Richard Leinenkugel, a 1980 graduate of Marquette University, was recently appointed commerce secretary of Wisconsin by Gov. Jim Doyle.
Before taking on the position in September, the secretary served as vice president of sales and marketing at the Chippewa-Falls based Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company, which has been in his family for five generations. Already, Leinenkugel has translated the skills and language of this experience into governmental administration.

“Selling and marketing beer is first and foremost a people business. You develop a mindset of being customer-focused. State government needs, first and foremost, to have a customer-service perspective,” said Leinenkugel. “Part of my job is selling the state of Wisconsin.”

Leinenkugel said this mindset was especially important in Department of Commerce’s recruitment capacity, which attracts businesses and investments into Wisconsin. Customers also include the developers and architects raising buildings, which Commerce regulates, licenses, and investigates for safety, and low-to-moderate income citizens benefiting from community block-grant developments which provide affordable housing.

Commerce is also the primary agency which works with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help people in times of crisis, most recently after the summer’s severe floods.

Commerce employs specialists in fields as diverse as housing and community and development, agri-business, importing-exporting, geology and engineering. Geologists are employed to inspect all in-ground and above-ground petroleum tanks in the state to inspect leakage and safety. Leinenkugel said the department recruits from the engineering schools at Marquette and the University of Milwaukee-Wisconsin.

When asked what advice he had for students graduating in economically uncertain times, Leinenkugel drew analogy to the crisis at the time of his own 1980 graduation, when mortgage interest and inflation rates were in double digits and gas prices had doubled since over the last decade. Still, Leinenkugel said “There are still many, many opportunities for college students.”

“It’s not all doom-and-gloom,” he said, and advised students looking into careers in business to seek internships and student organizations that would expose them to contacts in their chosen fields.

Leinenkugel said the economic downturn is “directly” affecting the size of the $3 billion state spending deficit projected for the 2009-10 two-year budget. This year, income tax revenues are down four percent, and those from sales tax were down 10 percent.

Though Wisconsin has strong manufacturing companies tied to automotive, home building and office building-construction, Leinenkugel said these “big-ticket item” industries could face hard times.

Leinenkugel said Wisconsin’s leading paper industry had faced several mill closings, but that the business is “highly cyclical.” He also said agri-business was “strong,” especially in the areas of dairy products and bull’s genetic material for insemination, which Wisconsin is “one of the biggest exporters of.”
Investments in technologies are also concerns for Commerce, including biotech and renewable fuels. Commerce is currently examining research on the conversion of wood products into biofuels, said Leinenkugel.

In 1980, Leinenkugel graduated from Marquette, where he had been a Naval ROTC scholarship winner. He continued his military career for three years, in which he toured the West Pacific twice in six-month increments, stationing out of Hawaii. Deployment let Leinenkugel “see the world,” working in such diverse locales as Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Oman.

After the military, Leinenkugel began work in sports marketing for Kempner Sports Management, a Chicago-based firm which organizes golf tournaments. For three months out of the year, Leinenkugel worked on site in either Maui or Kauai as tournament director for the LPGA Women’s Kemper Open Tournament.

Around the same time the Leinenkugel Brewing Company was purchased by Miller Brewing, Leinenkugel began work at the family business, where he would achieve the title of vice president of marketing and sales.

When asked whether he observed in his 21 years selling beer if consumers drink more or less during a poor economy, Leinenkugel said, “There are different schools of thought. One is that beer is a relatively affordable luxury. Even [Leinenkugel brand] is maybe a dollar more per six-pack. It’s one of life’s simple pleasures people still want to enjoy with friends and family, and cheaper than a $20 or $30 bottle of wine.”
“I would think people still want to be social; I wouldn’t look to beer to suffer in hard times,” said Leinenkugel.

Popularity: 14% [?]

Adele, Lois and Eileen remember when Marquette students were Warriors. They remember when the GIs from World War II returned to campus. They even remember when the student Union consisted of a broken-down couch, some books and a Nesco roaster.

Much has changed since these ladies attended Marquette a few years back, but the Jesuit ideal of lifelong learning remains, and is the inspiration behind the College of Arts and Sciences’ Alumni in the Classroom program.

Currently in its tenth year, Alumni in the Classroom allows alumni who have graduated before 1964 to return to Marquette and audit classes for free. This semester there are 27 alumni taking a total of 32 classes, Tim Simmons, Chief Alumni Relations Director for Marquette’s Alumni Association said.

