Many UW-Richland faculty & staff are available as speakers or consultants. Some speakers may charge for mileage or ask a fee. The costs of consulting services are negotiable and depend on the type and extent of the services. Through the links below, you can contact individuals to arrange for speaking engagements or other services.
James Aagaard
Assistant Professor, Music
Aagaard is available to speak to high school and community groups about various topics in music, particularly American music. Subjects of specialty include: the American Musical Theatre, George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Stephen Foster, Nat "King" Cole, John Philip Sousa, and Foster-to-Sousa-to-Ragtime-and-Blues-to-Boogie-Woogie-to-Rock & Roll. Other topics, given ample lead time might be possible.
Floyd H. Blackmore
Associate Professor Emeritus, Biological Sciences
Blackmore offers talks for student or youth groups on genetic simulation, methods in molecular biology and biotechnology. For adults, he offers "A Primer of Classical Genetics."
Jerry Bower
Professor Emeritus, History
Bower can present talks on almost any topic related to history, including those related to current events or regional history. He will consider proposals to serve as consultant or academic humanist for Wisconsin Humanities Council projects.
Dennis Carpenter
Associate Professor, Psychology and Education
Carpenter is available to cover issues related to life-span human development and education, in particular issues surrounding cognitive and social-emotional development from childhood through old age. He is also interested in family history and genealogical research, and has some experience tracing his own family lines through Richland County back into the mid-1800s. Another interest is in the psychological dimensions of environmental issues.
Clif Cavanaugh
Associate Professor, Computer Science/Physics/Astronomy
Cavanaugh offers talks on topics in astronomy and physics.
Marnie Dresser
Professor, English
Dresser offers workshops or talks on creativity, civility in the classroom, and other academic issues. The talk on creativity is applicable outside academics. All talks could be tailored for adult or high school audiences. She can give presentations about Emily Dickinson and other women writers and would be pleased to give readings of her original poetry.
Norlene Emerson
Associate Professor, Geography/Geology
Her specialties are in earth history, invertebrate paleontology, Wisconsin glaciation, geology of the Great Lakes region, and volcanology. She is available to speak on those or other topics in geology.
Brandon Fetterly
Associate Professor, Chemistry
Fetterly can speak or consult on most topics in general and organic chemistry. His special interests are polymer chemistry, chemical safety and biorenewable fuels and materials.
Patrick Glenn Hagen
CEO/Dean
Dr. Hagen's research interests are in intercultural communication, teaching world languages, and German-Jewish identity. He is currently available to present talks on the following topics:
- Germans and U.S. Americans in Communication
- The Importance of World Language Teaching in the 21st Century
Emil Haney
Professor Emeritus, Economics/Business
Haney is available to speak to educational and community groups on a variety of topics in economics, including sustainable economic development, ecological economics, and current conditions in the state, national and global economies. Having traveled and worked in many Latin American countries and several Western European countries, he is also prepared to lecture on economic conditions in those regions as well. Emil Haney & Wava Haney (see listing below) together are prepared to speak on the topic of "Globalization."
Wava Haney
Professor Emerita Sociology/Anthropology
Haney can talk to groups about "Women and Men: Work and Family" and "Businesswomen and Downtown Development." She can also offer a review of issues associated with race and ethnic relations in the U.S. in the past and today; these might be of special interest to high school classes in history, literature, sociology and political science. Haney could help non-profit groups interested in collecting quantitative (e.g., surveys) or qualitative (e.g., stories and oral histories) data. Together with Emil Haney, Professor Emeritus, Wava Haney is prepared to speak on issues associated with globalization.
George Henze
Student Service Coordinator/Adult Student Advisor
Henze would like to speak with groups of adults about the benefits of higher education. He is also prepared to give talks about tools that can help you find a satisfying career. Henze would also be pleased to talk to student groups about diversity and wellness.
Robert Hirschy
Associate Professor Emeritus, Biological Sciences
Hirschy offers presentations entitled "A 40-Year Summary of Richland Center Christmas Bird Counts"; "Feeding Frenzy - a look at backyard bird feeding"; "Unusual Plant Communities of Southwest Wisconsin"; "Hub City Bog State Natural Area"; "Travels of Muir and Thoreau in Southwestern Wisconsin"; "Enjoying the Night Sky." He is available to consult with parents considering purchase of microscopes, telescopes for children and offers consulting with schools regarding gifted and talented programs in science.
Gail (Halink) Hoffman
Professor, Health & Exercise Science
Hoffman may be available in the summer to conduct volleyball camps. She is interested in speaking to high school athletes--individuals, teams or other groups--about athletic opportunities at UW-Richland and to other groups about topics related to athletics.
Zoie Eva Lutz
Professor, Theatre/Communication Arts
Lutz offers presentations on topics in theatre history, directing, acting, & improvisation, including "With the Volume Turned Down," a presentation about non-verbal communication in theatre.
Karen McLeer
Associate Professor, English
McLeer is available to speak to high school and community groups about various topics in literature and writing. Special areas of interest include: Irish literature, British novelists, drama (including Shakespeare) and Wisconsin native Laura Ingalls Wilder. She also offers presentations on resumes/cover letters and writing effectively for college.
Dale Murray
Assistant Professor, Philosophy
Murray is willing and able to talk about several topics in ethics and social and political philosophy. He is available to discuss subjects relating to bioethics, environmental ethics, the philosophy of Robert Nozick, and the philosophy of sport. He also has interests in ancient Greek philosophy and aesthetics.
Faye (Zhifang) Peng
Assistant Professor, Business & Economics
John Poole
Assistant Dean for Student Services/Financial Aid Director
Poole offers presentations entitled "An Overview of Higher Education in Wisconsin" and "An Overview of the Financial Aid Application Process" (for high school groups).He is available to speak about UW-Richland, UW Colleges, UW System--regarding admission, application, testing, etc., and also about UW-R alumni services.
Todd Roll
Director of the Library
Roll can discuss the use of library resources. He may also be available to talk about topics related to paranormal research, another of his interests.
Emery (Wontor) Sanchez
Student Services coordinator – International programs
Wontor can present on these topics: the life of international students in America/hosting international students; English Language Learners (ELL)/English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Education (Adult/K-12); effects of being bilingual; linguistics including phonology/accent discrimination in the United States; and specializing in Saudi Arabian culture and exchange student habits.She is also the contact person for those seeking UW-Richland international students to speak about their home countries.
Aharon Zorea
Associate Professor, History
Given sufficient notice, Zorea can speak on most areas in history. His specialties include American Constitutional history, American legal history, American political history, organized crime history, organized crime laws, Catholic history in America, Biblical History (Old and New Testaments), Ancient philosophy, and Medieval philosophy.