Wisconsin's Private Colleges - WAICU

Cait Williamson ’11: Turning a Love for Wisconsin’s Outdoors into a Conservation Career

Cait Williamson ’11, director of conservation programs for the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin, leads strategic initiatives that support conservation efforts and environmental education programs across the state.

Growing up in Omaha, Nebraska, Williamson developed a passion for wildlife and conservation at an early age. After moving to Wisconsin for her undergraduate studies at Lawrence University and becoming involved with the campus outdoors club, she fell in love with the state’s outdoor diversity—from the North Woods to Devil’s Lake and the landscapes in between.

Cait was drawn to Lawrence by its engaged and collaborative community. “The students were just so thoughtful and engaged in the classes,” she said. “It felt like a very dynamic place for students.” While in college, she embraced opportunities to explore her interests, including an internship with the wolf management team at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

After graduation, Williamson chose to remain in Wisconsin and began her career in environmental consulting. She later earned her MS from the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and received the 2023 Rising Star Alumni Award.

Cait has maintained a strong connection to Lawrence through the Diversity in Conservation Internship Program she created. As director of the program, she recruits students historically underrepresented in the conservation field from Lawrence University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. When the program launched, it included three Lawrence students. Today, it serves about ten students each year.

Reflecting on her time at Lawrence, Cait remains grateful for the foundation it provided. “I absolutely loved Lawrence,” she said. “It’s a place of opportunity, and I’m someone who likes to take full advantage of whatever possibilities are available. Lawrence does such a good job of creating those opportunities for students.”

Congratulations to Edgewood University accounting major Yair Perez Ruiz, the recipient of the 2026 Alliant Energy/Erroll B. Davis, Jr., Achievement Award. The Alliant Energy/Erroll B. Davis, Jr., Achievement Award recognizes undergraduate students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, leadership, community engagement, and strong potential for future professional impact.

Pictured, left to right, are Aimee Davis, vice president for marketing and communications and customer operations at Alliant Energy Corporation; Yair Perez Ruiz; Chris Albert, lecturer in the Edgewood University School of Business; and Eric Fulcomer, president of Wisconsin's Private Colleges - WAICU.

Tanzil Idrisi ’25: From Beloit College Classroom to AI CEO

Tanzil Idrisi, a recent graduate of Beloit College's Class of 2025, is already solving problems that challenge major e-commerce brands. As CEO and CTO of Convertive by Outhad AI, he is building AI systems that predict customer intent using live behavioral data to convert anonymous website traffic into real buyers.

His entrepreneurial foundation was laid at Beloit College, where he was drawn to an environment that allowed his ideas to be seen, challenged, and supported. In addition, Tanzil said Beloit College provided the opportunity to be part of a small campus where students are encouraged to build, lead, and explore across disciplines.

In his role, he leads both technical development and overall product strategy across AI systems, infrastructure, customer experience, and business growth. He also helped raise a $250,000 pre-seed round from a Milwaukee-based venture capital firm to support Convertive’s product development and go-to-market expansion.

His interest in this field began while working at a startup during college, where he noticed that, despite large amounts of customer data, companies still struggled to understand why customers were leaving without making a purchase. That curiosity pushed him deeper into his computer science studies at Beloit, taking courses that provided a technical foundation in machine learning and systems engineering. His work at Beloit also allowed him to apply analytical problem-solving to real-world challenges, including research through the DAAD RISE program in Germany.

“Choosing a small, independent college in Wisconsin gave me the space to grow both technically and personally,” Tanzil said. The college’s liberal arts approach prepared him for the multifaceted demands of entrepreneurship. “Beloit encouraged interdisciplinary thinking. It gave me the foundation to move from being a student of computer science to becoming a builder and founder,” he added.