Covid Stories

Originally from a town of 1,200 people, and graduating with the same children she went to 4K with, Abbie Jerry, a small town girl from Shullsburg, Wisconsin came to UW-Oshkosh to get away and to try something different. Although it was a huge change for her, she wanted to get a college degree. It was a given from her parents that she should attend college, but they would be supportive either way. Abbie began her Oshkosh journey in 2017 and is expected to graduate May of 2022. She originally chose UWO because of her nursing major but after some different major switches, she found her final major, social work. Abbie was in her third year of college when COVID-19 hit in March of 2020. In her interview she reflects on what it was like to transition from in-person learning to the new reality of online learning and the challenges faced during quarantine as well as first hand experience of contacting the virus and her families and friends experiences. Spending her entire fourth year online, she discusses how she balanced her education with her work with special needs children and how work was now run during the time of COVID. Abbie gives insight on how it was physically returning back to campus in the Fall of 2021 and the new “normals” happening as well as what she thinks will be the new “normal”.

Adam Pulvermacher is a native of Sauk City, Wisconsin. He is a transfer student at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and is studying kinesiology. He transferred from Madison Area Technical College to UWO in the spring of 2020, right before the COVID-19 pandemic transpired. Adam takes us through his experiences before, during, and after the events of the COVID-19 pandemic. He takes us through his time between spring of 2020 and fall of 2021. Adam talks about his moving back home once COVID hit and navigating life during a pandemic. He talks about returning to campus and the changes that he went through.

Aggie Hanni is an Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (UWO). She grew up in Poland but moved to the United States at the age of 17. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Elmhurst College, a master’s degree in psychology from National Louis University, and a PhD in community psychology from National Louis University, and an educational specialist degree in higher education leadership from National Louis University. She started working at UWO 2019. Aggie discusses some of the challenges facing the university including enrollment and finances.

Alayne Peterson is an associate professor of English at University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Fond du Lac. She received her bachelor’s degree from Hiram College and her master's degree at the University of Toledo. She also got a master’s in writing at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She started working in the University of Wisconsin system in 2002. Alayne discusses the transition to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. She taught online for the Spring and Fall of 2020. She discusses the methods she used and her transition and learning as well as how her students handled the transition. Alayne was diagnosed with breast cancer in the Fall of 2020 and having the ability to teach online benefitted her and her students. She went back to teaching in person in the Fall of 2021. She also discusses her personal encounters with COVID-19.

Alex Hummel is the Chief of Staff in the Office of the Chancellor at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (UWO). A Wisconsin native, Alex earned his bachelor’s at University of Wisconsin Platteville in broadcasting. At the time of the interview, he was working on his Master of Public Administration at UWO. In 2011, began his career at UWO. Alex discusses the early meetings and preparation for the COVID-19 pandemic as well as reflecting on the way UWO handled it.

Alexandra Fischer graduated from UWO in the Spring of 2020 with a bachelor’s in communications. She grew up in a suburb right outside of Milwaukee. She comes from a blended family with her dad, stepmom, mom, two blood-related siblings, and three step siblings. She went to UWO before and during the pandemic and experienced the shutdown of campus. She was a commencement speaker for her graduating class which ended up being online. Alex now works at the Boys and Girls Club of Oshkosh as a grants coordinator. In the interview, Alex talks about her time at UWO pre-COVID and during COVID. She talks about her family and friends and how she was treated when she got COVID. As well as work, mental, and social obstacles during this time. Overall Alex tells a story of a daughter, friend, and student living in the time of COVID.

Allison Ruiz was born in Milwaukee, WI. Her family moved to Sussex, WI when she was one year old because her parents wanted their children to have a better education and better living situation in general. Her parents are both Mexican-born in Texas. In Sussex, WI it was a mostly white suburban neighborhood. Allison lived with her parents, her grandma, two brothers, her brother's boyfriend, and their child all in one house. During the Spring of 2020, Allison was a senior in high school about to graduate. Allison is the first in her family to go through a four-year college program. She decided to go to UWO since it was a good school and because it’s close enough to home for her to visit her family on weekends. She always wanted to be a teacher so she decided to major in Spanish education. Her first Semester at UWO was in the Fall of 2020 expecting her to graduate in 2024. During this time she had different types of classes including, online, in-person, and asynchronous. In the interview, Allison talks about the different struggles she went through with COVID during this time; her family's health and finances, online schooling, campus life, and maintaining a healthy social life during the pandemic. She also talks about her family and how close they have become because of the stay-at-home order and quarantine. She talks about her job and how she worked through the pandemic since she was considered an essential worker. Overall, Allison tells a story of a daughter/granddaughter/sister, student, and worker living in the time of COVID-19.

Amber Richter grew up in a small town, Lodi, WI and then came to Oshkosh to play on the women’s soccer team and graduate with an English major. Richter was able to experience college life before COVID occurred and she emphasized on what life is like during COVID. She has never second guessed her major and will be graduating next year. She has been on the women’s soccer team all four years but suffered injuries for the last three years. On top of her injuries, she was in a car accident that she shouldn’t have survived. The accident occurred during COVID and she's been slowly getting better since. Any type of accident mentally and physically drains people. Especially on top of COVID. With classes being online through COVID, she struggled. As an English major, reading and discussing with people is so important. She felt it was a lot harder to do that virtually rather than in person. Richter hopes things go back to normal but still feels nothing is truly back to the way it was before covid. Everyone views things differently and it’s overall, just a different world.

Andrew Leavitt, at the time of this recording, is the Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (UWO). He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona and his PhD from the University of Utah. He came to UWO in 2014. In this three-part interview, Andrew covers several parts of the university’s response to the COVID Pandemic including preparations, partners, finances, conflicts, and struggles.

Angela Hawley is a nurse practitioner and at the time of this interview was the interim director for the Student Health Center at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (UWO). A Wisconsin native, she attended Marquette University for nursing and went to UWO for her Master of Science in Nursing. She started working at UWO in 2015. Angela discusses how the COVID-19 Pandemic changed the way the Student Health Center functioned, especially with tele-visits, as well as how it impacted a medical professional’s home life.

