Inspiring Graduate: Josie Finocchiaro, B.S. Family and Consumer Sciences Education

Inspiring Graduate: Josie Finocchiaro (’24)

• Hometown: Rockton, Ill.
• Degree: B.S. Family and Consumer Sciences Education
• Minors: Spanish

With UW-Stout being only one of two colleges in Wisconsin that offer a family and consumer sciences education program, Josie Finocchiaro knew right where she wanted to earn her teaching degree.

She was also encouraged by her father, who earned his doctorate in career and technical education leadership from UW-Stout.

“My father’s positive experience, as well as his love for the CTE program, influenced me to consider attending. I also loved the atmosphere and environment that is cultivated on this campus,” she said.

Finocchiaro earned her bachelor's in family and consumer sciences education and crossed the commencement stage on Dec. 14, along with 510 UW-Stout graduates.

She accepted a teaching position last summer, months ahead of graduation, at Longfellow Middle School in La Crosse. She’ll begin her career in January.

How has your UW-Stout experience changed you?

My UW-Stout experience helped me develop into a more well-rounded person. Being at this college has opened me up to experiences and opportunities that I had never considered before.

I gained more experience and skills being a leader and was in an environment where I could learn from my mistakes and grow as both a student and a person. 

I feel I am leaving UW-Stout a more grounded and open-minded person than when I entered.

How well has UW-Stout prepared you to work in your field?

UW-Stout has prepared me profoundly well to work in my field. Through experiences such as multiculturalism, prestudent teaching and student teaching, I have had multiple experiences in the classroom.

Being in different classroom environments helped me become adaptable in the classroom, as well as helped me apply and build upon the classroom management skills I was taught. Along with this, attending conferences helped me establish professionalism and also build connections within my concentration and others as well.

What really stood out about my UW-Stout experience was the polytechnic aspect and how quickly I got into doing what I was learning. I was making lesson plans and discussing methods of classroom management and teaching lessons within my first year at Stout.

My program director, Professor Diane Klemme, supported and pushed me to keep learning and was consistently helping me to become a better student and teacher. It was partly her passion for family and consumer sciences that pushed me to join the program.

How did your involvement on campus impact your experience?

I tried to be involved in multiple different organizations so I could get a holistic experience while at Stout, and I did.

I was on the executive board for the Stout Fashion and Retail Association, Phi Upsilon Omicron, and Stout Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. Academically, I enrolled in the Honors College to expand and challenge myself more in the classroom. I also was a mascot for the hockey team in Chippewa Falls.

Along with these, I worked for on-campus organizations such as the Involvement Center, where I was the social event lead and for orientation.

Because of my involvement, I was awarded the Samuel E. Wood Medallion at UW-Stout’s 2024 Leadership Awards.

My involvement really helped me grow and push past the boundaries I had set for myself. It taught me how to put myself out there and market myself. It opened me up to new people and helped me establish connections that will last a lifetime.

By taking on multiple roles and responsibilities, I was able to learn more and enjoy college more. My involvement in these organizations, both on and off campus, helped me grow into someone who is open to new experiences and learning opportunities, which is not who I was when I entered UW-Stout. 

What challenges did you face in earning your degree?