Association News
He might not be the real deputy chief of staff at the White House, but she's a real mother, even if her actual children don't have a Malcolm in the middle. Jane Kaczmarek '79 and Bradley Whitford attended a Los Angeles alumni chapter event last September to meet with local Badgers and answer their questions.
Kaczmarek plays Lois on the popular television program Malcolm in the Middle, and Whitford, her spouse, is a Madison native who received an Emmy for his portrayal of White House functionary Josh Lyman on The West Wing. Their appearance drew more than a hundred alumni to the gathering, which was sponsored by the L.A. chapter in conjunction with WAA and the UW Foundation. The alumni club also offered Kaczmarek a special honor, naming her the recipient of its first-ever Badger of the Year award.
Those attending the event asked many questions about Kaczmarek and Whitford's Madison connection and whether it had led to their marriage. However, Whitford was only a high-school student at Madison East when Kaczmarek was at the UW, and he says the closest they would have come is a brush in Camp Randall Stadium, where he sold sodas. "I probably sold my future wife a mixer," he says.
Kaczmarek plays Lois on the popular television program Malcolm in the Middle, and Whitford, her spouse, is a Madison native who received an Emmy for his portrayal of White House functionary Josh Lyman on The West Wing. Their appearance drew more than a hundred alumni to the gathering, which was sponsored by the L.A. chapter in conjunction with WAA and the UW Foundation. The alumni club also offered Kaczmarek a special honor, naming her the recipient of its first-ever Badger of the Year award.
Those attending the event asked many questions about Kaczmarek and Whitford's Madison connection and whether it had led to their marriage. However, Whitford was only a high-school student at Madison East when Kaczmarek was at the UW, and he says the closest they would have come is a brush in Camp Randall Stadium, where he sold sodas. "I probably sold my future wife a mixer," he says.
Kaczmarek and Whitford also spoke about their current interests, both on screen and off. Among the activities they support are the Union of Concerned Scientists, a nonpartisan group that translates the results of research into layman's terms, and Clothes Off Our Back, a project that auctions celebrities' clothing and gives the proceeds to charity.
The two conceived the idea for the latter project after the last Emmy Awards show, and they convinced twenty of their colleagues to donate clothing. "After all," explains Kaczmarek, "once you take a picture of a dress, its soul is gone." The articles were sold through the Internet auction site Ubid.com and raised more than $87,000.
— Staff
The two conceived the idea for the latter project after the last Emmy Awards show, and they convinced twenty of their colleagues to donate clothing. "After all," explains Kaczmarek, "once you take a picture of a dress, its soul is gone." The articles were sold through the Internet auction site Ubid.com and raised more than $87,000.
— Staff
Asian Excursion
The university's top administrator is getting ready to go see some of the UW's farthest flung alumni. In January 2003, Chancellor John D. Wiley MS'65, PhD'68 plans to make his first trip abroad in his capacity as head of UW-Madison, with visits to five Asian countries. The UW currently enrolls about 3,800 international students, most of whom are from Asia.
The trip was first proposed at the dedication of the Thai Pavilion in Madison's Olbrich Gardens last June. Pongsak Payakvichien MA'71, acting on behalf of the Thai alumni chapter, extended an invitation to the chancellor to visit Thailand. According to Kim Santiago '88, UW-Madison Asia coordinator, "The Thais have always had an active alumni chapter. They wanted Chancellor Wiley to learn firsthand about Thailand and the tremendous collaborations that have developed as a result of the Asian Partnership Initiative."
Housed in the Office of International Studies and Programs, the Asian Partnership Initiative (API) was inaugurated in 1996 so that UW researchers, students, and teachers could share advances in biophysical sciences with their colleagues around the globe for the betterment of all nations.
The trip was first proposed at the dedication of the Thai Pavilion in Madison's Olbrich Gardens last June. Pongsak Payakvichien MA'71, acting on behalf of the Thai alumni chapter, extended an invitation to the chancellor to visit Thailand. According to Kim Santiago '88, UW-Madison Asia coordinator, "The Thais have always had an active alumni chapter. They wanted Chancellor Wiley to learn firsthand about Thailand and the tremendous collaborations that have developed as a result of the Asian Partnership Initiative."
Housed in the Office of International Studies and Programs, the Asian Partnership Initiative (API) was inaugurated in 1996 so that UW researchers, students, and teachers could share advances in biophysical sciences with their colleagues around the globe for the betterment of all nations.
Wiley's trip will include stops in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, and Singapore as well as Thailand. Along with Santiago, the chancellor will travel with UW representatives Gilles Bousquet, dean of International Studies and Programs; Kenneth Shapiro, International Agricultural Programs administrator and co-director of API; and Sandy Wilcox, University of Wisconsin Foundation president.
The chancellor's visit will assist in the kickoff of the newly formed Singapore and Indonesia alumni chapters. In addition, says Santiago, "We hope to use alumni contacts to improve on and develop greater research collaborations with each of the countries we tour."
— Candice Andrews '77
The chancellor's visit will assist in the kickoff of the newly formed Singapore and Indonesia alumni chapters. In addition, says Santiago, "We hope to use alumni contacts to improve on and develop greater research collaborations with each of the countries we tour."
— Candice Andrews '77
Getting to Know You
We want to know how you want to connect with UW-Madison. Are you interested in meeting fellow Badgers to reminisce about the good old days on campus? Would you like to tell prospective students about life at the UW? Or do you want to travel the world with fellow grads? Use WAA's new online interest inventory at uwalumni.com/involved, and tell us which alumni programs interest you most. You'll start to receive information about how to get involved with WAA. It's that simple.
— Erin Hannan Hueffner '00
— Erin Hannan Hueffner '00
2002 David Ward Alumni Advocate Award
Mary Clare Freeman '48 receives the 2002 David Ward Advocate Award from David Zoerb '68 (right) and UW-Madison Chancellor John Wiley (center).
Zoerb cited Freeman's work mobilizing support for the UW in the Wausau area.
Zoerb cited Freeman's work mobilizing support for the UW in the Wausau area.
Become Part of UW History
UW-Madison's oral histories project is looking for volunteers — especially volunteers who like to listen. Barry Teicher, the official oral historian at the UW library, is developing a lengthy list of people to add to the university's collection of recorded interviews. But though there are plenty of candidates to be interviewed, he needs people to do the interviewing. "I can only do so much," he says.
Now in its thirty-third year, the oral history project has collected nearly six hundred interviews with various UW personalities, from former chancellors like Donna Shalala to emeritus faculty and longtime administrative and academic staff. "We're aiming to get a cross-section of the university community," Teicher says. Interviews typically run from one to two hours, and people who are interested in helping conduct them should contact Teicher at bteicher@library.wisc.edu.
— Staff
Now in its thirty-third year, the oral history project has collected nearly six hundred interviews with various UW personalities, from former chancellors like Donna Shalala to emeritus faculty and longtime administrative and academic staff. "We're aiming to get a cross-section of the university community," Teicher says. Interviews typically run from one to two hours, and people who are interested in helping conduct them should contact Teicher at bteicher@library.wisc.edu.
— Staff
