TMI Board of DirectorsConstance F. Threinen, Chair Connie Threinen has been involved in the League of Women Voters all her adult life, presently working on land use issues. A feminist advocate, she was a founder of the Wisconsin Women's Network and its chair from 1987 to 1990. Until her retirement, she was a member of the University of Wisconsin Extension's Department of Governmental Affairs. She began her education at Mount Holyoke College and completed it at the University of Wisconsin with a degree in economics. In her work with the Madison Institute, she has been particularly interested in the economic aspects of public policy. Joseph Elder, Vice Chair
Joe Elder is Professor of Sociology and Languages and Cultures of Asia at the University of Wisconsin. He has served on the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO; the American Friends (Quakers) Service Committee Board of Directors; and the Board of Trustees of the International Committee for the Peace Council. His special interests are foreign policy and the global economy. He received Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Oberlin and a Ph.D. from Harvard University. Deborah J. Ross, Secretary Retired, Wis. Dept. of Workforce Development Deborah is TMI’s liaison to the Economic Democracy Conference, and Coordinator of 5 Conference Workgroups (Strategy, Organization, Education, Media, and Resource Development). She attended the University of Wisconsin (B.S in Art & Design; M.A. in Public Policy & Administration, Robert M. LaFollette Institute). Before retiring, she was employed at the Wisconsin Dept of Workforce Development in the Divisions of Unemployment Insurance, and Vocational Rehabilitation conducting Strategic Planning, Program Evaluation, Meeting Facilitation, Technical Writing, Research, and Program Coordination. Deborah is an avid student of alternative economics. Charles Uphoff, Treasurer Activist
Charles Uphoff and his wife Louise were introduced by Midge Miller during the 1968 presidential campaign of Senator Eugene McCarthy. He has been a lifelong activist for peace and civil rights and, more recently, healthcare reform. He recently served as Coordinator of the Wisconsin Governor's Conference on Children and Families. After more than 30 years working for non-profit agencies in Dane County and a brief stint as Executive Director for Madison's public access television station, he is retired but still writing and agitating for progressive causes in the hope of making a difference. Frederick A. Johnson
Fred Johnson was born and raised in Mount Horeb. He attended the University of Northern Colorado (B.A. Zoology, 1977), the University of Minnesota (M.S. Ecology, 1981), and the University of Wisconsin (M.S. Water Resources Management, 1984). Since graduating from the UW, he has worked for the State of Wisconsin, including a short time at the Dept. of Ag., Trade, and Consumer Protection, followed by over 14 years with the Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR). While at the DNR, he helped develop environmental enforcement policy at the state, regional, and national levels. Since 2000, he has been involved in compliance and enforcement issues for the Asbestos & Lead Program in the Div. of Public Health. Theodore Kinnaman
Ted Kinnaman has lived in Janesville, Wisconsin since 1966. He graduated from Music School at Northwestern University in 1950 and received his Master's there in 1957. He retired as Professor of Music, University of Wisconsin Center-Rock County in 1994, after having joined the faculty there in 1966, when the campus opened. He was one of the founders and first chair of the Wisconsin New Democratic Coalition when it was founded in 1969. He was also active in the founding of the Rock Prairie Arts Council and served as its president in 1976. He has served on the Madison Institute Board since its founding. Rose Sime Retired, Madison Metropolitan School District Rose Sime was raised in California and earned a BS in US History at UCLA. She came to WI and earned an MS in Education and taught in the Madison Metropolitan School District for 29 years. She is an active member of The Middleton Action Team, The Raging Grannies, The League of Women Voters and The Prairie Enthusiasts. She has been a lifelong advocate of peace and justice. She is heavily involved in the management of their own natural area in the Driftless Area. Frederick B. Wade
Fred Wade has practiced law in Madison, Wisconsin since 1987. His practice includes corporate governance matters, proxy solicitations and constitutional issues. He has a B.A. in History from Loyola University of New Orleans, an M.A. in American History from Tulane University, and a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School. Following his graduation from the Law School, he worked as an attorney in the Office of General Counsel of the Securities and Exchange Commission from 1973 through 1981. He also served as Chief Counsel of the Commission's Division of Enforcement, and as a member of the federal Senior Executive Service, from 1981 through 1984. Wanda WilliamsonBudget & Policy Analyst, Businesswoman, Retired Wanda Williamson earned a BS in mathematics at the University of Wisconsin and worked as a statistician and a scientific computer programmer. She developed an interest in budget and public policy through involvement with the League of Women Voters and other organizations, which led to a UW-System position as a budget and policy analyst and subsequently to an MA in public policy and administration. Before retiring, she spent several years developing and managing a retail business. Associate DirectorsStephen Braunginn, President and CEO, J.E.M.S. Enterprises of Madison Paul Beckett, Political Scientist Roger Buffett, Attorney Dan Cornwell, Professor of Chemistry Emeritus, University of Wisconsin-Madison Eugene S. Farley, Physician and Professor Emeritus, UW-Madison School of Medicine Jane Ragsdale, Retired, U.W. Academic Staff Sheila Spear, Emeritus Director, UW-Madison Vernon Visick, former pastor, Madison Campus Ministry Affiliations are for identification purposes only. |