Since 2015, Lynda Fernholz from the School of Education has served in a leadership capacity with several non-profit organizations to increase the literacy proficiency rates of children and adolescents living in rural communities in Nicaragua. She travels to Nicaragua frequently to provide teacher training for Nicaraguan adolescents and adults who teach literacy skills and strategies to children ages 5-12. Libraries are the center of activities in these small rural communities, including “Lynda’s Library” which opened in 2019. Both the women and the children of this rural community come to the library for books, art projects, games, cooking classes, sewing, while creating a sense of empowerment through learning. Lynda works with elementary children throughout Wisconsin to create photo books, drawings, and picture books to donate to this library. Lynda’s work helps honor the uniqueness of all learners and actively demonstrates the knowledges, skills and dispositions of effective teachers positively impacting our diverse world. For her efforts, Lynda was presented the 2022 CPS Ethel and Ward Family Faculty Heroes Award.

• School of Health Sciences and Wellness
• School of Education
• School of Business and Economics
• Department of Military Science

The Communication Sciences and Disorders program at UW-Stevens Point is celebrating 60 years of teaching, learning and serving the community. “I am grateful for the faculty, staff and students who have made and currently make our department a center of excellence for learning, professional preparation and community engagement,” said program directory Julia Fischer, Ph.D. “Everyone in the department is excited to be part of the next 60 years working to advance the field of communication sciences and disorders.” See How it Started vs. How it's Going