UWSP Alumna Set to Publish Memoir

University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point alumna Julianna Burmesch is set to release a memoir detailing her experiences with childhood trauma and recovery on June 23, 2026.  

“Life With Less of Me” focuses on her childhood with an unpredictable father and its impact on her family. She grew up with abuse and neglect, and her memoir examines how she has managed the effects of trauma.  

While writing her memoir, she enrolled in trauma therapy to help finish the book. “To write the book, I had to engage in life experiences, and remembering those experiences re-traumatized me as an adult,” said Burmesch.  

She took many breaks while writing her memoir, but she said continuing the project was difficult and necessary. “I’m very happy that I stuck with it, because there were many times when remembering the trauma was extremely painful,” said Burmesch. 

Burmesch began writing the memoir in summer 2020. 

Burmesch said writing the book was tied to her work in child advocacy. “I wrote this book to reclaim my passion, which is child advocacy, and that is why I wrote the book,” said Burmesch.  

Burmesch is an advocate for children and trauma survivors. She said she wants to encourage survivors to confront trauma rather than avoid it.  

She said the idea to write her memoir developed after a book club discussion of “Educated.” “I decided that I should tell my story, because I wanted to make sure people understand how important childhood is to the development of a healthy, happy adult,” said Burmesch.  

Burmesch said she wants the memoir to resonate with readers who experienced difficult childhoods. She emphasized the importance of addressing trauma early.  

Burmesch described the writing process as “extremely difficult because I grew up with multiple adverse childhood experiences.” 

Burmesch found herself free from dysfunction at her home when she was at UWSP. She said she could “spread my wings and live a pretty stress-free life.”  

As an undergraduate at UWSP, Burmesch majored in speech pathology and minored in psychology. She graduated in 1982 and then received a master’s degree in 1984 from the University of Wisconsin-Superior.  

Burmesch is a former school principal, speech pathologist, and child advocate.  

This will be her first published book. She has also written children’s books and said she plans to continue working on them. 

Bri Ankerson

News Reporter

Bankerso@uwsp.edu