Five UW-Whitewater professors named ‘Wisconsin Idea Fellows’
Released: May 7, 2004
For work ranging from community smart growth to opening global markets, five University of Wisconsin-Whitewater professors have been named “Wisconsin Idea Fellows” for their contributions to the state’s economic health.
They are among 100 fellows formally announced Friday during the meeting of the UW System Board of Regents. The Wisconsin Idea Fellows program is meant to highlight the public service mission of the UW System, as embodied in the famous “Wisconsin Idea” statement that “the boundaries of the university are the boundaries of the state and beyond.”
UW-Whitewater fellows are: Choton Basu, business services and information technology professor and co-director of the Global Business Resources Center (GBRC); James Bronson, professor of entrepreneurship; Robert Horton, chair of information technology and business education and past coordinator, Management Computer Systems (MCS); and Russ Kashian and Mark Skidmore, professors of economics and co-directors of a new Economic Research Center in development.
UW Regent Roger Axtell of Janesville, one of the leaders in creating the fellows program, said he was “overwhelmed” by the amount of service and expertise the System fosters each year. “This is an opportunity for the president and the board to recognize people who make extraordinary public service contributions to the state,” Axtell said. “And just as important, it’s a means of calling the attention of the public, government and business leaders to these UW experts, who can serve as resources for them to help achieve job growth.”
The 100 fellows were nominated by UW System President Katharine Lyall and the campus chancellors. UW-Whitewater Chancellor Jack Miller said the UW-Whitewater fellows are all dedicated to helping the state promote job growth and train new entrepreneurs. “They represent just one part of this university’s strong commitment to business outreach services that reach an average of more than 1,000 clients each year,” Miller said.
The fellows program, which is honorary and carries no additional compensation, grew out of statewide “Engage Wisconsin” meetings in 2003 that found communities greatly value support in stimulating economic growth and solving community problems.
More detail on the UW-Whitewater fellows is included below:
- Basu’s work with the GBRC focuses on providing state businesses with resources and assistance in the area of international business and globalization. It also provides faculty and students with resources in international business and involves students in meaningful global projects to advance learning.
The center was established in 1998 with the help of a federal Business International Education grant. During that time, center staff have guided more than 60 business projects; led study-abroad trips to Thailand, Brazil, Cambodia and India, each time with dozens of international business students; and launched a statewide e-Business certification program. The GBRC has many success stories of local companies that have expanded global markets and sales thanks to the collaboration.
- Skidmore and Kashian are behind an exciting new effort to establish a Fiscal and Economic Research Center that will provide expertise to communities in Southeastern Wisconsin in the areas of economic development and planning. One focal point will be to help communities maintain long-range comprehensive plans in accordance with the state’s “Smart Growth” initiative. A key aim of the legislation is to encourage communities to engage in proactive activities to guide “how and where new development should be accommodated” and thus encourage communities to design long-range plans that result in: 1) healthy communities; 2) economic development and jobs; and 3) strong neighborhoods.
- Horton manages one of the university’s most successful academic programs, with MCS having earned #1 program status in North America seven times since 1984 by the Association of Information Technology Professionals.
The MCS consortium consists of a group of Wisconsin companies that collaborate on technology challenges, often using current students to help solve problems. Membership includes Harley Davidson, CNH Global, Quad Graphics, Team Soft and eInnovate. The consortium has succeeded in creating graduates with directly applicable technical skills and experience required by companies in the region, while accelerating a graduate’s ability to contribute upon hire.
- Bronson was named endowed professor of entrepreneurship in 2001, and is carrying out the position’s goal of increasing interest and competency in entrepreneurship in the current generation of students.
Work includes the Entrepreneur in Residence program, which brings Wisconsin entrepreneurs into the classroom to assist students with business plans. He also led UW-Whitewater’s co-sponsorship, with the help of a Kemper Foundation grant, of the 2002, 2003 & 2004 Young Entrepreneur Conference and Business Competition, held annually in Milwaukee for more than 600 grade school through high school students. Through U.S. Department of Education and Kemper Foundation funds, students are placed in paid internships where they may earn academic credit while providing assistance to emerging entrepreneurs and not-for-profit organizations in southeastern Wisconsin. Kemper Foundation funding also made it possible for the college to help sponsor and provide instructional assistance for a class of 20-plus at-risk students in Beloit.
- Brian Mattmiller ,npa@uww.edu
