UWO invites regional leaders to help shape future of education, workforce and community impact

University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh alumna and accomplished executive Mary Novak-Jandrey chairs Chancellor's Alliance for Leadership and Community Impact.

The inuaugural gathering at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh of Chancellor's Alliance for Leadership and Community Impact (CALCI) took place Oct. 23 and brought together regional leaders at the Culver Family Welcome Center.

CALCI is a Chancellor-led strategic advisory and ambassadorial group designed to bring accomplished external leaders into conversation with UW-Oshkosh around the University's future. The group includes leaders from business, industry, healthcare, education, philanthropy, nonprofit and civic sectors, several of whom are also UW-Oshkosh alumni. More than an advisory council, CALCI is designed to be a catalyst for meaningful action.

The founding members are:

• Mary Novak-Jandrey - retired executive, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.; UWO Nursing alumna; CALCI chairperson
• Vicki Bayer - chief executive officer, LYNC Institute; retired Green Bay Schools superintendent; UWO alumna
• Mike Bertello - chief information officer, Faith Technologies; UWO alumnus
• Dr. Ashwani Bhatia - chief executive officer, BayCare; healthcare executive
• Craig Culver - chairman and co-founder, Culver's; UWO alumnus
• Curt Detjen - president/CEO, Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region
• Jill Giese - human resources director, Mercury Marine; UWO alumna
• Julie Keller - executive director, Women's Fund for the Fox Valley Region; UWO alumna
• Polly Olson - police chief, City of Appleton; UWO alumna
• Patti Purcell - Owner, Writing by Design LLC; UWO alumna
• Sachin Shivaram - chief executive officer, Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry
• Jim VandeHei - Co-founder and CEO, Axios; UWO alumnus

Connecting leadership with opportunity

The Alliance begins with a powerful premise: When universities and communities work together, opportunities multiply.

UW-Oshkosh has long served as an educational, cultural and economic cornerstone of the region. Today, as workforce demands evolve, technology transforms industries and students seek increasingly relevant educational experiences, the relationship between higher education and the communities it serves has never been more important.

CALCI creates a forum where accomplished leaders can share perspectives, anticipate emerging challenges and identify opportunities that extend far beyond campus boundaries.

Its guiding principles are simple yet powerful: Advise. Ally. Advocate.

Members will provide strategic insight, build connections across sectors and champion the university's contributions to student success, workforce readiness, innovation and regional prosperity. The goal is not simply to discuss what comes next, but to help create it.

A collective voice for regional impact

The founding Alliance reflects an extraordinary breadth of leadership and experience.

Chaired by UW-Oshkosh alumna and accomplished executive Mary Novak-Jandrey, CALCI includes leaders such as Culver's co-founder Craig Culver, Axios CEO Jim VandeHei, BayCare Clinic CEO Ashwani Bhatia and Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region President and CEO Curt Detjen.

Their perspectives are complemented by accomplished leaders representing manufacturing, technology, public safety, education, philanthropy and community development.

Together, these individuals bring something greater than professional accomplishments. They bring relationships, institutional knowledge and a shared investment in the future of Wisconsin.

Their collective experience creates opportunities to connect classroom learning with real-world challenges, strengthen employer partnerships, support innovation and expand pathways to meaningful careers.

Turning vision into impact

CALCI aligns with Oshkosh Infinite, the university's strategic plan, built around four interconnected priorities: Student Success, Innovation and Discovery, People and Culture and Community Impact. The priorities recognize that a thriving university and a thriving region are inseparable.

For students, stronger partnerships can mean greater access to mentorship, experiential learning and career-connected opportunities.

For employers, they can create stronger talent pipelines and opportunities to collaborate on emerging workforce needs.

For communities, they can generate new ideas, relationships and solutions that support long-term economic and social vitality.

Importantly, CALCI is envisioned as a working alliance with a shared ambition for a stronger university and a stronger Wisconsin.

UWO's impact will be measured not only by what happens within its classrooms, but by the lives it transforms, the partnerships it inspires and the communities it helps strengthen.

Learn more:

UWO Strategic Plan