Katherine P. Frank, Chancellor at University of Wisconsin-Stout | Official website
Katherine P. Frank, Chancellor at University of Wisconsin-Stout | Official website
The University of Wisconsin-Stout is launching its Year of Design in the 2025-2026 academic year, with a range of events open to both the campus and broader community. The schedule includes talks, exhibitions, performances, and discussions aimed at highlighting innovation and leadership at Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University.
Key events this fall include the Cabot Executive-in-Residence keynote address on October 9 by Andrew Murphy, head of Corporate Engagement Strategy at Apple. The School of Art & Design will celebrate its 60th anniversary with events on October 10 and 11. On December 10, the Stout Game Expo will showcase game development projects from across western Wisconsin. The semester concludes with the School of Art & Design Senior Show on December 12, featuring work from more than 200 graduating seniors.
Furlong Gallery opens its fall exhibition season with solo shows by UW-Stout Professor Charles Matson Lume and visiting artist Hannah Niswonger beginning September 18. Lume’s sabbatical exhibition runs in the North Gallery until October 25, with an artist talk scheduled for October 22. Niswonger’s ceramic installations are displayed in the South Gallery; she will give an artist talk following a closing reception on October 23.
From November 10 to December 13, Dunn County-born photographer Erinn Springer will exhibit her work in the North Gallery while Dutch design collective Catalogtree is featured in the South Gallery.
Additional art venues include Gallery 209—hosting senior thesis exhibitions and an alumni art show during Family Weekend—and the Library Art Lab which presents student and faculty collaborations each semester.
A civic dialogue event titled “Banned Books Week: A Conversation with Dr. Samuel Cohen” takes place on October 1 at Harvey Hall Theatre. Cohen is associate chair of English at University of Missouri and will discuss his upcoming book “Banning Books in America: Not a How-to.” Comments from Menomonie Public Library Director Joleen Sterk and a Q&A moderated by Afton Greco from UW-Stout’s Menard Center for the Study of Institutions & Innovation are included.
UW-Stout’s Center for Applied Ethics continues to host Philosophers’ Cafés covering topics such as artificial intelligence, workplace gender disparities, and interpretations of “The Wisconsin Idea.” Other programming includes discussion dinners focused on controversial issues, facilitated by university faculty members.
Literary events feature English Professor Lopamudra Basu presenting her poetry collection “Sing, Slivered Tongue” during the Chippewa Valley Book Festival on October 24. Basu describes her anthology as follows: “It is not just a litany of trauma. It is a statement of courage. It offers hope and is an attempt to find resolution,” adding that although contributors are from South Asia their experiences have global relevance.
Professor Charles Matson Lume has also collaborated with alumni artists to publish an artists’ book titled “at the fountain, at the fountain,” with launches scheduled this fall in Minnesota.
University Theatre presents “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again]” directed by Audric Buhr from November 6-9 at Harvey Hall Theatre. Tickets can be purchased online through uwstout.universitytickets.com.
Musical performances this season include:
- Blue Devil Jazz Orchestra led by James Anderson on November 15.
- Stout Choirs directed by Jerry Hui celebrating color through music on November 16.
- Symphonic Band under Erika Svanoe performing themed pieces about transportation on December 7.
Tickets for these concerts are available via uwstout.universitytickets.com.
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