Art Munin, at the time of this oral history, is the Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (UWO). He completed his undergraduate psychology degree at Eastern Illinois University, master’s in counseling at Loyola University, Chicago, master’s in multicultural communication at DePaul University, and PhD in higher education at Loyola University, Chicago. He joined UWO in 2019. Art discusses the early meetings and discussions the administration had regarding COVID-19 and how the University should handle it. He also reflects on the way the university handled the transitions, student and faculty technology transitions, and the changes that happened with reports in the Dean or Students office.

Ashley Klopatek is a sophomore at UW Oshkosh. She is going to get her degree in nursing. She currently works as a CNA and has worked at one since 2020. She lives in Minocqua WI. She comes from a family of 6. She was a senior in High school during the year of 2020 when covid was first hitting the US. During that time she worked as a CNA at a nursing home. The rest of her family worked from home and therefore she was the only one that would be leaving and coming back home and possibly transmitting the disease. She did not get a graduation ceremony due to covid. She missed out on most of her senior year.

Bailey Tabaka grew up in a small northern Wisconsin town called Wausau. She was getting her nursing degree here at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh in 2021 when this interview was conducted. Bailey in many ways has impacted not only her hometown community through her work but also the community here in Oshkosh. Bailey talks about her college experiences before and during COVID and how things have changed. She also highlights the struggles of being a healthcare worker during these trying times.

Brandon Kaiser is a 23 year old that grew up in Mount Calvary, Wisconsin. Brandon is studying exercise and sports science as his major. Brandon was not in school when the pandemic hit. Brandon was with his best friends in the Army when it all happened. A job fell through due to the pandemic as well. Brandon’s life was dramatically altered by the pandemic. His future was changed. Brandon came to UW Oshkosh to further his education and is excited to see that things are hopefully getting back to normal.

Brian Ledwell was born in Sandusky, Ohio home of the famous Cedar Point “Amazement Park”. He went to Margareta High school and from there, he attended the University of Toledo and finished his degrees at the University of Idaho. He graduated from the University of Idaho with an art degree in sculpture. And while he was there, he had to take some classes in computer stuff, which he got really good at. And so he started applying around to different jobs and Brian accepted an I.T job at UWO. In 2018, UWO switched from D2L “Desire to Learn” to Canvas. There was a fairly long, two-year long process of converting over from one to the other from decision making to actually having people get their hands in the system. Everyone on campus was moving into canvas, and everyone was feeling pretty good about it. And then in 2019 and 2020, then the madness of COVID-19 ensued. In the beginning of the pandemic, Brian was setting up his own life for his own comfort and efficiency. He had a set up in his house where he was able to stay home and work. He had his monitors, desk and a chair in his space along with good internet connections. Once he was set up, he was able to help others who needed his help. From March of 2020 through September of 2021, his workload was a lot to handle, and in that mean time he helped out hundreds of people on campus with Canvas related issues and topics. Many of the problems were minor fixes like changing up some settings within the website to bigger ones like how to upload videos for students to watch. He helped people in ways other than just online. He made himself a PVC document camera for his own space but soon after he made one for him, he needed to make 30 more for others to make their teaching easier.

Brianna Storino is from Grayslake, Ill. She is a junior majoring in geology. Right at the beginning of COVID, she was hit with mono and she had an immunocompromised mom, who has breast cancer, at home. She found taking courses online incredibly challenging and that her educational growth suffered a setback during the time of COVID.

Buzz Bares, at the time of the interview, is the Associate Dean of Students at University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (UWO). A Wisconsin native, she attended University of Wisconsin – River Falls for a bachelor’s degree in biology and University of Wisconsin – Platteville for her master’s in counselor education. She started her career at UWO in 1984 as a residence hall director. Buzz discusses the transition to work from home during the COVID-19 Pandemic and the change in caseloads for Student Care.

Byron Adams, at the time of this recording, is the Director of Student Achievement Services at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (UWO). He attended UWO to receive a bachelors in Radio, Television, and Film and a master’s in educational leadership. He began his career here in 2003. Byron discusses the challenges his department faced with helping students during the pandemic. He also discusses some of the problems students faced.

Chad Cotti, at the time of the interview, is a professor in the Department of Economics at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh. He received his bachelor’s degree in economics from UWO, his Master’s in Public Policy from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, La Follette School, and his doctorate in economics from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. He came back to UWO as a professor in 2008. Chad discusses his work with the Emergency Operation Committee (EOC) and his viewpoint of the pandemic as a health economist.

Che Martinson is an Accounting and IS double major student at UW Oshkosh graduating this fall of 2021. He started school in 2015, and joined the Marines Corp around that time. His services at the Marines Corp and being a full-time student was an interesting experience for him. Dabbling between the two made him feel like being pulled two opposite ways and felt he would’ve done better at school if it wasn’t for his services at the Marine Corp.

Christopher “Chris” Tarmann, at the time of the recording, is the Captain at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (UWO) Police Department. A Wisconsin native, he received an associates degree in criminal justice from Fox Valley Tech, a bachelor’s degree in Human Services Leadership at UWO, and a Public Manager’s Certificate for law enforcement. In 2018, he started as a full-time employee with UWO. Chris discusses the police departments involvement with emergency planning in regards to the COVID-19 pandemic. He also discusses the process of creating data with the app Wile Guardians Chris designed.

Collin Laffin is a junior majoring in biology. He is from Wausau, Wis. After he was sent home when the campus shut down in March of 2020, he worked at a factory. He credits his parents for pushing him to come back to school in the Fall of 2020.

Dr. Courtney Kurtz is from De Pere, Wisconsin and currently lives in Neenah with her two kids and husband. She earned her bachelor's degree in biology at UW-Stevens Point. She then worked at a zoo for a couple of years before then deciding to go on to graduate school at UW-Madison, which was then followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Virginia. Dr. Kurtz shared her experiences as an essential worker on campus during the time of COVID, describing some of them as frustrating, disquieting, and stressful. Dr. Kurtz also provides insight to her role on campus, treating and taking care of ground squirrels.

