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Update | Fall/Winter 2025

Beyond the Cover

An exterior shot of UW–Madison's first building, North Hall.

North Hall, the first home of the School of Commerce at UW–Madison. Built in 1851, it was the university’s very first building—and still stands today.

Business students in caps and gowns participate in the Spring 1918 graduation procession.

Business students participate in the Spring 1918 graduation procession as World War I nears its conclusion.

The exterior of Sterling Hall.
The entrance to Sterling Hall, which began serving business students at UW–Madison in 1918. It would remain the school’s home until the 1950s.
Students enter and exit the Commerce Building.
Replacing Sterling Hall, the Commerce Building was the school’s home for nearly 40 years until a move to Grainger Hall in 1993. The building still stands today and is known by a new name: Ingraham Hall.
Artist James Watrous stands in front of a draft for his mosaic, Ancient Commerce, in the Commerce Building.
James Watrous (BS ’31, MA ’33, PhD ’39), a professor of art history at UW–Madison, completes a draft for his mosaic, Ancient Commerce, in the Commerce Building.
Students, including Bill Sachse, try out their homemade Bucky Badger head.
Business student Bill Sachse (BBA ’50) commissions the design of the very first Bucky Badger head, which later debuted at a 1949 football game.
Students study in front of the Library Window art piece.
One of Grainger Hall’s most striking art pieces, Library Window is composed of 75,000 glass marbles held together across 56 window panels—and can be seen from both inside and outside the building.
Two men sitting a table and talking with a group.
Students, faculty, and business leaders participate in the inaugural Business Analytics Industry Meetup in 2019: the same year the school launched its first business analytics degree.
Three graduates from the Class of 2025 hold their hands in the shape of a W.
Graduates from the Class of 2025 celebrate their bright future by displaying the “W” at WSB’s spring commencement ceremony at the Alliant Energy Center’s Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Madison.
A graduate is greeted by Dean Vallabh “Samba” Sambamurthy onstage at commencement.
A graduate is greeted by Vallabh “Samba” Sambamurthy, WSB’s Albert O. Nicholas Dean. Sambamurthy is the school’s ninth dean since 1944, when the School of Commerce received separate school status from the Wisconsin Legislature and became independent from the College of Letters & Science.
Back to issue Class Notes

Fall/Winter 2025 Update

Managing Editor
Erin Canty Ryan (BA ’07, MS ’09)

Assistant Editor and Writer
Chris Malina

Director of Alumni Relations
Betsy Lundgren (BA ’03, MA ’05)

Writers
Clare Becker
Haley Boyer (BA ’20)
Meghan Franklin

Art Director and Designer
Shaysa Sidebottom Cook

Photographers
Narayan Mahon
Paul L. Newby II
Lexi Webster
University of Wisconsin Digital Collections Center

Design Intern
Cam Erhardt (BFA ’26)

Editorial Advisors
Kaylene Christnovich (in memoriam)
Sirinda Pairin (BA ’15)

Brand Advisor
Katie Schauer

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