Professional Achievement, Conservatory for the Performing Arts

Growing up in Cornell, Dean Yohnk was inspired by his teachers, and he knew when he came to Viterbo in 1982 that he wanted to become a theatre arts and English teacher himself. He became that and more, a much honored college professor and administrator in a career that saw him teaching at Viterbo from 1992–2001.

After applying to six Catholic universities in the upper Midwest, Yohnk decided on Viterbo, in part because of one-on-one meetings with professors including Marie Leon La Croix, FSPA, and chemistry Professor Ron Amel. “I knew that Viterbo would be the perfect college for me,” he said. “I was immediately attracted to the exceptional programs that Viterbo offered in theatre arts and English, as well as the Franciscan spirit and mission of the school.”

Yohnk got the most out of his time at Viterbo, taking part in more than two dozen theatre productions, serving as a writer and editor for the Lumen and writing for the yearbook, singing with the concert choir, playing with the concert band, and serving as a member of the President’s Council for three years.

“I was fortunate to have many outstanding FSPA members as professors, advisors, and mentors as both a student and then professor at Viterbo,” he said, especially Sr. La Croix, Jean Moore, and Helen Elsbernd.

After graduating from Viterbo in 1987 with a bachelor’s degree in theatre arts and English education, Yohnk taught in the Jefferson School District for two years before moving to Ohio to pursue master’s and then doctoral degrees in theatre arts at Bowling Green State University.

After completing his doctoral degree in 1992, Yohnk returned to Viterbo as an assistant professor and chair of the theatre and musical theatre department. “I was incredibly honored to be able to return to my alma mater and live out the values and mission that I experienced as a student there,” Yohnk said. “My Viterbo education truly prepared me well for all aspects of my life and career as a theatre educator and artist who fully was inspired and guided by the Franciscan values and approach to servant leadership that I had gained during my time as a student at Viterbo.”

During his time teaching, directing, and designing theatre productions at Viterbo, Yohnk’s work was recognized with several honors, including the Burlington Northern Teaching Excellence Fellowship Award (1993), the CASE National Collegiate Outstanding Teaching Award (1995), the Viterbo Teacher of the Year Award (1998), and the Alliance for Wisconsin Theatre Education Service to Educational Theatre Award (2000).

Yohnk’s career after leaving Viterbo in 2001 also was peppered with honors, both for his work as a collegiate educator and theatre director/designer and for his community service. Among these honors are the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Gold Medallion for Outstanding Contributions to Collegiate Theatre (2011) and the Rotary International Paul Harris Award for Outstanding Citizenship.

Yohnk recently retired from UW-River Falls after serving as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and professor of stage and screen arts starting in 2018. His superlative career in higher education also included work at the following institutions:

• UW-Parkside in Kenosha from 2001–14 (associate professor, department chair, dean of arts and sciences)
• UW-Barron County from 2014–16 (campus dean/CEO)
• UW-Superior from 2016–18 (dean of undergraduate and graduate studies)

Over the course of his 30 years in higher education, Yohnk directed and designed more than 100 professional, community, and university theatre productions. He also held leadership positions in state, regional, and national organizations devoted to theatre arts.

“As I transition into retirement, I am so honored to have had the opportunity to collaborate with so many diverse and creative students, colleagues, and artists,” Yohnk said. “My passion for learning and creative expression is now stronger than ever as I head into the next chapters of my life. Viterbo University truly helped prepare me for a wonderful life and career, and for that I am eternally grateful. I also am incredibly grateful to receive this Viterbo alumni award after more than 30 successful and inspiring years as an educator, dean, advisor, and mentor to the thousands of students and colleagues with whom I have had the privilege to work over the years.”

2023 Viterbo University Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients main page