Crystal Buss started working at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh during the fall semester of 1999 as a student employee. As Crystal continues her education in earning her master's degree, she worked for 7 years in a full-time position at UW-Oshkosh as The Circulation Services Librarian from 2003-to 2010 and became The Head of Access Services in 2012. Crystal has now been affiliated with the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh for the past 23 years since 1999 and today works as the Head of Access Services of Polk Library where she oversees basically the circulation desk at UW Oshkosh. After many years of working at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, she saw changes such as major shifts from print resources to electronic, shifting from physical to digital stuff, and staffing. In this interview, Crystal shares her experiences during the time of COVID and how she had worked with her team as The Head of Service in the Polk Library to overcome, change, and adapt to the pandemic guidelines. Crystal also shares about the curbside pick-up service that was implemented starting in June of 2020 and ran through the rest of the summer until the campus reopened again in the fall. She took the curbside pick-up primarily by intercepting all the requests, pulling the materials, and arranging the scheduling for pick-up appointments. In 2018-2019, and putting up a typical pre-COVID year, Crystal shares that the circulation ranged from 23,000 to 24,000. To put that into the perspective for the last two years, 2020-2021, those numbers have dropped down to about 9,500 for both of those two years, which is a significant decrease. However, Crystal and her colleagues worked throughout the pandemic helping students and instructors with research alternative resources that they could access electronically.

Darryl Sims is the Assistant Chancellor for Athletics at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (UWO). He discusses the impact that the COVID Pandemic had on the athletics depart at UWO.

Druscilla Scribner grew up in Sacramento, California, in a community called Carmichael. She went and earned her undergraduate degree at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She then went to get her graduate degree at the London Schools of Economics in London, and another graduate degree for her PhD at the University of California San Diego. She only came to UW Oshkosh because it was on the job market, she worked here as the faculty senate and a professor in political science. In the interview, she discussed what classes were like when COVID-19 hit. From having the university shutting down and moving back home in March of 2020, to what it was like coming back to campus in fall of 2020 when the university was not back to normal pre- covid 19, to now Spring of 2022. Where we are almost 100% in-person and getting things back to normal. She explains her feelings and her new responsibilities during the time of COVID-19, as well as how she was working at home when there was the Stay-At-Home order in place and the public had to quarantine at home. Druscilla gave us an insight of what it was like when she contracted the virus, and how she and her family handled it being all at home together. Overall, Druscilla tells a story of teaching and working, and living in the time of COVID-19.

Dr. Dylan Chmura-Moore grew up in a small college town named Oberlin, Ohio which is about 30 minutes away from Cleveland. At the time of COVID, he lived with his wife and two small children. He and his family often went on walks to get out of the house and he and his wife were privileged enough to continue working throughout the pandemic. His duties have not changed pre and post COVID. He is still teaching in the Department of Music where he conducts the university symphony orchestra, teaches trombone lessons, and other courses throughout the year. He believes his students, like many others, have experienced great tragedy and great loss during the pandemic. Dr. Dylan Chmura-Moore was very proud of how his students adapted and overcame the struggles of making music safely during COVID. The Music Department relied on external studies from the Institute of John Hopkins School of Medicine and the dispersion of aerosols through instruments when they created safety protocols for student musicians.

Elizabeth Hartman, at the time of this recording, is the Executive Director for the office of Economic Development for University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (UWO). She also serves in the role of a lecturer for the College of Business. She received her political science undergraduate degree from UWO and went on to get her law school degree from UW Madison. Her career with UWO started in 2006. Elizabeth discusses her contribution to working groups responding to the pandemic, including the Recovery Task Force, Emergency Operations Committee (EOC), and Titans Return. She also discusses how her work in the Center for Customized Research and Services (CCRS) shifted during COVID-19 as well as teaching a large lecture hall online.

Ellison Nabi is a Sophomore at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (UWO). He is majoring in Biomolecular Science and Environmental Health. Ellison was born in South Korea and adopted and brought up in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. He describes what it was like to start college in the middle of a pandemic as a commuter student focusing on the sciences which required in person labs. He recalls moments from having Chancellor Andy Leavitt as his lab professor.

Ene Priscilla Idoko, a Nigerian native born in the capital city of Abuja, is majoring in economics with a minor African-American studies. Idoko first began to attend the University of Oshkosh in fall 2019 after her father visited Oshkosh the previous summer and liked what the University of Oshkosh provided for their students. In this interview Idoko talks about her experiences in the time Covid as an international student. Living far away from her family for most of the pandemic, Idoko lived with her friend in an apartment and continued to attend UWO. For the entire duration of the pandemic Idoko lived in Oshkosh, except for a trip to Nigeria in the winter interim of 2021. She continues to attend the university of Oshkosh and enjoys all the opportunities that it provides.

Erick Carranza is a graduate student studying microbiology at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh while working as an Assistant Residence Hall Director. He completed his undergraduate degree in criminal justice in May of 2021. Erick discusses his experiences of transiting to online learning as an undergraduate and continuing to graduate studies during the pandemic. He also talks about working in the residence halls with COVID-19.

Dr. Gabriel Loiacono was born in San Francisco, California in the 1980s where he spent most of his childhood. He thought he was destined to become a lawyer until he worked in a law firm throughout college at the University of California - Berkeley and realized that career was not for him. He loved learning and talking about history which led him down the path to get his PhD at Brandeis University. Dr. Loiacono continued his love for history by now teaching students about the subject at UW - Oshkosh. He had been teaching at UWO in-person before COVID closed the campus in March 2020. When the university went online, Dr. Gabriel Loiacono had to adjust to teaching remotely at his home. He did not have an at-home office so he had to make due by teaching in his living room. His wife and children were also at home during this time working and doing their own online school work. Dr. Gabriel Loiacono expressed how he felt that one of the mistakes he made during this remote learning period was not requiring his students to come to online classes. If he were to teach online again, he would make attendance mandatory.

