In this episode, we sit down with Todd Bowie, instructor and program director of Video Audio Design at Madison College. Todd shares stories from his extensive industry experience as a backline technician and sound engineer for legendary artists including the Eagles and Fleetwood Mac, and how those experiencesshaped his approach to mentoring and teaching. He also discusses how the Video Audio Design program blends creativity, design, and technical expertise to prepare students for success in media production. From guiding award-winning student teams to keeping curriculum current in an ever-changing industry, Toddreflects on helping students turn passion into purpose and on what it means to amplify learning through real-world experience.

Todd Bowie is a faculty member and Program Director for the Video Audio Design program at Madison College. Before joining the college, he spent nearly two decades touring internationally as a backline technician and sound engineer for major artists including the Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Ringo Starr, Beck, and The Flaming Lips. Prior to his current role, Todd served in several capacities at Madison College, including part-time faculty, ViComm Instructional Lab Specialist, and Marketing Department Video Producer. He now brings his extensive industry experience into the classroom, helping students develop real-world skills in audio, video, and live event production.

In this episode, we sit down with Matthew Sargent, Sociology instructor at Madison College, to explore contemplative pedagogy, an approach to teaching that cultivates presence, awareness, and connection in the classroom. Matthew discusses how practices such as mindful breathing, reflection, and sensory grounding can help students reduce anxiety, build focus, and connect more deeply with themselves and others. He also shares ideas for how educators and institutions can weave contemplation into their daily work to foster belonging and a stronger sense of community.

Dr. Matthew Sargent

BA, Anthropology with Religious Studies minor

University of Louisville, 1996

 MA, Sociology

University of Louisville, 1998

 PhD, Sociology

University of Kentucky

I have been at Madison College since 2004.  Before this, I was a research specialist at UW-Madison working on tobacco control as a part of the state’s program evaluation team.  From my education background, my focus has been on theoretical perspectives regarding individuals’ relationships with institutions and the state.  In this regard, I have studied how the role of religion and social movements have been influential in social discourse.  Outside of theory, however, I have begrudgingly gained a lot of experience as a survey researcher, an evaluator, and a low-level quantitative analyst. 

At Madison College, I have been fortunate to be a part of the Sociology Department for twenty years.  During this time, I have been the chair of the department, co-chair of the school’s diversity and community relations council, a member of the IT council, and the school’s representative to the Wisconsin Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies. 

In this episode, we sit down with Lindsay Amiel, Economics instructor at Madison College, and Ellen Lansink-Top, visiting faculty member from Aventus in the Netherlands. Through a faculty exchange program, they share their experiences across cultures, comparing classrooms, exploring educational systems, and reflecting on what connects students and teachers around the world. Whether you’re passionate about global education, cross-cultural collaboration, or new perspectives on teaching, this conversation offers a meaningful look at how educators learn from one another across borders.
Lindsay Amiel is an economics instructor and program director for the University Transfer Economics and Business Pre-Major at Madison College, where she’s been teaching since 2014. A Wisconsin native from Monroe—the self-proclaimed cheese capital of the U.S.—she earned her undergraduate degree from UW–Madison in Economics and International Studies. She went on to complete a Master’s in Secondary Education at the University of Pennsylvania and later earned a Master’s in Agricultural and Applied Economics from UW–Madison, focusing on regional economics and community development. Lindsay is passionate about community development and creating equitable, sustainable economic systems. She enjoys helping students think critically about the kind of world they want to live in, and how economic structures and institutions can be designed in support of those visions. At Madison College, she also works closely with students exploring pathways in economics, business, and public policy—guiding them as they reach their academic goals and prepare to transfer to four-year colleges and universities.

Ellen Lansink-Top is a teacher from Lochem in the eastern Netherlands, where she lives with her husband, Marco, and their two sons. She has been an educator for 22 years, beginning her career in primary education for eight years before transitioning to secondary education as a math teacher, a role she held for nearly 15 years. For the past three years, Ellen has taught at Aventus, a Regional Training Centre (ROC) serving the Stedendriehoek area including Apeldoorn, Deventer, and Zutphen. Aventus offers secondary vocational education (MBO), adult education, and upper secondary general adult education (VAVO). At Aventus, Ellen has many roles: she teaches math/calculation, coaches all math teachers in the Economics, Trade, and Creative Industries sector, participates in the national Learning Network for Mathematics, supports student guidance at the Zutphen location, and oversees educational quality for the Fashion, Interior Design, and Spatial Design programs.For more information on the Faculty & Staff Exchange Program see the Illinois Consortium for International Studies and Programs website.

