About the Board
The Board of Visitors is a group of highly engaged alumni from the public and private sectors. Members function as advisors to the Dean to support the Law School’s mission, as ambassadors to connect the Law School to its alumni.
The Board assumes an active and visible role in the Law School by participating in annual meetings. Through these meetings, the Board seeks to identify areas in which it can be helpful to the Law School, its students, faculty and staff. Members provide an external perspective that advances the improvement of the Law School’s facilities, curriculum, placement, admissions and outreach.
Current Members
Elizabeth Gracie
BA 1980, JD 1983
Chair, UW Law Board of Visitors
Paul Bateman
JD 2010
Michelle Behnke
BA 1983, JD 1988
Cassandra Best
JD 2012
The Hon. Ann W. Bradley
JD 1976
Ellen Drought
MA 1996, JD 1998
The Hon. Hannah Dugan
BA 1981, JD 1987
Sheldon Fink
BBA 1954, LLB 1954
William Fisher
MA 1966, JD 1978
Jason Gerlach
MA/JD 1996
Haben Goitom
JD 2008
Karen Handorf
JD 1975
Steven Hernandez
JD 1981
Nancy Holley
JD 1980
Jay Holmes
JD 1967
John W. Miller
JD 2006
Andrew Ogilvie
JD 1973
SanDee Priser
JD 2002
John Sagan
JD 1983
Todd Smith
JD 1996
Leticia Smith-Evans Haynes
JD 2003, MS 2004, PhD 2010
Christopher Smithka
JD 2009
Joan Stafslien
JD 1992
Scott Williams
BA/JD 1988
Sampson Yimer
JD 2011
Purpose of the Board of Visitors
- To serve as a core group of advisors and counselors for Law School leadership.
- To serve as ambassadors for the Law School. As alumni and friends who are well informed about the Law School, Board members are advocates for the Law School in a variety of contexts.
- To provide leadership in philanthropy and fundraising.
- To help promote the Law School, by supporting student recruitment efforts and mobilizing the career network.
Benefits and Responsibilities of Membership
Benefits
- Listing and headshot on the University of Wisconsin Law School’s Board of Visitors website.
- Invitations to attend four annual meetings of the board: two held on campus in Madison and two held virtually.
- Regular communications from the dean of the Law School, including news and requests for feedback on how the School is working to meet its mission.
- Priority access to in-person University of Wisconsin Law School events, including lectures, reunions, and the Dean’s Summit.
Additional opportunities may be provided throughout the year.
Responsibilities
- Participate in scheduled meetings, devoting time, resources, counsel, and connections to help further the activities of the Law School and the University.
- Assist Alumni Relations and External Affairs staff in strengthening connections between the Law School and its alumni.
- Assist Development and Alumni Relations staff in:
- Identifying and developing prospective donors.
- Sharing a message of the importance of philanthropy both at events and with alumni and friends individually.
- Hosting, coordinating, or attending intimate gatherings of alumni and/or friends to help engage them around specific Law School programs and initiatives.
- Attend (whenever possible) local University of Wisconsin events.
- Assist in recruiting future Board members.
Charitable Giving
- Members support the Law School as one of top philanthropic priorities.
- Members make annual, unrestricted gifts to the Law School.
- Alumni members who graduated within the last ten years, the minimum suggested gift is $1000.
- Alumni members who graduated more than 10 years ago, the minimum suggested gift is $2,500.
- Members are encouraged to support additional campaigns or special University initiatives, or choose to include the University in their estate plans.