Gloria Eddy, at the time of this recording, is a sophomore, anthropology major at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh. During the pandemic, she moved home. Gloria discusses some of the difficulties with quarantine and her own personal struggles during this time.

Heidi Hansen, at the time of this recording, is a lecturer instructional academic staff in the College of Nursing at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (UWO). She received her Bachelor of Science in Anthropology and Biology from UWO, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from UWO College of Nursing, and a Master of Science in Nursing with a focus in Public Health from Grand Canyon University. She came to work at UWO in 2016. Heidi discusses the shift nursing classes, especially clinicals had to take because of the pandemic.

Holly Baierl grew up in Luxemburg Wisconsin and attended Luxemburg-Casco Sr High School. Throughout high school Holly was very involved in sports and worked as CNA and in home caregiver. She first heard of the covid pandemic and started to take it seriously when there were cases presented in Madison, Wisconsin. This affected her greatly as the rest of her senior year of high school was moved to online learning. She also speaks on how her mental health was affected during this time. After graduating Holly planned on attending the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. She would be beginning her preseason of volleyball and was on her own for the first time. However, these plans were quickly changed due to covid. She would no longer experience a "normal" freshman year and would have to adapt to the new environment with many restrictions. On top of this she explains how she came in close contact with a roommate who had covid and her experience in the quarantine dorms. As Holly's freshman year ended and sophomore year started, campus began to return to a "normal" year pre-covid and the changes made campus more lively. Holly is still currently a sophomore and can't wait to see what the future holds at UWO and how future COVID outbreaks and pandemics are dealt with.

Jada Berg is a Green Bay native and a senior nursing student at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Jada shares her unique experiences during the time of COVID, not only from the point of view of your average student, but as well as a frontline healthcare professional. Jada talks about her time working in a residence center, as well as a health advocate on campus. She provides us with great detail her thoughts and emotions navigating this difficult time, as well as what she took away from her time in the pandemic. This interview covers the time from the beginning of the pandemic up until current time. In part 2 recorded on April 22, 2022, Jada provides updates and more details.

Jenna Graff, at the time of this recording, is the Director of the Office of International Education at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (UWO). She earned her bachelor’s degree in Spanish and her master’s degree in educational leadership both from UWO. Not long after graduating with her bachelor’s, she came back to work at UWO. Jenna discusses the initial concern the pandemic caused for international students and the ways the university handled all the legal, societal, and other changes COVID-19 brought forward.

Dr. Jennifer Schuttlefield Christus was born to two farmers in Southern Iowa. A first-generation student, Shuttlfield Christus earned her BS in Chemistry and BA in business at the University of Iowa. She also earned her doctorate at the University of Iowa. Schuttlefield Christus joined the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh in 2010 where she is an Associate Professor in Chemistry. She also serves as the Director of the IDEAS alliance. She is married with three young children. In the interview, Dr. Christus talks about how COVID affected her professional life and the struggles of teaching online. She also speaks on the hardships she faced in her personal life during COVID.

Jennifer Szydlik is a professor in the mathematics department at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (UWO). She received her bachelor’s degree from St. Cloud State University and her graduate degrees from UW – Madison. She started at UWO in 1995. Jennifer discusses the way she adapted her classes for continuing learning online, the way she understood students reactions to the pandemic, and the changes and discussions of the Faculty Senate.

John Koker, at the time of this recording, is the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh. He received his undergraduate degree in mathematics at St. Norbert College, his master’s degree in mathematics from Purdue University, his PhD in mathematics from University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. The Wisconsin native started his career with UWO in 1991 as a mathematics professor. He became Provost and Vice Chancellor in 2018. John discusses some of the scenarios and discussions that happened preparing for and sustaining the university during the pandemic.

Jordan grew up in the small town of Peshtigo Wisconsin with her mother, father and little brother. Her mom and dad have always worked in the medical field so it was a given to go to college and pursue a nursing career. When first arriving in Oshkosh Jordan struggled with keeping up her responsibilities and knowing her priorities. Once COVID came around she was sent home and her mom helped her to her wake up call to better herself. During her time at home Jordan worked at a nursing home where she worked with COVID patients first hand. She describes how this was a very difficult time for her and she was missing her friends at school. However, it was during this time at home Jordan found herself again and was eating healthy, coping with stress and setting her priorities straight. Once returning to school Jordan struggled to be social as many people didn’t return to campus. Come fall 2021 Jordan is in the nursing program, a sorority and is loving that classes are back in person. She is finding it easier to be social and is ready to see what the future holds.

Jordyn Raba grew up in a large city near Milwaukee and went to high school West Allis. She decided that UWO was a good fit for her because of the distance from home and the layout of the campus. She is a Finance and Business Management major currently in her junior year of college. She is a social person once you get to know her and is always ahead of her schoolwork. Luckily during COVID and online classes she has not had any setbacks or issues with staying on track to graduate in the May of 2023.

Juliana Kahrs, at the time of this recording, is the assistant director of Health Promotion at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (UWO). She received her undergraduate degree in Sport Science and Spanish from Denison University and master’s degree in health promotion from Miami University. She started her career with UWO in 2015. Juliana discusses the way her position transitioned online and implementing plans with the Emergency Operation Committee (EOC) including contact tracing and disease investigation.

Karina Hansen is a 20-year-old here at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. She majors in social work. She is from Ontario, Wisconsin, a small community with approximately 500 people. When classes were moving from in person to online, Karina didn’t mind it at all but she favored the classes to be in person because it enabled her to make friends and as well to get to know the professors.

Kennedy Rud was a nursing student from Batavia, Illinois who arrived at UW-Oshkosh in the fall of 2020 after graduating high school in spring of 2020. Shortly after arriving to the campus for her freshman year, Kennedy was isolated in quarantine dorms for 10 days and she describes her experience there. She also describes her experience taking care of her grandmother who was recovering from COVID the summer between high school and college. Kennedy has learned and grown through her experiences and will take that into nursing school here at UWO.

