Member Bios

Carly Andrew

Undergraduate Student Success (Student Services)

Contact: candrew2@wisc.edu

I primarily develop programs and provide advising support for the STAR (Strategic Targeted Achievement Recognition) scholarship program. The Engineering Student Center in the Undergraduate Academic Affairs Unit houses my role. I have worked as a staff member in the CoE since fall 2022. During my time on CASI, I plan to doggedly advocate for transparency and support the importance of communication.

Andrea Bill

Traffic Safety Engineer Research Program Manager, Civil & Environmental Engineering

Contact: bill@wisc.edu

Ms. Andrea Bill is the Director of the Wisconsin Local Technical Assistance Program and Associate Director of the Traffic Operations and Safety Laboratory and Eastern Tribal Technical Assistance Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. With these roles, she has been bringing research to technology transfer through in person and virtual webinars throughout Wisconsin and the U.S. She is a passionate advocate for making research tangible to practitioners and to foster implementation and widespread adoption.

Justin Kyle Bush

Graduate Programs Administrator, Interdisciplinary Professional Programs

Contact: justinkyle.bush@wisc.edu

Justin Kyle Bush serves as the Graduate Programs Administrator for the Engineering Data Analytics (MEDA), Polymer Engineering (MEPE), and Power Engineering (Power) programs. In this capacity, he offers leadership support in various aspects including student recruitment, marketing, program governance, budget management, and financial accountability. Justin is eager to collaborate with academic and university staff to identify areas for enhancement and collectively solutions that will contribute to maintaining COE as an exemplary workplace.

Jackie Cooper

Lab Manager, Civil & Environmental Engineering

Contact: jackie.cooper@wisc.edu

I have been in this position for over 20 years, supporting students and faculty in both CEE and CBE, as well as others across campus who utilize the equipment in my lab. I feel my perspective as someone working in a laboratory, which is often times not reflected in other campus committees, will serve me well on CASI.

Mary Fitzpatrick

Director of Diversity Research and Evaluation, Inclusion, Equity and Diversity in Engineering (IEDE)

Contact: mary.fitzpatrick@wisc.edu

Mary Fitzpatrick is in the unit of Inclusion, Equity and Diversity in Engineering (IEDE) in the role of academic staff scientist and has been with the College since 2013. She earned her BS in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Iowa, an MS in Electrical Engineering from Marquette University and was a practicing engineer and program manager for 17 years in the medical device and software industries. She earned a doctorate in Educational Psychology from UW-Milwaukee in 2011. Her current role focuses on providing program evaluation and research related to underrepresented groups in engineering and creating an inclusive culture within the College and UW-Madison.

Daniel Gaona, CASI Co-Chair

Accountant, Electrical & Computer Engineering

Contact: daniel.gaona@wisc.edu

Daniel joined UW-Madison in January of 2013. He has been with the College of Engineering since August of 2021 and is the Accountant for the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Daniel has served on a variety of committees during his time with the university as well as the school district where his children are enrolled.

Daniel looks forward to bringing his breadth of experience to CASI in hopes of being an advocate for staff members whose voices may not always be at the forefront.

Jason Jankoski, CASI ex officio member (non-voting)

Assistant Dean for Human Resources

Contact: jpjankoski@wisc.edu, (608) 890-0921

As assistant dean for human resources, payroll and benefits, Jason Jankoski provides leadership in human resource, payroll and benefits systems administration throughout the College of Engineering. He oversees, directs and collaborates with the college’s decentralized departmental human resource, payroll and administrative staff members, and provides leadership and guidance to achieve excellence in these areas. Additionally, he is the college liaison to human resources at the UW-Madison and UW System levels.

