Among the class of 218 Graduate Studies students who crossed the commencement stage at University of Wisconsin-Stout’s May 16 ceremony, five were recognized by faculty and staff as inspiring graduates whose stories represent what it is to be Stout Proud.
The graduates shared their university experiences, setbacks and successes in UW-Stout’s Inspiring Graduate Q&A series:
- Bex Cermin, M.F.A. Design, St. Croix Falls
- Justin George, M.S. Applied Computer Science, Delhi, India
- Josh Green, M.S. Applied Industrial/Operational Psychology, McFarland
- Michi Marks, M.S. Marriage and Family Therapy, Menomonie
- KC Maternowski, M.S. Applied Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Milwaukee
Of this year’s UW-Stout graduates, 77.4% were hired prior to graduation, while 99% of recent graduates were employed or furthering their education within six months of graduation.
Inspiring Graduate: Bex Cermin, M.F.A. in design
Cermin has been interested in fashion design for as long as she can remember. “I still have sketches I drew when I was six. My love for fashion design is at the core of who I am,” she said.
After receiving her undergraduate degree, Cermin was interested in continuing her academic journey. Several friends and family members of hers have thrived at UW-Stout, which led her to explore its cross-disciplinary M.F.A. in design.
During her time as a student, she also taught in the undergraduate fashion design and development program and was a featured designer at the 2024 Omaha Fashion Week, the fourth-largest fashion week in the U.S.
“I feel that the MFA in design program has prepared me as an artist and designer to be an entrepreneur, which will be an exciting next step,” she said. “This experience has been about more than earning a degree — it has been about growth, both personally and creatively. I’m leaving with a clearer understanding of my voice as a designer and a stronger sense of purpose in the work I want to pursue. I’m grateful for the support I’ve received along the way and excited to continue building work that is intentional, meaningful and rooted in real human experience.”
Inspiring Graduate: Justin George, M.S. in applied computer science
Wanting to attend a master’s in computer science program that was centered around applied learning and hands‑on experiences,George was drawn to UW-Stout’s polytechnic focus.
“Stout’s combination of affordability and high‑quality education also played a big role in my decision,” George said. “I hope to make an impact by using data to solve real‑world problems and help organizations make more informed decisions. I want to work on projects that make technology more understandable and accessible, especially in spaces where data has the potential to improve people’s daily experiences.”
George is especially interested in the growing space of AI and Big Data, and how these technologies can be used to uncover insights that aren’t always obvious through traditional analysis. “Whether it’s improving decision‑making, optimizing processes, or creating solutions that simplify everyday tasks, I want to contribute to work that uses data and AI in meaningful, responsible ways,” he said.
During his master’s program, George completed an internship at Royal Credit Union in Eau Claire as a business intelligence analyst. He worked with dashboards, databases, and data engineering, giving him a strong technical foundation and a step toward his long‑term goals.
Inspiring Graduate: Josh Green, M.S. in applied industrial/organizational psychology
Green earned his bachelor’s in psychology from UW-Madison, and wanting to enter a master’s program, found that UW-Stout was one of the only universities in Wisconsin that offers an industrial/organizational psychology degree.
“Stout was the perfect fit. I hope to improve organizational processes, challenge outdated practices, and strengthen the overall image and effectiveness of the companies I work for. I want to bring a psychology and people‑centered perspective into workplaces, where it’s often overlooked,” he said.
After completing an internship with Red Wing Shoe Company in Red Wing, Minnesota, as a human resources business partner intern, Green plans to begin his career in HR and aims to move into the strategic side or organizational strategy.
“During my internship with Red Wing Shoe Company, I developed, facilitated, and delivered UKG training for onsite employees and supervisors, and I led an intern cohort project focused on retention and turnover,” he said “My biggest lesson was learning to take myself seriously as a professional. Young workers bring fresh ideas, strong skills and real value. I grew significantly in areas such as interpersonal communication, data analysis, strategic planning and presentation design. I can’t thank my mentors and supervisors enough for helping me grow as a professional.”
Inspiring Graduate: Michi Marks, M.S. in marriage and family therapy
Growing up, Marks was often told that education was the pathway out of poverty. What they discovered over time is that education can be something much deeper, a way of understanding themselves.
Marks earned a degree as a McNair Scholar, graduating cum laude through UW-Stout’s Honors Program in 2011 with a major in human development and family studies and returned to UW-Stout to pursue a graduate degree in marriage and family therapy.
“Education has the ability to change lives, though not always in expected ways. For me, UW-Stout has been a place where curiosity, community and courage merged. It provided the skills to develop a career and created a space to grow into a fuller version of myself,” they said.
They hope to continue working as a therapist with Edges Wellness Center, where they completed their practicum, refining their clinical skills and deepening their work with individuals, couples and families.
“Long-term, I hope to continue exploring healing not only through Western psychological frameworks but also through the wisdom found in indigenous culture, community, and embodied traditions,” they said. “My dream is to eventually help build communities of healers, spaces that bring together education, workshops, and collaborative learning around mental health, relationships, and collective wellbeing.
Inspiring Graduate: KC Maternowski, M.S. in applied industrial/organizational psychology
When searching for a master’s program that interested him, Maternowski found that UW-Stout was one of the only schools in Wisconsin that offered an in-person industrial/organizational psychology program.
“Immediately, it stood out to me. When I learned more about Stout’s polytechnic approach and applied emphasis, I knew it was exactly what I wanted to do,” he said. “To me, the blend of academic scholarship and real-world application is the perfect bridge to make sustainable, lasting change.”
Maternowski completed a human resources internship at Rockwell Automation, a manufacturing, automation and software company based in Milwaukee, and has begun conversations for a full-time position with the company.
“My goal right now is to build my resume and gain some experience, and then continue with my education to eventually teach and pass on the knowledge I learned at UW-Stout,” he said. “My goal is to continue building on scientific and evidence-based reasoning within business, and ensure that organizations recognize their impact on people. I want to change people’s perspectives and the relationships they have with work.”
Photos
Bex Cermin earned her M.F.A. in Design from UW-Stout on May 16.
Justin George earned his M.S. in Applied Computer Science from UW-Stout on May 16.
Josh Green earned his M.S. in Applied Industrial/Operational Psychology from UW-Stout on May 16.
Michi Marks earned their M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy from UW-Stout on May 16.
KC Maternowski earned his M.S. in Applied Industrial/Organizational Psychology from UW-Stout on May 16.
