Alumni
Featured Alumni
Environmental Science and Policy graduates have been successful in many different positions including research, government, industry, and consulting. Several have continued their educations at PhD granting institutions. Here is a sample of some of the recent graduates: who they are, what they are doing, why they chose UWGB, and what benefits resulted from the experience. 
Anne Schauer (pictured on right) is working on her doctorate in environmental engineering at Marquette University. She is workingo on an anaerobic digestion related project.
Jay Hodgson is a National Science Foundation Doctoral Research Fellow at the University of Alabama doing research on climate change. He chose UWGB for his Masters work because of its good reputation in the environmental field. He cites his ES&P degree as: “Preparing me for my current Ph.D. program in both teaching and research. It also rekindled my interest in pursuing an advanced degree in the environmental field.”
Bruce Snyder is a Doctoral Student/Research Assistant at the Institute of Ecology, University of Georgia conducting research on invasive exotic earthworms and their effects on soil properties and other soil invertebrates. He did his undergraduate work at UWGB and chose to do his Masters here also to “increase his job prospects”. Looking back on his experience in the ES&P program he says: “The interdisciplinary focus of the program has given me a very broad view of ecological and environmental problems. This has given me an advantage in my current position, as my peers rarely approach problems the same way I do. I am well prepared to approach issues from multiple directions, and have the skills to discuss them with my peers. I frequently have unique experience from my time in the program that contributes to my perspectives on these issues.”
Michelle Stokes is the Environmental Project Manager for American Transmission Company in De Pere, Wisconsin. She says this about her decision to come to UWGB for graduate school: “The interdisciplinary approach at UW-Green Bay was a huge asset to my education and has served me well in my career. Finally, my decision to attend the University centered on my desire to have a well-rounded education and work with professors in a one-on-one setting.” Michelle points to the major benefits of the program: “Without my Master's Degree I wouldn't have been seriously considered for the job I have today; a job I love. The Professors at UW-Green Bay pushed me to a level of learning I didn't know I could attain, especially in the development of my thesis. The Professors I worked with always put in the extra time to help review drafts, provide guidance or just talk out issues. You can't have a strong Graduate Program unless you have Professors willing to put in the extra time and effort needed to make the Program great; UW-Green Bay has those kinds of Professors.”
Kelly (Pfaff) Sjerven is a Science Lab Assistant/Biology Tutor & Environmental Science Instructor at Ridgewater College in Minnesota. She selected UWGB because the ES&P program was interdisciplinary and the class sizes were smaller than other schools. Also, because of the reciprocal agreement with Minnesota, she could get an in-state tuition rate. For her, the benefits of the ES&P program were: “Well-rounded program leaves many employment options open; knowledge of difficulties of getting science and policy to work together is beneficial in any field - problem-solving and brainstorming about possible solutions in management-type classes get students to think beyond their undergrad disciplines; thesis work of myself and peers seemed to cover more "applied" areas of science - broader topics than looking at a particular species or something - research that could be useful to managers in the area and actually make a difference.”
Jessie Fink is a Landscape Architect with JJR, a landscape architecture, civil engineering, and environmental science consulting firm in Madison. She obtained information about UWGB online and decided that the ES&P program was a good fit with her career plans. She says: “I am pursuing certification as a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Accredited Professional from the US Green Building Council, which requires passing a detailed examination on environmentally sustainable building practices. My degree has helped me to understand many of the energy and legal aspects of green building included on the exam that I was not previously exposed to.” Jessie’s thesis topic was The Effects of Urbanization on Baird Creek, Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Kevin Erb is a Conservation Professional Development and Training Specialist for the University of Wisconsin Extension. He chose the ES&P program at UWGB because it was a good fit with his interests. He sees one of the benefits of his graduate experience as the “ability to use thesis research and classroom education immediately on the job—I am still using some of the data six years later in educational programs. Another benefit was having the respect of faculty for the work experience I had and the working knowledge that I brought to the program.”
