Media advisory: Back-to-school story ideas from Marquette University

Aug. 26, 2019

Students walking on campusMILWAUKEE — To help with your back-to-school coverage, Marquette University offers the following story ideas as classes for the 2019-20 academic year begin today:

  • The Opus College of Engineering features a father/son teaching duo in engineering with Dr. John LaDisa, Jr., an associate professor of biomedical engineering, and John LaDisa, Sr., an instructor of civil, construction and environmental engineering. LaDisa, Jr., is the director of the Marquette Visualization Lab, and is a three-time Marquette grad. LaDisa, Sr., spent his career in industry and has been at the university for a year as an instructor. 
  • Nuestro Hogar is a Spanish language Living-Learning Community in the residence halls for native or heritage Spanish-speaking students. Nuestro Hogar is an inclusive and welcoming environment for all those who value the Latinx community, culture and identities. This is accomplished through events and activities on the Marquette campus and in the surrounding Milwaukee communities. 
  • The College of Education and Milwaukee Public Schools have partnered on a cohort that allows 10 teachers to enroll in the Master’s in Educational Administration program. Through the partnership, Marquette and MPS will provide funding to cover the bulk of tuition and assist in placing graduates in administrative leadership roles. 
  • Several of Marquette’s college deans are pulling “double duty” with the start of classes as several have added research projects to their roles leading colleges. For instance, Dr. Douglas Woods, dean of the Graduate School, is continuing to study non-drug treatments for people on the obsessive-compulsive disorder spectrum, including Tourette syndrome. Meanwhile, Dr. Heather Hathaway, acting dean of the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences, has a book due out this year.
  • Marquette has two computer science classes associated with the Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute kicking off this semester: Introduction to Data Science and Ethical and Social Implications of Data. Dr. Shion Guha is teaching the introduction class and has previously taught courses focused on artificial intelligence and ethics. Dr. Michael Zimmer is new to the university and will take on the ethics course.
  • The MIC is a workshop to help develop public speaking skills among the Marquette community, including students, faculty and staff. The ambition for the program is to become a community resource, as well, by reaching out to community organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs. 

For more information on these stories or any other back-to-school ideas, please contact Kevin Conway at kevin.m.conway@marquette.edu or Shelby Williamson at shelby.williamson@marquette.edu.

About Kevin Conway

Kevin Conway

Kevin is the associate director for university communication in the Office of University Relations. Contact Kevin at (414) 288-4745 or kevin.m.conway@marquette.edu.