Join award-winning author Kate Klise, Arts ’85, and her illustrator sister Sarah Klise, Arts ’84, as they share their best writing tips and drawing tricks. In their 30-plus books, the Klise sisters have persuaded one of the toughest audiences in America — children — to keep turning the pages. Learn from these creative sisters how to craft your next story, whether it’s a business pitch, closing argument, or perhaps a bestselling memoir.

Kate Klise, Arts '85, is the bestselling author of more than 30 books for young readers. She also spent 15 years working as a correspondent for People magazine, interviewing such American icons as Harper Lee and Johnny Cash. When she's not working on a new book, Kate enjoys leading writing workshops and master classes for aspiring authors of all ages in schools, libraries, and Fortune 500 companies.

Sarah Klise, Arts '84, is the award-winning illustrator of many children's books written by her sister, Kate. Sarah has spent the past 30 years teaching private drawing and painting classes in the San Francisco Bay Area. She currently leads online art classes and, with Kate, is offering a series of Zoom master classes for children and adults who want to write and illustrate books.

For more about the Klise sisters, visit kateandsarahklise.com.

Dr. Karisse A. Callender is an assistant professor in the department of counselor education and counseling psychology at Marquette University. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Substance Abuse Counselor (SAC) in the state of Wisconsin. Karisse was introduced to yoga and mindfulness in 2009 and she has maintained a personal practice since then. She leads the Mindfulness and Quality of Life research team where she focuses on which aspects of mindfulness work for individuals and how those aspects work, and how mindfulness based interventions may improve wellbeing and quality of life. Karisse incorporates mindfulness in her classes and enjoys sharing mindfulness and wellness information with others as she continues to learn on this journey.

Dr. Alie Kriofske Mainella, Grad ’06, is an assistant clinical professor in the counselor education and counseling psychology department at Marquette University. She graduated from Marquette as a Trinity Fellow in 2006. After her time at Marquette ended, and before receiving her Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Counselor Education from the University of Wisconsin, Alie started and ran a youth program for young people with disabilities where she taught independent living skills, ran support groups and worked in service to young people with a wide variety of disabilities. Alie has taught the course "Positive Psychology" to more than 200 undergraduates at the University of Wisconsin, and incorporates the practices of positive psychology into her practice in her specialization of rehabilitation counseling, service to people with disabilities, and especially service to the university and her students in her courses as a professor.

Dr. Robert S. Smith is the Harry G. John Professor of History and the Director of the Center for Urban Research, Teaching & Outreach at Marquette University. His research and teaching interests include African American history, civil rights history, and exploring the intersections of race and law. Dr. Smith is the author of Race, Labor & Civil Rights; Griggs v. Duke Power and the Struggle for Equal Employment Opportunity. Prior to joining Marquette University, Dr. Smith served as the associate vice chancellor for global inclusion & engagement and director of the Cultures & Communities Program at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Walter J. Lanier is the Director of Student Resources and Counseling Services Engagement at Milwaukee Area Technical College. In 2015, Lanier led the design and launch of the college's Men of Color Initiative, which is designed to increase course completion, retention, and graduation rates of the college's men of color. Men of color are over 22% of MATC's population; Black men are 56% of that total.

In addition, Lanier is in his ninth year as the senior pastor of the Progressive Baptist Church of Milwaukee. Progressive is particularly recognized for its work in the areas of mental health, anti-violence and HIV/AIDS prevention.  In 2012, he formed "MIRACLE" (Mental Illness - Raising Awareness with Church and Community Leaders Everywhere), a collaboration of faith-based leaders, community leaders and people with lived experience.

A 1995 graduate of the University of Michigan law school, Lanier maintained his own business law practice for over a decade prior to joining MATC. Lanier also lectured in the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Department of Africology in the areas of race and constitutional law. Lanier currently serves on the Milwaukee County Mental Health Board, Milwaukee Community Justice Council, Milwaukee Inner City Congregations Allied for Hope and Milwaukee Health Services, Inc.

Paul Moga is the coordinator for Milwaukee Public Schools’ Department of Black and Latino Male Achievement. A Milwaukee native and MPS alumnus, Paul collaborates with district leaders to implement professional learning, and leads research-based initiatives such as the BLMA Manhood Academy course and First Thursdays Mentor Luncheons. Paul works to inspire students as academically critical contributors, while preserving their cultural and individual dignity through positive relationships. To further these goals, Paul serves on several equity-focused committees, challenging educators to not just be aware of biases, but to confront and override them by actively proliferating anti-racist, restorative, and culturally responsive practices.

