UW crest UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN–MADISON
Holiday style Lifelong Learning: News & opportunities from the Division of Continuing Studies.

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December 2025

Manny Avila

From first-gen student to global finance pro

For Manny Avila, returning to college wasn’t just about earning a degree — it was about keeping a promise. As a single father and first-generation college student, Manny enrolled in UW–Madison Online to set an example for his son and honor his mother’s dream. Two years later, he graduated from the Wisconsin School of Business with a BBA in Management and launched an international career in corporate treasury.

Today, Manny works as a senior treasury analyst at Zendesk, collaborating with teams across the globe. His degree gave him confidence, opened doors and fueled his ultimate goal: moving to Japan to continue his global journey.

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Alex Smith and Howard Martin

Badger Ready helps student honor grandfather’s legacy

Through UW–Madison’s Badger Ready program, Alex Smith overcame barriers to finish his data science degree — continuing the vision of his grandfather, Howard Martin, a pioneer in lifelong learning. Today, Alex thrives in a tech career and proves it’s never too late to learn. (Read more about Howard’s extraordinary career and life in "From the archives," below.)


Jordan Hynum with Bucky

Donors make education accessible for nontraditional students

Your gift to the Division of Continuing Studies changes lives. This holiday season, you can help students like Jordan Hynum, who returned to UW–Madison at 25 to finish her marketing degree online after battling severe anxiety. She credits donors for offering more than financial support. “Being an adult student going back to school online can feel isolating,” she said. “I thought about the scholarship donors in every single moment that I felt I couldn’t do it. Those thoughts kept me motivated and inspired, and I am so, so proud to be here today.”

More stories from the Division of Continuing Studies

Featured Continuing Education course

Design Thinking for Innovative Problem-Solving

Starts Jan. 15; register by Jan. 9 | Live online

Designed for working professionals, this hands-on course equips you with practical tools to tackle real-world challenges in business and everyday life. Learn to empathize with others, define problems, brainstorm novel solutions, develop prototypes and refine your solutions based on feedback.
Learn more & register >>

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Coming up

Jan. 6 Spanish 0 mini continuing education course begins online
Jan. 12 Applications open for Badger Precollege summer programs for grades 4–12
Jan. 14 Virtual event: Alumni panel on MS in Learning Analytics program
Jan. 20 Enrollment begins for free UW course registration for Senior Guest Auditors
Jan. 21 UW Odyssey Project Open House, in person and online
Jan. 21 Establishing a Foundation for Motivational Interviewing Skills continuing ed course begins online
Jan. 24 Registration deadline for Badger Precollege Mini Orchestra Clinic and teacher retreat
Feb. 9 Scholarship applications open for UW–Madison Summer Term
Feb. 15 Deadline to apply to UW–Madison Online for March 2026 start
Feb. 17 School for Workers residential institute on grievance arbitration begins
Feb. 19 Webinar: Program overview of Teacher Education Programs

From the archives


Howard Martin
As the first dean of UW–Madison’s newly formed Division of Continuing Studies in 1994, Howard Martin played a key role in advancing the Wisconsin Idea by championing lifelong learners. During his tenure, the division evolved to serve a variety of nontraditional audiences, from summer students to senior guest auditors. Martin passed away in September 2025; we remember his legacy in this memorial article.