Mackenzie Wolf grew up in Menominee falls and started attending College at UW Stevens Point and then transferred to UW Oshkosh in the spring of 2020 majoring in Radio TV Film. While living in the dorms during COVID she struggled to form new connections and relationships in those circumstances but still put in an effort to be involved in clubs and organizations related to her major such as working at Titan TV and the WRST radio station on Campus. In this interview Kenzie discusses the difficulties of living on campus during COVID and the transition back and forth from both online learning and transitioning from living at school to returning home again. She also shares the difficulties of being able to interact with other students in classes and form new friendships.

Kimberly Langolf, at the time of this recording, is the Interim Chief of Staff in the Division of University Affairs and the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (UWO). A Wisconsin native, she received her associate’s degree from University of Wisconsin – Manitowoc, bachelor’s degree in biology from UWO, and master’s degree in microbiology from UWO. After graduating from UWO, she worked at the Environmental Research and Innovation Center on campus. Kimberly discusses the changes her position saw with the pandemic and her work with the Emergency Operations Committee (EOC).

Kimberly Rivers, at the time of this recording, is the Interim Dean of the College of Letters and Science at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (UWO). She received her bachelor’s from Earlham College, master’s and PhD in Medieval Studies from the University of Toronto, and a medieval studies license from the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies. She joined UWO in 1995. Kimberly discusses shifting classes to online, her perceptions of faculty and students reactions, her work with the Recovery Taskforce on developing plans and proposals for financial obstacles and alternative instruction methods.

Kory Helm grew up in a small town in central Wisconsin who is a junior studying finance at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in 2021. He discusses his experience with COVID-19 as he was a freshman enrolled at Oshkosh when the pandemic came into effect in early 2020 from his experience as a student, to his experience as a laborer and a member of the Army reserves.

Kurt Leibold, at the time of this recording, is the Chief of Police at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (UWO). A Wisconsin native, he attended the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee to major in criminal justice. He started at UWO in 2016. Kurt discusses the development of the Emergency Operations Committee and the changes it went through for the pandemic, as well as his implementation on the Recovery Task Force and having a variety of personalities working together for the university.

Lauren Karnitz, at the time of this recording, is the Women’s Gymnastics Coach at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (UWO). She attended UWO for gymnastics and majored in history with an English minor. It was not long after her graduation that she returned to UWO to coach the Women’s Gymnastic team. Later, she earned a Master of Professional Counseling from UWO. Lauren discusses guiding an athletic team through a pandemic as well as working on a taskforce.

Laurence Carlin is the Dean of the Honors College ath the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (UWO). He received his undergraduate degree at Franklin and Marshall College, his master’s degree in philosophy at the University of Houston, and his PhD in philosophy at Rice University. He began working at UWO in 2000. Laurence discusses challenges of moving the honors program online and the experience of starting study abroad programs up after the pandemic.

Lauryn Berg, a native of Oshkosh, WI, continued her studies in Radio TV Film as a sophomore at UW Oshkosh in 2021 after she graduated high school in 2019. Berg decided to stay home and take a gap year in order to work and save up money for college, continuing to work throughout the COVID-19 pandemic at a restaurant located in Oshkosh. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Berg started her college education in Fall 2020 having a mixture of both online and in-person classes. She discusses how her life during the pandemic did not change much due to having limited social interaction before because of her decision to take a gap year and live at home during the Fall 2020 school semester. Berg describes the precautions at her job and school that she had to take, such as wearing masks and social distancing. She discusses how COVID-19 impacted her own family with having members contracting the virus, and the way that her mindset on personal health has changed. She hopes that people will be more cautious around strangers and that the world will return back to "normal" soon.

Leah Matthews was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin, but grew up in a city named Bauru in São Paulo, a state inside of Brazil. She grew up in a family where women were not expected to obtain an education but rather to take on a motherly role and caregiver status. After a while, she decided that a caregiver would not be enough for her and she wanted to receive a higher education. Since she had family in Wisconsin, she decided to come to The United States to begin her education career. She began her UW-Oshkosh journey in 2019 and is expected to graduate in 2023. After coming to The United States to receive an education, she quickly began to find work and take on a couple of jobs. During March of 2020, Leah was only in her first year of college when COVID-19 hit. In the interview, she discusses what college was like in the time of COVID-19 from having the university and everything else shut down and have everything moved online in March of 2020, to what summer was like, to coming back to campus in Fall of 2020 when the university is not back to normal pre-COVID-19, to now Fall of 2021 where we are 95% in-person and getting things more back to normal. She explains her emotions and feelings during the time of COVID-19 as well as how she was able to spend her time especially when there was a Stay-At-Home order in place and the public was forced to quarantine in their homes. Leah also gives insight on her perspective of what is like to contact the virus as well as how she handled it all together. Overall, Leah tells the story of a student, worker, and daughter/sister living in the time of COVID-19.

Lindsay Thaves, from Sheboygan, WI, came to Oshkosh to pursue a music degree. She is currently a senior here at UW Oshkosh and was a junior when covid first came around. She is thankful she got to experience college before covid occurred. Thaves went from having all in person classes in the music major to learning how to do it online. When everyone was sent home due to covid, Thaves packed a few weeks worth of clothes figuring it wouldn’t be that long of a break. She struggled mentally throughout the pandemic and also physically as she is at high risk. She was able to work at her hometown pizza store during the break she had in spring of 2020. She took precautions and followed protocols but struggled with accepting that she wasn’t able to see her friends a lot and that she had to take classes online. She believes the school did a good job of transitioning to online classes because truly, no one was prepared. Thaves thinks things will go back to normal eventually but some things never may change.

Liz Christopher is an IT Lead at UW Oshkosh. Liz is from Hartford, WI, coming to UW-Oshkosh in 2009 and majoring in Fine Arts. As a student, Liz worked at the student help desk until graduation. When a position opened up at the technology center at UWO, Liz returned in October of 2014 and worked her way to the position she occupies now. Before COVID, Liz worked in the device support area of IT, interacting with students and staff in assisting them with their office areas and Personal Computers. During COVID, Liz was furloughed and worked with other furloughed, the Emergency Operations Committee, and Chief of Technology staff members to communicate and coordinate system-wide changes and announcements to all university students and staff. Majority of student staff members were able to keep employment, and other IT staff were able to work from home. A year into COVID, Liz Christopher marries her fiance and they now live together in Neenah, WI.

