Category: General

Name: Nathan Kraftcheck

Position at UWGB: Instructional Technologist

Summary of what you do: Most people that I work with are familiar with the education technology support side of my job, but I’m also responsible for examining new edtech products made available by UW-S, making different systems work together, providing training and guidance, evaluating the effectiveness of software and initiatives, and helping instructors with special educational technology requests.

How long have you been employed: This will be my 6^th year at UWGB.

Brief history of employment with UWGB: I started working at the Learning Technology Center (LTC) shortly before it became part of Academic Technology Services (ATS). I jumped over to the Adult Degree Program (ADP), and much more recently the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning (CATL). I also live in a world of acronyms.

Three words that describe you: insightful, curious, chameleon

Personal interests: endurance sports, board games, video games, motorcycles, fixing up my house

Random facts/interests: Hmm, I helped deliver my son (we didn’t make it to the hospital), am a trained forester, and had a forest fire named after me in Washington (it was a smoking stump).

 

Any favorite line from a movie? “Now you see that evil will always triumph, because good is dumb.”

Are you messy or organized? Merganized – somewhere in-between

Describe what you were like at age 10. I was a jerk. I’m glad my kids did NOT grow up to be just like me like my mom said they would.

Do you have an office nickname? What is it? Kraftbucket, Kraftmuffin, Kraftbarn

Do you recall any embarrassing moment at work? I was helping someone, took a drink of water, and spilled on myself. I thought it would be funny to reference the movie Airplane and said “I have a drinking problem.” The person I was working with did not understand the reference. It got somewhat awkward after that.

If given a chance, who would you like to be for a day? Jared Ward, so that I could run fast AND have an awesome mustache.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, who would you like to see cast as you? Present, Jake Gyllenhaal; future, Sam Elliot

If you could change one thing about working here, what would it be? Air condition the locker rooms at the Kress… ugh

If you could interview one person (dead or alive) who would it be? I’ve never interviewed a dead person and I like to try new things, so I guess I’d try that.

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

If you were to write a book about yourself, what would you name it? “A Series of Fortunate Events” and hopefully I would not be sued.

If you were to write a self-help book, what would the topic be? “Everything’s Coming up Milhouse!”

If your house was burning down, what’s the one non-living thing you would save? Pants, or a phone

Least favorite Food? Cauliflower

People would be surprised if they knew: My wife and I renovated our whole house ourselves, we keep pet chickens, I’m in my 30s but both my kids are in high school

Tell us a little about yourself. I live in De Pere with my wife and our two children, three dogs, two cats, and four chickens.

What books are at your bedside? The Worldly Philosophers, The Maltese Falcon

What children’s character can you relate with most? Why? Probably Draco Malfoy from Harry Potter. Not that I’ve killed anyone, but I think that people often go through the motions of their daily life without considering their actions, being guided by their own personal echo chambers. He’s a good reminder for me to stop and reflect on what I’m doing or saying.

What did you want to be when growing up? A fireman

What do you always want to try and never did? Wingsuit base jumping

What do you like most about your job? I think that I have great coworkers. I’ve had quite a few jobs and moved around more than most normal people, and it is really a person’s coworkers that make work enjoyable.

What is the first concert you attended? The first concert I remember attending was The Rembrandts at Summerfest (Friends theme song). It was free and I didn’t have any money, and we were just loitering around anyway.

What is the first thing you would buy if you won the lottery? I’d probably buy or build a lodge out in the middle of a forest.

What is the most important thing you have learned in the last five years? Carpe diem

What is your biggest pet peeve? Oh geez, I have so many… people throwing cigarette butts out the window or littering in general.

What is your favorite movie and book? I don’t have a favorite movie. My favorite book is probably “Guards! Guards!” by Terry Pratchett.

What places have you lived in? Sacramento, Carbondale, IL, Two Rivers, Mishicot, Madison, Sun Prairie, Portland, De Pere

What tv show/movie are you ashamed to admit you love? I have no shame. The only shows I watch regularly are Game of Thrones and House of Cards.

What was your favorite book, toy, or outfit as a child? “The Monster at the End of This Book” with Grover.

What would people never guess you do in your role? Slip instructional design knowledge bombs into technical trainings

What’s on your bucket list? Compete in and finish a half iron man or iron man

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten? Probably chocolate covered grasshoppers.

Where is your home town? I lived in Two Rivers the longest. I can smell the fish just thinking about it.

Starting September 5, 2017, Julianne Crayton will transition from an Area Coordinator to the University Services Program Associate for Business Operations in Residence Life.

Congratulations, Julianne!

Starting August 21, 2017, Laura Rowell will transition into the ongoing position of Director in the Dietetic Internship Department.  She has been working on campus in several different roles, including Lecturer, Instructional Program Manager II, and Teaching Supervisor since August 2013.

Laura has an MBA from Cardinal Stritch University and a Bachelors in Dietetics from Mount Mary University.  She is an active Life Church member and Xperience Fitness Instructor.

Laura has a husband Andy and 3 boys ages 8, 5, and 3.  She is from Lena, Wisconsin.

Congratulations, Laura!

Are you a veteran? Have you been hired in the past two years? UW-Green Bay Veteran Services Coordinator, Elaina Koltz, would love to hear from you! The Governors Council on Veterans Employment is looking to highlight stories of recently hired veterans to the UW workforce and would love to hear your story!

Please reach out to Elaina Koltz at koltze@uwgb.edu or 920-465-2065 to share your story today!

Posted on behalf of Stacie Christian, Director of Inclusive Excellence and the Pride Center

Cultural Connections is a social/networking group for professionals of color in the Green Bay area (St. Norbert College, UWGB, NWTC, and Green Bay School District). If you are a professional of color or have family members of color and are interested in participating, please review the event information here regarding the next Cultural Connections social which will occur on August 18, 2017 at Bay Beach.

If you have any games or fun activities you would like to bring please let the group know ahead of time by emailing culturalconnectionsgb@gmail.com.