Campus Connect Session Information
Friday, August 15th, 2025
John S. Nelson, InterPro PE
Abstract
Humans’ interaction with nature requires change. Examples abound - from climate change to resource scarcity and cost.The infrastructure through which this interaction occurs can be made more resilient, more restorative, or both. Like the hardening of Manhattan’s Infrastructure after hurricane Sandy. Significant amounts of financial capital are involved – public and private. Consider John Kerry’s admonition that the “energy transition” will require $ 5 trillion of investment annually for the next 30 years.
Regrettably, many investments are uniformed and fall short. They are too often more virtue signal than substance. Those with financial expertise must be complimented by those with engineering expertise for substantive results to be achieved.
At Fitzgerald Asset Management, a brilliant work of scholarship has guided the development of an investment “Environmental Thickness Test.” This session will elaborate on the test and demonstrate it through examples. More importantly, it will depict how one’s engineering training can be applied in unique ways over a multi-decade career.
Presenter Profile
John is an engineer and has self-educated in investments and finance. John is committed to human development and the collective good. These commitments are rooted in John’s faith and the examples of his parents and heroes.The Manager’s Dilemma … Managing Someone Else’s Change Agenda
Steve King [MA], University of Wisconsin - Madison/Northwestern University
Abstract
Presenter Profile
Steve is the retired executive director for the UW business school’s Center for Professional and Executive Development. He currently teaches at both the University of Wisconsin – Madison and Northwestern University. Prior to his time in academic settings Steve was the CHRO and SVP of Talent Management at Hewitt Associates, Baxter Healthcare, and BMO/Harris Bank. Steve is the author of five books for frontline and new managers. He is also the co-host of the podcast Conversation with a Manager: Stories from the Frontlines.
Loans and Job Search– Financial Analysis
Raj Kamal, Lecturer
Abstract
Presenter Profile
Raj Kamal is an Engineering Management lecturer with Interdisciplinary Professional Programs, College of Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he teaches multiple courses. He has over 30 years of professional consulting and graduate teaching experience, and holds an MS from Purdue University, and an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management at Ahmedabad, India.
Chelsy Cegielski, InterPro Engagement Manager
Abstract
Your LinkedIn profile is more than a digital resume — it's your professional presence in motion. This session is designed for engineers looking to understand the value of LinkedIn, design a profile for professional advancement, increased visibility, and industry impact. From optimizing your profile and engaging meaningfully with classmates and colleagues, to posting content that supports others and amplifies your voice in your industry and personal purpose. Whether you're pursuing internal promotion or external opportunities, you’ll learn how to position yourself with confidence and clarity — and discover how your presence can add value for others, too.
Presenter Profile
Chelsy brings 25 years of experience in higher education and brings a deep passion for professional development to the College of Engineering and InterPro.
As the InterPro Engagement Manager she will play a pivotal role in developing and spearheading engagements with industry and external clients, crafting innovative business strategies to secure sponsorships, expanding program enrollment, and fostering sustainable partnerships for professional development and online learning programs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Engineering.
Chelsy is excited to collaborate with corporate partners and individuals who share a passion for helping grow talent. A connector by nature, Chelsy's role within the College of Engineering's Office of Corporate Relations will help companies navigate the immense network of technology experts, student talent, research, peer learning and professional development. Curious how UW Madison can help your business? Connect and engage!
Prior to joining UW Madison, Chelsy was the Assistant Director of Career & Professional Development at UW Oshkosh where she developed strategic partnerships with employers looking for early talent and supported students in their job search strategies and tools. She is a Stanford trained Design Your Life facilitator and Gallop Strengths Coach. In the classroom, Chelsy taught professional skills career courses in Business, Engineering and Math/Science. Chelsy earned her MBA from Lakeland University and a bachelor's degree from St. Cloud State University.
Remote and Computer Workstation Ergonomics
Patrick Scott, Occupational Health Specialist II
Abstract
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD’s) are among the most common
issues affecting 21st century workers, regardless of
profession. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated an MSD incidence rate
of 27.2 per 10,000 full-time workers in 2018. The median days away from work
for these conditions was 12 days, indicating economic hardship and frequent
workability difficulties. The UW-Madison Ergonomics team develops trainings,
performs assessments, and works with campus leaders to reduce the risk of MSDs
and to improve employee wellness and workability. In this presentation, we will
discuss how ergonomics can be leveraged to improve your posture, comfort, and
wellness while at the workstation.
Presenter Profile
Patrick Scott is an Occupational Health Specialist II in Environment, Health & Safety, a division of Facilities Planning and Management at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He also serves as an Honorary Physical Therapy Fellow. Dr. Scott holds a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from Regis University in Denver, Colorado.
Heather Smith, Director of Graduate Programs
Abstract
You’ve probably been there—your teammate starts talking, and before they finish, you’re already crafting your brilliant reply. Or maybe you’re so focused on avoiding distractions that you accidentally look like you’ve checked out. (Guilty? So are we.) In this fast-paced, interactive workshop, we’ll uncover the underrated superpower that can transform your professional relationships: active listening. Through real talk, relatable stories, and hands-on practice, you’ll learn how to listen in a way that builds trust, prevents miscommunication, and helps you truly understand your team. Come ready to laugh, connect, and leave with practical tools you’ll actually use.
