Eric Jessup-Anger

Dr. Eric Jessup-Anger is the director of the Center for Student Involvement. He hails Tomah, Wisconsin, a land which is known for its amazing cranberry fields and close proximity to Fort McCoy. He loves coffee, Christmas, New Years and enjoying Life-After-Dissertation with his wife and his two wonderful girls.

He arrived at UWM in 2009 after spending time working on college campuses in Ohio, Massachusetts, Colorado and Michigan. Away from work, he is all about the road trip, college sports, time with family and friends, exploring Wisconsin, enjoying Milwaukee and trying to make the world a little better of a place.

Tom Dake

Orignially from Michigan, Tom has nearly 20 years of experience working with college students. He has a master's degree in college student personnel (CSP) from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and has worked for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and most recently the University of California, Riverside. Tom was also employed at UWM from 1990 to 1996 in a variety of roles including advising student organizations, planning and implementing new student orientation and serving as the first liaison for lesbian, gay and bisexual student concerns. Tom is a sci fi buff and fan of the 1980's animated series Thundercats.

Jennifer Wentzell

Jennifer Wentzell servers as the office manager at the Center for Student Involvement. She has been with UWM for over 9 years, spending 7 years in the School of Education and 2 years in the School of Social Welfare before joining the Center for Student Involvement.

She holds a bachelor's degree in behavioral sciences/psychology and Spanish from Mount Mary College and has a great passion for adventure and travel. She has studied abroad in Peru and traveled to many other destinations including Mexico, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, and the Virgin Islands to name a few. She dreams of living abroad someday.

In her free time, Jennifer enjoys hiking, reading travel magazines, trying new ethnic foods, and most importantly spending quality time with her family and friends.

Kirsten Leih

Kirstin Leih serves as an assistant director at the Center for Student Involvement. New to the UWM staff in 2011, Kirstin is excited to assist students as they connect to the many involvement opportunities on campus.

Kirstin is originally from Waukesha, WI, although she has also called Iowa home. She has a bachelor degree in journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a masters in higher education from Iowa State University. Because she just can't get enough of the classroom, she is currently working on her PhD in higher education through Saint Louis University.

In her free time, Kirstin enjoys reading, baking, finding new restaurants, spending time with family, and attending Badger football games.

Poawit Yang

Poawit Yang is an established actor/musician/model, with roots in Milwaukee and Northeast Wisconsin. Discovered in the Milwaukee fashion scene, Poawit got his breaks as a model for notable fashion designer Ralph Lauren. With film credits too numerous to list and handful of successful musical collaborations, Poawit seems poised on the brink of super-stardom.

In his spare time, Poawit serves as the business manager for the Center for Student Involvement, where he brings a passion for learning and education along with over 7 years of progressive experience at UWM. His work prior to UWM is almost as long as his film credits and include: banking/mortgage industry, retirement planning, tax (individual and corporate), and an ongoing stint as a small business owner.

If you have any questions for Poawit or would just like an autograph, please stop in Union room 364.

Rick Clark

Rick Clark is one of the new assistant directors at the Center for Student Involvement. He was raised in Chicago, IL as a diehard Bears, Bulls, And White Sox fan. Rick has a master's of science degree in physical education from UW-La Crosse. His first job after graduation was teaching K-6 P.E. He has worked in the Student Affairs field since 1982 and the student activities area since 1991. His pride and joy are his two grandchildren, Mason and Jill.

Phil Rickun

Phil Rickun was born and raised in the quaint city of Madison, WI. He is a recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, with his degree in Communication being conferred in August of 2011 by the college of Letters and Science.

In his free time he enjoys reading nutrition facts and ingredient labels, listening to Eddie Money ballads while dancing in front the mirror, and watching reruns of The Beverly Hillbillies.

Brad Butterfield

A score and two years ago, Brad Butterfield was born in the captial city, Madison Wisconsin. Being the rambunctious child of the family, he was always getting into mischief and often faced the timeout chair on a regular basis. After getting use to sitting in solitude for long periods of time he soon became acquainted with the lifestyle that was before him.

