From Student Leadership to Lasting Impact: Steven Heller (’07) And the Power of Early Giving

By Kim Westerman

When Steven Heller talks about his time at UWSP, he doesn’t start with a single class or moment. Instead, he points to the community of student organizations that shaped him —professionally, personally, and, ultimately, philanthropically.

A Communication major and current member of the UWSP Alumni Board of Directors, Heller represents a new generation of alumni who are finding meaningful ways to give back early in their careers. In 2008, he took that commitment one step further by establishing a scholarship to support students who are deeply engaged in the same organizations that once defined his own undergraduate experience.

“I was active in student organizations within the Communication Department, including business manager for three years at STV, business manager for two years at The Pointer, and on the executive board for Lambda Pi Eta,” Heller says. “Those were some of the most valuable experiences I had at UWSP, and I wanted to reward a similar student who was giving toward and learning from these excellent groups.”

Those roles, he explains, offered real-world experience that went far beyond the classroom. Managing budgets, overseeing peers, and working with Student Government for funding taught him how to navigate responsibility, leadership, and collaboration long before he entered the professional workforce. “It made me far less ‘green’ in my first role,” he says.

Heller’s academic experience also opened doors well beyond central Wisconsin. UWSP’s strong International Studies program helped spark a deep interest in Europe — one that eventually led him to work in Copenhagen for two years after graduation. That global exposure, paired with the hands-on leadership he gained on campus, set the foundation for a career defined by adaptability and growth.

Now based in Madison, Heller spent the majority of his career in healthcare IT, then worked in two growing companies to establish their PMOs. He’s now back in healthcare IT consulting, working with different companies and industries who are looking to get into the healthcare space.

In every role, I’ve been part of change management in large and small projects,” Heller says, “and playing a role in managing that change is why I enjoy my work.”

He credits strong mentorship as a key factor in his professional development, starting with business and community leaders in central Wisconsin, and continuing throughout his career. “Working with good people makes all the difference,” he says.

Outside of work, Heller’s life is full and fast-paced. He and his husband, Ryan, have been married for 10 years and are raising two young children — Owen, 7, and Soren, 5 — along with two French bulldogs, Greta and Gus. Family time is a priority, whether that means winter travel to escape the cold or summer days spent boating on the lakes around Madison.

The values that guide his life today — community, leadership, and shared responsibility — are the same ones that drew Heller back to UWSP as an alumni leader and donor. He regularly attends events to connect with the university community in person. Last year, during an alumni gathering at Kalahari Resorts, he shared his story and his hopes for the students his scholarship will support.

For Heller, giving back isn’t about looking backward; it’s about investing forward. “UWSP gave me opportunities to lead, to explore, and to grow into who I am today,” he says. “Supporting students who are doing the same thing just feels right.” His nudge to potential donors is, “For less than the cost of cable, you can fund a scholarship and make a meaningful impact in a young person’s life.” For him, the idea of being able to give yearly, versus needing tens of thousands to start the process, is a big selling point — an “aha moment” for those who want to help but aren’t sure how.

In that spirit, his scholarship stands as both thanks and an invitation — encouraging the next generation of Pointers to step up, get involved, and discover just how far those experiences can take them.