Sandra Barnidge is the Editor of the Wisconsin People & Ideas magazine. She’s a longtime freelancer for On Wisconsin magazine and other nonprofits, and her speciality is crafting thoughtful bios of scientists, entrepreneurs, artists, and change makers. Originally from Beloit, Wisconsin, she holds a B.A. and M.A. in journalism and mass communication from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Madison is the External Relations Coordinator for the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters. She joined the Academy in the fall of 2022. Madison graduated from the University Wisconsin – Madison in May 2022 with a BS in Community & Nonprofit Leadership and a Certificate in Sustainability. Throughout her nonprofit experience, Madison has been focused on building welcoming, diverse, and equitable communities.
Jody Clowes is the director of the Academy's James Watrous Gallery and arts editor for Wisconsin People & Ideas magazine. Her experience developing and curating exhibits, designing public programs, and writing about art includes senior positions at Milwaukee Art Museum, Detroit's Pewabic Pottery, and the UW-Madison's Design Gallery.
Lizzie is the Director of Science and Climate Programs at the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, & Letters. Lizzie grew up in the Chicago suburbs and received her degree in biology from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She then completed her master’s degree at University of Minnesota. She has a strong background in ornithological field studies and her master’s project focused on diversity and abundance of Neotropical migrant songbirds at urban stopover sites.
Jennifer Graham is the Exhibitions and Outreach Coordinator at the Academy's James Watrous Gallery. Graham has a B.A. in Anthropology and a M.A. in Library and Information Studies with a certification in Archives and Records Management from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Faris is the Database and Analytics Intern for the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters. Hailing all the way from Malaysia, he successfully secured a full-ride scholarship in 2021 to study in the United States. Currently, Faris is a rising senior at UW-Madison, majoring in Data Science, Statistics, and Economics. Despite the constantly demanding course load, he still manages to strike a balance between academic excellence and out-of-classroom involvements.
Megan is the Climate and Energy Program Coordinator for the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters. Born and raised in Virginia, Megan graduated from James Madison University with a degree in Geographic Science, before moving to Madison and earning her master’s in Environmental Conservation at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Previously, Megan worked as a GIS analyst, and as an Outreach Specialist for sustainable and equitable transportation policy.
Meghan McGinley is the Development Intern for the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters. She is originally from Minneapolis, but has since moved to Madison to pursue her education. She is currently a senior majoring in Psychology and Sociology with a certificate in Global Health. Her variety of academic and personal interests include the arts, sciences, and non profit management.
Erika Monroe-Kane is the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters. At the Wisconsin Academy, she leads efforts to connect people and ideas through art, science, and culture, fostering civil discourse and creative exploration across the state.
Matt Rezin is the Operations Manager for Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters, he's been with the academy since 2016. Matt uses his varied experience in nonprofit administration to provide technical and logistics support across the organization.
Zack is the Director of Development at the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters and brings 30 years of development, corporate relations and networking experience to the role. While Zack was born in Washington, DC, and met his wife Laila there, he grew up in New England and received his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Bates College and Master’s degree in Management from the University of Maryland.
Julie Steinert is the Administrative Assistant for the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters. She worked in events and marketing in Dallas for 3 years before moving to Wisconsin in 2016. Since moving, Julie has worked as a data specialist for a variety of mapping companies and as a barista at a local yarn and coffee shop. She graduated from Mississippi State University in 2013 with her B. A. in Anthropology.
Yong Cheng Yang (Yong Cha) is the primary Visitor Services Associate for the James Watrous Gallery. She is currently attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison, majoring in Kinesiology. She is fluent in Hmong and English. You can find her at the gallery desk on most Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
Wisconsin Academy Offices
1922 University Avenue
Madison, Wisconsin 53726
Phone: 608.733.6633
James Watrous Gallery
3rd Floor, Overture Center for the Arts
201 State Street
Madison, WI 53703
Phone: 608.733.6633 x25
