Author: flenzj

Jeff Willems, Area Coordinator, from Residence Life has served UW-Green Bay for 12 years. If you have questions about on campus housing, how to become a Resident Assistant, or residence life in general Jeff is an excellent resource. When Jeff isn’t solving problems in our residence halls he is an avid baseball fan and a volleyball coach as well.

Position at UWGB: Senior Area Coordinator

Summary of what you do: I supervise 12 paraprofessional staff. We maintain a safe, clean, and inclusive living environment that helps the residents build a quality community that will help everyone adjust to and be successful at the university and in life.

How long have you been employed: I am going on my 12^th year.

Brief history of employment with UWGB: I have worked in residence Life the entire time. I have overseen everything except the trads at one point and time. I currently will be responsible for The U. (Harden, Roy, and Robishaw)

Three words that describe you: Jazzy, Encouraging, Supportive

Personal interests: self-worth, coaching, human rights, family, games

Any favorite line from a movie? May the force be with you.

Are you messy or organized? Organized mess

Best vacation you’ve been to? Hawaii

Describe what you were like at age 10. I was the chunky peacemaker of our neighborhood group

Do you have a favorite newspaper, blog? Not really

Do you have a favorite quote? If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it, then I can achieve it. – Muhammad Ali

Do you have an office nickname? What is it? I guess it would be Jazzy

Do you recall any embarrassing moment at work? Please, too many to list.

Favorite travel spot? Fires on the beach

If given a chance, who would you like to be for a day? Kane – the chief of the Hawaiian trinity

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, who would you like to see cast as you? No clue

If you could be anyone from any time period who would it be and why? Josh Gibson

If you could change one thing about working here, what would it be? Increased salary

If you could interview one person (dead or alive) who would it be? God

If you could witness any historical event, what would you want to see? Peace on earth

If you had to eat one meal, every day for the rest of your life, what would it be? supper

If you were an animal what would you be? Dolphin

If you were to write a book about yourself, what would you name it? I would never write a book about myself

If you were to write a self-help book, what would the topic be? Self Help?

If your house was burning down, what’s the one non-living thing you would save? My wallet

Least favorite Food? Rotten

Motto or personal mantra? Be respectful

People would be surprised if they knew: the truth

Tell us a little about yourself.  I am a grateful and peaceful person.

Tell us a little bit about your family. I have a great family. Parents will celebrate their 50^th anniversary this October. 3 living brothers, 1 deceased, 1 sister. They all live in the general area

Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us?  Different things surprise different people.

Tell us three things most people don’t know about you. I wasn’t born in Wisconsin.

Top 3 life highlights? = college graduate, being a part of 2 top 10 teams in collegiate club volleyball. Being an uncle.

What advice would you give to recent new hires? Get to know people across throughout campus.

What are three career lessons you’ve learned thus far? Politics are everywhere, it is important to be a voice for the few,

What are your hopes for our industry/school? That we continue to produce quality citizens that care about the world.

What aspect of your role do you enjoy the most? The ability to encourage individual and group growth.

What book did you read last? An Incomplete Education

What books are at your bedside? I don’t have books by my bedside.

What celebrity do people think you look like? I will have to ask them.

What children’s character can you relate with most? Why? Kermit the Frog. He can be fun, is practical, has a variety of friends.

What did you want to be when growing up? A baseball player

What do you always want to try and never did? Travel the world

What do you like most about your job? The ability of the people

What do you like to do in your spare time? Coach, play volleyball

What do you like to do on your days off? Spend time on the beach.

What does a typical day look like for you? Talking with students, meetings, planning

What else do you do for fun? Everything I do is fun.

What is an ability you wish you had? Speed read with the comprehension

What is the first concert you attended? MC Hammer

What is the first thing you would buy if you won the lottery? A camp with waterfront

What is the most important thing you have learned in the last five years? Meet them where they are at.

What is your biggest pet peeve? none

What is your family like? Very traditional

What is your favorite meal? One I don’t cook and is free

What is your favorite movie and book? maybe The Far Side Gallery and Field of Dreams

What is your favorite sport? Tie Baseball and Volleyball

Hidden talent? None

What kinds of hobbies and interests do you have outside of work? coaching

What one food do you wish had zero calories? All of them

What phobias do you have? none

What places have you lived in? Michigan and Wisconsin.

What tv show/movie are you ashamed to admit you love? SVU

What was your favorite book, toy, or outfit as a child? Superfudge and any ball

What would people never guess you do in your role? If they know our role they would know we do almost anything to help students.

What would you like to be famous for? Being a good person who gave back

What’s on your bucket list? I don’t really have a bucket list. Maybe I should make one.

What’s the one thing, you can’t live without? air

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten? I have eaten a lot of weird stuff. Maybe bugs.

What’s your favorite thing to do in Green Bay? Taste of Broadway

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Still working here.

Where is your favorite place to eat? With friends or family

Where is your home town? I consider Green Bay my home town.

