Joseph Stephenson, economic development planner, to receive UWO 2026 Outstanding Young Alumni honors

Whether he is behind a desk at his community planning job or serving as deputy mayor of the City of Oshkosh, Joseph Stephenson has built his life around advancing his community.

For his professional success and devotion to service, the UWO two-time alumnus has been honored with a 2026 Outstanding Young Alumni Award.

Stephenson earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Urban and Regional Planning in 2015 and a Master's degree in Public Administration in 2020. He is a senior economic development planner with East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission.

"I am most proud of my work in the economic development and housing policy world, where planning principles can be translated into real improvements in communities," he said. "My career has focused on helping cities, villages, towns and the state solve practical challenges related to housing supply, redevelopment and economic opportunity."

He says the milestone he is most proud of is the opportunity to influence housing and community development policy at multiple levels of government and adds that much of his career has focused on bridging the gap between policy ideas and real-world results for communities.

Service has been central to his work and personal values and he currently serves on the Oshkosh Common Council and as deputy mayor, where he works with residents, fellow council members and city staff to address issues such as housing availability, redevelopment and neighborhood stability. He has founded Midtown Neighborhood Association and has previously served on the Oshkosh Parks Board, Museum Board and Long-Range Finance Committee. Midtown hosted a record-setting Rock the Block event that helped improve 54 homes in a single day.

Professionally, he serves as the Northeast District Representative for the American Planning Association Wisconsin, helping promote best practices in planning and land use policy. He also serves as president of the Fox Cities Economic Development Professionals organization that fosters collaboration between public, private and nonprofit partners to strengthen the economy; and serves on the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority's executive committee.

Stellar reputation

Melissa Kraemer Badtke, executive director of East Central Regional Planning Commission, said throughout his career, Stephenson has demonstrated "exceptional ability to turn planning ideas into real results that support municipalities across the region."

She pointed to his leadership in redesigning and relaunching the Strategic Planning and Action for Revitalization Program and transforming it into an initiative that delivers meaningful planning assistance to rural and tribal communities.

"Joe's career is a powerful example of the impact that UW-Oshkosh graduates can have when they apply their education in service of their communities," Kraemer Badtke said. "His work continues to shape policies and programs that will benefit Wisconsin communities for many years to come."

State Representative Lori Palmeri said Stephenson is known for his dedication and for strengthening communities across Wisconsin through thoughtful planning, housing policy and economic development incentives. His professional work supports municipalities of all sizes and helps local leaders address challenges related to housing availability, redevelopment and economic opportunity.

"Joe Stephenson represents the UW-Oshkosh tradition of remarkable public service and civic leadership," Palmeri said as part of her nomination letter in support.

UWO's impact

Stephenson said UW-Oshkosh played a tremendous role in shaping his life and career.

"It was more than just the place where I earned my degrees," he said. "It was a place that truly felt like home and showed me what a supportive community could look like."

During his years at UWO, he formed friendships that he still carries with him today-and built a professional network that helped shape his career. His education was rooted in real-world application and challenged him to think critically about how policy, planning and leadership impact communities.

"My advice to current and future Titans is to stay curious, stay engaged and commit to showing up every single day with the goal of making things just a little bit better than they were yesterday. If you keep taking those steps, 10 years from now you will look back and be amazed at how far you have come and how much you have been able to accomplish."

The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh will celebrate the talents and successes of eight alumni during Homecoming 2026 this October. Stephenson is among three top graduates to be honored with the Outstanding Young Alumni Award for their professional and civic accomplishments within 15 years of receiving their degrees; four will receive the Distinguished Alumni Award for their accomplishments in their professional fields; and one will receive the Alumni Outstanding Service Award for making exemplary contributions to support UWO through volunteer efforts, energy, leadership and/or philanthropic donations.

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