Participants are expected to regularly attend class and complete readings, but are not required to take tests or turn in homework. According to the College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Association, alumni earn no credit through the program and participants must be Arts and Sciences graduates, be comfortable with the use of computers, have a desire to learn and have an open mind.

Simmons said the program was originally a suggestion of some Arts and Sciences alumni and is unique in allowing alumni to connect with current Marquette students.
“Alumni have fond memories of their days as students,” Simmons said. “They want programs that help recreate those experiences. More importantly, they wanted a program that promotes lifelong learning, a very Jesuit concept.”

The office of Alumni Relations works directly with the College of Arts and Sciences to promote the program, register alumni for classes and conduct orientation. Participants can choose from a list of English, Foreign Language and Literature, Political Science, History and Theology courses which have extra space.
Simmons says the program has no plans for expansion.

TECHNOLOGY, WAR AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AT MARQUETTE

Although Simmons says that while adjustments need to occasionally be made for participants, overall feedback from the program has been positive.

“We have received comments from faculty and students that it is good to have their perspective in classroom discussions… the experience of having older alumni in the classroom has been rewarding.,” said Simmons.  “Alumni do realize that their student counterparts are in pursuit of their degrees, and are respectful to add to, and not detract from this experience.”

 Although there have not been any major program set backs, Simmons said many alumni do find the technological adjustment challenging.
“Technology is definitely the biggest change,” Eileen Johannsen said. “Everything is so much more interactive.”

Johannsen is a 1960 graduate who studied Latin and German. Johanssen earned her Masters in 1962 and then taught high school for 23 years before starting her own software business at 50.

Johannsen said she notices how the opportunities for women have expanded on campus, and is impressed with level of awareness of students in her class.
“Students today are much more with it than I ever felt with my peers,” Johannsen said. “They’re exposed to so much more in their young lives.”
Adele Hanson agrees and is continually impressed by students’ multi-tasking abilities.

“I could never begin to be able to do what students do now. When I hear and see what they learn and produce, I’m astonished,” Hanson said.
During a time when women mostly majored in nursing or education, Hanson stood out as a female engineering student in the 1940s.
“I felt very out of place taking classes in engineering,” Hanson said. “There were only three other girls taking classes with me.”

A history course on World War II might be interesting to Hanson, as she lived through the conflict and attended Marquette when the GIs returned to classes.
Hanson said she remembers taking classes in temporary government buildings that were put up to provide room for returning GIs, who were gladly welcomed back to campus by female students.

“After going through the war years with no boys, it was fun to have them back,” Hanson said.
To help returning students complete their education quicker, Hanson said a tedious trimester system was put in place so former GIs could get their degrees in three years.
“Men coming back were serious about getting their education, and were impatient to finish,” Hanson said.

The Jesuits played an important role as spiritual and academic mentors to students after the war—and went out of their way to help the GIs new to Marquette.
“Jesuits were extremely helpful to these guys. They bent over backward to help them get through,” said Johannsen. “GIs returning often had little high school preparation, and the Jesuits really worked with them to help them finish in three years.”

A DIFFERENT DYNAMIC

Both students and professors say alumni offer unparalleled perspectives and bring a unique dynamic to class discussion.
Dr. Barrett McCormick currently hosts alumni in his Chinese Politics class and said their presence makes class discussions richer and more interesting.
“Getting students involved in a conversation about the material is an important part of my teaching strategy,” McCormick said. “Alums have had experiences that the rest of us have not yet had and might not ever have. I think we all feel fortunate to have the chance to learn a little of their wisdom.”

Arts and Sciences junior Carlos Angeles said having perspectives from older classmates set an interesting dynamic for the political science course he took last year.
“I feel that his perspective was very valuable and gave the class discussion more depth,” Angeles said. “Their opinions matter because their experience and wisdom doesn’t come by very often, which gives students more conviction to participate in class… it’s exciting to see our own Marquette alumni still engaged in the Marquette community and still interested in academia.”

GREAT REVIEWS

Alumni in the Classroom gets a 10 all around for Lois Wakeman, a 1948 English graduate, who was a member of the first class to graduate with an elementary education focus. Wakeman has been involved with the program every semester since its inception, making this her tenth semester.

“It gets a 10 exponentially,” Wakeman said. “It’s wonderful not only to keep learning but to be back on campus. We feel very welcome here.”
Wakeman said she enjoys the variety of courses for alumni, and has taken a broad range of classes while in the program.

“Sometimes I want to learn more about a topic and other times I want to take a class on something I’ve never studied before,” Wakeman said.
The ladies said they have enjoyed every aspect of the program so far, and were surprised that the Alumni in the Classroom is relatively unknown to the Marquette community.
“I absolutely love it and plan my social calendar around class,” said Johannsen. “It’s amazing how well we’re received.”