Lori Welch, at the time of the recording, is the Environmental Health and Safety Manager at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (UWO). She graduated from UWO with a bachelor’s degree in Social Work. In 2017, she came back as a staff member. Lori discusses her work with the Emergency Operations Committee (EOC) and the Implementation Team.

Lydia Crow was born in Elkhart, Wisconsin and then grew up in Libertyville, Illinois when she later decided to come back to Wisconsin to attend UW Oshkosh in the Fall of 2020 Majoring in Kinesiology and Exercise and Sports Science. Ever since she was young Lydia always had a love of Basketball and knew that she wanted to continue to pursue her sports career as well as her education through college. In college Lydia lived on Campus in the Dorms while participating in Basketball throughout the global pandemic and in this interview she shares the struggles that she faced while being on campus and the impact that it had on different aspects of her life. Lydia reflects on the difficulties of playing Basketball while also taking extra precautions with friends and teammates because of the risk that she might bring COVID back to her mother who is immunocompromised. Lydia explains the different types of ways she overcame and dealt with new struggles during her first year of college and gives an explanation of the process of being tested during COVID and her feelings about how the pandemic was being dealt with both at school and in the United States.

Madalyn Cook is a native of Port Washington, Wisconsin, a town located most notably near Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Madalyn is 22 years old and is a senior studying nursing at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Madalyn was a sophomore living in Fletcher Hall at UW Oshkosh. In this recording, Madalyn takes us through her own personal journey before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Madalyn describes the difficulty of having to up and leave college in the middle of the Spring 2020 semester, how living at home affected her, and her return to UW Oshkosh in a COVID riddled world as a junior in the Fall of 2020.

Malissa Bonlender, at the time of this recording, is the executive assistant in the Office of the Chancellor. She came to work at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh in 2001. Malissa discusses her workload during COVID including working on the COVID Hotline to answer community questions.

Marc Nylen, at the time of the recording, is the Associate Director of Residence Life and Director of Conference Services at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (UWO). A Wisconsinite, he went to UWO for his bachelor’s degree in Spanish and international studies and his master’s degree in counselor education. Marc discusses how housing changed on campus during the pandemic as well as modifications for quarantine and then getting back to “normal” for students and large events on campus.

Mark Clements, at the time of this interview, is the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (UWO). He received his undergraduate degree in computer science from University of Wisconsin – Platteville and a Master of Business Administration from Western Governors University. He joined UWO in 2011. Mark discusses the challenges technology presented during the COVID pandemic and the way his team worked to combat them.

Martin Rudd, at the time of this interview, is the Assistant Chancellor for Access Campuses at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh. He grew up in England and received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and PhD in organic chemistry from the University of Warwick in Coventry. He started in the University of Wisconsin System in 2002 and moved to the Fox Cities campus in 2003. Martin discusses the shift access campuses went through during the pandemic, especially with several international students on the Fox Cities campus.

Matt Lewis is the head men’s basketball coach at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (UWO). He received his bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and master’s degree Bethel University. Matt discusses the struggles of developing a strong team as well as recruiting for basketball and the university during the COVID Pandemic.

Michael Taylor grew up in Knoxville Tennessee and is currently studying communications at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Michael Taylor is currently 31 years old. He joined the army at the age of 18 in 2009 and served for 9 years while participating in one tour to Afghanistan and the Gatlinburg Tennessee fire search and rescue. He was honorably discharged from the military and got into the trades. Working in construction and as an electrician until moving to Wisconsin after meeting his fiance while in town filming a ghost hunting show. Michael was one of the first confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. when he contracted it in January 2020. He spent a week in the hospital battling the disease and lost 45 pounds. After recovering Michael decided to use his military benefits to pursue higher education at the same school his fiance graduated from. Michael started school in 2020 at UWO. School has not always been easy for Michael since he was born dyslexic. Michael has studied hard and is on track to graduate in 2022.

Michelle Bogden Muetzel, at the time of the recording, is the Risk Manager for the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (UWO). A Wisconsin native, she attended UWO for a bachelor’s degree in environmental policy and advocacy. Not long after graduating, she returned to UWO as an employee. Michelle discusses her part in collecting and managing data of the pandemic and how it affected the University. She also discusses the preparations and precautions made for staff, faculty, and students returning to campus.

Michelle Miller grew up and lives in Neenah, WI, and is currently a commuting college sophomore studying psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Miller discusses how her final days of high school were brought to a halt due to the COVID-19 outbreak of 2020, and how the pandemic affected the lives of herself and her family members, both positively and negatively. Miller and her parents are immunocompromised, so she talks about safety precautions the family took during the pandemic. Miller surprisingly had a positive outlook towards the 2020 quarantine, as she is an introverted person and enjoyed the time in isolation. Her start at UWO during the pandemic gave her little to no trouble at all, despite taking a complicated Spanish course in the fall. Miller has recently picked up a job at the local food pantry, and she expresses a great fondness for her workplace. She eventually developed COVID despite being vaccinated in the fall of 2021, and she goes into detail about the first symptoms, how she recovered from the virus, and the long-lasting toll the virus has taken on her body. Miller hopes that following the COVID-19 outbreak, people will take sickness more seriously and stay home when feeling ill, rather than going to school or work and possibly passing any illness to someone else.

Michelle Munns is the Veteran Benefit Coordinator in the Veteran Resource Center at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (UWO). After moving around a lot during her childhood, Michelle got to Oshkosh and never left. At UWO, she received her bachelors in business administration and while working for UWO she received her master’s in educational leadership. Michelle discusses the impact of contracting COVID early on and creating a virtual presence for the Veteran Resource Center.

