From Here to Chair: Meet Leslie Dinauer
Are you a lifetime member of the Wisconsin Union or an annual member on your way to becoming one? Then you are, or will become, a member of the Wisconsin Union Association.
Now, let me introduce you to Leslie Dinauer, class of 1987 UW-Madison grad and new chair of the Wisconsin Union Association’s Board of Trustees.
As a Badger alum, Leslie understands the magic and importance the Union provides for its students and other members, having frequented Union South on a regular basis as a student, especially to take advantage of its quick, easy meal plan options.
For Leslie, being a part of the Association connects her back to her alma mater and to the place where she met her husband. Both are now lifetime members of the Wisconsin Union.
Read below to get a behind-the-scenes look at how the Wisconsin Union Association functions, with whom it collaborates, and how Leslie has seen the Union change from her time as a student until now.
- How did you come to be connected to the Wisconsin Union Association?
Unlike some of the Association trustees, I was not a director in the Wisconsin Union Directorate as a student, so I did not know about the trustees. But about 10 years ago, while I was a professor at the University of Maryland Global Campus, I discovered one of my colleagues was a trustee. As we were working together one day, she noticed that my notebooks and my jacket had Bucky Badger on them. (I have a lot of UW gear!) Upon noticing this, she asked me if I went to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I said, “Of course!” At that point, she began telling me about being a trustee. Although I didn’t know much about the Wisconsin Union Association (called the Memorial Union Building Association at the time), after looking into it more, it seemed like a meaningful way to support the Union and the University. I applied to be a trustee and was elected in 2013. This month – nine years later – I became the chair.
- What is the Wisconsin Union Association?
The Wisconsin Union Association is a nonprofit, educational corporation representing the more than 105,000 Wisconsin Union lifetime members comprised of UW-Madison students, faculty, alumni, and friends. For nearly 100 years, the Wisconsin Union Association (formerly the Memorial Union Building Association) has used lifetime membership fees as well as raised private funds for the betterment of the Wisconsin Union. The Association has provided financial support for the multicultural murals in Memorial Union, the expansion of the Memorial Union Terrace, the refurbishing of the Hoofer Lounge, and the remodeling of the first-floor corridor at Memorial Union and the atrium stairway at Union South. In addition to support for physical improvements, Association resources also support programs such as the Trustee Residency on Wheelhouse Studios, the Leadership Residency, the Theater Residency, and fundraising efforts, such as the Theater Program Endowment Fund.
- What does it mean to be a Wisconsin Union trustee?
As a trustee for the Wisconsin Union Association, I am helping to steward the Union’s heritage and ideals, providing support in a manner that is responsive to the needs of the Union and its constituencies.
- What will you do as chair of the trustees? What does your work with the Wisconsin Union Association entail?
As chair, I will provide leadership to this large group of about 70 trustees and help coordinate the efforts of the various standing committees. However, the real work of the Association happens in those committees.
Right now, we are focused on the organization’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We want to make sure the Association is an inclusive organization and that the people who volunteer their time in the activities that we do feel included and valued.
One example of the interesting initiatives we have is our Wisconsin Union Ambassadors Committee. The Ambassadors Committee helps us connect to our neighbors, like on State Street or in the greater Madison area. The current chair of that committee, Tiffany Thom Kenney, is also the executive eirector of Madison’s Central Business Improvement District. She’s done a tremendous job helping the Wisconsin Union Association work to develop community relationships, which is important. We want to have relationships with other organizations in our surrounding community because the Union is not only the living room of the UW-Madison campus but also one of the main centers of the Madison community. Many Madison community members see the Union as a place where they can come relax, participate in events, meet up with friends, enjoy beautiful Lake Mendota . . . and perhaps join us as lifetime members.
- What significant changes have you seen at the Union from your time as a student until now?
Because the heart of the Union is the students, as students’ interests and priorities change from year to year and generation to generation, the Union changes and grows with them.
Students manage the Union programming and are able to say, “this is what we need to offer in order to be of value to our peers,” or “this keeps the Union current as to what’s going on within the campus.” At the risk of being cheeky, “boomers” like myself would not be able to keep the Union and its programming as relevant or appealing without the students and their leadership.
What’s interesting about the notion of “change” here is that the core of the Union – the students – actually remains the same.
- What was your major during your time at the University of Wisconsin-Madison? What were you involved in?
I came in originally as a biology major. However, I quickly found I did not enjoy the labs, and it was not the major for me. The first semester of my sophomore year, I took five classes, each one in a different major, and decided whatever class I liked best would become my major. By the end of the semester, I was officially committed to being a communication arts major. I was also involved in Navy ROTC.
- What is your favorite part of the Badger community?
I love the affection Badgers have for each other.
Anywhere in the world, anytime, you can always find a Badger and it’s something really special. (Look for that UW gear!)
What do you like to do outside of work?
I currently live in Colorado with my husband. We live near a ski resort, so we love to ski and snowboard together in the winter. Much of my family remains in Wisconsin, so I try to come and visit Wisconsin as often as possible.
I also work as an Executive Director for an academic association of professors.
- What is your favorite Babcock Ice Cream flavor?
My favorite is definitely orange chocolate chip; it’s the best, and you can’t find it anywhere else.
- What is something you want to share with the Badger community?
I know that sometimes it feels like when you are away from Madison you can’t be connected to the Wisconsin Union or UW campus; however, this is not the case. Now more than ever, we have created ways for people to connect to the Union from a distance.
I would encourage people to follow all the Union social media accounts, blogs and newsletters. These are great ways to get information on what is going on, both within campus and at the Union. People can see what types of programming, shows, events, and outdoor activities are being offered, and if there are virtual options for participation.
Click here for more information on Wisconsin Union events.
