Archives

Paul Thompson

• DMA, University of Colorado – Boulder
• MM, University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee
• B.A., Marian University

I am the Director of Choral Activities at Ripon College. I direct the Chamber Singers, Concert Choir, and Choral Union. I also teach Conducting I and II, Choral Techniques, Music History I, and in the Catalyst curriculum. My research includes applications of Servant Leadership in Choral Rehearsals, and the use of concepts from Information Pedagogy to frame Conducting Pedagogy. I conduct Aperi Animam, a professional early music choir in Milwaukee, and sing with several professional choirs throughout the country. In my free time, I love to spend time with my family and friends, read, golf and cook.

Paul Dietrich

Paul Dietrich has been described as “an apt bandleader, an exception composer, and a superlative performer” (All About Jazz) and “a skilled composer” (JazzTrail) and his music has been praised as “stunningly beautiful” (Audiophile Audition) and “captivating” (Chicago Jazz Magazine).

A composer, trumpet player and educator based in the Midwest, Dietrich has led the Paul Dietrich Quintet since 2012 and the Paul Dietrich Jazz Ensemble since 2016. The Chicago-based Quintet has released two albums: Focus (2017, ears&eyes) and We Always Get There (2014, Blujazz). The Paul Dietrich Jazz Ensemble’s 2019 album Forward features guest artist and world-renowned drummer Clarence Penn (Dave Douglas, Maria Schneider) alongside many of the Midwest’s best jazz musicians.

As a composer, Dietrich has completed over a dozen commissions for schools and organizations including the Isthmus Jazz Festival, Lawrence University’s Jazz Weekend, Ripon College, Madison College, the Mount Horeb Middle School Jazz Festival, and various high schools throughout Wisconsin. He is a two-time recipient of the Greater Madison Jazz Consortium’s Artistic Development Grant.

Paul holds a Bachelor’s degree in trumpet and jazz studies from Lawrence University and a Master’s degree in Jazz Studies from DePaul University. As an educator, Paul has directed the Jazz Ensemble at Ripon College since 2021, and served as co-trumpet instructor with his wife, Jessica Jensen, while filling in for his former teacher, John Daniel, at Lawrence University in 2021. Previously, Paul taught at Prairie Music & Arts in Sun Prairie, WI, and directed the jazz ensemble at Madison East High School.

Lillian C. Brown

I’m originally from Las Vegas, Nevada. Most of my work involves creating theatrical encounters that conjure a sense of enthusiasm and social responsibility. I received my bachelor’s degree in theatre from the University of Northern Colorado and an MFA in theatre from Ohio State University. In addition to being an educator, I am a solo performing artist, actor and director. Currently, I’m touring my solo performance ‘The OREO Complex,” a multi-disciplinary art experience that explores the politics of racial performance by investigating the complexities of black identity.

Carrie Crist

After a career in Special Education serving students in Arizona, Kuwait, and Luxembourg, Carrie joined the Admission team as the Visit Experience Coordinator and an Admission Counselor. She hails from Toledo, Ohio, and received her undergraduate degree from Ball State University and her master’s from King’s College, University of London. Her recruitment territory includes the Wisconsin counties of Adams, Marquette, Waushara, and Green Lake, as well as Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, and Louisiana.

Carrie has enjoyed getting to know the city of Ripon and the faculty, staff, and students of the College. You are sure to find her cheering on the Red Hawks at sporting events and theatre productions.

When Carrie’s not engaged in getting prospective students excited about Ripon, she is most likely kayaking or spending time with her nieces in Oshkosh. She also loves reading, playing tennis, going to see the Brewers, and taking classes at the YMCA.

Hannah Grassnickle

Hannah began working in the Office of Admission in 2017. Hannah serves as the Assistant Director of Admission as well as the Transfer and International Coordinator for the office. She primarily works with transfer and international students along with students in Northeast Wisconsin and Michigan. Hannah also works closely with the student interns in the Office of Admission.

She is a graduate of Ripon College where she majored in Politics and Government and Cardinal Stritch University where she received her Masters in Higher Education Student Affairs Leadership. Outside of the office, she spends her time volunteering with youth in Wisconsin, reading, baking and spending time with her family.

