Wisconsin Careers director named

V. Scott Solberg has been named director of Wisconsin Careers, a program within the Center on Education and Work in the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Education.

Solberg, an associate professor of educational psychology at UW-Milwaukee, has provided leadership in support of school reform, most notably at Milwaukee’s South Division High School, where he has directed intervention programs and after-school programs for eight years.

For more than 30 years, Wisconsin Careers has provided teachers and counselors across the state with career-related curriculum resources.

“Because of his work in Milwaukee schools and the community, Scott brings to our organization a vision and understanding of youth and community needs,” says CEW Director L. Allen Phelps. “I have seen the impact he has had in South Division High School, which serves a model for university-school-community partnerships in Milwaukee and statewide for improving students’ learning, engagement and career development.”

“We are very excited to welcome Scott to UW–Madison,” says School of Education Dean Julie Underwood. “He brings to Wisconsin Careers a national and international reputation in career development.”

“Wisconsin Careers offers a plethora of high-quality material and a career-information delivery system that is the best available anywhere in the country,” Solberg says. “I see my role as designing ways to demonstrate that our resources create the optimal classroom learning environment for helping all youth attain the readiness skills necessary to be competitive in today’s world of work.”

He adds that he is excited by plans to expand Wisconsin Careers’ services to urban communities.

“His career intervention is being applied not only in Milwaukee but is expanding throughout the United States and even Italy,” says Fran Breit, who has been with Wisconsin Careers for 21 years. “This demonstrates the appeal of his ideas and methods.”

Solberg developed the Adaptive Success Identity Plan (ASIP), which promotes an individual’s ability to successfully navigate life transitions through a combination of individual characteristics and use of environmental resources. ASIP is now used in a variety of populations, including college, elementary and secondary school settings, parents of school-age children/adults, and business.

He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He has been elected chair of the Coalition for Psychology in Schools and Education within the American Psychological Association. He has served on the editorial boards for the Journal of Counseling Psychology and the Journal of Career Assessment and is a member of the Society for Vocational Psychology, a section of Division 17 (Counseling Psychology) of the American Psychological Association.

Solberg, who currently is on leave from UW-Milwaukee, succeeds David Caulum, who retired last year after serving with Wisconsin Careers since 1975 and as director since 2002.

Solberg has earned praise from educational and community leaders for his work in Milwaukee.

“When I first began as principal at South Division High School, I was able to rely on his expertise in creating our Center for Community Collaborations, operating his ASIP intervention program, and directing our after-school programs,” says Charles Siebert, who is now retired. “Dr. Solberg has demonstrated that there are university faculty who are willing to roll up their sleeves and work with us rather than simply preach or offer limited support.”

“In working with him on our school reform efforts, I have come to rely on his expertise and vision” says Kathelyne Dye of Genesis High School. “He brings an optimism and charisma to his work that positively impacts everyone with whom he works.”

“As our board president, his support and guidance was exceptional,” says Ramon Candaleria, executive director of the Latino Community Center. “I have been assured that his position will allow him to continue supporting our center and our efforts to support youth in Milwaukee.”