Alumni Thesis/Project Names
Name |
Finish Date |
Thesis/Project Title |
MP-Lname |
| Kendra A. Axness | 12/1/2004 | Hexavalent Chromium Removal by Hydrotalcite in a Multi-Component Aqueous System | Terry |
| Robert A. Bermke | 12/1/2004 | Hourly Directional Tendencies in Acid Rain Emissions Parameters Within and Among Electric Utility Units | Davis |
| Davina E. Bonness (Halvorson) | 5/1/2004 | Wetland Protection in Wisconsin and Illinois in the Post SWANCC Era: Explaining Policy Adoption Through the Agenda Setting Model | Scheberle |
| Amanda N. Bowman | 6/1/2005 | Wisconsin and Smart Growth: An assessment of Conservation Subdivision Zoning Policies Using Content Analysis | Howe |
| Laurel A. Braatz | 12/1/2004 | A Study of Fecal Indicators and Other Factors Impacting Water Quality in Private Wells in Door County, WI | Stieglitz |
| Michael J.D. Brown | 8/1/2004 | The Components That Foster A Successful Smart Growth Comprehensive Plan: A Case Study of the Village of Howard | Phoenix |
| Erin M. Busscher | 5/1/2004 | Stewardship Capacity and Watershed Collaboration: An Assesssment of the Wisconsin Basin Partnerships | Kraft |
| Jeffrey M. Casalina | 5/1/2006 | The Feasability of Home-Based Hydrogen Generators | Katers |
| Andrew G. Cassini | 5/1/2005 | Analysis of Bird Distribution Patterns in Forested and Agricultural Landscapes of North-Central Wisconsin | Howe |
Tammy L. Castonia |
5/1/2005 | State Implementation of Agriculture Nonpoint Source Pollution | Scheberle |
| Heidi Cerveny | A Study of Private Wellwater Nitrates in the Town of Herman, Shawano County | Katers | |
| Larry A. Cornell | 5/1/2006 | Towards a Non-parametric Discriminant Rule for Identification of Wisconsin Bat Species by Echolocation Calls | Hencheck |
| Catherine M. Davis | 6/1/2005 | Anaerobic Photocatalysis as a secondary treatment following anaerobic digestion |
Zorn |
Joann L. Dickinson |
6/1/2005 | Community Participation in Superfund: A Case Study of the Lockformer Site in Lisle, Illinois |
Kraft |
| Nicholas T. Domer | 5/1/2005 | Implementation of the Exemption under Clean Water Act Section 404(f)(1)(E) for Construction and Maintenance of Forest Roads | Scheberle |
| Angel Dybas | Watershed Stakeholder Alliance: An Option for Green Bay to Protect their Source Water? | Phoenix | |
| Lisa R. Evenson | 12/1/2004 | The Groundwater and Surface Water Relationship in the Ridges Sanctuary, Door County, Wisconsin | Stieglitz |
| Coleen J. Feucht | 12/1/2003 | Is Lake Michigan's Door Peninsula a Significant Stopover Site for Migratory Birds? | Howe |
| Jessie C. Fink | 5/1/2005 | The Effects of Urbanization on Baird Creek, Green Bay, Wisconsin | Fermanich |
| Aleeca A. Forsberg | 5/1/2006 | Testing the Drift Shadow Concept: Using X-Ray Absorption Imaging and Statistical Analysis to Evaluate an Analytical Model | Fermanich |
| M. Susan Garrity | 12/1/2004 | Reproductive Ecology Study of Trillium nivale Riddell (Liliaceae) | Morgan |
| Julie M. Gibson | 12/1/2003 | Productivity, Predation, and Habitat of Woodland Raptors on the West-Unit Hiawatha National Forest in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan | Howe |
| Monica E. Hauck-Whealton | 12/1/2003 | Social Capital and Wisconsin's Self-Help Citizen Lake Monitoring Program: The Links Between One Community-Based Environmental Action Group and Overall Community Civicness | Abel |
| Bethany L. Hemstreet | 8/1/2004 | Consolidation of Municipal SOlid Waste Management Assessment and Implementation | Stoll |
| Bradley M. Herrick | 12/1/2003 | The Effects of Dikes on the Standing Vegetation and Seed Banks of Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands | Morgan |
| Ryuichi Iwasaki | Wind Energy: Economic and Administrative Feasibility in Japan and the United States | Stoll | |
| Barbara J. Janesh | 5/1/2006 | Preserving Nature While Providing For Visitors: Is The National Park Service Visitor Experience and Resource Protection Planning Framework an Effective Tool? | Kraft |
| Jeanette M. Jaskula | 8/1/2003 | Terrestrial Invertebrates Associated With Phragmites Australis (Giant Reed Grass) and Typha Latifolia (Broad Leaf Cattail) in Three Wetlands Along Green Bay, Lake Michigan | Draney |
| Tracy Johnston | The Red Banks - Gilson Creek Watershed Area Conservation Plan: Species and Natural Community Inventory and Mapping | Howe | |
| Jennifer R. Kelly | 5/1/2006 | Environmental Service Learning: Does It Have An Effect on Environmental Citizenship? | Abel |
