From spring break service to City Hall: UW-Oshkosh shaped Neenah’s new mayor

Brian Borchardt, a three-time UW-Oshkosh alumnus, celebrates his April 7 election as Neenah mayor with his wife, Lori (Zivkovich) Borchardt, left, a two-time UW-Oshkosh graduate. The couple first met as students at UW-Oshkosh, where Borchardt was a member of Delta Chi fraternity and Lori was part of Gamma Phi Beta sorority.

For Brian Borchardt, the path to becoming Neenah's next mayor did not begin in City Hall. It began on a spring break trip.

As a UW-Oshkosh sophomore in the early 1990s, Borchardt joined a group traveling to Kentucky through the Newman Center for an alternative spring break. Instead of beaches and rest, the group spent their days working in some of the most impoverished communities in the Appalachian region, drywalling homes, pouring foundations and helping families with basic repairs.

The experience left a lasting impression.

"We just realized that I was this kid in college living a pretty privileged life," Borchardt said. "And I went down and saw these people that had nothing, and we were able to help them. That really kind of set that ripple."

That ripple would shape the rest of his life.

Now, more than three decades later, Borchardt is preparing to be sworn in as mayor of Neenah on April 21. The next day, April 22, will mark his final day teaching at Neenah High School after 18 years in the district. On April 23, he officially begins his work at City Hall.

It is a rapid transition, one that reflects both excitement and sacrifice. Borchardt will leave his teaching post nearly a month before graduation, stepping away from students he has supported for years.

"Graduation is only a month away," he said. "That's what made it hard."

But for Borchardt, the decision is rooted in something deeper than a career change. It reflects a long-standing commitment to serving others, a mindset shaped during his time at UWO and carried through his years in the classroom.

"I think that Kentucky trip was probably the spark," he said. "The birthplace of my service mindset."

Finding direction at UW-Oshkosh

Borchardt arrived at UW-Oshkosh from Milwaukee in 1990, drawn largely by word of mouth.

"My brother went to Madison, and a friend of his said Oshkosh was a cool school," he said. "That was it."

Like many first-generation college students, his path was not linear. He began as a psychology major before shifting to communications, ultimately earning a bachelor's degree in speech and communication in 1995.

He immersed himself in campus life, joining Delta Chi fraternity, getting involved in the Oshkosh Student Association and serving as speaker of the assembly.

"I really embraced the social aspect at first," he said, laughing. "Then I had to buckle down."

That balance proved formative. "Once you embrace everything Oshkosh has to offer, it really prepares you for what comes next," he said. "The relationships, the networking, the leadership opportunities, it all builds on itself."

UW-Oshkosh also shaped his life in another lasting way. It is where he met his wife, Lori (Zivkovich) Borchardt, a 1995 graduate with degrees in English and speech who later earned her MBA from UW-Oshkosh in 2010. The two met in South Scott residence hall, where Borchardt worked as a night host.

"I remember seeing her and hoping she'd come up and sign in so I could learn her name," he said with a laugh. She did, and they have been together ever since.

Over the years, the couple has returned to UW-Oshkosh multiple times, with Borchardt earning additional degrees in education and educational leadership.

"They should probably name a wing after us," he joked.

Professors who made an impact

At the center of Borchardt's UW-Oshkosh experience were the professors who challenged him and helped him grow.

"She's on my Mt. Rushmore of UW-Oshkosh professors," Borchardt said of Marguerite Penick, who was Marguerite Penick-Parks during his time as a student.

Through her Cultural Diversity course, he began to see teaching differently. "She helped me understand that teaching the whole child and meeting them where they are is key to making connections and building strong relationships," he said.

Those lessons carried directly into his work with at-risk students.

"I drew on the classes I took with Marguerite every day," he said.

Tony Palmeri, professor of communication studies, also had a lasting impact, challenging Borchardt to think more critically and engage more deeply.

"He really opened my mindset and challenged me," Borchardt said. "He's the one that pushed me to take school more seriously."

Palmeri saw early signs of leadership in Borchardt.

"In the 1990s Brian took a number of classes with me including Classical Rhetoric and Modern Rhetorical Criticism," Palmeri said. "He had a dynamic personality, was super supportive of his peers, enjoyed being challenged academically and really loved learning. At the time Brian struck me as a natural born leader, so while I am thrilled that he is now the mayor of the great city of Neenah, I am not at all surprised."

A teacher first

After graduating, Borchardt spent five years in sales before a turning point changed his direction.

"I got fired," he said, rather candidly. "And looking back, it was one of the most important moments of my life."

It forced him to rethink his path. He returned to UW-Oshkosh to earn his teaching degree, bringing his then-young daughter to campus and fully committing to the work.

That decision led to nearly two decades in education. At Neenah High School, Borchardt worked in alternative education, supporting at-risk students who often needed more than academic instruction.

For him, teaching was always about relationships. "They're not always going to remember the lesson," he said. "They're going to remember how you made them feel."

"When a student comes back after being truant, it's not 'Where have you been?'" he said. "It's 'I'm really glad you're back. How can I help?'"

As he prepared to leave the classroom for life as an elected official in a city of 27,000 people, Borchardt had difficult conversations with students he had worked with for years.

"What would you tell me to do?" one student asked him.

"I'd tell you to go do great things," Borchardt said.

"Exactly," the student replied.

From classroom to community leadership

Borchardt's move into public service grew naturally out of his work as an educator.

While teaching social studies, he encouraged students to engage in civic life by attending city council meetings and connecting with elected officials. Eventually, he realized he needed to follow his own advice.

"I thought, I'm telling all these kids to do this, I should probably do it too," he said.

In 2020, he was appointed to the Neenah Common Council and later served as council president. After an initial unsuccessful run for mayor, he continued building relationships in the community.

"I love making mistakes," he said. "Some of the greatest things come from those failures."

That mindset helped carry him to victory in this year's election.

A foundation that endures

As Borchardt steps into the mayor's office, he carries with him lessons shaped by decades of experience but grounded in moments that began at UW Oshkosh.

Across every chapter of his journey, from a service trip in Kentucky to years in the classroom, Borchardt has remained grounded in service, relationships and helping others move forward.

"All of those moments," he said, "they weave back to UW-Oshkosh."

Learn more:

Communication Studies at UWO