The Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work Board of Visitors selected Tanya Atkinson, MSW ‘97 as the 2025 recipient of our Distinguished Alumni Award at their meeting in October.
Tanya Atkinson is the President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin (PPWI), Wisconsin’s largest nonprofit reproductive health care provider. PPWI was established in 1935, and currently serves approximately 55,000 Wisconsinites each year at 22 health centers, including a new statewide virtual center. Tanya began her career with PPWI as a community organizer in 2004, subsequently serving as the organization’s field director, vice-president of public affairs and education, vice-president of external affairs and chief external affairs officer.
Prior to joining Planned Parenthood, Tanya was the director of the Milwaukee office of the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families (now Kids Forward), legislative aide in the Wisconsin Legislature, and social worker specializing in youth services. She served for over 10 years as an Associate Lecturer at Carroll University and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She was also a professional touring comedian for about 10 years-she kept her day job.
Recognizing her outstanding work, Wisconsin Congresswoman Gwen Moore chose her as her as an invitee to the last State of the Union Address commenting that, “Tanya’s leadership at Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin has been instrumental in ensuring that individuals across the state receive the healthcare they need and deserve. Her leadership and dedication to ensuring that all individuals have access to the care they need has made a profound impact on the lives of countless Wisconsinites. As reproductive health care and women’s right to control their own bodies continues to be under threat in Wisconsin and nationwide.”
Tanya received her MSSW at the University of Wisconsin Madison and BS at Carroll University. She currently serves as a volunteer for Diverse and Resilient, a non-profit LGBTQ public health organization, previously serving as board chair. Tanya is also a member of Milwaukee’s Downtown Rotary, the Greater Milwaukee Committee (GMC), and the Carroll University Alumni Council. She serves on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committees for both the GMC and Carroll.
Born on a dairy farm in Wisconsin’s driftless region, she considers it a great privilege to have had the opportunity to live and work in many communities across this great state before making Milwaukee home.
Tanya lives in Shorewood with her wife Laurie, a psychotherapist.
The Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work presents an annual Distinguished Alumni Award to an outstanding graduate of the school. Selected alumni have made significant contributions to social work, social policy, and/or the community.
We’ll recognize Tanya at a later date in the spring.