board nominee biographies for 2026-2027

Jatinder Cheema – President

Dr. Jatinder Cheema has been a PLATO member since 2015 and has served as an At-Large Board member from 2020 until 2022 and as the Treasurer from 2022 until 2024. Cheema currently serves as the PLATO President. She is a retired Senior Foreign Service Officer and has served in multiple countries managing and overseeing USAID programs. After retirement Cheema made Madison, Wisconsin her home and served as a board member on local organizations such as the Madison Development Corporation, the Marquette Neighborhood Association, and the Greater Williamson Area Business Association. She also established a community space called A Place to Be on Williamson Street in Madison for learning and discussions on local issues. She has a PhD in Social Sciences and an MPH from the University of Michigan and a master’s in social work from the Delhi School of Social Work. She also has a certificate in creative writing from the University of Wisconsin and has published two books. 

MaryJo MacSwain – Vice-President 

MaryJo MacSwain has been a member of PLATO since 2018, shortly after moving back to Wisconsin. She quickly became an avid course participant, usually taking four courses per semester. She has also served as co-coordinator or lead for three social justice book discussion courses. MaryJo has been Chairman of the Diversity Awareness Committee for three years and also participates on the Membership and Communications committee. MaryJo graduated from Ripon College with a BA in Economics and earned an MBA from Kellogg School of Management. She enjoys retirement, staying busy with PLATO, Ripon College and travelling. MaryJo is a Wisconsin native, growing up in Merrill. 

Rod McKenzie – Treasurer 

Rod McKenzie is currently Treasurer of PLATO. He has been a member of PLATO since 2016. He has served as PLATO President, Vice President, and Chair of the Fund Development Committee. Rod retired from a career in materials research, engineering and operations management at Rayovac, later known as Spectrum Brands, and most recently Energizer Holdings. Coming to Madison from Southern California for graduate studies in Materials Science, he decided it was a good idea to stay. Not bored in retirement, he previously volunteered with American Red Cross, takes PLATO courses, and works on committees. There has been plenty of retirement travel too. Rod, and his wife Paula, keep busy with adult children and grandchildren in Madison and in the Pacific Northwest. 

Edie Urness-Pondillo – Secretary 

Edie Urness-Pondillo is currently PLATO's Secretary. She moved back to Madison in 2018 after 20 years in Tennessee and became PLATO's office administrator and then joined the membership. Within the first year of membership, she joined the creativity art group and continues in that course, as well as writers’ workshop. Edie currently serves as the PLATO Board Secretary. She is also the Managing Editor of The Agora and, as such, is a member of the Membership and Communication Committee. Edie graduated from the UW-Madison with a BS in Secondary Education and earned her Master’s in English literature from Middle Tennessee State University. Before her 30 plus years teaching high school English, she worked for CUNA Mutual Insurance and was a reporter for a local weekly newspaper. She is a Wisconsin native who grew up on a farm in rural Black Earth.

Suzanne Rybeck – At Large Director

Suzanne Rybeck joined PLATO in 2018. She has thoroughly enjoyed taking a variety of courses including Money Skills for Retirees, How to Be an Anti-Racist, Dylan at 80: Portrait of a Genius, Women’s Journeys Toward Self-Discovery, and Second Wave Feminism. Suzanne graduated from UW Madison in 1974 with a BA in Journalism. In 1976, she returned to the university to pursue a 41-year career, the last 26 as the Financial Manager for the Solid and Hazardous Waste Education Center. She was a member of the Campus Supervisors Network. Upon retirement, Suzanne enjoyed volunteering at Olbrich Gardens. Currently, when not taking classes through PLATO, she enjoys yoga, walking, and spending time with her daughter, Nicole, son-in-law, Jeff, grandson, Finn, and their Bernese Mountain dog named Teddy.

David Shaw – At-Large Director

David Shaw joined PLATO in September of 2024, participating in a handful of courses including Money Skills for Retirees, Jazz, and Truth Decay. He currently coordinates the PLATO Jazz course. David graduated from UW Madison. He worked at CUNA Mutual Group until 2004 when he became the Town of Middleton Administrator / Clerk-Treasurer. He is currently on the City of Middleton’s Plan Commission and Water Resource Management Committee and works as an Election Inspector. He has also served City’s Parks Recreation and Forestry Commission and Conservancy Land Committee.

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Online voting will take place from Wednesday, April 22 through Wednesday, May 6, for the four Officers who will serve as PLATO's Executive Committee and two At-Large Directors for the Board of Directors from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.  

Members may vote with a ballot that will be sent via email on April 22, 20256. Note that to access the ballot, members will need to login with their email address and PLATO password (there will be a "Forgot Password" link if needed). 

Offline members will receive their ballot in the mail.

Contact Stephanie at info@platomadison.org if you need assistance.