CeO Alumni: Then and Now

Every CeO student’s journey looks different, but the impact of community, opportunity, and mentorship lasts well beyond graduation. Meet two alumni whose UW–Madison experiences helped shape the meaningful work they do today.

Joe Maldonado graduated from UW–Madison in Fall 2005 with degrees in Sociology and African American Studies. He now serves as the Bilingual Youth and Families State Specialist for UW–Madison’s Division of Extension and serves on the City of Fitchburg’s City Council.

Throughout his career in K–12 and higher education, Joe has drawn on the humanities and social sciences to understand how people and systems are shaped by history and culture, while keeping his work grounded in a human-centered approach.

At UW–Madison, Joe built community and explored his interests through Union Puertorriqueña, Alpha Phi Alpha, the McNair Scholars Program, Undergraduate Research Scholars, the Multicultural Student Center, and Housing. These experiences helped shape the perspective he brings to his work today: one rooted in connection, culture, and care for others. He encourages current students to recognize that wisdom exists everywhere, from higher education to ancestors, the land, and their own lived experiences.

Dr. Pa Her graduated from UW–Madison in Fall 2008 with a degree in Human Development
and Family Studies, then her MA in Counseling, Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology in 2020. Pa’s undergraduate studies prepared her to work with individuals and families, and her path reflects a lasting commitment to supporting others through psychology and education. Today, Dr. Pa Her is a Clinical Associate Professor and Director of the Counseling Psychology Training Clinic (CPTC), and she is a recent recipient of the 2025 Educational Opportunity Association (EOA) Regional TRIO Achiever Award.

During her time at the UW, Pa was a McNair Scholar, which connected her to research and helped her envision graduate school as part of her future. From attending her first American Psychological Association conference in Boston as a student to now helping train future counselors, her journey shows the power of early opportunities and mentorship. Her advice to current students is simple. “You have the power to define your own future. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

Pa and Joe’s stories are a reminder that the opportunities students pursue today can become the foundation for the impact they make tomorrow. Their journeys continue to reflect the lasting reach of the CeO community.