Outlook Magazine - Fall 2024

For the Next Generations Alum, husband give $1.5 million to foster cross-disciplinary learning, support faculty

A t Stout State College, Sharon Hafeman Balius (’62) learned about a variety of professions — health, nutrition, eco nomics, art and more as a home economics edu cation major. She also worked at the Stout library, leading to a master’s in library science from the University of Michigan and a long career there at the University Libraries. Her husband, Lou, earned degrees in three fields — engineering, finance and law — and used his varied skills at General Motors, Ford, General Steel, Champion Enterprises and as a defense attorney for the automobile industry. Now retired, the couple from Ann Arbor, Mich., want to empower others to fully explore their career interests. They have made a $1.5 million estate gift to UW-Stout to spark curiosity and cross-disciplinary learning and to support faculty. Their gift to UW-Stout Foundation and Alumni Association has established the Sharon Hafeman Balius and Louis Balius Distinguished Co-Pro fessor in Cross-Disciplinary Applied Learning. Professors from two disciplines will apply for funding to co-teach a class designed to solve a real-world problem for an industry partner. The class also would foster entrepreneurial learning and leverage UW-Stout’s strong connections to business and industry. At Michigan, Sharon witnessed cooperation among academic disciplines at a high level in the library system. “I began to see this type of collaboration is very productive,” she said. Sharon and Lou value UW-Stout’s hands-on, polytechnic approach to education and want to see that reinforced through the co-professorship. It’s also designed to energize experienced fac ulty with a new challenge. “The bones of a col lege are the faculty. Faculty need to be refreshed. Everything is moving so fast,” she said. Sharon loved her experience at Stout State, which had about 1,600 students in 1960. She lived in Eichelberger Hall, the historic Louis Smith Tainter House that has become the home of UW-Stout Foundation and Alumni Associa tion, and Bertha Tainter Hall, now Jeter-Taint er-Callahan.

“Stout enforced in my life the ability to think creatively, problem-solve and be efficient in what I did. All the classes were designed that way,” Sharon said. “Those skills were the fundamentals of my career.

“I feel very strongly that, when I look back at Stout, I had a wonderful expe rience. I realize how much I learned and am very grateful for it.”

Stout enforced in my life the ability to think creatively, problem solve and be efficient in what I did.

Sharon Hafeman Balius ('62)

(Above) Sharon, at right, outside her residence hall

(Left) Sharon and Lou Balius

December 3, 2024

UWStout.edu/Giving-Day