Trisha was nominated as a hidden hero in our community for her heavy involvement at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP), She is currently the Tutoring-Learning Center Director and LEAD+ Summer Bridge Program Director. She is also involved in several campus groups such as: Hate and Bias Response Team, Campus Climate Team, Retention Steering Committee, Flag a Policy Committee, Undergraduate Research Mentor and FastTrack Summer Math Program Founder, just to name a few. Over the years she also was a former Chair of Diversity Council; Mentoring Certificate Developer; LEAP Summer Bridge Creator/Founder; Enrollment Management Committee Member; University College Curriculum Committee Member; Executive Committee Member; Japanese Tutor; Transition to College Course Instructor. Her deeply held belief that kindness is important, everyone needs to feel loved and valued. Trisha's passion for creativity, equity, balance and calm, is truly inspiring. 

Originally from Fond du Lac, Trisha moved to Portage County in 2014. As a child, she was creative and hard working with a driving goal to get into medical school. She was accepted into University of Wisconsin-Madison's medical program studying biochemistry, but had to put her creativity on the back burner, which was a challenge. Trisha very quickly gave into her creativity and planned a one year deferment of her medical school acceptance, and went to Japan for eight years. Japan taught her so much about balance, beauty, kindness, silence, stillness of heart and mind, and an appreciation of devotion, hard work, and of “the other.” She learned Japanese and with that she started to feel part of the people and culture. Watching Japanese TV shows here makes her nostalgic and still feels torn not being there. 

A family death brought her back to the US to help a family member. After one year living in Fort Collins, Colorado. She traveled to the land of sand and sun, Qatar, a peninsular Arab country, a long Persian (Arab) Gulf shoreline. Qatar was a challenge at first, but turned into a love. Seven years later, due to immigration requirements, she didn’t want to leave- "I can still taste the salt in the air when I close my eyes and imagine it".

Trisha's next ventured to Islam - religion of the land, which guided much of the daily experience. In fact, it was simultaneously different and fascinating for her. There were parts she struggled to understand and accept, but there were also parts that made so much sense. While she never identified as Muslim herself, she really appreciated the values of the religion and the wisdom that was found within it. However, she does explain, "there was (and is) a struggle between the values of the country and the religion and the ways people interpret and live out those values. Overall, it is an amazing and safe place".

What did you overcome to be here now?

 I have a lot of privilege – white, middle class, educated. I had access to an education – bachelors, masters, and doctorate, without too much struggle. My struggle has been being type 1 diabetic (T1D) and loving travel.  Those two things are not always best friends. As a T1D, I always have to carry food (a lot of it), insulin, and testing supplies.  I crash and I fly, unpredictably. It makes me exhausted, but also makes me driven to do twice as much as the next person because I want to prove that I can. I don’t want people to discount me or to take away my access to opportunity because they are dismissing me because of my disability. Yes, it is a “disability” for me. I have not found one ability it has given me other than permission to carry food with me into court as I sat on the jurors bench when I was called for jury duty.  It is a weird disease with no cure. Each day, I crash. My sugar levels plummet and the default, if I do nothing, is to die. I could sit there as I crash and I would die. I could roll over when I awake shaky and sweaty, but the default, again, would be to die. I do nothing, and I die. That’s crazy. I have to put in an effort to save my own life every single day. Some days are harder to do that than others. I get tired.

What makes you happy?

Wabi sabi, creative ideas, and learning new things all make me happy. Living outside of the United States makes me happy. Opportunity to work hard and grow makes me happy. Speaking other languages makes me happy (anyone want to speak Japanese or Arabic with me?). Being recognized for my contributions and hard work makes me happy. Feeling appreciated and loved makes me happy. Feeling like I am enough makes me happy. Collecting and analyzing data makes me happy. Developing new programs makes me happy. Bringing joy to others makes me happy. Having a clean and organized house makes me happy. And, of course, my family makes me happy, especially my sons when they are in goofy moods and are dancing around the kitchen!

How does living in Portage County influence you?

There are some really nice things about Portage County. My walk to work is beautiful. I live on Prais street and seeing the church at the end of the tree lined street in the early morning or later at the night when the sun is setting is awesome. Everyone should try it. Also, it is a nice place to raise kids. My one son loves to go outside and there have been so many amazing older kids in Stevens Point who have taken him in and taught him about football, ice-skating, skateboarding.

Also, I have an amazing neighbor. I hope he makes it into this article. His name is Cory. He has come in like a superhero every time I get myself in a jam. The poor guy had to come to check if I was still living when my parents called him early in the morning when they could not reach me! He also responded to my desperate call when I realized I had left soup on the stove before leaving to the grocery store. The house still smells like smoke, but he caught it before the house burned down. And, don’t even ask about the crazy time when I needed to be saved from a curling iron. He flew in with his cape and helped with that, too. He is probably ready for me to move! 

Who's your hero?

My Mom and Dad are my heroes. During the pandemic, in their 70s, they came out of retirement to help with the care and the virtual schooling for my kids!  They also continue to guide me and continue to give unconditional love. They also stay active and consistently give back to their community.

What can people from the community learn from you?

I don’t know, but I would love to know. I try to give and support others. Perhaps they could learn how to make Arabic rice or speak Japanese. I would love to be more active and involved in the community. Being an introvert makes that challenging. If I understand my role and can contribute, I will be there with bells on! 

What is the hardest truth you've ever learned?

I have absolutely no skills at casual conversation. It is painful for me to hear myself talk when I am asked to casually talk with someone. I want to escape the conversation!  I am, however, decent at presenting, when I have had time to plan and be intentional about what I am talking about. Also, another lesson that my Japanese boss once shared with me was that “We are all main characters in our own life plays, but only supporting actors in the lives of others.” I guess one of my hardest truth is that we are not the center of the world for others. However, that does not dampen our to brighten the worlds of others.

Trisha's Favorites:

Song-  “Gravity” by John Mayer or からっぽ (Karappo) by  ゆず(Yuzu) or 上を向いて歩こう (Look up and Walk) by 坂本九 (Sakamoto Kyu)or Grace Kelly by Mika or My

own original song that I play on guitar called Erasing the Lines. I am working with a Recording Studio right now to get it recorded.

Food- Chocolate (dark), chocolate covered coffee beans & Frappuccinos

Book- The Alchemist

Quote- I have a sign board outside of my front door. I change the saying on it each week. They are not really quotes, but I have quotes that I like, too. Most of my sign board postings, however, are proverbs or wise sayings. Here are some pictures from my board (see below). I also like “Every day is an interview,” “I have not failed, I have only found 10,000 ways that do not work,” “I used to complain that I had no shoes, until I met a man that had no feet,” “Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration,” …