| Kristin L. Kubsch | 12/1/2003 | Cooperative Anaerobic Digestion as a Manure Management Alternative for Northeastern Wisconsin | Katers |
| David R. Marks | 8/1/2003 | Local Habitat and Landscape Effects on the Avifauna of Coastal Wetlands in the Western Great Lakes Region | Howe |
Andrea K. Martin |
5/1/2005 | An Analysis of the Wisconsin Regulations to Reduce Mercury Emissions from Coal-Fired Utility Boilers | Stoll |
Jon P. Motquin |
9/2/2005 | Economic analysis of recreational bird watching in the horicon marsh area |
Stoll |
Thomas S. Nedland |
6/1/2005 | A Reexamination of restored wetlands in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin |
Reed |
| Gbolabo B. Omonogun | 5/1/2006 | The Implications of Policies for Shipping Used Computers and Electronics to Developing Countries | Stoll |
| Angela M. Opiola | 12/1/2003 | Spatial Variation of Collembola and Oribatid Mites in Adjacent Old Fields and Upland Forests | Nekola |
Kevin A. Palmer |
6/1/2005 | Harris | |
| Andrew T. Paulios | 5/1/2006 | Habitat Selection and Distribution of Owls in the Nicolet National Forest, WI, USA | Howe |
| Brenner J. Perryman | 12/1/2004 | The Economic Impact and Human Dimensions of the Lake Winnebago Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) Spear Fishery | Stoll |
Diana L. Peterson |
1/1/2006 | Phoenix | |
| Kelly J. Pfaff | 8/1/2004 | Use of the Predictive Model Approach for Assessment of Streams in Agricultural Areas of the Western Lake Michigan Drainage Basin | Redd-Andersen |
| John S. Potokar | 5/1/2004 | Building-Integrated Photovoltaics: An Evaluation of BIPV Systems at Mary Ann Cofrin Hall Located on the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Campus | Stoll |
| Steven J. Price | 8/1/2003 | Anuran-Habitat Associations in Coastal Wetlands of the Western Great Lakes | Howe |
| Theresa M. Qualls | 12/1/2003 | Analysis of the Impacts of the Zebra Mussel, Dreissena Polymorpha, on Nutrients, Water Clarity and the Chlorophyll-Phosphorous Relationship in Lower Green Bay Lake Michigan | Dolan |
| Paul C. Robertson | 5/1/2005 | Composting as a Manure Management Strategy for a Calf Farm in Northeast Wisconsin: A Technical and Economic Analysis | Katers |
| Luann T. Rudolph | 5/1/2006 | Institutional Performance of Fisheries Co-Management: A Case Study Of The Maine Lobster Industry | Kraft |
Eric J. Ryer |
5/1/2006 | Kraft | |
| Darcy A. Scherer | 8/1/2004 | Feasibility of Photovoltaic Electricity Production in Northeastern Wisconsin | Katers |
| Crystal Schiefelbein | Using Regression Trees to Model Bird Distribution in Forested Wetlands of Northeastern Wisconsin | Howe | |
Jeremiah J. Schiefelbein |
9/2/2005 | Draney | |
| Joseph M. Schultz | 8/1/2004 | Cost Feasibility Model and Manure Management Calculator for the Review of Dairy Manure Handling and Disposal Systems | Katers |
Lisa M. Smith |
12/1/2005 | Zorn | |
| Bruce A. Snyder | 5/1/2004 | Development of an Optimal Sampling Protocol for Millipedes (Diplopoda) | Draney |
| Michelle E. Syring | 5/1/2003 | Economic Value Associated With Viewing Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser Fulvescens) in Wisconsin | Stoll |
| Ayad M. Taofik | 5/1/2003 | Effect of Low Temperature on Nitrogen Levels in Mound Wastewater Disposal Systems | Wiersma |
| Thomas H. Van Drasek | 5/1/2005 | The Fox River Trail: Public Policy, Private Property, and Process | Furlong |
| Alexandru Vasiliev | 5/1/2004 | Addressing Spatial Issues in Environmental Justice Analysis | Abel |
| Dawn M. Walczak | 5/1/2004 | Analysis of Wisconsin Municipal Solid Waste Landfilling Trends and the Impact of Recycling Fee Increases on the Amount of Imported Waste | Katers |
| Patrick J. Weber | 5/1/2005 | Increasing Upland Bird Habitat Through Agroecosystems; Assessing the Economic and Ecological Potential of a Hazel Shrubland Agroecosystem in Northeastern Wisconsin | Katers |
| Sarah Wilk | 12/1/2004 | Effects of Prescription Burns on Northern Barrens Vegetation and Arthropods in Spread Eagle Barrens, Florence County, WI | Draney |
Aaron M. Wunderlin |
5/1/2005 | Characterizing the Reach Class Within Narrow Alkaline Cool Stream Valley Sgments in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Northern Wisconsin | Reed |
| Maureen Zeise | Exploring the Eleventh Principle of Environmental Justice: The Role of Environment in Traditional Haudensaunee Culture | Abel |