Raised in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Ed completed his undergraduate studies at Rutgers and his graduate studies at New York University. He has held positions at multiple universities including the University of Michigan, Washington University, Columbia University and Rutgers. Since 1984, he has pioneered efforts to develop new interdisciplinary programs, establish online learning capabilities, and build strong and lasting relationships among faculty and employers.
He has led the development and delivery of innovative and highly successful interdisciplinary graduate and professional programs in engineering, management, technology, healthcare, and organizational leadership. His career efforts at major universities, three start-ups, and various companies have improved learning outcomes in the areas of learning design and innovation, strategic planning and implementation, and curriculum development.
As Director of the UW E-Business Consortium, Doug Barton leads the UWEBC team to implement strategies to achieve operational excellence. He also oversees the development of new and expanded ways to serve our members’ evolving needs for talent and organizational capability development, including leveraging the synergies between UWEBC and other UW-Madison campus units.
With more than 30 years of experience, Doug brings a diverse background working with and leading mission-driven and values-rich companies, including senior leadership positions at UBIX.AI and IBM.
Doug has spoken at industry and IBM conferences around the globe and local venues on topics ranging from design thinking, entrepreneurship, disruptive technology and innovation.
Paul Miller has over 25 years of experience in supporting systems and processes used in the preparation and delivery of courses for working professionals. Over his career with UW-Madison, he has managed teams of staff and students to provide support for both credit and non-credit courses.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, he led the education support team to pivot from in-person courses to online delivery. These efforts ensured that program directors, instructors, and students experienced the full range of benefits offered. In addition, new processes were established in preparing and delivering courses with a goal of creating optimal online learning environments.
As technologies improve and UW keeps an eye toward Enterprise systems over individual program systems, one of his top priorities is researching, strategizing, and managing implementation of updated systems, websites, and processes.
Paul has been a stakeholder in many campus initiatives with the goal of establishing improved interoperability and infrastructure services and practices across campus. He is currently working to integrate Salesforce, and the associated systems, into InterPro’s workflows.
Susan Ottmann is the director of professional programs for Interdisciplinary Professional Programs, in the College of Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She leads the non-credit professional programs and the online degrees in Manufacturing Systems and Engineering Data Analytics. She teaches courses in technical leadership and technical project management for both credit and professional development programs.
Susan has more than 25 years of industrial engineering experience in multiple engineering, marketing, manufacturing and leadership roles for a number of multinational companies. In the 10 years prior to joining UW-Madison, she led global business for Danaher and Thermo Fisher Scientific. In these roles she was responsible for teams in North America, Europe, and Asia.
Her education includes a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and an M.S. in Engineering and Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon and an M.S. in Management from North Carolina State University. She is active in the Society of Women Engineers and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. In her free time, Susan volunteers with the Goodwill VITA Tax Program and is a board member for the Lake Waubesa Sailing Club.
A Wisconsin native, Dave received his B.S. Civil and Environmental Engineering from UW-Madison. After working for a multi-disciplinary design and construction company in Chicago he returned to Madison and received his M.B.A.
He then started working for Interdisciplinary Professional Programs marketing over 400 continuing education professional development courses per year to engineering and other technical professionals. He also managed the budget, accounting, and financial reporting functions for EPD. He has devoted over 30 years to professional development and the Wisconsin Idea, teaching and training engineering and technical professionals in Wisconsin and beyond the borders of the state and country.
He is the Program Director for the University of Wisconsin–Madison Railroad Engineering and Operations Program. The program consists of 12 courses conducted annually on topics ranging from introduction to railroad engineering and operations to signaling, bridges, crossings, and traction power. He is also the Department Administrator for Interdisciplinary Professional Programs in the College of Engineering.
Amanda Renz leads the Learning Design and Technologies team, whose purpose is to support the design and delivery of our world-class learning experiences and fulfill our commitment to the Wisconsin Idea. In her role, she consults with faculty and campus leaders on research-based best practices for teaching and learning, with insight into online learning systems and the needs of professional adult learners.
She values authentic connection, meaningful engagement, and continuous improvement. As a ScrumMaster and Product Owner, Amanda applies an agile framework to lead the development of innovative solutions to complex problems in an ever-changing, dynamic environment.
Amanda is a proud Badger and life-long learner who earned her bachelor’s in Education and master’s in Library and Information Studies, both from UW–Madison. Prior to joining UW, she served as a K12 Educator and a Staff Sergeant in the US Army.
Heather Smith is the director of graduate programs for Interdisciplinary Professional Programs in the College of Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She leads the online graduate programs and the online degree in Engineering Management. She teaches courses in international engineering and technical leadership.
Heather has over 18 years of experience in the test and measurement sector at National Instruments in multiple engineering and leadership roles. She has led international projects in the consumer electronics, RF, solar, and the oil and gas industries.
Heather’s education includes a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan, and an MS in Engineering and Technology Management from Colorado School of Mines. She is a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and a skilled trainer. In her free time, Heather is an avid bird watcher, travels, and devours books.