Presenter Profile
Heather Smith is the director of graduate programs for Interdisciplinary Professional Programs in the College of Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She leads the online graduate programs and is also the program director for the online degree in Engineering Management. She teaches courses in international engineering and technical leadership.
Heather has over 18 years of experience in the test and measurement sector at National Instruments in multiple engineering and leadership roles. She has led international projects in the consumer electronics, RF, solar, and the oil and gas industries.
The Engineer in the Wild: Consilience and the Thermodynamics of Everything
Blake Suhre, Program Director
Abstract
The Engineer in the Wild: Consilience and the Thermodynamics of Everything is a multidisciplinary exploration of how engineers—and all thinkers—can better understand the natural world by integrating knowledge across scientific domains. Challenging the artificial boundaries between academic disciplines, this interactive session invites participants to consider nature’s indifference to human categories and to see knowledge as a dynamic process of model-building. Anchored in the unifying concept of consilience, it maps humanity’s place in the hierarchy of matter and scale—from subatomic particles to ecosystems—and explores the thermodynamic principles that drive all change. Special attention is given to the mesoscale, where humans and their technologies operate, and where energy gradients shape the evolution of life and culture alike. By synthesizing insights from physics, biology, and systems thinking, the session asks profound questions about consciousness, ethics, and the engineer’s role in shaping a sustainable future—not just what can be built, but what should be.
Presenter Profile
Blake Suhre is a Program Director for the Office of Interdisciplinary Professional Programs (InterPro) at UW-Madison. He has over 30 years of experience in development and management of vehicle powertrain, engine, and control systems. He was involved in the early development of model-based controls for internal combustion engines and has experience applying these techniques to all types of combustion system, electrified powertrain, and autonomous systems. He was co-founder of the MotoTron Corporation and has held a variety of leadership and executive positions in engine and powertrain systems development and R&D. Blake holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Being a Badger 101
Doug Barton, Director UW E-Business Consortium (UWEBC)
Abstract
Every Badger journey begins with academic rigor—world-class faculty, groundbreaking research, and a learning culture rooted in the Wisconsin Experience’s four pillars: Empathy and humility, Relentless Curiosity, Intellectual Confidence, and Purposeful Action.
In this fast-moving, highly participatory session, you will:
- Navigate our academic edge. Discover why UW‑Madison consistently ranks among the nation’s top public research universities and leaders in public service impact. And how can you keep that edge sharp?
- Live the Wisconsin Idea. See how learning here extends to every corner of the state—and well beyond.
- Plug into community & sport. From 900+ volunteer partnerships, alumni events and activities, to game‑day traditions that light up every field where Badgers compete across the nation, feel the Badger spirit in action.
- Chart your personal roadmap. Through small‑group discussion and mini‑challenges, map how you’ll embody the four Wisconsin Experience pillars during your years—and years after—on campus.
You’ll finish with insider strategies, once-a-badger-always-a-badger pride, and a personalized roadmap for making everyday count wherever you practice your craft.
Format: Lightning insights, peer breakouts, real-time polling, and a quick “campus icons” photo challenge—perfect warm-up for the afternoon scavenger hunt.
Presenter Profile
Doug Barton serves as Teaching Faculty on Digital Transformation of Enterprises and as Director of the UW E‑Business Consortium (UWEBC), providing strategic leadership and operational oversight for this premier university-industry partnership of 80+ companies across diverse sectors.
Doug forges and nurtures executive relationships, leads the UWEBC Advisory Board, and drives strategic initiatives that extend the Wisconsin Idea’s impact on industry. With more than 30 years of experience—including senior leadership roles at UBIX.AI and IBM—he is an accomplished global speaker on design thinking, disruptive technology, AI, and innovation.
Doug holds a BBA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and lives the credo “once a Badger, always a Badger.”
Tools and Tactics to Recover Troubled Projects
Shawn Belling, Lecturer
Abstract
Presenter Profile
Shawn has presented at several PMI Global Congresses and numerous local chapter events and was a visiting professor in October 2010 in Taiwan for International University of Monaco. Shawn teaches project and change management for WSB CPED, the UW-Platteville MSPM program, USC’s MSPM program, and in the UW College of Engineering’s MEM and InterPro offerings.
Shawn is certified as an Agile Certified Practitioner and Project Management Professional, has a Master of Science in Project Management from University of Wisconsin – Platteville and a Doctor of Education from the University of the Cumberlands. Shawn was awarded a PMI Kerzner Scholarship in 2008. Shawn is also a Certified Scrum Professional and Registered Scrum @ Scale Practitioner and a member of PMI at the national level, a member of Wisconsin’s South-Central (Madison) PMI chapter, and was a founding officer of NEW – PMI.
Vignesh Selvaraj, Research Associate – UW Madison
Abstract
Presenter Profile
Contact Us
Questions about Campus Connect 2025? Contact us at interpro@union.wisc.edu or 608-263-8301