Brad is currently the web developer for the Center for Student Involvement and the greater Office of Student Life. He is majoring in the Inter-Arts and Technology program where he has learned many of the web and graphical skills that he utilizes today. In his free time, Brad enjoys playing for the Black Cat Ultimate Frisbee team, a student organization here on campus. He also takes annual trips out west to enjoy the beauties of the Rocky Mountains on his snowboard.

Feel free to stop in and say hello to Mr. Butterfield who is always willing to give his eyeballs a rest from the blinding light being projected from his liquid crystal display!

Michael Spanbauer

Michael Spanbauer is a pretty big deal. He has many leather-bound books and his apartment smells of rich mahogany. When he is not conversing with his dog, Baxter, he studies economics and works at the Center for Student Involvement.

Michael was born in Menomonee Falls and was raised in West Bend. He has also lived (listed chronologically) in West Allis, WI; Chicago, IL; Pensacola, FL; San Diego, CA; Schaumburg, IL; Hoffman Estates, IL; Elmhurst, IL; and is now back in West Bend. This particular UW-Milwaukee student has never actually lived in the city of Milwaukee.

When not studying or working, he enjoys spending time with his fiancé, camping, going to the zoo, snowboarding, competitive running, and eating at the Bonefish Grill in Brookfield.

Clairene Hunt

Clairene Hunt is a student employee at the Center for Student Involvement. Clairene's major is inter-arts tech. she also is working towards a minor in global communications and also working for an Asian studies certificate. She is currently a junior standing in her major.

She was born and raised in Milwaukee but is a global traveler. Clairene's interests have taken her to Europe and to Japan, she has studied Japanese since middle school and is determined to become fluent and live there.

When Clairene is not studying, she enjoys playing video games, reading graphic novels, and listening to 1940s music along with Frank Sinatra.

Janeé Pederson

Janeé Pederson, undergraduate engineering student, grew up in western Wisconsin. She graduated from River Falls High School and began working as a student organization consultant in the fall of 2010. She is working toward an intensive degree in civil engineering with a minor in conservation and environmental science. Her passion is anything related to the natural world (e.g. nature and animals). Janeé hopes to one day have a career in renewable energy and/or water resources to help the earth stay clean and healthy.

Away from work Janeé studies hard, enjoys the company of her crazy kitty and rats, eating out at new restaurants, getting massages, watching motion pictures, and loves being outside when it is NOT cold. She has a violin that she's owned for about a year that she hopes to one day learn how to play, and she does not like to wear high heels because they hurt her feet. Janeé is an avid cartwheeler and does not have a boastful personality nor a large ego, therefore, she is a lovely person to meet.

Josh Dubman

The coolest kid you will never meet. Actually you probably will, seeing as he is one of the student organization consultants here at the Center for Student Involvement. Josh is also a student at UWM studying global management and Spanish.

When he's not working or studying he enjoys traveling, considering he just got back from a semester abroad in Vigo, Spain, as well as going out on the town, chilling out with friends, and working out. You also might find him at the local skate park. shredding it up. Some more of his interests include art, hip hop, sneakers, hats, and rare vintage sports goods.

Sandra DuPont

Sandra DuPont is one of the student employees at the Center for Student Involvement. Sandra's major is information sciences and technology at the school of information studies with junior standing.

Sandra is originally from Germany and moved to the United States in 2007, she used to be a book trader in Germany and decided to make a career change.

When Sandra is not studying or working she likes yoga, reading, snowboarding, hanging out with friends, camping, and many more things. Sandra loves to travel and has been all over Europe. The next destinations on her travel to do list are Australia, Canada, and South America.

Trenton Dowling

Trenton is currently a student of UW-Milwaukee enrolled in the Lubar School of Business with an ITM major and a junior standing. He is much cooler than Josh Dubman, but that's a given. Trent is employed by the Center for Student Involvement as the technology support technician.

Trent enjoys skateboarding in his free time and fixing computers.