Cheryl Andres

Cheryl Andres joined the Office of Legal Affairs, becoming a member of the classified staff, in 2002. She graduated summa cum laude from UW-Green Bay with a degree in English and Women’s Studies. Her background in law and international education, as well as her experience as an HIV counselor, has helped to prepare her for service in the Chancellor’s Ombuds Program. Cheryl is a single mother with three daughters, ages 10, 20 and 24, who enjoys spending time with her family, attending fairs and festivals, and working to promote equality and justice in our society and our campus community.

Cynthia Barnes

Cynthia Barnes, a member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Tribe, earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Social Welfare at UWM. Between 1974 and 1982 she worked at UWM’s Equal Opportunity Office and The Experimental Program in Higher Education in student and Specialist positions. She also served as an ad hoc lecturer one semester, teaching a U/G course “Social Work with American Indians”. When she left UWM she held the title of Associate Director-Social Services at the Milwaukee Indian Health Board for 5 years, and then spent over 17 years in the Milwaukee County Human Resources Department. Currently Cynthia is the Office Manager in the UWM Department of History, a classified position, which she assumed in September 2006. Her education and work history have afforded her experience in listening, training and mediating with people from diverse backgrounds.

Kathy Berry

Kathy L. Berry, Academic Staff, is the Coordinator of Professional Education Programs in the School of Education and Certifying Officer for teacher certification and licensure programs at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Prior to this assignment, Ms. Berry was the Coordinator of the Academic Advisement module of the OASIS project, providing guidance of the activities associated with the development and implementation of PeopleSoft at the division level, in the Department of Enrollment Services. She first joined UW-Milwaukee in 1988 as an Administrative Specialist in the Language Resource Center in the College of Letters & Science. Throughout her career at UW-Milwaukee, Ms. Berry has served on numerous subcommittees including Non-Teaching Academic Staff and Minority Issues & Mentoring. She currently co-chairs UWM’s African American Faculty & Staff Council, and serves as a University mentor to academic and classified staff through Employee Development. Ms. Berry received her B.S. degree in Mass Communications and M.A. degree in English from Jackson State University. She plays trumpet, guitar and piano, and is the grandmother of three.

Joyce Hamm

Joyce Hamm has worked in the Office of the Graduate School for over 25 years, starting as a receptionist and moving up through the ranks of the civil service system to her current position as a student status examiner. Co-workers have not been reluctant to seek her out to consult on personal problems or emotionally charged issues and she would listen. As a graduate and former co-director of the Midwest branch of Lionheart Institute of Transpersonal Energy Healing, Joyce has had extensive training in transpersonal counseling which considers the mind/body/emotion/spirit of the client. She is currently in her last year of a master’s degree program in community counseling.

Katina Lazarides

Katina Lazarides holds a B.A. and M.A. in Communication and a Graduate Certificate in Mediation and Negotiation from UWM. A member of the academic staff since 2003, she is currently the Communication and Project Specialist for the UW System/UWM Leadership Site for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. Katina has served on the Academic Staff Orientation Committee and has worked with numerous departments on campus on a variety of issues related to faculty, academic staff and student development. As part of a Wellness Coaching Program, she has recently designed and facilitated workshops to build communication skills such as empathy, listening and problem solving. She is committed to making the campus work environment safe, open and fair for everyone.

Oscar Perez

Oscar Perez currently serves in an academic staff role as the Neighborhood and Local Government Relations Liaison for University Relations and Communications. He received his Bachelor’s degree from Mount Scenario College in Criminal Justice Administration, and his Masters at UWM in Administrative Leadership. Prior to his July, 2006 appointment to this position, he was a member of the Milwaukee Police Department for 25 years. In that role, he served at the ranks of Police Officer, Detective, Lieutenant of Detectives, Captain and Deputy Inspector. Oscar also attended two law enforcement executive leadership schools, the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy, and Northwestern University Traffic Institute, School of Police Staff and Command. His roles have included extensive training in communication skills, mediating and problem resolution.

