WC Wisconsin News

At the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s College of Science & Health, leaders say community engagement remains a central focus. Interim Dean Gubbi Sudhakaran highlighted recent efforts to strengthen partnerships with both campus and local organizations.

“Over the past two years, we’ve invested in dedicated leadership to expand this commitment, and with my return as interim dean, I’m thrilled to collaborate with Associate Dean Whitney George and our campus and community partners to advance this work even further,” Sudhakaran said.

He pointed to several ongoing initiatives that aim to connect academic programs with regional needs. “This edition of CSH News offers just a glimpse into how our faculty, students, and staff are driving positive change — through innovative research, hands-on volunteerism and deep-rooted collaborations that strengthen the bonds between campus and community,” he stated.

Sudhakaran also mentioned plans for future collaboration. “Looking ahead, we are excited to bolster these efforts by working with UWL Alumni & Friends Foundation, the Office of Community Engagement and our newly formed CSH External Advisory Board. Signature programs such as Community Engaged Learning (CEL), the Dean’s Distinguished Fellowships (DDF) and the Graduate Research Fellows (GRF) continue to connect academic excellence with real-world impact. Whether through flexible, semester-long CEL projects or intensive 10-week DDF and GRF research experiences, our students are gaining the tools to make a difference — right here in the La Crosse region.”

He concluded by encouraging readers to learn more about these activities: “We invite you to explore the stories that follow and celebrate the powerful ways we are learning with and from our community.”