College of Letters and Science

 

 

Bob and Mary Williams have been contributing to the community since becoming residents of Stevens Point in 1953.  Bob is a public relations professional who has volunteered on numerous political and community campaigns.  He helped elect Stevens Point’s Lee Sherman Dreyfus, governor of the state and played a significant role in creating the Wisconsin interstate highway system.  He also worked to permit ground water irrigation for Wisconsin vegetable growers, bring branch banking to areas outside of Milwaukee and enhance state and student funding to independent colleges and universities.  Bob has been a volunteer fundraiser for the University of Wisconsin Madison, chair of the United Way Campaign, chair of the Portage County Republican Party and member of the board for the Red Cross of Portage County. He graduated from the UW-Madison and has received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the School of Journalism and Mass Information.  He has taught crisis management in communication to undergraduate and graduate students at UW-Madison and UW-Stevens Point.
 
 
Mary taught junior high school and then joined UW-Stevens Point where she served as the special assistant to five chancellors. During her tenure at the university, Mary helped create Lake Joanis, with state and federal grant money for student and community use.  She shared in attaining additional construction for the new Health Enhancement Center of the College of Professional Studies.  Prior to her work at UW-Stevens Point, she was appointed to the State University Board of Regents and was a member of the UW System Board of Regents after the merger of all 26 campuses. She was also appointed to the Wisconsin Humanities Council, the Policy and Planning Committee of the Wisconsin Supreme Court and was the office manager for Governor Dreyfus’ office. Mary was a Girl Scout leader, a member and past president of the area Rotary Club, was the first woman to solely chair the United Way campaign, and also served on boards of the Children’s Museum and the Community Foundation of Portage County.  She is a graduate of UW-Madison and received her master’s degree from UW-Stevens Point.