GridgeFridge

Every year, a select group of University of Wisconsin–Madison faculty and academic staff take a five-day journey across the state of Wisconsin, called the Wisconsin Idea Seminar. This episode, we're talking with Assistant Provost and Director of the Wisconsin Idea Seminar Catherine Reiland, who is responsible for designing the immersive study journey. The Wisconsin Idea Seminar is a chance for...

In this special episode of GridgeFridge, we dig into the topic of affordable housing in Madison. As the university’s population continues to grow, students question whether there is physically space enough for them. Others are unsure whether they can afford to come to UW-Madison at all. Produced over four months, this narrative-style episode features voices across campus and Madison, including lea...

In this episode, we’re excited to welcome Emily Boettcher, Elaine West, and Maddy Willander, students who worked on a capstone project involving issues to prisoner reentry — also a Community-based Learning course. Their project centered around the organization Just Dane, a program in Dane County that works to provide resources to and advocate for individuals impacted by incarceration. We’ll talk w...

In this episode of GridgeFridge, we're chatting with Amanjot Kaur, Kayley Bell and Sarah Nehls. Throughout the spring, this group has been working with BadgersVote, League of Women Voters, Campus Vote Project, and Associated Students of Madison to activate students in the civic engagement sphere. Following one of the most funded state Supreme Court races, we're reflecting on what made this...

In our second episode of the spring semester, we’re thrilled to welcome Sammy Angelina, Jenna Harb and Claudia Liverseed. Claudia and Jenna are interns for the Morgridge Center’s Student Organization Partnership Programs, called SOPP. SOPP works to connect community partners with registered student orgs to build long-term partnerships between campus and the greater Madison community. Sammy works a...

After taking some time to rest and rejuvenate over winter break, we are happy to be back and bring you more episodes! In our first episode of the spring semester, we are thrilled to have Emma Gleed and Molly Peden join us to talk about Achievement Connections. Achievement Connections matches UW–Madison students with local high school students to tutor them in math while developing their overall st...

In this special episode of GridgeFridge, we dig into the behind-the-scenes work of the Sifting and Reckoning exhibit – the culmination of a years-long research project examining the history of discrimination and exclusion at UW–Madison. Produced over two months, this narrative-style episode features voices across campus, including Public History Project Director Kacie Lucchini Butcher and Assistan...

In our third episode this season, we’re excited to welcome Dr. Barry Burden. Barry is a professor of Political Science at UW–Madison, and is the director of the Elections Research Center. His research and teaching are centered around American elections, with a focus on representation and the electoral system. Barry also chairs the BadgersVote Coalition, which is a campus-wide initiative that striv...

In this episode, we’re excited to welcome Kao Lee Yang. Kao Lee is a doctoral student at UW–Madison. She researches dementia as a trainee in the Neuroscience Training Program and studies public policy through the La Follette School of Public Affairs. Kao Lee is also a Morgridge Fellow, which is a program hosted here at the Morgridge Center to expand and develop community-engaged scholarship at UW–...

To kick off our third season of GridgeFridge, we’re thrilled to welcome Hannah Hatlan-Atwell. Hannah has gained a lot of experience in the public service sphere in the Madison area – and now, she helps UW–Madison students navigate the public service sector as a career advisor for the School of Human Ecology (SoHE). Before coming to SoHE, Hannah worked as a coordinator for the Achievement Connectio...

To cap off an amazing second season, we’re thrilled to welcome Shreya Bandyopadhyay, who is an Andrew Goodman Foundation Ambassador at the Morgridge Center. Shreya is a senior majoring in political science and legal studies with a certificate in gender and women's studies. As a Vote Everywhere Ambassador, Shreya has promoted civic engagement and voting accessibility on campus for two years. Shreya...

Today on GridgeFridge, we’re ecstatic to welcome Abby Onesti, a member of UW–Madison’s Music Therapy Association (MTA). Abby has been a member of Music Therapy Association for three years and is currently the president. MTA’s goal is that each of its members understands what music therapy is, how it works, and to bring awareness to the music therapy profession. In this episode of GridgeFridge, we...

