Faculty Retirements

More Than a Century of C om bined Servic e to WLC

This summer, four long-time members of the Wisconsin Lutheran College faculty will retire:

Dr. Martin Moldenhauer Professor of English 22 years of service to WLC

Dr. David Schulz

Professor of Computer Science 16 years of service to WLC

Prof. Starla Siegmann

Director of Library Services 40 years of service to WLC

Prof. Deborrah Uecker

Professor of Communication 31 years of service to WLC

We thank the Lord for their combined 109 years of service to WLC. A retirement celebration for these four - plus Dr. Dennis Miller, who retired in December 2019 - is planned for August 6 at the Radisson Hotel Milwaukee West. To learn more or register, visit wlc.ejoinme.org/retire2020.

Moldenhauer

DR. MOLDENHAUER has completed more than 45 years of teaching in the WELS ministry, serving at the elementary, secondary, and college levels. He finds great satisfaction in opening the door of learning to his students, far beyond traditional campus classrooms. “Dr. M.” is known for leading well-planned, literary-based international trips for students to England and Italy since 2006. His photos and blog posts allowed many readers to experience the trips with him through the years. Favorite part of WLC: “I’m going to miss the Christian environment at WLC,” said Moldenhauer, “being able to worship in Chapel every day, having students who are

studying in theology classes, and having the kinds of kids that make me enjoy teaching.”

Did you know? When Milwaukee Brewers games are being played at Miller Park, you may spot Moldenhauer, who is an usher supervisor.

Retirement plans: Moldenhauer said, “I love to travel and I love my wife, so if I put those two things together, I have a pretty good package.”

Schulz

DR. SCHULZ has the distinction of having been a student and a professor at WLC at the same time! In 1973, WLC’s first year, he taught calculus while taking Greek as a student. He has been a champion of advocating for the value of a liberal arts education. Schulz humbly shared his global life experiences and high-level corporate background, bringing it all to bear in a ministry context and setting. Prior to returning to WLC in a full-time capacity, he worked for more than 26 years at Bell Laboratories and at a speech recognition startup; he has been awarded 12 patents.

Siegmann

PROF. SIEGMANN is, well, Starla. She only needs one name. Everyone knows Starla, who will be forever connected with the history of the Marvin M. Schwan Library. Her way of serving – the way she stops what she’s doing to assist people with their questions or requests – helps

Uecker

PROF. UECKER is an avid researcher who developed a reputation for strong, passionate student advocacy and for her leadership roles, which were always undertaken with the heart of a servant leader. Along with nowretired Prof. Mary Heins, Uecker started WLC’s communication and communicative arts programs. A culture shock simulation called ‘XANDY’ was created from her research and is used in all of WLC’s introductory communication classes. The area of scholarship that was Uecker’s primary focus was on Favorite part of WLC: “Handsdown, it’s the students,” said Schulz. “I stay in touch with them and we get together when they’re in town.”

Did you know? An accomplished linguist, Schulz developed a speech recognition program for Arabic, a language he speaks and an area of research that became his specialty. He’s also a gourmet cook.

explain why she is one of the most cherished people we’ve had at WLC. WLC has been such a huge part of Starla’s life; she has served for four decades with such joy and purpose. Throughout these years, in addition to all the projects, committees, meetings, consortiums, and academic responsibilities she has joined, led, and/or managed, Starla remained sincerely interested in WLC’s students and absolutely committed to serving them first.

relationship differences between cultures, especially between the United States and Russia.

Favorite part of WLC: “My favorite part has always been the students,” said Uecker. “Standing in front of a classroom of students, and sharing what I know about communication, has been absolutely the best part of this job. I’m also going to miss Chapel. That’s been the highlight of every day that I’m on campus.”

Did you know? Uecker started at WLC as director of the theatre Retirement plans: Teaching at WLC was Schulz’s retirement job, but he said: “I enjoy doing lexicography work, and with a colleague I’ve done a few Arabic dictionaries over the years; I plan to keep doing that. My wife and I have some traveling to do. We’ve lived around the world, but there are a lot of places we haven’t been that we want to go to. Also, we have Syrian refugees in Milwaukee, and I want to start working with them, because Syrians speak Arabic.” He added that long bike rides and playing golf are also on his retirement schedule.

Favorite parts of WLC: “The best part was all the people I met,” said Starla. And that’s what she’ll miss most as well - the people.

Did you know? Starla and her husband, Jerry, have volunteered in Africa.

Retirement plans: “I plan to travel and do family genealogy research,” Starla said. She also lives in a 100-year-old house that she said “needs a little work.”

program, where she produced and directed musicals and plays.

Retirement plans: Uecker said, “My husband and I have lots of plans to travel, take road trips, and see the country.” She looks forward to spending more time in Door County and at Brewers games and watching her grandsons play hockey.