Lois Wakeman agrees, but would like to see the program expanded to other colleges at Marquette.
“People who thought of the program deserve a pat on the back,” said Wakeman. “We wish other colleges would open up to expand so other alumni can enjoy what we’re enjoying.”
Hanson said she knows other alumni from other colleges who would participate if the program were expanded.
“It would be good for people to be able to come back and see what’s new in their fields,” Hanson said.

Tim Simmons said the relationship current students build with former ones in the classroom is a key component to the program, and encourages students to be open to interactions with their alumni counterparts.

“They [alumni] are appreciative of the opportunity and truly view our current-day students as a key element in the experience,” Simmons said.  “They like to hear the contemporary points of view, and share in the learning experience.”

Angeles said the program is something he would be interested in as an alumnus as well.
“Hopefully when I’m older, I’ll have some free time to return and take classes as well. Marquette really shows us that you’re never too old to learn.”

Popularity: 16% [?]

Across the globe, Marquette graduates are making important contributions to the world around us. Far away in the Asian nation of Georgia, Marquette alumnus John Tefft is currently serving as the United States Ambassador. As the ambassador to a foreign nation, Tefft acts as the personal representative of the President of the United States. Promoting United States foreign policy in Georgia, ensuring all United States Embassy work follows that policy, and educating the government in Washington on Georgian issues are all part of Ambassador Tefft’s position.

Tefft’s career began when he graduated from Marquette with a bachelors degree, and went on to earn a master’s degree in history from Georgetown University. His career in Foreign Services began in 1972, and he has since served in numerous posts around the world. Tefft was not new to his role as ambassador when he was appointed to Georgia. Prior to his July 2004 appointment, he had served the United States for three years as Ambassador to Lithuania. Before his service as Lithuanian Ambassador, he spent extensive time serving the United States in Europe and Asia. Tefft witnessed the breakdown of the Soviet Union while employed as the United States’ Deputy Director of the Office of Soviet Union Affairs. Afterwards, he continued to work in Russia as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow.

Tefft’s extensive knowledge of Russia became increasingly important this past August, when fighting broke out between Georgian and Russian troops in the disputed Georgian territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The majority of international governing bodies, including NATO and the European Union, consider both South Ossetia and Abkhazia to be within Georgian territory. However, the territories have been defiant to Georgian rule since the country’s independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, and both regions are recognized as independent states by Russia and Nicaragua. Though Russia has recently signed a ceasefire and removed its troops from Georgian soil, its actions were perceived by many around the world as attempt to regain both territories. Press releases from Tefft’s embassy reiterate the United States’ strong support of Georgian territorial integrity.

Despite the ceasefire and withdrawal of Russian troops, Tefft’s recent days have been far from calm. Last week, NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and other NATO permanent representatives traveled to the Georgian capital of Tbilisi to speak with Georgian elected officials about the country’s bid to become a NATO member. Georgia, with the support of the United States, has been seeking NATO membership throughout Tefft’s tenure as Ambassador, and has set this year, 2008, as it’s target year for membership.

This visit highlights a culmination of over two years of US Foreign Mission work to ensure Georgia presents itself as a suitable candidate for NATO membership. Of greatest concern has been fulfilling NATO’s requirement that Georgian military and government be under democratic control. Tefft called evidence of a fully democratic nation a “critical part of Georgia’s establishing that it is in fact a good candidate to be a member of NATO and to contribute to NATO.” Consequently, the United State’s embassy has become involved voter-education campaigns and agreed to participate in a parallel vote tally to ensure fair results for Georgia’s recent parliamentary and presidential elections.

Although he expresses his full support for peaceful and democratic rule in Georgia, Tefft recently reiterated that the majority of the responsibility lies with Georgians.
“Fundamentally the future of Georgian democracy depends on both sides, the opposition and the party in power, being able to find out and resolve these problems themselves,” he said.
Thus the challenges continue for Tefft and the nation of Georgia. Yet despite the difficult challenges and high stakes of his position as an Ambassador, Tefft declares, “I have high hopes for myself and my team at the Embassy in helping Georgia build a democratic nation.”

Popularity: 11% [?]

Every Saturday, my roommate wakes me up by turning on the television for college football. Although college football occupies the Saturdays of many Marquette students, we have no varsity team of our own to follow.

During their time at Marquette, every student inevitably discusses our lack of a football team.
Continue Reading

Popularity: 7% [?]