Wisconsin Academy Staff
Jessica Becker
Interim Director of Letters, Editor of WP&I
Jessica Becker is Interim Director of Letters, Editor of Wisconsin People & Ideas magazine for the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters. She earned her undergraduate degrees at UW-Madison and received a Master’s degree from George Washington University in Museum Education. After working in museums and public programs around the country, she returned to Wisconsin to work for Wisconsin Humanities, where she most recently was Director of Communications.
Jody Clowes
Director of James Watrous Gallery
Jody Clowes is the director of the Academy’s James Watrous Gallery and arts editor for Wisconsin People & Ideas magazine. Her experience developing and curating exhibits, designing public programs, and writing about art includes senior positions at Milwaukee Art Museum, Detroit’s Pewabic Pottery, and the UW-Madison’s Design Gallery.
Jennifer Graham
Exhibitions and Outreach Coordinator
Jennifer Graham is the Exhibitions and Outreach Coordinator at the Academy’s James Watrous Gallery. Graham has a B.A. in Anthropology and a M.A. in Library and Information Studies with a certification in Archives and Records Management from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Faris Hazim
Database and Analytics Intern
Faris is the Database and Analytics Intern for the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters. Hailing all the way from Malaysia, he successfully secured a full-ride scholarship in 2021 to study in the United States. Currently, Faris is a rising senior at UW-Madison, majoring in Data Science, Statistics, and Economics. Despite the constantly demanding course load, he still manages to strike a balance between academic excellence and out-of-classroom involvements.
Erika Monroe-Kane
Executive Director
Erika Monroe-Kane is the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters. At the Wisconsin Academy, she leads efforts to connect people and ideas through art, science, and culture, fostering civil discourse and creative exploration across the state.
Matt Rezin
Operations Manager
Matt Rezin is the Operations Manager for Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters, he’s been with the academy since 2016. Matt uses his varied experience in nonprofit administration to provide technical and logistics support across the organization.
Zack Robbins
Director of Development
Zack is the Director of Development at the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters and brings 30 years of development, corporate relations and networking experience to the role. While Zack was born in Washington, DC, and met his wife Laila there, he grew up in New England and received his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Bates College and Master’s degree in Management from the University of Maryland.
Julie Steinert
Administrative Assistant
Julie Steinert is the Administrative Assistant for the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters. She worked in events and marketing in Dallas for 3 years before moving to Wisconsin in 2016. Since moving, Julie has worked as a data specialist for a variety of mapping companies and as a barista at a local yarn and coffee shop. She graduated from Mississippi State University in 2013 with her B. A. in Anthropology.
Yong Cheng Yang
Visitor Services Associate
Yong Cheng Yang (Yong Cha) is the primary Visitor Services Associate for the James Watrous Gallery. She is currently attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison, majoring in Kinesiology. She is fluent in Hmong and English. You can find her at the gallery desk on most Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
Megan Link
External Relations Coordinator
Megan is the External Relations Coordinator for the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters. Born and raised in Virginia, Megan graduated from James Madison University with a degree in Geographic Science, before moving to Madison and earning her master’s in Environmental Conservation at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Previously, Megan worked as a GIS analyst, and as an Outreach Specialist for sustainable and equitable transportation policy.