Sarah Quella

Sarah began working in the Admission Office in 2015. Sarah works with prospective students and their families at all points throughout the admission process. She primarily works with families from the Eastern and Southeastern regions of the US.

Sarah also oversees the CRM system for the Admission Office. She is a graduate of St. Norbert College where she majored in Elementary Education and Marian University where she received her Masters in Educational Technology. Outside of the office, Sarah enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her family.

John Ingemann

John Ingemann ’12 is the Associate Director of Admission and Digital Recruitment Coordinator. However, before working at Ripon in a professional capacity, John first joined the Ripon community as a student in 2008. While at Ripon, he double majored in English and Theatre, wrote for the College Days newspaper, acted on stage with the Theatre department, served as a living group leader, played ultimate frisbee, and worked an on-campus and off-campus job. He joined the Ripon College Office of Admission in 2012 after graduation and began his professional career.

In his role in the Office of Admission, John recruits students from Fond du Lac, Calumet, Sheboygan, and Winnebago counties in Wisconsin and the entire states of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. As the Digital Recruitment Coordinator, John is happy to connect with students via the Applicant Portal, ZeeMee, and other digital services the Office of Admission offers to help students learn about Ripon College. If you have any questions about these resources, contact him today!

Amy Stephens

Andrew Prellwitz

As Director of Lane Library I connect students to the collections, spaces and library services they need for academic growth and success. This means providing books and articles from the world’s best scholars, making innovative spaces like the Franzen Center possible, and working with students to help them navigate the flood of information available. Like many Ripon students, I was the first in my family to go to college. That’s one of the many reasons I find the additional services we provide, like chromebook and textbook check-outs as well as supporting open-educational resources so essential.

I currently teach information literacy as part of the Catalyst curriculum and have also taught courses on German language, culture and literature, the digital humanities, oral history as well as a half-marathon course.

Professionally, I am an active member of the Wisconsin Library Association as current co-chair of the Leadership Committee, co-chair of the Literary Awards committee as well as a past chair of the Wisconsin Association of Academic Librarians. I also serve on two public library boards. My scholarship focuses on local history and culture.

Jennifer Machacek

Jenn Machacek serves as the Vice President for Enrollment. In her role, Jenn oversees all aspects of the Office of Admission and the Office of Financial Aid. She also resides on the Administrative Council at the College.

Jenn has spent the last 28 years in higher education, specifically in enrollment management. She joined the Ripon team in the fall of 2013. Jenn also enjoys managing territories in the Fox Valley, SE Wisconsin and HI for the college. Jenn graduated from Marquette University in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science from the College of Business Administration specializing in marketing. She earned her MBA from Marquette University in 2001 with an emphasis in marketing. She has served in numerous enrollment leadership roles throughout the state of Wisconsin and at national levels.

In her down time she enjoys spending quality time with her husband, Bob and their three children Alexandrea, Matt and Jake. She also loves hiking, traveling and reading.

Chris Ogle

Michele Wittler

Shawn Karsten

John Sisko

• Ph.D. in Philosophy, Rutgers University
• B.A. in Liberal Arts, St. John’s College (Annapolis, MD)

Marc Sackman

• D.M.A., Flute Performance, Rutgers University
• M.M., Flute Performance, Rutgers University
• B.Mus. program (no degree), University of Illinois
• B.A., History/Social Studies Secondary Education, Rutgers College

Benjamin R. Grady

• Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison
• M.S., University of Northern Iowa-Cedar Falls
• B.A., University of Northern Iowa-Cedar Falls

Nature has always been a central part of my life. I was lucky enough to turn this passion for the natural world into a career as a scientist and educator in the field of biology. My areas of research focus broadly on evolution, ecology and conservation. Specifically, I study a group of fascinating plants that inhabit some of the most inhospitable North American desert areas, the wild buckwheat (Eriogonum). Additionally, the complexity and rarity of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem have always interested me. Currently, students in my research lab at Ripon College are investigating the diversity of insect pollinators (bees, butterflies, etc.) in prairies of Wisconsin. There is still a lot we can learn from the species around us!

At Ripon College, I teach courses ranging from Introductory Biology and Environmental Studies to advanced courses in Plant Diversity, Flora and Vegetation, and Conservation Biology.