Meet Amy Domaszek: Cultivating innovative courses for today’s workforce

As an expert in adult learning, Amy Domaszek takes a strategic approach to developing continuing education courses, drawing on her multifaceted background in strategic planning, collaboration and assessment. Since January 2023, she’s served as executive program development manager for the Leadership, Management & Workplace Skills (LMOWS) continuing education portfolio at UW–Madison’s Division of Continuing Studies.

Designed to deliver actionable, relevant skills to working professionals, the LMOWS program offers a robust portfolio of high-quality courses. Whether you’re an entry- or mid-level employee who wants to develop communication or project management skills, or a late-career professional who wants to learn new approaches to leadership or team-building, LMOWS provides the tools necessary to navigate today’s dynamic workplace.

Below, Amy shares insights from her professional journey, the unique strengths of the LMOWS curriculum and some of the exciting new courses on the horizon.

Tell us a little about your background, how it informs your current role and what you enjoy about your work.

My foundational training began during my graduate studies in health coaching and wellness leadership at UW-Stevens Point, where I refined my skills in program development, assessment and strategic planning. As part of my program, I designed community wellness initiatives and spearheaded student efforts that led to campus-wide policy changes. I went on to serve as co-facilitator for the Domestic Abuse Alternatives Program through CAP Services in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. 

Before joining the Division of Continuing Studies at UW–Madison, I spent eight years as the director of the Statewide Prosecutors Education & Training program at the Wisconsin Department of Justice. That role allowed me to refine the skills I use today: managing budgets and contracts, navigating state employment dynamics, leveraging resources and recruiting top-tier subject matter experts to create impactful learning experiences.

As a lifelong learner myself, I find it incredibly gratifying to witness the “a-ha” moments our learners experience during our courses. I deeply value the sense of connection we foster among our Continuing Education team members, learners and instructors. Everyone involved in this space is similarly growth-minded, and it’s a privilege to facilitate that environment.

What’s something people are surprised to learn about our LMOWS courses?

People are often surprised by our geographic reach. We regularly attract learners from all regions of the country! Most of them have a direct or adjacent connection to UW–Madison, which truly speaks to the incredible reputation of our university. There is a deep trust and pride built into the Wisconsin experience, and professionals nationwide look to us because they know we maintain a collective focus on high-quality education.

Another aspect that surprises people is the sheer depth of our instructional team. The vast majority of our instructors and subject matter experts bring decades of real-world work experience in both the public and private sectors directly into the classroom. This underscores the authenticity of our content; our instructors understand the daily experiences, challenges and interests of our audience of working professionals.

Can you talk a bit about the custom training your team offers, and how it benefits the businesses and organizations you’ve served?

We love supporting businesses and organizations through our custom training programs. The reasons organizations reach out to us are incredibly varied. Some reach out to us because they are small and don’t have the resources to support an internal learning and development team. Some reach out to us to help fill gaps in their internal training programs, are interested in a specific course we offer, or have a colleague who took one of our courses and recommends it internally. Other businesses and organizations seek to diversify their learning and development programs by bringing new voices from our portfolio to theirs. 

We support these clients through careful, thoughtful intake interviews to identify their unique needs and goals so we can explore solutions together. Because our team of instructors offers such a wide and versatile array of expertise, we almost always find a way to successfully support a custom client’s goals.

What can learners expect from the LMOWS program in the coming months?

We have some exciting new courses launching soon! First, we are developing a brand-new suite of courses on artificial intelligence (AI), tailored specifically for a non-technical leadership audience. Through these courses, learners can earn competency-based badges that are stackable toward a culminating recognition of AI proficiency. This is a highly dynamic topic, so the entire suite will launch by the end of the year and will be reviewed and updated annually to keep pace with changing technology.

We are also rolling out significant course revisions so our learners can benefit from fresh, updated content in strategic thinking, team building, individual strengths discovery and communication. Furthermore, professionals can look forward to upcoming programming centered on “Leading without Authority,” as well as content creation as an entrepreneurial pathway.

What do you like to do when you’re not at work?

I have a busy household of pets: three dogs, one cat and five goldfish. I enjoy hiking with my partner, Michael, and our three dogs, as well as road cycling, kayaking and visiting dog parks.

I’ve also been a group fitness instructor for over 15 years and love watching live music and the performing arts. My guilty pleasures include true crime podcasts and documentaries, and watching every country’s version of The Traitors that’s streaming.