Mary C. Rowin
Mary C. Rowin receives 2026 S.A. White Award for contributions to UW-Whitewater
Written by Dave Fidlin | Photos submitted
With students and faculty in mind, in recent years Mary C. Rowin and Roger L. Rowin began making significant contributions to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater through endowments and supporting new initiatives.
“Literally, Roger’s dying wish was to start funding the endowments we’d made,” Mary Rowin said of her husband, who passed away in 2021.
In the years since, Rowin has been working to continue her husband’s legacy, committing funding to the UW-Whitewater community.
Her contributions, and the continuation of her husband’s legacy, has resulted in her receiving the 2026 S.A. White Award, which is presented to non-alumni for significant philanthropic contributions to the university.
Roger Rowin, a 1967 UW-Whitewater graduate, received a bachelor’s degree in history, with minors in economics, English literature and political science. He subsequently earned master’s degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in social work in 1973 and public policy and administration in 1974.
UW-Whitewater remained top of mind for the Rowins as Roger continued his connections to the campus and faculty. In particular, he maintained strong ties with Professor David W. Adamany, who taught classes in constitutional law, civil liberties and state government at UW-Whitewater.
His distinguished legacy lives on through the David W. Adamany Scholarship Endowment, which is one of the two funds the Rowins set up. The endowment in Adamany’s name is specifically for students.
“Roger wanted David Adamany’s name on the scholarship endowment because he loved working with students,” Mary said.
The Rowins also created the Roger L. and Mary C. Rowin Faculty Endowment. In the years since, Rowin has been working to continue her husband’s legacy through various contributions to the UW-Whitewater community.
“Roger used to joke that I never met a museum I didn’t like,” said Rowin, whose personal and professional contributions include a role as docent for the Chazen Museum of Art at UW-Madison for 14 years. She added, “Roger always encouraged me to see about finding something at UW-Whitewater that was related to the arts as something I would like to support.”
In 2022, Rowin was approached about an offer to help support Nicholas Gulig, associate professor of literature, writing, and film, after he was named to a two-year term as the State Poet Laureate of Wisconsin. Rowin, an advocate for retaining top talent in the state university system, was pleased to contribute funds to a course release for Gulig.
Rowin herself is a member of the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets and is published in a variety of poetry journals. She has received recognition as a Pushcart Prize nominee and was an award winner through the Nebraska Writers Guild and Journal from the Heartland.
“I started following Nick and his accomplishments as the poet laureate,” Mary said. “One of the things he wanted to do at Whitewater was to start a publication that students would manage to learn the journal publishing business.”
“Either/Or,” a fresh entry on the UW-Whitewater campus, was launched in February 2026 under the leadership of Gulig and Barrett Swanson, a renowned essayist and associate professor of literature, writing and film. Unlike most journals, which are produced at the graduate level, undergraduate students oversee the editorial, design and film process associated with “Either/Or.”
Rowin said the initial vision was modified as real-world needs on campus came into sharper focus. She is providing substantial support to give the journal a proper launch and a solid foundation as it grows on the campus.
“Roger was always thinking of the visual arts because of my interest in art history,” Mary said. “But then what it became was this interest in supporting the poetry and writing life of Whitewater. I think he would be very pleased about that. He was always very supportive of what I did.”
Roger and Mary met in 1977 and were married in 1988; they resided in Middleton from 1981 until Roger’s passing in 2021. Mary earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Psychology from North Dakota State University. She also earned a Master of Arts in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a Master of Business Administration from UW-Madison.
Professionally, Mary worked as a program evaluator and manager in the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services and as a deputy administrator in the Department of Workforce Development.
In addition to her role as docent at the Chazen Museum of Art, Mary’s community service work has included roles on the Middleton Library Board and work as an ESL and citizenship tutor with the Literacy Network.
After earning his degrees, Roger’s distinguished career included a mixture of professional and political accomplishments. He served three consecutive terms on the Middleton Common Council, with two of them spent as council president. He also had a seat on the Middleton Police Commission. Additionally, he was a member of the Dane County Executive Committee of the Democratic Party.
Roger worked in the Wisconsin Department of Health and Human Services, where he had a role in impacting the lives of children and families within the state through child support reform initiatives. He later held a position in the KIDS Project, which entailed the development of a statewide system for child support enforcement.