Mike Lueder, at the time of the interview, is the Interim Director for the Center for Civic and Community Engagement at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (UWO). A Wisconsin native, he attended St. Norbert College for a bachelor’s degree in communications and Marquette University for a master’s degree in education. He started working at UWO in 2008. Mike discusses adjusting community-based programs and his work with the University during the COVID pandemic including working on the COVID Compliance Committee.

Mira LaCrosse is a 21 year old from Waupun, Wisconsin. She was a first generation college student and a college freshman at UW-Oshkosh at the Fond du Lac campus when COVID-19 hit in spring of 2020. Despite the obstacles, Mira was able to earn her associate degree from UWO’s Fond du Lac Campus in the spring of 2021 and is now continuing her education at the Oshkosh campus in fall of 2021. She discusses her experiences with online learning, working virtually, and living during a global pandemic.

Missy Burgess, at the time of this interview, is the Associate Director for Student Involvement in Reeve Union at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (UWO). She received her bachelor’s in chemistry from Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville, master’s in student counseling and personnel services from Kansas State University, and PhD in educational leadership from the University of North Dakota. She joined UWO during the 2013-2014 school year. Missy discusses the transitions events, student involvement, and activities went through during the pandemic. She also provides perspective from a person with a compromised immune system.

Nathan Scott is the Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Campus Life at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (UWO). He received his bachelor's in sport and leisure studies and master's degree in Sport and Exercise management from Ohio State University. He started with UWO in 2016. Nathan discusses his work with the Emergency operations Committee (EOC) and his work-life balance shift due to working from home with his kids doing remote schooling.

Nick Hanke grew up in Waukesha, Wisconsin who is a Junior in Marketing at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in 2021 and was a Freshman going into his second semester when COVID first hit in March 2020. Nick talks about his experience with COVID such as, online schooling, being an essential worker, and his experience contracting the virus.

Nikki Arneson is a fifth-year senior here at UWO from Mount Horeb, Wisconsin. She is on the women’s basketball team, while also majoring in nursing. In March of 2020, the women’s basketball team’s run in the National Tournament was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic canceling their season. Arneson describes her feelings following the announcement of the cancellation and the following events that had taken place when the team returned to campus. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Arneson worked out every day and continued her studies in nursing. She also worked as a CNA at an assisted living facility since she is an essential worker and wanted to help the community during the pandemic. Arneson described what it was like to come back to campus during the fall of 2020 and the different precautions taken in the classroom and on the basketball court. Arneson talks about how UWO is finally starting to get back to normal and is excited for her final year playing basketball on the team.

Nikki Censky grew up in Germantown WI, and is studying business at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh in 2021. She was a member of the university's volleyball team her freshman year at Oshkosh before she quit due to personal reasons. She discusses her COVID-19 experiences from when she was a Senior in high school throughout her Sophomore year of college. She speaks about the four times she contracted COVID-19, her time in isolation and how that changed her perspective on life and the way she lives. However, lastly she discusses what she thinks future generations will think happened during the time of this pandemic.

Pam Massey, at the time of this interview, is a professor in the Health Education and Human Kinetics department at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (UWO) as well as the campus administrator for the Fox Cities campus. She attended UWO for a bachelor’s degree in physical education and health and an online program through the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse for a master’s degree in sports administration. She started on the Fond du Lac campus in 1997. Pam discusses her work on the access campuses as a professor and administrator and the challenges they faced on the access campus during the pandemic.

(Jon) Patrick Flood was born in Mansfield, Ohio and moved to Fond du Lac during his early teenage years. Pat Flood has been in the journalism industry for over fifteen years. Meeting and working with unique individuals to tell their stories through pictures and articles. While working in journalism, he had met a colleague who persuaded him to come work for the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. His job at the university entailed working with people in the marketing department. Focusing on specific events to photograph to influence students to come to Oshkosh for their college education. Throughout the pandemic, Flood had decided to voluntarily go on furlough. Being furloughed throughout the duration of the pandemic was not the first time he had experienced this time off. While working in journalism, he had gone through time off like this, but that would only last about one to two weeks, not months at a time. In August of 2020, Flood returned to campus trying to decipher what would be the new norm. As a photographer, Flood was documenting history. Flood was assigned to promote the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh campus, and the protocols that were put into place in order to prevent students from contracting COVID.

Patrick Vander Zanden, at the time of the recording, is the Coordinator of Initiatives Assessment and Special Programs in the Department of Residence Life at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (UWO). He attended the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee for a bachelor’s in Broad Field Social Studies Education and later obtained a master’s degree in educational leadership from UWO and a continuing studies certificate in project management from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. He joined UWO as a staff member in 2008. Patrick discusses the shift the residence life department went through during the pandemic, what he felt being furloughed and coming back to a university with a whole new plan to bring students back to campus, and how daily work turned into problem solving.

Peggy Breister, at the time of this interview, is the Chief Communications Officer for the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (UWO). She received her bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities campus. She joined UWO in 2015. Peggy discusses how her work increased during the pandemic and the way the marketing department at UWO shifted to meet the need for pandemic-related communications.

Piper Green is a student at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (UWO) with a planned graduation year of 2024. She is majoring in Criminal Justice and plays soccer. Piper discusses how the cancelled soccer season gave her time to recover from an injury and slowly adjust to college life.

Rabekah Yang, at the time of the interview, was in her third year as a student of the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (UWO). She started as a nursing major but switched to information systems. In this two part interview, Rabekah discusses how the pandemic affected her long-term career goals as well as her education.

Ron Rindo is an English professor at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (UWO). He received his bachelor’s degree from Carrol University and his PhD from University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. He came to UWO in 1992. Ron discusses the struggles with online learning and overcoming them.

Sara Hagedorn, at the time of this interview, is the lab manager and training coordinator for the Animal Care and Use Program at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (UWO). She received her associates degree from the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (UWO), Fond du Lac Campus, her bachelor’s degree in biology from UWO, and her master’s degree in conservation biology from University of Wisconsin – Stout. She joined the UWO staff in 2016. Sara discusses being an essential worker during the pandemic to care for the animals on campus.