Jankoski joined the College of Engineering as assistant dean in 2014. Previously, he spent five years as assistant dean for human resources in the Wisconsin School of Business, and has held human resources positions elsewhere at UW-Madison and at the State of Wisconsin. He earned his bachelor of arts in human resources management from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Nate Jung, CASI Chair

Teaching Faculty, Engineering Communications and Applied Ethics

Contact: najung@wisc.edu

I teach courses in Engineering Communications and Applied Ethics to students from all areas of the College of Engineering. In this role, I interact with a variety of faculty, administrators, and STEM writing professionals to ensure that our students integrate all aspects of their engineering education into a cohesive professional identity that reflects the values of the UW-Madison College of Engineering. I also currently serve as President of the Midwest Modern Language Association and on ASEC’s Nominating Committee.

Angela Kita

Associate Director of Leadership Education

Contact: amkita@wisc.edu

As a member of the Center for Innovation in Engineering Education, Angela Kita is excited to build and grow partnerships that better connect students to their learning, their passions, and their goals. She has worked collaboratively with faculty and staff on curriculum development, improved instructor support, and cross-campus projects. Angela has served as a representative and on a subcommittee of the Academic Staff Assembly (ASA), and is always looking for ways to improve the climate at UW. As a CASI member she plans on asking questions, seeking out ways to improve work conditions, and advocating on behalf of staff members. She is particularly excited about building cross-college connections and increasing promotional and recognition opportunities.

Libby Miller

Graduate Advisor, Interdisciplinary Professional Programs

Contact: libby.miller@wisc.edu

Libby Miller serves as a Graduate Advisor for the Engineering Data Analytics (MEDA), Manufacturing Systems Engineering (MSE), and Power Engineering (Power) online graduate programs in the Interdisciplinary Professional Programs office. Libby works directly with graduate students offering advising support. She is also involved with graduate student recruitment, program marketing, program governance, and curriculum management. A proud UW alumna, Libby holds a bachelors degree in Legal Studies from the University of Wisconsin Madison and a Masters of Education in Organizational Leadership & Communication from Belmont University. Libby looks forward to working alongside others on the CASI board to offer support to the COE in navigating change and advocating for staff needs.

Kelly Petersen

Main Office Manager, Industrial and Systems Engineering

Contact: kmpetersen2@wisc.edu

Kelly joined the University of Wisconsin – Madison in the summer of 2019. She acts as the Main Office Manager for Industrial and Systems Engineering, doing a little bit of everything to support the Faculty, Staff, and Instructors of her department. She also currently serves on a variety of committees throughout the college.

Kelly received her BS in Elementary Education from Iowa State University and worked in the education field for 5 years before moving into an administrative role in higher education.

Zach Smith

Research Administrator Supervisor, Mechanical Engineering

Contact: rsmith48@wisc.edu

Zach is an experienced Research Administrator Supervisor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. He specializes in large, multi-faceted proposals and awards, complex cost-sharing and proactive commitment management. His primary interests involve systems thinking and refinement of processes and procedures via novel tool development. He enjoys detail-oriented work and maintaining holistic award perspectives. He is the previous Chair of the College of Engineering’s Committee Advocating for Staff Interests (CASI), the Co-Chair of UW’s Standing Budget Committee, District 513 Academic Staff Assembly representative, and a mentor with NCURA (National Council of University Research Administrators) and UW’s RED mentoring programs.

Sara Tate-Pedersen

Technical Compliance Manager, Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE)

Contact: sara.tate-pederson@wisc.edu

Dynamic IT leader and professional with 25+ years of experience, I currently serve in the role of Technical Compliance Manager with Computer-Aided Engineering at UW-Madison. I am also a co-lead for our campus IT Leaders Program (ITLP) Forward steering team as part of IT Connects, am a past co-lead and founding steering team member of our campus Women in IT (UW-WIT) community, and currently serve as past chair and steering team member on the Big Ten Academic Alliance Women+ in IT Peer Group (BTAA WIT+). Throughout my entire career I have been an active participant and facilitator on a wide variety of strategic initiatives that promote inclusion, equity, diversity, and belonging in the workplace. Outside of my service to the UW-Madison I enjoy opportunities to hike in our National Parks, indulge in hobby geology, and build with LEGO.