Noncredit Programming
Silvana Benzoni
Spanish Instructor
Julie Dahl
Executive Program Development Manager
Julie M. Dahl (PhD, UW-Madison) has over 30 years of experience teaching languages and intercultural skills. She has lived and worked in Spain and Portugal and travelled extensively in Latin America. She has directed the Language program for the Division of Continuing Studies since 2013 and is the author of the Logros Spanish curriculum (used for Spanish 1-4). She designed the Online Business Spanish Certificate and frequently teaches workshops on Intercultural Communication.
Michelle Galarowicz
Certified Professional Coach Program Specialist
Michelle works as the program coordinator for the UW–Madison Certified Professional Coach Program. She became a program coordinator for the Division of Continuing Studies in the summer of 2019. Prior to joining the division, she worked for the Madison Metropolitan School District in both teaching and administrative roles. Professionally she enjoys curriculum development and content management and is committed to advocating for learners and their experience in both traditional classrooms and virtual learning environments. She believes the strength of any educational experience lies in differentiated teaching strategies which meet the needs of diverse learners; and an organized, student-focused system that is inclusive of all students and their unique talents. Michelle resides in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, where outside of work she loves spending time with her husband and children, reading, gardening, horseback riding and swimming. She is happiest when it is hot outside and she can spend hours at a pool or beach in the sun. Additionally, she loves baking and is always up for exploring new recipes that lead to any sort of sweet treat.
Ann Geocaris
Assistant Director for Integration
Ann Geocaris (JBA, UW-Madison) is the Program Coordinator for the Leadership, Management & Workplace Skills area director. She served in a number of marketing, customer service and meeting planning roles prior to coming to DCS. Ann enjoys reading, art, cooking & baking, and exercising.
Sage Goellner
Associate professor of French and continuing education
Sage Goellner (PhD, UW-Madison) is an associate professor of French and Continuing Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Patricia Gutierrez
Continuing Education Program Instructor
Pat Gutierrez has a MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Mount Mary University and holds credentials of License Professional Counselor, Clinical Substance Abuse Counselor and Independent Clinical Supervisor with the State of Wisconsin and a Substance Abuse Professional with the Federal Department of Transportation. Ms. Gutierrez has 25 years of experience as a substance abuse counselor working with a variety of different clients ranging from children starting at the age of 12 to adults. Ms. Gutierrez has worked in many different treatment modalities throughout the years, building programs and developing programs. Ms. Gutierrez has worked at IMPACT since 2007 and is the Director of IMPACT's Substance Use Disorder Services, providing oversight, supervision and leadership to one of Milwaukee County's Access Point and Milwaukee County Intoxicated Drivers Program.
Jamie Henke
Distinguished Teaching Professor
Jamie Henke (PhD, UW–Madison) is a Distinguished Faculty Associate and has received the UW–Madison Chancellor's Hilldale Teaching Award, the Alliant Energy Underkofler Award, and the Bartell Award in the Arts. She teaches online theory and composition courses for Continuing Studies, is the coordinator of the independent learning program in music, and directs and teaches the Literally Arts program for Odyssey Junior. She also teaches music theory for non-majors at the School of Music.
Katie Holt
Learning Experience Coordinator
Laura Kahl
Learning Experience Coordinator
Laura Kahl works with noncredit programming and the Distance Teaching & Conference.
Ashley Kuehl
Administrative Manager
Ashley Kuehl (MS) is a Learning Experience Supervisor and collaborates on Behavioral Health professional development courses. In the past she has worked with membership-based organizations and cooperative business structures. Her graduate work is in the field of geographic information systems and cartography from UW-Madison. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors and creating maps.
Emily Laflash
Learning Experience Coordinator
Emily LaFlash: (MA, University of Iowa) has taught Spanish language courses to adult learners and at the K-12 level for close to a decade. Her goal is to empower students to broaden their horizons by learning to communicate in another language.
Christopher Moore
Learning Experience Coordinator
Christopher Moore provides administrative support for noncredit History and languages programs.
Kristi Obmascher
Exec. Program Dev. Manager Department
Kristi Obmascher is program director for behavioral health programming at Continuing Studies. She spent over 25 years raising awareness, providing education, supporting families, and conducting research related to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). She currently directs the Intoxicated Driver Program-Approved Training for Wisconsin's IDP assessors.
Erin Paul
Program Development Specialist
(PhD, UW-Madison) is the assistant director of the DCS language program. She has taught beginning through advanced Spanish language courses for adults for more a decade. She is dedicated to creating a welcoming learning environment in her courses and enjoys the diversity of thought and experiences that lifelong learners bring to a class.
Melinda Verdone
Assistant Director of Program Development
