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02/23/2010
Pleger Elected to Wisconsin Academy

The Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters recently announced the election of Tom Pleger, CEO/Dean of the University of Wisconsin-Baraboo/Sauk County, to its governing body, the Wisconsin Academy Council.

The Wisconsin Academy Council serves as board of directors for the statewide programs of the Wisconsin Academy, offering guidance and support for the Academy Evenings lecture series, the James Watrous Gallery, the Wisconsin Idea at the Wisconsin Academy, and the quarterly magazine of the Academy, "Wisconsin People & Ideas."

"I am honored to serve the Wisconsin Academy as a council member," Pleger said. "The Academy's mission mirrors that of UW-Baraboo/Sauk County and the UW System in promoting the Wisconsin Idea and access to lifelong learning."

Pleger has held his position at UW-BSC since 2007. He previously served as associate campus dean and associate professor of anthropology/archaeology at UW–Fox Valley in Menasha. He received a BA with honors in political science from UW–La Crosse, and earned his MA in anthropology and PhD in anthropology/archaeology from UW–Madison. His PhD and subsequent research has focused on the archaeology of the western Great Lakes region. Pleger received the 1999 UW–Fox Teacher of the Year Award and the 2000 Rotary Cutting Edge Award, as well as the Lapham Research medal from the Wisconsin Archaeological Society in 2001 for distinguished service in anthropological research. Pleger served as president of the Wisconsin Archaeological Survey in 2000–2001, and he has held appointments at UW–Madison, UW–La Crosse, UW–Marinette, UW–Fox Valley, and Lawrence University. Pleger has been a public lecturer for the Wisconsin Humanities Council Speakers Bureau since 1999 and is currently an Associate Professor of Anthropology/Archaeology in the UW Colleges and at UW-BSC.

In addition to Pleger, the Academy also welcomed new members Eric Englund, Reed Hall and William Malkasian.

"The diverse expertise of our Council members and their ability to bring visibility and support to the Wisconsin Academy have always been key to our success," said Wisconsin Academy Executive Director Margaret Lewis. "We are more than thrilled to have these four new Council members bring their bounty of talent in health care, nonprofit management, education, and the arts to our organization."

2010 Press Releases