Social Justice Faculty & Staff

Kimberly Desotell

Director, Phuture Phoenix Program Coordinator, Professional Development Certificate Program

Office: WH 410
Phone: (920) 465-2992
Email: desotelk@uwgb.edu

“I am very excited about my involvement in the Leaning Community initiative at UWGB! The opportunity will provide common experiences designed to maximize learning in the areas of both leadership as well as social action. With engaging activities and a field based component model, we foresee learning that will be deeper and more meaningful for all!”

Kimberly Desotell is the Director of the UWGB Phuture Phoenix Program; a pre-college program aiming to raise college going rates in northeast Wisconsin. She brings 12 years of classroom teaching experience with her as well as six years experience as a middle school principal in the Milwaukee area. Her educational interests include leadership and academic mentoring. In addition, forging relationships between K-12 schools and higher education is a priority of her work. Desotell holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, Indiana and a master's degree in educational leadership from Cardinal Stritch University. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in administrative leadership and urban education from UW-Milwaukee.

Michelle McQuade Dewhirst

Associate Professor

Office: SA 213
Phone: (920) 465-2636
Email: mcquadem@uwgb.edu

Michelle McQuade Dewhirst received a Bachelor's degree in music education and horn performance from Ithaca College and completed her master's and doctoral degrees in music composition at the University of Chicago. In her position at UWGB, she teaches music theory, music history, composition, horn and popular music. As a composer, performer and teacher, Michelle is interested in the intersections of music and culture. Music – regardless of the genre – is not created in a vacuum. It is created by composers, songwriters and musicians who are influenced by both personal concerns and larger social and political forces. I look forward to discussing the intersections of music and identity in this Learning Community.

Vincent Lowery

Assistant Professor

Office:TH 395
Phone: (920) 465-2808
Email: loweryj@uwgb.edu

I am an Assistant Professor of History and Humanistic Studies, with a teaching emphasis on African American history. I arrived at UWGB in the fall 2009 after completing my Ph.D. at the University of Mississippi in 2008. A life-long resident of the South, I welcomed the exchange of southern summers for upper midwestern winters. I enjoy the opportunity to introduce students to African American history and explore the dimensions of ethnic diversity and social justice in historical and contemporary terms. I am excited about the opportunity to direct this Learning Community – it will be a very rewarding experience to engage with participants in an examination of these themes across disciplinary boundaries in pursuit of 360 degrees of learning. As a community of faculty and students, we will reflect upon our roles as members of the campus community, but also as members of even wider communities. I try to do this in all of my classes, but the Learning Community provides the opportunity to immerse myself in this process in a far more deliberate and impactful way with others. In many ways the Learning Community pursues what I think the ideal college experience is for both faculty and student.

Jeff Willems

Social Justice Community Liason and Senior Area Coordinator

Office:RES 100
Phone: (920) 465-2962
Email: willemsj@uwgb.edu

One of the draws to coming to Green Bay 8 years ago was the living learning communities they used to have. I am ecstatic that we are revitalizing this idea in the form of Learning Communities! I am even more excited that I get to work in a hands on/experience role for the social justice side of this adventure!

I have been actively involved in change and awareness issues since my time as a hall director at Lakeland College where I was the International Student Mentor and on the UMR-ACUHO Diversity Action Team. Now while at Green Bay I have volunteered in many aspects and am currently the chair of the Diversity Task Force. After getting to know a lot of the first year students through the buildings I know this is going to be a great opportunity and an added experience to understand and make a change with and for the university.