Michael Childers | Board President
Michael Childers is a professor in the Department of Labor Studies at the Division of Continuing Studies. He has been a proud member of Phi Kappa Phi since 2003, joining during his graduate studies at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. In 2018, he joined the UW-Madison Phi Kappa Phi executive board and was elected Chapter President in 2023. Michael is truly passionate about teaching and engaged scholarship. He is a member of the Teaching Academy, a Wisconsin Teaching Fellow through the UW System, and a UW-Madison Morgridge Center for Public Service Fellow. In 2025, he received the PKP Love of Learning Award while serving as the UW Faculty-in-Residence for the program in Florence, Italy, during the Spring 2026 semester.
Debbie Berger | Secretary
Debbie Berger is the Assistant Director of the Undergraduate Academic Awards Office at UW-Madison. She is the main contact for new Phi Kappa Phi initiates and current members, and keeps the chapter running smoothly. Students may contact Debbie at phikappaphi@wisc.edu.
Megan Jo Baumunk | Executive Member
Megan is a teaching faculty in the Department of Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education. Megan received a BA in Human Relations at the University of Iowa, an MS in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling from UW-Madison and in 2024 she received a PhD in Rehabilitation Counselor Education from UW-Madison. Megan is passionate about advocating for equity for all individuals, especially for folks with disabilities.
Ralph Grunewald | Executive Member
Ralph is an associate professor in the Department of English and the Center for Law, Society, and Justice. He currently is Mellon-Morgridge Professor of the Humanities. He received his law degree from the University of Mainz and the State of Bavaria, Germany, a Ph.D. in Criminal Law and Criminology from the University of Mainz (summa cum laude) and a Master of Laws Degree (LL.M.) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School.
Ernesto Livorni | Executive Member
Ernesto Livorni is Professor of Italian Language and Literature, Comparative Literature and Religious Studies, at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. His scholarly publications include Avanguardia e tradizione: Ezra Pound e Giuseppe Ungaretti (1998) and T. S. Eliot, Montale e la modernità dantesca (forthcoming). He also translated into Italian and edited Ted Hughes, Cave-Birds: Un dramma alchemico della caverna (2001). He has published articles in Italian and in English on medieval, modern and contemporary Italian literature, English and American literature, Italian-American literature, and comparative literature. Livorni is the founding editor of L’ANELLO che non tiene: Journal of Modern Italian Literature.
Wyl Schuth | Past-President
Wyl is an Academic Planner in the College of Letters and Science. Wyl completed culinary school prior to enlisting in the United States Marine Corps in 2002. He deployed to Iraq in 2004. He later attended UW–Madison as an undergraduate and graduate student with support from the G.I. Bill. Wyl has won awards teaching in the School of Business, Department of History, and Integrated Liberal Studies program. He was the poetry editor of The Deadly Writers Patrol, a literary journal concerned with war & its aftermath. Wyl is a native of the Driftless Area and a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans. He joined the Phi Kappa Phi board in 2014 and served as President from 2016 to 2023.
Julie Stubbs | Executive Member
Director of the Undergraduate Academic Awards office, Julie received her BA in History from Marquette University. She received her MA and PhD in History from the University of Michigan. Julie is passionate about academic award opportunities for students and is devoted to helping students obtain both campus-wide and national scholarships.
Diana Creedon | Student Vice President
Diana is a senior majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders with certificates in Disability Rights and Services and Education Policy Studies. She works as a research assistant in Dr. Caroline Niziolek’s lab studying how the brain coordinates auditory and motor signals to facilitate communication. After graduation, she is planning to pursue a master’s degree in speech-language pathology.
Todd France | Student Vice President
Tony Jing | Student Vice President
Tony is a senior majoring in Political Science, International Studies, and History, focusing on China-Russia Relations and U.S.-China competition in the energy, advanced technology, and security sectors. His work has been published with the Atlantic Council and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. He is the Founder & President of the Contemporary International Relations, Founder & Director of the Madison International Organization Network, a Peer Advisor with the Department of Political Science, and a Global Engagement Team Intern with International Student Services.
Haania Khan | Student Vice President
Haania is a 3rd year graduate student in the Integrated Program in Biochemistry (IPiB) graduate program. She received her B.S. in Biochemistry and Religious Studies from UW-Madison. Her current research in Dr. Snehal Chaudhari’s lab focuses on understanding how a microbial metabolite influences the colon epithelium health and associated molecular mechanisms.
Sylvia Lewis | Student Vice President
Sylvia is an undergraduate student majoring in Biology with certificates in Honors BioCore Curriculum and 3D Studio Art. She also works in Dr. Pupa Gilbert’s research lab studying biomineralization. She is a volunteer at Virginia Henderson Elementary School through Badger Volunteers, plays the clarinet in the University “U” Band, and is a proud member of the Pre-Dental Society, Packages-for-Patients, and PEACS. After graduation, Sylvia hopes to attend dental School.
Lindsay Pfeiffer | Student Vice President
Lindsay is a junior double majoring in Animal and Veterinary Biosciences and Conservation Biology. She is part of the Honors in Research program and is involved in animal welfare research with Dr. Sarah Adcock. She currently works as a pathology student assistant at the UW Vet School. She also writes with The Daily Cardinal, is a Wisconsin Admissions Volunteer, and is part of the Pre-Vet Association. After graduation, she hopes to attend veterinary school.