Concordia University Wisconsin's customary Leadership Series Breakfast will pivot to a free, four-person virtual panel presentation next Friday, May 15, from 8-9 a.m. CST.


‘Uncommon Times: Uncommon Response,” will be hosted by President Rev. Patrick T. Ferry, Ph.D., addressing “Navigating and Leading Higher Education During Highly Uncertain Times.” Three CUW faculty panelists will join Dr. Ferry:

  • Dr. Jill Krell, Assistant Professor of Nursing, “Preparing Student Nurses for Frontline Work Amongst Pandemic Restrictions.”
  • Dr. Michael Litman, Chair/Professor Computer Science, “Concordia Community Mask Project: 3D Printing Covid-19 Masks and Face Shields.”
  • Michael Toppe, Assistant Professor, Physician Assistant, “Global Community Health Education in Nigeria: Responding to Covid-19.”

Krell has her DNP degree and has been teaching at Concordia for 10 years. Her passion is pediatric care, particularly with special needs children. Krell has led mission trips to Belize and Mexico, assisted nursing faculty in Africa, and has participated in home building mission trips to Mexico. Before coming to CUW, she worked at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin for 17 years.

Litman has 21 years of higher education experience, the last 15 in computer science at Concordia. He is the founder of five Midwest companies in the technology/software sector and is an active participant in the Milwaukee entrepreneurial technology startup community.

Toppe has been a practicing clinician for 15 years in primary care and travel medicine. His interest in public health in developing countries began 20 years ago in Niger when he served as a Peace Corps volunteer. Toppe continues to pursue these interests by overseeing PA clinical rotations in South Africa and Nepal, and serving as an advisor on community health education projects in Nigeria.

PNC Bank will be the presenting sponsor of “Uncommon Times: Uncommon Response.” Concordia University Wisconsin’s long-standing Leadership Series is a semiannual, signature event that recognizes and encourages ethical leadership principles and provides networking opportunities for business and community leaders in a dynamic, Christian environment.

Registration is required for this Zoom webinar and can be done right up to the start of the event at:  https://cuwaa.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Q1Tvct6TRNG9UZkt1xe-Gw

For more details on this special Leadership Series edition, please contact Senior Director of Advancement Services Michelle Buss at michelle.buss@cuw.edu or 243-4337.

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