Contact Information
Phone Number: 608.262.9839
Email Address:
michael.childers@uwex.edu
"I feel privileged to work with the people of our state and find it extremely gratifying when I am able to provide them with useful tools and assistance. The Wisconsin Idea - not organized around the teaching of the traditional disciplines, but around the educational needs of adult citizens - coupled with the unique mission of the School for Workers, is what made my decision to join our faculty so easy and makes my job so rewarding."
Michael joined the School for Workers after completing his graduate degrees and post-doctorate at Southern Illinois University. Having worked in the private sector for a number of years, he has a wealth of diverse management and engineering experience from a wide variety of industries, including basic steel, machining, metal fabrication, and plastics manufacturing. In addition to steward, bargaining, and leadership courses, Michael's teaching interests include industrial engineering topics such as time study, warehouse production standards, lean production, job evaluation, and alternative work/pay systems. He also assists unions to be more effective in utilizing technology, including teaching basic computer skills, internet research, and using new media, and has expertise in program review and evaluation, statistical analysis, and design of experiments.
Education
B.S., Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana
M.S. & Ph.D., Workforce Education and Development, Southern Illinois University Carbondale