William Lowell B.A. ’82, M.S. ’83
William Lowell named UW-Whitewater 2022 Distinguished Alumnus for Service to UW-Whitewater
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is proud to announce that Bill Lowell, who earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication in 1982 and a M.S. in speech–public relations in 1983, has been selected as the university's Distinguished Alumnus for Service to UW-Whitewater for 2022. Lowell, who is president and CEO of his own firm, has served as a lecturer in the university’s Department of Communication since 1985.
The award recognizes Lowell’s outstanding dedication to the university in a variety of ways, including his extensive and exemplary service mentoring and advising students, supervising interns in the College of Arts and Communication and the Disney internship program, playing a key role in establishing the Student Ambassador Program for the college, serving as a master advisor, focusing on new student recruitment both on and off campus, and contributing to numerous committees to improve department programs and curriculum.
The Madison native grew up in Deerfield, attending a summer camp at UW-Whitewater during high school to become a certified basketball referee. After graduating high school, he initially attended UW-Madison, but felt its size made it too impersonal for him.
“I decided to go to a smaller school,” he said. “So, I transferred to UW-Whitewater. I felt like I was adopted by the university. It was a family then, and it’s still a family.”
“At the time, you registered for classes in the Williams Center,” he said. “I didn’t have a clue what to major in. Dr. Terry Ostermeier, the chair of the communication department, happened to help me register, so I focused on that.”
Lowell had been in business selling real estate after passing his real estate exam at the age of 19. Since he knew he wanted to combine a professional role with consulting, he followed up his degree in 1982 with a master’s degree earned just one year later. After that, started teaching part time at the university as he worked as a consultant in a variety of leading firms and then, in 1990, started his own consulting firm.
In 1997, the chair of the communication program, Dick Haven, came to him with an idea about how to better manage and build the internship program.
“Taking on that challenge gave me the opportunity to teach more, to work with large corporations, to build relationships, and to network, for the benefit of the students and the department.”
A proud alum, Lowell was always vocal about affiliation with UW-Whitewater. His professional colleagues would mention that Whitewater grads came out ready to work, with a strong work ethic.
“Half of the employers had heard of us, but some had grads and others were simply intrigued. Once we built a connection, they would come back. I was eventually managing internships with hundreds of employers, and because of the quality of our students they kept on coming back.”
A small sampling of organizations that Lowell has tapped into for the three capstone courses he teaches includes the Visit Milwaukee Convention and Visitors Bureau, Watertown Regional Medical Center, Fort Healthcare, BDO, Potawatomi Bingo and Casino, United Way, U-Line Corp., The IEEE, University of Wisconsin Hospitals, Children’s Hospital, KW Advertising, Roundy’s, Schneider National, Hendrick’s Holding Corp., Pro Healthcare, and Direct Supply.
Over the years, he has served on numerous committees to improve department programs and curriculum, including the transition to the new Corporate Health and Communication program. He serves on the Advisory Board of the Department of Communication and for the College of Arts and Communication. More recently, he engaged in a campus-wide effort to redesign and implement a new and transfer student advising protocol to adapt to remote conditions, in close coordination with the First Year Experience program, and in the process created a responsive, reassuring and welcoming immersion for students in their entrée into the Warhawk experience. Along the way, he has immersed himself in the complexities of new and transfer advising and become one of the core advisors for the communication program and college.
Lowell received the university’s Outstanding Recent Alumnus Award in 1987. In 2008 and 2017, he was the recipient of the UW-Whitewater Excellence Award for Instructional Staff, the highest honor for an instructional staff member. In 2021, the staff and students of Starin Hall recognized him as “a person who has made an impact on the academic careers of our students.” He has also served two terms on the UW-Whitewater Foundation Board.
Among the many ways that Lowell has lent his time and talents to the university was when John Heyer, then dean, asked him to read student names at an upcoming commencement ceremony.
“I was undergoing chemotherapy at the time,” he said. “I honestly didn’t know if I could do it, physically. But something I’ve learned and always tell my students is to say ‘yes’ to opportunities, whenever you can. You never know where they will take you.”
Lowell’s wife, Jan, has been his colleague, partner and “partner in crime” throughout it all, working with him in their consulting business and joining him in his volunteer work and other endeavors. This summer they will celebrate 40 years of marriage.
The Lowells established and continue to support two scholarships: one to acknowledge excellence from students in the Corporate and Health Communication program and the other to honor his parents.
His service over more than 40 years epitomizes an ongoing commitment to the Department of Communication, the College of Arts and Communication and UW-Whitewater as it embodies the values of the university, serving as a powerful example of what all alumni can aspire to achieve.
Lowell speaks warmly about the unique culture he experienced on campus.
“From that communication department chair who took me under his wing and guided my early days on campus to professors going out of their way to help you, it’s the norm.”