LaNelle Ramey, Arts '99, Grad '03, is the executive director for MENTOR Greater Milwaukee. MGM serves mentoring organizations in a variety of professional development and technical assistance to assist with capacity building for organizations.

Before joining MENTOR, LaNelle worked at Milwaukee Public Schools starting in August 2017 as the founding director of the Department of Black and Latino Male Achievement, working within the district to ensure Black and Latino male students are intentionally a part of the district educational equity strategies for academic improvement and overall life outcomes. LaNelle’s department oversaw the management of the Manhood Academies in four schools throughout the district, increasing mentoring opportunities for Black and Latino male students, working directly with school teachers and school administrators for equitable and dignity, assisting the district with strategies for the recruitment and retention of male teachers of color, and worked alongside community partners to help create a positive narrative for Black and Latino Boys throughout the district.   

Prior to joining Milwaukee Public Schools, LaNelle worked for youth development for 20+ years with various non-profit and community-based organizations who serve boys of color, including the YMCA, New Concept Self Development Center and Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee. LaNelle is an adjunct professor with Cardinal Stritch University and is a member of the African American Leadership Program Alumni Network in collaboration with the Cardinal Stritch University AALP Program.

Kevin Kennedy, Grad '99, is a senior director with Northwestern Mutual Real Estate in Milwaukee, one of the largest real estate investors in the nation. In his role, Kevin oversees NM’s investments in multifamily and industrial developments nationwide. Prior to his current role with Northwestern Mutual, Kevin led several successful independent development opportunities in Wisconsin. He also held roles as an architect within NM and local architectural firms. Kevin received his B.S. in Architectural Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and his EMBA from Marquette University.

Brian Konyn, Bus Ad '12, is an associate with Northwestern Mutual Real Estate in Milwaukee, one of the largest real estate investors in the nation. In his role he focuses on the development, leasing, and operations of multifamily and industrial assets in the Central and Pacific Northwest regions of the country. Prior to joining NM Brian spent two years with Deloitte’s audit practice in Milwaukee. He earned his B.S in Business Administration from Marquette University, majoring in Accounting, Finance, and Real Estate, his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Dr. Anthony Pennington-Cross is the Bell Chair Professor in Real Estate in the College of Business Administration at Marquette University and a faculty member at Homer Hoyt Institute. He is on the board of the American Real Estate Society and the Milwaukee Global Health Consortium. He is widely published in academic journals such as Real Estate Economics and many others. Recent research includes the impact of Airbnb on crime, the spatial clustering of gas stations, and models of mortgage loss.

Dr. Kathy Coffey-Guenther currently serves as the Senior Mission & Ignatian Leadership Specialist in University Advancement at Marquette University. Additionally, Kathy serves/has served as adjunct faculty for undergraduates and clinical adjunct faculty for graduate students at Marquette University. Kathy received a Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Marquette University and a certificate in spiritual direction from the Aquinas Institute of Theology.  For many years, Kathy has worked with a particular emphasis in Ignatian spirituality as a means for healthy spiritual and emotional living. Kathy has also served as a spiritual director, speaker and consultant to religious congregations, clergy and religious, and parishes focusing on the work of community building, conflict resolution and spiritual growth. Kathy serves as current consultant for diaconate formation in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and served as the past Co-Chair of the Community Advisory Board for Clergy Abuse in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

Wayne Breitbarth, Grad ’86, is the CEO of Power Formula LLC. He is an experienced businessman, speaker, and author and a globally recognized industry leader in LinkedIn training, marketing, and consulting. He has shared his expertise with more than 100,000 business professionals through private business consulting, dynamic presentations to worldwide audiences and his critically acclaimed book, The Power Formula for LinkedIn Success (now in its fourth edition). He has been featured in Forbes, Inc., Wired, and American Express Open Forum and seen on NBC and Fox Business. Wayne works with companies to develop a comprehensive strategy for using LinkedIn to increase sales, raise brand awareness, recruit employees and reduce recruiting fees, and discover new markets for products and services. He also works with universities (students/staff/alumni), not-for-profit organizations, associations, executive peer advisory groups and individuals. His clients include IBM, Abbott Labs, Aflac, the American Marketing Association and Northwestern University. He is a CPA, received an accounting degree from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, a MBA from Marquette University and has received recognition for his public service in the Milwaukee community, where he resides with his wife of 39 years.