Alverno College's 2019 Year in Review

There was plenty of good news to share in 2019, from an eye-opening report on how girls in our state are faring, to new academic programs and strategic partnerships. Here’s a rundown (in chronological order) of some of Alverno College's biggest stories from 2019:

STATUS OF GIRLS IN WISCONSIN

The Alverno Report: The Status of Girls in Wisconsin revealed a number of persistent, troubling patterns for Wisconsin girls. This was the fourth report we’ve released since 2007 as part of our continued commitment to raise awareness regarding issues and challenges that impact girls in our state.

SOCIAL WORK PARTNERSHIP

Alverno College and Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) established a formal partnership that streamlines the transfer process for female students who want to become social workers. This partnership furthers the college’s strategic plan, which aims to grow enrollment in targeted programs to support workforce development needs for our area.

STATE OF WISCONSIN GIRLS SUMMIT

Fourteen-year-old Marley Dias, author and founder of an international social media movement, was the keynote speaker at the inaugural State of Wisconsin Girls Summit in March. The summit brought together thought leaders and inspiring voices to address issues like cyberbullying, poverty, and mental health and how they impact girls in Wisconsin. Read more

NEW DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS

Brad Vanden Boogaard, who came to Alverno from Clarendon College in Clarendon, Texas, was named Alverno College’s director of athletics and head golf coach.

NEW ALLIANCE WITH ASCENSION WISCONSIN

Alverno College and Ascension Wisconsin established a strategic alliance designed to improve the health of the state’s residents, expand the existing clinical relationship between the two Catholic institutions and further develop a skilled, mission-driven workforce.

STRONGER PARTNERSHIP WITH MONTESSORI INSTITUTE OF MILWAUKEE

The Montessori Institute of Milwaukee announced it was relocating to Alverno College, strengthening the existing collaboration between the two institutions. Milwaukee has more public Montessori schools than any other city in the country, and this stronger connection will pave the way for new programs that will result in more Montessori-trained educators in southeastern Wisconsin.

NEW INITIATIVE TO PREPARE TEACHERS

Alverno College was named as a founding program partner of the Educator Preparation Laboratory (EdPrepLab), a new initiative intended to help ensure that new teachers and leaders enter the classroom able to provide K-12 students with the kind of education that helps them develop skills like critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and the ability to apply knowledge in a range of contexts.

NEW GRADUATE PROGRAMS

Alverno College launched a Doctorate in Education (Ed.D.) degree and a Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing (DEMSN) degree. The Ed.D. program is designed for working professionals who hold a master’s degree relevant to their area of interest, and offers concentration options in higher education leadership and K-12 leadership. The DEMSN program allows graduates who hold a bachelor’s degree in any field to begin their career in nursing with a master’s degree.

AWARD FOR STUDENT VOTING

Alverno College was honored at the 2019 ALL IN Challenge Awards Ceremony with a platinum seal for achieving a student voting rate above 50%. Among Alverno students who are registered to vote, 82.2% took part in the 2018 midterm election.

KENTE CEREMONY CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY

Alverno College’s Bestowing of the Kente celebrated its 25th anniversary as an important rite of passage for graduates, making it one of the oldest ceremonies of its kind in Wisconsin.