Sarah Bradway grew up in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, which is right on Lake Michigan, about an hour and 15 minutes east of Oshkosh. At the time of COVID, she lived with her husband and 2 daughters about six miles west of Oshkosh. They were able to walk around their property and work outside because they live out in the country. Her duties have not changed pre and post COVID. She is still an instructional designer here at UWO where during COVID, she helped instructors move their classes online. She believes everyone’s lives have been changed from the pandemic and is very pleased to know she helped as many people as she did to make COVID a little less stressful.

Shahaque Rahim is an international student from Karachi, Pakistan. He is a senior majoring in accounting and information systems. Right when the campus shut down in mid-March of 2020, Rahim was able to shelter in place with his sister in Georgia, along with his parents who had been visiting from Pakistan for a week. As a student employee, he helped the University’s Information Technology department assist instructors who had to flip their courses to an online mode.

Stephanie Spehar is from Southern California and is currently a director for our sustainability institute for regional transformations here at UW Oshkosh. She earned her Undergraduate Degree at Southern California University of Los Angeles, and anthropology. And then got her PhD from New York University. Also in anthropology. After she graduated, she found a job here at UWO and joined the staff in 2007. She is a current board member of the SIRT institute and also an Anthropology professor. Spehar has had a very successful career here at UWO and is She is also a mother of two little children that she had to care for during the time of covid. She talks about how COVID affected her personal life and also her career.

Summer Ruff was born in China and was adopted by a family in the United States. Summer was raised in Bloomer, WI, and is currently in her sophomore year studying software technology at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Ruff examines how her last months of high school were cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic that hit the nation in 2020, and how the shutdown affected her schooling, home life, and future college plans. Initially, the first few months of quarantine helped Ruff explore her more artistic side, as she began painting different objects throughout the house for her mother. Along with this, Ruff notes that the pandemic surprisingly had a positive impact on her character, giving her motivation to become a more social person rather than a reserved introvert. As for her time at UWO, Ruff had a seemingly normal experience during the 2020-2021 school year in terms of social interactions and juggling classes. She discusses the jobs she had before and during the pandemic, the most recent of which is on campus. Ruff details her own experiences with COVID, within herself, her roommate, and her family unit, and how she hopes future generations will learn to be healthier and safer following this historical occurrence.

Taycee Zach, born in Riverside California and raised in Montello Wisconsin, is majoring in multimedia journalism and minoring radio-TV film. Zach first started to attend the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh in 2020 due to having family in Oshkosh and the easy drive back to her hometown. Taycee Zach talks about her experiences during the coronavirus pandemic from when it first started in March of 2020 until the day of the interview (November 2021.) As an essential worker during the beginning of the pandemic she goes into detail about her job at Walmart and working with the public. She first explains how the pandemic affected the end of her senior year of high school and her graduation experience and then goes on to expound upon her first semester of college in the fall of 2020. Taycee Zach continues to attend the University of Oshkosh and enjoys all of the opportunities that UWO offers.

Teysha Bowser was born in Bryan Texas where she grew up and still has most of her family living today. Teysha Bowser furthered her education by earning her bachelor's degree in psychology with minors in Africana Studies and neuroscience. Following the earning of this degree she got her masters degree Clinical Mental Health Counseling at New Mexico State University. Finally earning her doctorate, at the University of Nevada, Reno, in counselor education and supervision. Bowser finished her schooling in August of 2020 where she got her position at University of Oshkosh. Upon getting the job she decided to take a course release making her the professor in two classes. Throughout the school year she had faced adversity and her own unique challenges. In the transcript there are glimpses into all things that COVID played a role in, pertaining to her life.

Tom Cermak is a 20 year old who grew up in Palatine, Illinois and is studying criminal justice here at UWO. He is currently in his sophomore year. He spent his whole life playing baseball and went to UWO to be on the baseball team. Tom was a freshman when COVID hit and his freshman year ended abruptly when everyone had to get sent home. Tom actually thrived in the online school environment but struggled with the isolation of quarantine. His grandmother died suddenly soon after receiving the COVID vaccine and that affected Tom a lot. After years of practice and training Tom made the hard decision to quit the baseball team and focus on his studies. The decision was incredibly hard for himself and his family who were his biggest fans. Tom is excited for things to get back to normal and to experience a normal college experience.

Trevor Clementi is the Digital Marketing Director at UW Oshkosh. He was born in Madison, Wisconsin, but raised in Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin. He went back to Madison for his undergrad and graduated with a communication arts degree. He went back to live with his parents until he was offered a position as a social media specialist at UWO. That is where his journey began. Trevor explored several different jobs; this was not his initial plan. He began to manage the social media account, to manage the overall web strategy. He first started at UWO in September 0f 2016, and he now manages a very small team of 1 person where they split their work between social media and web. Basically, Trevor Clementi is in charge of social media related to UWO, and our websites. When COVID hit in March of 2020, Trevor took charge and made an entire web page about the latest covid updates, and the data of positive tested students and staff, and so much more. Trevor was the messenger for those UWO related individuals interested in whether or not COVID on campus was improving or worsening.

Vicki Stadler, at the time of the interview, is the Custodial Services Supervisor for Residence Life at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (UWO). She joined the staff at UWO in 2001. Mandy Olesen is the Custodial Services Supervisor for Academics at UWO. She joined the staff in 2012. They discuss how the COVID pandemic impacted custodial services and the way their work changed as they became essential employees.

Wade Peitersen, at the time of this interview, is the Director of Sports Medicine at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (UWO). He received his bachelor’s degree in physical education from UWO and his graduate degree in sports medicine from Western Michigan University. He began working at UWO in 1999. Wade discusses how the pandemic impacted sports at UWO.

Zoe Malone is a native of Upper St. Claire, a small town located near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Zoe is currently 20 years old and is a sophomore studying nursing at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. When the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, Zoe was a senior in the waning months of her high school career. In this recording, Zoe takes us through her own personal journey before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Zoe describes how having to forfeit many aspects of the would-be concluding months of her senior year affected her, and the difficulties of moving across the country and beginning college in the middle of a pandemic.