Bolz Center for Arts Administration

05/21/2026

Congratulations to Bolz Center Alum Marla Poytinger for being recognized by Milwaukee Business Journal as a 2026 Women of Influence! Marla's first business post-MBA was Splash Studio, a painting and wine bar in Milwaukee, WI. If you roam the halls and offices of Grainger Hall, you'll find artwork created by Wisconsin School of Business students and staff members led through instruction by Marla and her Splash Studio team. Thank you for your commitment to the arts and hospitality, Marla!

Here is the complete list of 2026 Women of Influence honorees >> See the full article below ⬇️

05/11/2026

We are delighted to see several of our Bolzies (Maja Hastings, Ali Mammadov, Palmer Papson, Elizabeth G. Sage, Brielle Wallace, William Arnold) represented in the University of Wisconsin-Madison 2026 Commencement video! As ever they show their care for each other (1:12) and a meaningful reminder that they will always be Badgers (1:24). On, Wisconsin!

05/09/2026

The Bolz Center Class of 2026 is all Mastered up!

05/08/2026

Please help us Congratulate the Bolz Center Class of 2026 on their completion of the Master of Arts-Business: Arts and Creative Enterprise Leadership Program and graduation from the Wisconsin School of Business: William Arnold, Maya Dougherty-Harris, Kathleen Ferrero PLA, ASLA, Peter Goitom, Maja Hastings, Sophie Le, Yiang Li, Ali Mammadov, Palmer Papson, Molly Peterson, Franchesca Reuter, Jenny Rose, Elizabeth G. Sage, Jack Scharff, Salima Seale, Paige Verbsky, Brielle Wallace.

Managing an accelerated master’s program in 9 short (but long) months takes hard work and dedication, and this group did so with enthusiasm, poise, grit, and flair!

We also Congratulate the University of Wisconsin-Madison Mead Witter School of Music Doctoral candidates who are graduating this weekend with their respective degrees and minor in Arts Administration: Kara Cantele, Chantel Charis Davis, Kristen Diederichs, Stephen Dubetz, Doudou Jin, Xinzhe Ning, Riley Smith, John Patrick Wagner, Jing Zhang.

We wish all of the new graduates the absolute best in their professional career journeys ahead!

05/05/2026

We extend our Congratulations to all of the University of Wisconsin-Madison students who will be receiving their Leadership Certificates today, including our Bolzies! The Leadership Certificate program is led by the staff in the UW-Madison Office for Student Organizations, Leadership & Involvement.

Through the program, students:

* Gain an in-depth understanding of leadership competencies and values as reflected in the UW-Madison Leadership Framework.

* Are able to practice consistent and effective self-reflection when engaging in leadership activities.

* Gain a greater understanding of their leadership related strengths and areas of improvement.

* Demonstrate the ability to apply learned leadership knowledge and skills in practical settings for the purpose of creating positive change.

We will celebrate with our students this evening at the 2026 Leadership Certificate Ceremony. Thank you to Mao Thao and her team for their dedication and service to UW-Madison in helping individuals explore and define their own sense of leadership.

https://soli.wisc.edu/leadership-certificate-program-overview/

05/02/2026

On Friday May 1, we gathered together for the final Bolz Center Applied Learning Trip of the year. This one was extremely special as it was planned and hosted by one of our own! Giselle Oliva-Metoxen is a Class of 2024 Alum, and Director of Programs and Development for Ukwakhwa on the Oneida Reservation in De Pere, WI. Gise and her team welcomed our group for a day of hands-on learning, exploration, and connection with traditional Haudenosaunee food and land practices. We learned about Black Ash Basketry making, and the ancestral history of Lacrosse in their culture, and had the opportunity to make our own Corn Husk Flowers. Lunch included a delicious meal of Vegetable and Turkey Soup, Wild Rice Salad, and Strawberry Juice. The day ended in the Trading Post where we learned about the trade process of their goods and farm products.

We graciously acknowledge and thank Gise and her team for their time and care, including Becky and Steve Webster, Liandra Skenandore, Nicholas Metoxen, and Dori LeBeau (as well as our new furry farm friends, Mia, Bo, Berry, and Henry.)