Sensitive Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of sensitive topics, including crime, victimization, and incarceration which may be distressing to some listeners.

In this thought-provoking episode we sit down with Dr. Amy Nemmetz, program director and faculty member in Criminal Justice at Madison College. Dr. Nemmetz shares her journey from working in the justice system to shaping the next generation of criminal justice professionals through education and restorative practices. We explore the role of real-world learning, her students' work at Oakhill Correctional Institution and The Grow Academy, and how empathy, reflection, and community engagement are woven into the curriculum. Whether you're interested in justice reform, higher education, or the power of human connection, this episode offers meaningful insights and inspiration.

Amy Nemmetz joined the Madison College Criminal Justice program in 2018. Her interest in the criminal justice field began in 1992 when she was hired part-time to transcribe mini-cassette tapes for detectives at a Sheriff’s Department. She instantly knew this was the field for her; she subsequently pursued a career working with offenders and victims in the criminal justice system.

Amy has been fortunate to teach for 20 years and work in a variety of criminal justice and social work roles to include-community service officer & telecommunicator with police departments, case manager at a juvenile group home, social worker with a jail diversion court program, social worker with human services (child protection), restorative justice facilitator with offenders, and treatment provider.

Amy is currently the Program Director for the Criminal Justice Program at Madison College. She holds State of Wisconsin licenses in social work and substance abuse counseling. Simply stated, her passion is truly helping those in the criminal justice system to include facilitating restorative-justice based service-learning projects with her students for Department of Corrections every semester for the last 10+ years. She has presented on Restorative Justice at numerous conferences to include the Wisconsin Juvenile Court Intake Conference and the National Restorative Justice Conference.

She was a tenured faculty member with UW-Platteville’s Criminal Justice program before joining the Madison College Criminal Justice Program. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in criminal justice from UW-Platteville and a PhD in Criminal Justice from Capella University.  She has been fortunate to receive awards for teaching and service to include the Madison College Leader Impact Award in 2022. Amy is super grateful to be a part of the Wolfpack!

In this episode we step into the kitchen with Suzanne Daly and Cheryl Weise, the two full-time faculty behind Madison College’s Baking & Decorative Arts program. Suzanne and Cheryl share their paths into professional baking, their specialties in cake artistry, and how they bring real-world experience to their students—both in the classroom and through the college’s student-run bakery. We explore what it means to be a professional baker versus a home baker, the impact of baking competitions and TV shows, and how hands-on learning prepares students for sweet success. And yes—pie baking tips are included!

Suzanne Daly is the Director and Lead Instructor of the Baking & Decorative Arts Program at Madison College. She earned the designation of International Certified Judge in June 2019, as both a visual and tasting judge. Suzanne enjoys helping students grow in the art of baking and decorating by being the student mentor for the Skills USA Baking & Pastry Arts competition. She is also a member of the Wisconsin Bakers Association in which she was awarded the Wisconsin Baking Instructor of the Year in 2024.

Cheryl Weise grew up surrounded by a mother and grandmothers who baked everything from scratch and were also cake decorators. Their influence led her to continue baking and decorating while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in industrial arts management with a concentration in graphic arts. She ended up as a project manager for a printing company learning the business and marketing side of a business while keeping her baking and decorating passion on the side. She became a member of the International Cake Exploration Society and became passionate about taking formal cake decorating classes from the world’s finest instructors including Nicholas Lodge, Colette Peters, Ron Ben-Israel, and Robert Hayes. As a lifelong learner she has taken over 100 classes to build on her skills. Cheryl started out teaching Wilton Cake decorating classes and did private decorating classes. She started her own licensed cake baking and decorating business, Frosted Memories, where she does cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and other baked products in 2010. She became a full-time instructor in the Baking and Decorative Arts Program at Madison College in 2017 and has loved passing on her excitement to create something out of basic ingredients.

