.

Amie Fisher

Art in Architecture: Magnificent Mosaics

I have been an active working artist in the area for the last 10 years, selling my paintings and prints at a variety of local venues. In 2006, I returned to college at the UW-Richland campus where I furthered my skills with two dimensional media and fell in love with all aspects of art history. I completed my bachelor's degree in art education this spring at UW-Platteville and look forward to the next chapter in my artistic life.

John Heasley

Explorers of the Solar System

I connected with the cosmos when the Cub Scouts took me on a field trip to the Fels Planetarium in Philadelphia when I was in fifth grade. I teach English at Richland Center High School including our planet's only summer school course in Martian Literature. I enjoy stargazing, especially under the dark skies of Southwest Wisconsin. I have attended space education workshops at Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama, Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and Johnson Space Center in Texas and enjoy sharing the adventures with my students.

Gail Hoffman

Wilderness Survival and First Aid

I'm an Assistant Professor of Physical Education and Athletics at UW-Richland. I have B.P.E. from Purdue University and a M.S. in Pedagogy from UW-LaCrosse. I enjoy coaching, officiating, and being outdoors. I especially enjoy helping others live a healthy, productive, and long-lasting life.

Hsiao-Chi (Dora) Johnson

Creative Dramatics

I am a native of Taiwan and only recently moved to Wisconsin. I received my Master of Arts with a major in Theatre Studies, with a Concentration on Directing and Creative Drama, from Northwestern University in Evanston IL. I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Diplomacy at National Cheng-chi University, Taipei Taiwan. I love all aspects of theater. I have written and produced plays and taught drama classes in both the US and Taiwan. I am eager to share my love of interpretive theater with Middle School U students.

Michelle Keller

You Want Me To Do WHAT? Problem Solving and Teambuilding

I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse with an Exercise and Sport Science and Health Education degree. I have been teaching in the Richland Center School District for 9 years as an elementary, middle school, and adapted physical educator. I have also coached girls’ basketball, volleyball, and softball. My passion is keeping kids active and bringing new and exciting activities into the classroom. I like team building and problem solving because the activities allow students to interact with each other and show their ability to communicate, trust, and cooperate.

Jim Korb

Wetter and Wilder

I am a graduate of UW-LaCrosse and I have been teaching at the elementary level for 30 years. I am currently at Jefferson Elementary. I love working with kids. I have extended my reach by being part of the instructional staff at UW Richland's College for Kids, Middle School U and PreCollege Programs. My passion is sharing my love of the outdoors - especially monitoring the streams and the microscopic life in them. My experience with NASA's EarthKAM Program began 6 years ago when I learned about it at Madison's Spring Harbor Environmental Magnet Middle School. I can’t wait to share it with Middle School U students.

Nancy McLaughlin

What the World Needs Now is …Art

I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Pacific Union College in California in 1982. I have worked with young people of different ages. One of my interests is in art. I really enjoy working with artist grade colored pencils because they are such a flexible medium. Another one of my interests is nature and wildlife. I enjoy going on trips and taking pictures to use for reference photos in artwork.

Wayne Morgenthaler

Geocaching, Electronics, Fishing and You

I taught high school for 37 years as a business education instructor and the past two years at UW-Richland and UW-Platteville. However, my true passion is fishing. I am an avid fisherman who wants to pass the sport on to the younger generation. I have been a certified DNR fishing instructor for the past 5 years and have run fishing camps through the local recreational department for last 6 years. I also write fishing and hunting articles for mwnews.net. I hope to see you at the local fishing pond!

Dan Nedrelo

Biodiversity in Our Changing World

I have been a herpetologist since 3rd grade. By the time I was in 9th grade I was doing local programs on reptiles and amphibians and using live specimens in 4-H and Boy Scouts projects. After attending the UW-Stevens Point I worked with the National Wildlife Federation and ever since I’ve maintained a lecture program in addition to working with the WI-DNR, Bureau of Endangered Resources, The Nature Conservancy and Dept. of the Army (Fort McCoy) doing wildlife work primarily with reptiles and amphibians. Additionally, my work as a wildlife photographer has taken me to most of the states in the USA along with Australia, Hispaniola, and most recently Costa Rica.

Dan Pepich

CSI: UW-Richland

I am a 1990 graduate of UW-Richland, and went on to obtain a degree in criminal Justice from UW-Platteville in 1992. I was commissioned an officer in the US Army through ROTC at Platteville in the same year. I serve 9 years in the Wisconsin National Guard, and began my police career in 1994. In 1997 I started my career with the Richland Center Police Department. In 2000 I was promoted to Sergeant. I am a CounterAct instructor which is an anti drug, alcohol, violence program geared at the 5th grade age students. I am also a member of the Richland, Iowa, Grant Drug Taskforce, which investigates drug involved complaints. In 2005 I was trained by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Madison Crime Lab as a field evidence technician.

Dave Petrowitz

Sportsology 101

I have taught for 27 years in three different public school districts. During this time I have coached a number of sports from the 5th grade level to the varsity level, including football, volleyball, basketball, soccer, baseball, and track. I have also taught a class that utilizes Power Point at the College level. I love teaching "Sportsology" because it uses both the sport and the computer tools to develop the whole student in mind and body. When I am not teaching, my current hobby is in the martial art of Tae Kwon Do.

Marilyn Rinehart

Sportsology 101

I enjoyed my group of "Body Detectives" at the UW-R College for Kids last summer! I like to teach people of any age the importance of understanding their own health, and I especially like to help interested students to discover a pathway toward a health career. I am now a part-time teacher in health programs at MATC after having taught nursing for many years. I also volunteer in the Richland Community Free Clinic and I stay healthy by bicycling, walking, snow-shoeing, and eating right!

Bob Wild

Exploring Chemistry

For the past two years I have taught science at Ithaca high school. I have a deep interest in all areas of science but particularly the chemical and biological sciences. I had the privilege of working at some large international schools in both Moscow, Russia and Istanbul, Turkey. I was also a science teacher in the McFarland School District. I love the southwestern part of our state and look forward to sharing my experiences and enthusiasm for science with my students.

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