Alumni - 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award Duane Roen Born on a dairy farm east of River Falls, Duane Roen loved language at an early age. In Woodville, his eighth-grade language arts teacher, Joyce King, was an inspirational role model and at Baldwin-Woodville High School, his English teacher Claire Stein (also a UWRF alum) further inspired him. Roen earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English teaching at UWRF where his mentor was English Professor Nicholas Karolides. Nick’s influence was so great, in fact, that Roen and his wife, Maureen, named their first child after him. Roen began his career teaching English at New Richmond High School where he served as K-12 language arts chair and coached baseball, directed debate and forensics, and advised the school newspaper. Currently an English professor at Arizona State University, Roen serves as dean of the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts, vice provost, and coordinator for the Project for Writing and Recording Family History. He has also served as head of interdisciplinary studies, head of humanities and arts; director of composition; codirector of the graduate program in rhetoric, composition, and linguistics; director of the Center for Learning and Teaching Excellence; and was president of the Academic Senate. At Syracuse University, he served as the writing program director. At the University of Arizona, he was founding director of the graduate program in rhetoric, composition, and the teaching of English, as well as director of graduate studies in the Department of English. Roen has also been president of the Council of Writing Program Administrators, secretary of the Conference on College Composition and Communication, and coeditor of the scholarly journal WPA: Writing Program Administration. He has served on their many committees, as well as the National Council of Teachers of English, Two-Year College Association (TYCA-West), and the Arizona English Teachers Association. Roen has published 11 books in addition to more than 300 articles, chapters, and conference presentations.
Outstanding Young Alumnus Alan Kruizenga Alan Kruizenga is passionate about bringing practical knowledge, application orientation, and problem solving to theoretical science to make great ideas a reality. He kindled his interest in a scientific career as a physics major at UWRF before earning a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in nuclear engineering and engineering physics at UW-Madison. Currently, Kruizenga is the director of salt chemistry at Kairos Power, leading development activities on advanced nuclear reactor technology: a Fluoride-Cooled High-Temperature Reactor (FHR). Before joining Kairos Power, Kruizenga led high-temperature salt experimental work, as well as other materials science and chemistry programs at Sandia National Laboratories. During his time there, he developed a reputation as an expert in molten salt chemistry and materials performance. In 2017, President Obama awarded Kruizenga the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on outstanding scientists and engineers in the early stages of their careers, the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. He resides in Oakland, Calif., with his wife, Kate, and son, Calvin, and loves coffee, completing never-ending renovations on his 120-year-old home, and exploring nature through backpacking.
“I am deeply honored to receive the Outstanding Young Alumni Award, as I have so much respect and admiration for UWRF, and my highly accomplished fellow alumni,” he said. “UWRF fostered a lifelong desire to both learn and apply my knowledge, and this has underpinned my success in graduate school and my career. In particular, the continued investment and mentorship of Lowell McCann, Earl Blodgett and Jim Madsen both during my undergraduate studies and in the decades since, has made all the difference. I have enjoyed the opportunity to support the continued life changing work of the UWRF Physics Department and hope I am able to continue to support and mentor current students and alumni throughout my career.”
Outstanding Service Awards James Newton “Newt” Greaser Newt Greaser dedicated nearly 20 years to the UW-River Falls football program as a volunteer assistant coach. Together with legendary head coach Mike Farley, the two forged a remarkable friendship and coaching style which powered the Falcons run to eight WIAC championships and the team’s first ever post-season appearance. Greaser served as the Falcons offensive line coach and developed the careers of 16 All Americans and 30 allconference selections. The 1979 team ranks as one of the university’s greatest, earning a conference title and compiling a regular season record of 9-1. The team advanced to the first round of the NAIA Division 1 playoffs. Behind an offensive line featuring two all-conference performers, the 1986 team won another WIAC championship and led the nation in rushing, averaging nearly 362 yards a game. While Greaser’s coaching career ended in 1989, he remains close to many former Falcon student-athletes, serving as a lifelong mentor and friend. Greaser, who lives in River Falls, was inducted into the UWRF Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011 and the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2012. After retiring from the financial services industry, Greaser and his wife, Karna, enjoyed boating on the St. Croix and Mississippi Rivers, camping around the U.S. and Canada, and wintering in Mexico. Karna passed away in January 2020. Mike Noreen Inspired by adventure and nature, disturbed by overconsumption and greed and compelled to make change, Mike Noreen had taken a long and fortuitous path to become the City of River Falls conservation and efficiency coordinator. Degrees in biology, environmental education and ecology shaped his prior career stops as a field technician, teacher, ski bum, naturalist and fire starter and suppressor. His contributions within multiple UW-River Falls departments have been invaluable in supporting the university’s vision of sustainability. Noreen has shared his expertise, collaborated with faculty, students and staff, contributed to sustainable community research and sought out opportunities for UWRF to be leaders in sustainable management. He is an active member of the campus Sustainability Working Group and Energy Management Team and regularly donates his time to speak to various classes in the Plant and Earth Science Department. He has served as a student mentor and advised on multiple projects within various university buildings. “It’s been an honor to collaborate with the UWRF community,” Noreen says. “It’s rewarding to partner with people, organizations and institutions like UWRF that want to make the world a better place.” Noreen earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental education and biology from Western Washington University and a master’s degree in teaching science (ecology) from Northern Arizona University. FALCON FEATURES FALL 2020
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