RECAP: 4th Annual IWL Gala | Thursday, April 10, 2025
Check back soon for more details and exciting recaps from this year's IWL Gala!
- We heard from impactful leaders working to lift up community through collabortive and innovative efforts, and learn more about interdisciplinary, community-based research supported by IWL directly from researchers and their teams during the keynote panel.
- Meet this year's IWL Transformational Leadership Awards!
- Attendees celebrated with community and enjoyed uplifting musical accompaniment by spectacular entertainers from around Milwaukee, including DJ Femme Noir, Girls Rock MKE band Paranormal, and Ladies Rock MKE band The Audacity. Click HERE to see this year's line-up.
- The brand new short film about IWL premiered during this year's gala program. Stay tuned to watch, learn more about IWL—and share with your network!
- Stay tuned for the 4th Annual IWL Gala Album to be shared!
In Review: 4th Annual IWL Gala—Boldly Leading the Way
Click the cover image below to view this year's gala program booklet:
Coming Soon—4th Annual IWL Gala Photo Gallery
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Honorees Announced for 2025 IWL Transformational Leadership Awards
Nominated by the IWL community for their outstanding contributions to their work and communities, IWL will honor these amazing community, campus, and student leaders during this year's 4th Annual IWL Gala.
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Joann Harris-Comodore
Founder & CEO
Neu-Life Community Development
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Melissa M. Shew, PhD
Assoc. Director, Center for
Teaching & Learning
Marquette University
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Maria G. Tijerina Ibarra
BA-Political Science, '23
Grad.Student-Education, '25
Marquette University
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Click HERE to learn more about these superb leaders!
Keynote Panel for 4th Annual IWL Gala
The following 4 individuals honored us as this year's keynote panel for the 4th Annual IWL Gala:
Lezlie Knox, PhD, facilitated the keynote panel discussion, and helped explore how these community change leaders boldly lead the way to positively engaging, inspiring, and transforming communities.
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The evening opens with check-in and a cocktail starting at 5:00 PM, and the evening's program will begin at 6:00 PM and include musical entertainment from DJ Femme Noir, Ladies Rock MKE band Audacity, and Girls Rock MKE band Paranormal
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Spotlighting Exceptional Leaders
IWL Transformational Leadership Awards:
- IWL Transform Award: MKE-area Community Leader
- IWL Inspire Award: MU Campus Leader
- IWL Engage Award: MU Student Leader
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Joann Harris-Comodore—2025 IWL TRANSFORM Awardee
Joann Harris-Comodore is the Founder and CEO of Neu-Life Community Development, an organization she established in 2000 to provide Milwaukee’s youth with safe spaces, education, and workforce development opportunities. Over the last 25 years, Neu-Life has grown into a transformational force that empowers young people through the “voice and choice” philosophy, ensuring they have autonomy and confidence in shaping their futures.
Under Joann’s leadership, Neu-Life is expanding with the NeuVue building, a safe and affordable housing initiative for young adults aged 18-24. This project will provide transitional support, resources, and stability, fostering long-term self-sufficiency.
Before founding Neu-Life, Joann had a 25-year career in healthcare and later became an entrepreneur, establishing multiple businesses that provided essential care services to seniors. She remains active in community advocacy, serving with Milwaukee North Avenue Marketplace BID 32, the Wisconsin Assisted Living Association, and the Zonta Club of Milwaukee.
Joann grew up and was educated in Wisconsin. She holds degrees from Mount Mary College and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Joann is married and has one adult child, balancing her dedication to family with her commitment to empowering Milwaukee’s youth. Guided by her philosophy, “what comes from the heart meets the heart,” she continues to dismantle barriers, uplift communities, and create lasting opportunities for future generations.
Melissa M. Shew, PhD—2025 IWL INSPIRE Awardee
Dr. Melissa Shew (PhD, Philosophy) is a champion of teaching excellence, faculty equity, and intellectual joy at Marquette University. As Associate Director of Teaching Excellence, she mentors faculty and leads initiatives to advance equity for nontenure-stream educators, securing research funding, professional development, and recognition opportunities. Shew serves on key strategic committees at Marquette, including the Committee on Teaching and the IWL Faculty Advisory Council. Additionally, Dr. Shew is a member of TEMPO.
Dr. Shew is also the Faculty Director of Marquette’s Executive MBA Program, teaching business ethics, corporate social responsibility, and women’s leadership. A 2023 recipient of Marquette’s highest teaching award, Dr. Shew works to elevate the role of teaching across campus.
A prolific scholar, Dr. Shew has led collaborative research projects, including Philosophy for Girls (2020), On the Vocation of the Educator in this Moment (with Jennifer Maney, PhD 2021), and The Power of Intellectual Joy for Women at Work (2023). Shew gave a TEDx Talk on Women and Intellectual Empowerment and continues exploring intellectual joy in education.
Passionate about supporting women and nonbinary students, Dr. Shew founded The Persephone Project in 2022. A dedicated leader and mentor, she balances her work with family, and her children (ages 9 and 10) joke she spends her days giving pep talks.
Maria G. Tijerina Ibarra—2025 IWL ENGAGE Awardee
Maria G. Tijerina Ibarra is a leader, advocate, and changemaker dedicated to equity and inclusion in higher education. As a graduate student in Student Affairs in Higher Education at Marquette University, she amplifies marginalized voices, drives systemic change, and cultivates inclusive spaces.
Maria co-founded Wisconsin’s first fellowship for undergraduate students without work authorization, launching a transformative mentorship and professional development program. After piloting the fellowship last year, she secured lasting institutional support, and the program has since welcomed its next cohort of students.
Maria serves on Marquette’s Dreamers Support Committee and the Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) Steering Committee, where she advocates for policy reforms and works to institutionalize resources for undocumented students. Through Marquette DREAMers, she has led UndocuAlly Week and other initiatives to strengthen campus-wide allyship and support.
As the Inclusive Excellence Graduate Fellow in Marquette’s Office of Inclusion and Belonging, Maria founded Latinas Unidas, a mentorship and empowerment program for Latina students in higher education. She is also a Core Committee member of the National Undocu Network, advancing institutional support and advocacy efforts nationwide.
This fall, Maria will begin her Ph.D. in Educational Policy and Leadership, continuing her mission to build a more inclusive, equitable higher education system.
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