We’ve all seen it. You walk into a professor’s office and wonder how any work could possibly be accomplished in that room due to an enormous jungle of paper and disarray. Upon walking into Susan’s office, I was immediately struck by its neat and tidy appearance. In fact, her only flaw seems to be drinking too much coffee.
Hellstrom greets her students at her last meeting for Wisconsin Engineer.
Photo Credit: Nurhuda Adam and Muhamad Asyraf YahayaHowever, there is something else that really makes her special: her passion for people.
“Susan is an excellent teacher, but her willingness to develop a personal relationship with each of her students is what truly makes her stand apart,” Kevin Jayne, writing editor at Wisconsin Engineer, says.
Susan Hellstrom became a member of the academic staff in the engineering professional development (EPD) department in 1998. She quickly became involved with Wisconsin Engineer magazine, serving as co-advisor with Steve Zwickel for one year and then becoming the full-time advisor in fall 2000. Since then, students have benefited immensely from her impact.
“I would describe Susan Hellstrom as a mentor, coach, instructor, counselor, friend and my mother away from home,” Phil Mauermann, advertising manager, says.
“[Susan] became a mentor and a friend. She offered advice when I asked for it and a listening ear when she knew I needed it,” Karen Mandl, former editor-in-chief, says.
“Susan cares deeply about her students. We were lucky to have an adviser who is so generous with her time, and the students in her classes benefited from that same generosity,” Kyle Oliver, former writing editor, says.
As you might have guessed, Hellstrom’s other joy is journalism. Since graduating in that field from Ohio State University, she has been a technical writer, a movie reviewer, a staff writer for the Associated Press and a copy editor for the Capital Times. She loves magazines, especially Bon Appetit and National Geographic Traveler. And, although she enjoys all the classes she teaches, Wisconsin Engineer is one of her favorites and is a natural fit.
“It combines my love for journalism and my love of working with students. It also makes a big difference,” Hellstrom adds with a smile, “that all the students want to be there.”
“[Wisconsin Engineer] brings engineering and science to life for our readers, gives our engineering students [on staff] a chance to showcase their communication skills and serves as an unofficial historical record of the College of Engineering and university,” Hellstrom says.
Sadly, Hellstrom is saying goodbye to UW-Madison.
Susan and her husband Eric, who has been a professor of materials science and engineering at UW-Madison since 1985, have decided to move to Tallahassee, Florida, the new home of the Applied Superconductivity Center, with which Eric has been working for the past 20 years. While their two children, Sonja and Brett, attend college elsewhere, Eric and Susan will both be teaching at Florida State University. Eric will be a member of the mechanical engineering faculty and will also be affiliated with the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, while Susan will have a split appointment, teaching in the English department and working on publications for the College of Arts and Sciences.
Wisconsin Engineer staff members celebrate another successful year at Susan's final meeting. From left: Jamie Tabaka, Marty Grasse, Susan Hellstrom, Kevin Jayne, Heidi Mielke, Kari Jordan, Steve Koralesky and Jonah Paul.
Photo Credit: Nurhuda Adam and Muhamad Asyraf YahayaHellstrom says, “I will miss you engineers.”
Wisconsin Engineer is a completely student-run publication, so Hellstrom’s job is primarily training and support. She provides steady guidance for a magazine staff that is always changing as students graduate.
One specific challenge arose after the 9/11 catastrophe. At the time, the magazine relied on pizza sales and advertisements from job recruiters for funding. With the resulting job market fallout, there was a corresponding loss in recruiting and advertisements fell significantly. The magazine faced a financial crisis and fell severely in debt to its publisher. Despite the scary situation, Hellstrom is proud of the turnaround.
“I used to lie awake at night…but the students rose to the challenge,” Hellstrom says. They drastically cut spending and increased fundraising with more pizza sales and the addition of Per Mar security fundraising for Kohl Center and Camp Randall events.
Since then, Hellstrom has been a part of many positive achievements for the magazine. Wisconsin Engineer has been very successful at Engineering College Magazine Associated (including winning “Best All-Around Magazine”) and working towards the digital archiving of back-issues through the university library system.
Hellstrom is definitely an involved faculty member, serving on the University Library Committee and various other committees within the EPD department. She has also been asked to speak about communication issues at numerous events outside the classroom.
Despite her success and experience, Susan has a goal to never micromanage people and always lets the students make their own decisions.
“[Students] are completely capable, and it’s the only way to learn,” Hellstrom says.
When asked about the best part of the magazine, her answer is simple.
“Definitely the people. Of course there’s the journalism angle, but it really is the people, and I’ve been blessed to work with some absolutely wonderful students.”
And no doubt, UW-Madison and the members of Wisconsin Engineer will miss a teacher, advisor, mentor and friend.