Overview
Academic Programs & Faculty Advancement (APFA) assists the Board of Regents, the UW System President, and the UW universities to sustain sufficient access for students to majors and careers, identify gaps in systemwide program array, and analyze the workforce development needs of the state—all in the context of efficient management of systemwide resources.
APFA engages faculty in communities of practice informed by scholarship and critical reflection that results in meaningful learning for all students in the UW System. These communities of teaching and practice include problematizing equity, diversity, and inclusion in historical, political, and social contexts.
APFA facilitates and supports faculty, staff, students and UW System universities to develop, implement, and evaluate initiatives and policies that align university programs with the current and future international and global education needs of our state and nation.
Leadership

Carleen Vande Zande
Associate Vice President for Academic Programs & Faculty Advancement
Contact
1642 Van Hise Hall
1220 Linden Drive
Madison, WI 53706
Telephone: (608) 262-5089
cvandezande@uwsa.edu
Initiatives
The Academic Programs & Faculty Advancement (APFA) oversees the following programs that are hosted at UW institutions:
- Institute for Urban Education administered at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
- Global Exchange Partnerships. Wisconsin-Hessen Exchange Program administered at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
- Women and Science Program administered at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
- Women’s and Gender Studies Consortium administered at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Staff
Fay Akindes
Director, Systemwide Professional and Instructional Development
1636 Van Hise Hall
1220 Linden Drive
Madison, WI 53706
Telephone: (608) 263-2684
fakindes@uwsa.edu
Barbara Bales
Director, Strategic Initiatives and Educational Innovation in PK-20 and Education Programs
1638 Van Hise Hall
1220 Linden Drive
Madison, WI 53706
Telephone: (608) 890-3282
bbales@uwsa.edu
Salvador Carranza
Senior Policy Advisor for International Engagement
1630 Van Hise Hall
1220 Linden Drive
Madison, WI 53706
Telephone: (608) 265-9177
scarranza@uwsa.edu
Tracy Davidson
Director, STEM and Applied Research Initiatives
1606 Van Hise
1220 Linden Drive
Madison, WI 53706
Telephone: (608) 262-7865
tdavidson@uwsa.edu
Ann Fisher
Program Associate
1640 Van Hise Hall
1220 Linden Drive
Madison, WI 53706
Telephone: (608) 262-5862
afisher@uwsa.edu
Catherine King
Program Associate
1632 Van Hise Hall
1220 Linden Drive
Madison, WI 53706
Telephone: (608) 262-8522
cking@uwsa.edu
Diane Treis Rusk
Director, Academic Programs and Student Learning Assessment
1608 Van Hise Hall
1220 Linden Drive
Madison, WI 53706
Telephone: (608) 261-1115
dtreisrusk@uwsa.edu
Diane Waters
Program Associate
1612 Van Hise Hall
1220 Linden Drive
Madison, WI 53706
Telephone: (608) 262-3216
dwaters@uwsa.edu