Beth Schaefer

Beth Schaefer is the Program Manager of the Student Technology Services (STS) program in the Division of University Information Technology Services at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. STS delivers technology-based services to the campus community. Her responsibilities include the coordination and direction of all STS administrative program activities. She appreciates that she can work with students in all aspects of their jobs. Beth is also the Campus Mac Support Coordinator where she is responsible for coordinating campus-wide support of Apple technologies as they relate to the academic mission of the university. Beth is an alumni of UW-Milwaukee with a B.A. in Geography where she has been working since 1989. She lives in Shorewood with her husband, Jim, and dog, Lucky.

Deloise Snow

Deloise Snow has been employed with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee since 1991. She has devoted her entire career to serving low-income students from disadvantaged backgrounds. She currently serves as the Associate Director of TRIO & Pre-College Programs. Prior to her current position, she was the director of the Talent Search Program. Talent Search is a one of several federal Trio programs designed to increase the number of students from disadvantaged backgrounds to complete high school and attend and graduate from a post-secondary program. Ms. Snow grew up in Racine, WI where she graduated from J.I. Case High School. Deloise has a Masters Degree in Administrative Leadership from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Labor and Industrial Relations from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. She is known by her friends and colleagues as a good listener, and someone that is always willing to help others.

Howard Spearman

Howard Spearman is a senior academic advisor and multicultural student coordinator in the Sheldon B. Lubar School of Business. He has been serving the university community for approximately 4 years. Howard comes to campus from a six year stint in advising and programming at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. While there, he held multiple positions, such as Director of PreCollege Programs and Coordinator of Multicultural Recruitment. With a BSE in Human Services and a MSE in Student Affairs & Personal Counseling from UW-Oshkosh, he is committed to listening to the concerns of others. Furthermore, Howard is an advocate of life long learning. He is currently pursuing his doctoral degree in Leadership at Cardinal Stritch University and his personal mission is to encourage and inspire a life of transformation through leadership, learning, and service.

Murali Vedula

Dr. Murali Vedula has a combination of industrial, community involvement, and academic experiences. He is an academic staff member who has been working for UWM for the past ten years in the School of Continuing Education. Murali is personable and is an excellent listener. He is certified as a trainer for "Crucial Conversations". As an Ombuds person, he is committed to applying his skills and knowledge to this extremely important role for UWM. In addition to his regular duties as a Program Director for Continuing Engineering Education for industry professionals, "Dr.V" is a regular and popular presenter on the topic of memory and brain fitness at the area Senior Centers and active/older adult communities. Prior to UWM, he was a Chief Engineer and a Project Leader in industry for about seven years. Dr. Vedula received his Ph.D. in 1986 from The Pennsylvania State University in Engineering Science and Mechanics, more recently his received his M.B.A. in the Executive program at UWM in 2001.

Jeanne Wagner

Jeanne Wagner joined the staff in the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare (HBSSW) on May 23, 2005 as the Director of Field Programs. Jeanne is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with extensive clinical, management and administrative experience. She has worked in a variety of social service settings prior to her appointment with UWM which include: child welfare, adoption, mental health, developmental disabilities, geriatrics, AODA, and private practice. In her management role, Jeanne addressed issues related to conflict within programs including staff complaints, legal matters and conflict with community collaterals. Jeanne has worked with the government agencies that handled employee complaints related to allegations of discrimination and matters related to the termination of employment. As a licensed clinical social worker, Jeanne has addressed conflict with individuals, couples and families and has assisted clients in achieving positive resolution to their issues.

Lue Wright

Lue Wright is a classified employee of 8 years service as a custodian in Mitchell hall. She previously held an LTE position as a cashier, and vault teller in the Bursar's office for 10 years. She feels that having served in both the white collar, and blue collar positions along with life experiences, and past occupations that she has acquired a broad capacity of understanding the stresses of both worlds. She is a mother and a grandmother with a large diversity of friends and family. She feels that is of “an age” where not much can shock her, but also young enough to always learn new things. Her life’s motto is to "put yourself in the other person’s shoes", and that every situation has more than one side.