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KENOSHA, Wis.—Dr. Joan Wilk has been elected president of the UW-Parkside Foundation, Inc. Dr. Wilk, who has served on the board since 1996, succeeds Howard Olson who was the organization’s president for the past seven years. The UW-Parkside Foundation’s mission is to support the University of Wisconsin-Parkside by raising funds that will enhance access to educational excellence through scholarships and to promote mutually beneficial partnerships.

Dr. Wilk said one of her top priorities is to work with the board to align the foundation’s strategic plan with the long-term plan currently being developed by the university.

“Under Howard’s leadership, we went through a strategic planning process which was a very successful process. Now we are looking at how our foundation’s strategic plan aligns with the university’s strategic plan and it looks, according to [UW-Parkside Chancellor Debbie Ford], like it aligns quite well. We want to move forward and look at a sustainable financial and business plan to carry us into the years ahead,” Dr. Wilk said.

A lifelong resident of Kenosha, Dr. Wilk recently retired from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee although she continues to teach in the university’s nursing program. She was instrumental in developing the Consortial Nursing program which allows nursing students to attend classes at UW-Parkside while getting their degrees from UW-Milwaukee.

Despite her ongoing connection to the Milwaukee campus, Dr. Wilk leaves little doubt as to where her loyalties lie.

“My heart is here at Parkside,” she stated. “And even though I’m employed at UWM and have been for many years, I’m very committed to the community and that’s why it makes sense for me to be in this position at this time.”

Commitment to the community has been one of Dr. Wilk’s hallmarks for many years. She was a founding board member of the Kenosha Hospice Alliance, Kenosha Youth Development Services (now Kenosha Human Development Services), and the Kenosha Library Foundation.

She currently serves on the Kenosha Community Foundation, on the Jane Cremer Foundation for cancer education, and she was appointed by Governor Doyle to the Workforce Investment Council. She is a 2003 recipient of the prestigious Susan B. Anthony Award which honors grassroots activists dedicated to improving the lives

of women and girls and advancing equality.