04/30/2026

Our Bolzies finish out their MA Program classes today, including Impact Consulting with Professor John Surdyk.

04/29/2026

Today marked the last day of the Arts Administration Seminar class for the academic year, and we were privileged to be joined by guest speaker, Julia Bolz, one of our proudest supporters since her family's naming recognition in 1993. Julia has spent her career focusing on social justice and human rights for girls around the world.

Today she shared her time with us to talk about 'trim tabs, a mini rudder within a larger rudder on a ship or plane that when turned can make small but meaningful shifts. People can - and should - also serve this purpose, and she expressed that our Bolz Center students and alumni are trim tabs, too: exceptional human beings who want to make a difference through your passion and work, whether it be directly in the arts or other pursuit that aligns with your core values.

You can read more about Julia and the impact of her career here:
https://www.sahareducation.org/our-founders

04/28/2026

Brielle Wallace came to the Wisconsin School of Business in 2023 to pursue her undergraduate studies. Discovering several years prior that she had a curiosity and drive for creating and building an endeavor from its roots, a degree in management and entrepreneurship was her target. During her senior year, Brielle enrolled in MHR 636: Arts Entrepreneurship II, taught by Professor John Surdyk. Having already established her own nonprofit organization, the class, and moreover the Bolz Center’s graduate offering in Arts and Creative Enterprise Leadership provided fuel for the spark that had been growing since her childhood.

“It quickly became clear that the program was exactly what I was looking for, even before I knew I needed it.”

This past September, she joined the cohort to take additional coursework in business, learn from her fellow Bolzies, and focus on nonprofit management that is rooted in mission-driven community minded practice. With graduation almost upon us, she will soon join BD Aesthetics in Stoughton, Wisconsin, as their Business Manager.

I knew from a young age that my mind was wired toward entrepreneurship. I was drawn towards the creativity that comes with building something from the

04/27/2026

Congratulations to Kristen Diederichs on completing her Doctorate of Musical Arts in Oboe Performance, and minor in Arts Administration!

Kristen's graduate work centered on the creation of a Storybook Music Project, which pairs live classical music with diverse children's books. Thanks to funding from the Dane County Library Service's Beyond the Page Program, Kristen and her Utka Ensemble will be visiting libraries throughout Dane County May 18-23, for free story time performances!

Just a year ago, Kristen was also a first place finalist in the 2025 UW-Madison Division of the Arts Arts Business Competition.

Join the Utka Ensemble for a free musical storytime at Sequoya Library (Madison Public Library)! A great way to introduce children to the power (and fun!) of classical music, the Utka musicians will present diverse children's picture books alongside carefully curated music. From beloved classics like Peter Rabbit to newer favorites, it’s an experience for the whole family to enjoy.

Sequoya Library
Monday, May 18th
2-2:45pm

Sponsored by Beyond the Page, National Endowment for the Humanities and Madison Community Foundation.

04/17/2026

If we are fortunate enough during our lives, we will meet an incredible person (or people) who help shape the path of who we are to become. That person who helps us to learn and grow, think and feel, inspiring us to try hard and be our best self.

For young Paige Verbsky, that individual was Mrs. Kouba, her piano and voice teacher, and eventually so much more. For over a decade, they sang and practiced together, with Mrs. Kouba helping Paige develop into a successful leader and musician.

At age 17 that bond didn’t break when they had to say goodbye. It compelled Paige to follow her heart and stay the course in the arts, eventually leading her to undergraduate and graduate career study in administration.

In a few short weeks, Paige will transition from Wisconsin School of Business student to fulltime Marketing and Administrative Assistant at American Players Theatre. We know that Mrs. Kouba would be so proud of all that she has created for herself, and still yet to achieve. We are proud of her, too!

Read more about Paige and how she honors the legacy of her mentor:

The trajectory of my life began to take shape at the age of 6 years old, when I met my 78-year-old piano and voice teacher, Mrs. Louis Kouba. Mrs. Kouba