Where would you like to go on a dream vacation? I need to visit friends in Malawi and Japan

From student employee to full-time employee, Allen Voelker discovered his calling to Student Affairs at UW-Green Bay. Allen is the man you need to call when you are looking to fill your student positions. He also has connections with off campus employers so if you have a great student who needs work while they are a student, send them to Allen, he might be able to spark some connections.

Position at UWGB: Student Employment and Scholarship Coordinator

Summary of what you do: Help students connect with job and scholarship opportunities that reduce financial barriers to completing a UWGB degree and support their personal goals. I also serve as a resource for faculty, staff, and community members who have questions about those programs.

How long have you been employed: I’ve been an academic staff member at UWGB since August 2012.

Brief history of employment with UWGB: My first position at UWGB was as a work study employee in the Admissions Office. Eventually, I became one of the Student Ambassador Co-Directors and held a few other jobs around campus. I was able to return to UWGB a couple years after graduation as a GBOSS member and transitioned to my current role in November 2015.

Three words that describe you: Analytical, Conscientious, Honest

Personal interests: Travel, cooking, gardening

 

Any favorite line from a movie? You call yourself a free spirit, a “wild thing,” and you’re terrified somebody’s gonna stick you in a cage. Well baby, you’re already in that cage. You built it yourself…It’s wherever you go. Because no matter where you run, you just end up running into yourself. (Breakfast at Tiffany’s)

Are you messy or organized? I like to think I’m pretty organized.

Best vacation you’ve been to? It wasn’t really technically a vacation, but I spent a fantastic semester in Guam through the National Student Exchange.

Do you have a favorite quote? “If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.” (credited to Lilla Watson)

Favorite travel spot? Anywhere warm with a nice beach.

If your house was burning down, what’s the one non-living thing you would save? A table my great-great (maybe one more great?) grandfather made that has been passed down through the family.

Least favorite Food? Fish/Seafood – If it can survive more than 10 minutes underwater, I will not eat it.

Motto or personal mantra?  “Self is a sea boundless” (Khalil Gibran)

What advice would you give to recent new hires?  Don’t be afraid to ask questions – people are very friendly and happy to help.

What are three career lessons you’ve learned thus far? Know when to ask for help. Pay attention to details, but don’t lose sight of the “big picture.” You don’t need positional authority to effect change.

What aspect of your role do you enjoy the most? I’m privileged to work with two programs that made it possible for me to pay my own way through college. I love the fact that I get to help students make their dreams a reality.

What children’s character can you relate with most? Why? Gretchen from Recess. I ask a lot of questions and like to plan.

What did you want to be when growing up? I always loved school and thought that would translate into a teaching career. I found student affairs thanks to many great on-campus employment experiences and mentors during my undergraduate years at UWGB.

What do you like most about your job? It’s a great mix of program development and more analytical tasks. I love exploring ways to use Excel and other technology resources to streamline processes.

What do you like to do on your days off? Relax and do projects around the house, lay in the hammock between our two huge willow trees, and maybe have some friends or family over for food and games.

What is an ability you wish you had? Teleportation – it would be a huge savings of time, money, and headaches.

What is the most important thing you have learned in the last five years? Be bold and speak your truth.

What phobias do you have? Germs and reptiles.

What is your biggest pet peeve? When people don’t wash their hands after using the restroom (see phobia about germs).

What is your favorite movie and book? Movie: Drop Dead Gorgeous   Book: The Prophet (Khalil Gibran)

What is your favorite sport? Does playing dominoes count?

What one food do you wish had zero calories? Chips and dip

What places have you lived in? Other than completing semesters in Guam and Mexico, I have always lived in Northeast Wisconsin. I currently live in an old brick farmhouse on 10 acres in rural Kewaunee.

What is the first thing you would buy if you won the lottery? I’d start working on buying neighboring properties.

What’s the one thing, you can’t live without? As an introvert, a little bit of quiet alone time every once in a while!

What’s on your bucket list? I used to work at the NWTC Artisan and Business Center and took a noncredit ceramics course to familiarize myself with that part of the facility. I’d love to take more clay courses someday.

Where is your home town? Manitowoc, WI

Where would you like to go on a dream vacation? Thailand

We hope that you were able to take part in some of the activities that were planned for you during Employee Appreication Week (May 2-6). Thursday, May 5, over the lunch hour there were many team building activities that you could participate in but the main event was the Tricycle Races featuring Chancellor Gary Miller vs Provost Greg Davis. The winner, Provost Greg Davis, then took on Asst Vice Chancellor Matt Dornbush in a race. Asst Vice Chancellor Matt Dornbush was the winner in the race and he then took on Associate Provost Clif Ganyard. Asst Vice Chancellor Matt Dornbursh came away the winner of that race. Thank you to each of you for participating in such a fun activity. Please enjoy this photo album from a fun afternoon of activites. Thank you for all you do for the great institution and we hope you can join us in the fun again next year.