Madison College Student-Run Bakery Facebook

Madison College Student-Run Bakery Instagram

In this episode, we talk with Sara Finesilver, an English as a Second Language (ESL) faculty member at Madison College. Sara shares her passion for helping non-native English speakers succeed, both in and out of the classroom. She discusses her innovative patient health portal project, which helps ESL students build health literacy and digital fluency.  Sara also introduces the "Teaching the Skills That Matter" (TSTM) program and how project-based learning transforms her classes. Additionally, we explore her perspective on the rise of AI tools in education.

Sara Finesilver is a collaborative and creative ESL Instructor, with over 20 years of experience. She began her teaching career within the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) in 2004 and has been a full-time faculty member at Madison College since 2018. Sara holds a BA in English with a TESOL certificate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master’s in Higher Education from Capella University.

Her expertise includes contextualized instruction, authentic assessment, curriculum development, and faculty training. She is particularly passionate about EL-Civics, including areas such as Health Literacy and Job Readiness & Employability, and enjoys finding ways to integrate Digital Literacy into diverse teaching contexts. Sara finds deep fulfillment in working with refugees and immigrant professionals, supporting their career and employment goals, and helping them connect with our community.

Outside the classroom, Sara enjoys writing poetry, kayaking, hiking, being silly playing board games, spending time with loved ones under twinkling lights, and most importantly: finding joy in small things.

Check out the AI song Sara created for me on Suno!

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Cherif Correa, an English faculty member at Madison College and the lead for the college’s new African Studies Certificate. Cherif shares his journey from being an international student to becoming a leader in both educational and DEI initiatives at the college. We explore his work on the African Studies Certificate, including the course topics it covers and the opportunities it creates for students. Cherif also discusses his involvement with the Institute of Equity and Transformational Change, as well as the college’s efforts in developing global partnerships and study abroad programs in Africa. Join us as Cherif shares his perspectives on African Studies, his role in fostering global connections, and his vision for enriching the educational experience at Madison College.

Resources:
Madison College African Studies Certificate

Dr. Correa's Publications:

To kick off season three of the podcast, we welcome Lynn Baldwin, faculty in the Business Technology program. Lynn shares her Madison College journey, from teaching in the Business Technology area to using her Instructional Design expertise to co-develop training for the college’s transition to the new LMS, Brightspace. She also offers advice on how faculty can prepare their courses for this migration.

We also explore Lynn’s recent Teach Access Fellowship, which focuses on embedding accessibility into education. Lynn discusses how the fellowship has shaped her teaching approach and how she’s integrating accessibility into her courses. Join us to hear Lynn’s insights on fostering an inclusive, future-ready learning environment at Madison College.

Lynn Baldwin is a Business Technology instructor in the School of Business & Applied Arts. She teaches a variety of computer software, customer service, and business classes and is a certified Entrepreneurial Mindset Facilitator.

In her teaching career, Lynn was awarded the 2021 Provost Award for Faculty Excellence and the 2015 Devi Bhargava Award for her focus on promoting student accessibility. This year, she was selected as a 2024 Teach Access Fellow working to advocate for accessibility and help equip learners to build a more inclusive world. Prior to her employment with Madison College, she held a variety of marketing, management, and administrative positions with Baker Tilly, The Douglas Stewart Company, and U.S. Cellular. Lynn has earned bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration and Comprehensive Business-Economics, and a master’s degree in Instructional Design and Learning Technologies. In her free time, she enjoys following Wisconsin sports teams, running, travel, and gardening.

Show notes:

Teach Access Fellowship

In this last episode of the season, we speak with Paul Flogel, the program director and a long-time instructor of the Automotive Technology program at Madison College. Paul discusses how he manages the program and prepares students for the evolving automotive industry. He also shares insights into the future of the industry, the importance of hands-on experience, and the success of the program’s job fairs and outreach programs.

Paul Flogel is a faculty member and program director for the Madison College Automotive Technician Program. He has extensive experience in the field and brings this into his work in the classroom and automotive repair lab. He is the program lead for student advising, scheduling, program accreditation, ASE student certification, and coordinates student job fairs each year.

In this episode we chat with Oana Martin, an instructor and program director in the Biotechnology Program at Madison College. Oana delves into the fundamentals of biotechnology, shedding light on its importance and the

Oana is passionate about education and science communication. As part of the Biotechnology Program, she is involved in helping students find rewarding career pathways in the Biotechnology industry. Also, she is actively participating in science outreach in high schools, educating students and teachers about careers in the biotechnology field.

She is interested in curriculum development with an emphasis on career training and in equitable assessment.