Today on GridgeFridge, we’re ecstatic to welcome John Zumbrunnen, the Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning. Zumbrunnen has been a faculty member of the UW-Madison Political Science Department for over a decade. Now, as the vice provost for teaching and learning, he provides leadership and support for UW–Madison’s teaching and learning mission across campus. Previously, Zumbrunnen served as facul...

Today on GridgeFridge, we’re thrilled to welcome Nathan Larson and Madison Yurubi to talk about their experience in a UW Community-based Learning course. Community-based Learning classes, also known as CBL courses, incorporate at least 25 hours of community engagement so students can get real-world experience as part of a for-credit class. Larson, who is a lecturer and senior outreach specialist a...

Today on GridgeFridge, we’re thrilled to welcome Gavin Luter, who is the managing director at UniverCity Alliance. UniverCity Alliance partners with cities and local municipalities, connecting them with service and research resources at UW–Madison. Through bridge-building engagement with policy initiatives grounded in the priorities of local governments, UniverCity Alliance’s efforts improve the p...

Today on GridgeFridge, we’re thrilled to welcome Sam Park, who is the program manager at the national nonprofit the Human Rights Campaign based out of Washington D.C. Sam graduated from UW–Madison in 2018 with degrees in neurobiology and sociology and a certificate in global health. During his undergraduate, he worked at the Morgridge Center as a special events intern. After working for various or...

Today on GridgeFridge, we’re thrilled to welcome Laura Livingston, the Morgridge Center’s Community-Engaged Scholarship graduate fellow. Laura is a fourth-year PhD student in the Environment and Resources Program within the Nelson Institute of Environmental Studies. With a background as an Agricultural Adviser in Ghana in the Peace Corps, Laura has a lot of experience working in community developm...

Today on GridgeFridge, we’re excited to welcome Isa Hernandez-White and Bertha Gonzalez, two of four Community-based learning interns at the Morgridge Center. Isa is a sophomore at UW–Madison majoring in psychology and Bertha is a junior majoring in human development and family studies and psychology. As Community-based Learning interns, Isa and Bertha help facilitate Community-based learning clas...

Today on GridgeFridge, we’re so excited to welcome Kathy Cramer, a UW–Madison political science faculty member and former faculty director of the Morgridge Center for Public Service. She started working at UW–Madison in 2000 and served as the Morgridge Center faculty director for three years. Kathy is well-known in the academic community for her research on individuals’ perception of their place i...

In this episode of GridgeFridge, we’re thrilled to welcome Francesca Hong, the state assembly representative for the greater Madison area. Before she was elected to office in 2020, Hong was an entrepreneur and restaurant owner. Hong opened up her first restaurant, Morris Ramen, in 2016 near the capitol. As Hong’s network within the culinary world grew, she went on to found a network of female chef...

In our second episode this season, we're thrilled to welcome Associated Students of Madison (ASM) Vice-Chair Lennox Owino. Lennox is a junior at UW–Madison studying finance and actuarial sciences. An international student from Nairobi, Kenya, Lennox is a recipient of the prestigious King-Morgridge Scholarship, which is awarded to six international students every year. Lennox became involved in ASM...

To kick off the first episode of our second season, we're ecstatic to welcome the City of Madison’s Deputy Mayor Reuben Sanon. Reuben interned at the Morgridge Center as a campus outreach intern during his undergrad at UW-Madison. After graduating from UW–Madison with degrees in journalism and political science, Reuben worked in the nonprofit sector in Michigan for a few years before returning to...

On this episode of GridgeFridge, we'll be speaking with Anya Piotrowski, the Morgridge Center's Badger Volunteers Coordinator. Although Anya has only been at the center for a year, she has spent the past decade engaging in community-based work across the country, including working as an AmeriCorps VISTA member. Now as the Badger Volunteers Coordinator, she oversees the semester-long program that p...

On today's episode, we'll be welcoming F.H King. F.H King is a student organization on the UW–Madison campus committed to sustainable agriculture. Run by a student directors board, F.H. King grows and harvests produce on a two-acre organic farm in the Eagle Heights area. They run a variety of virtual and in-person programs surrounding growing and harvesting, programming, community projects and act...

In this episode, we’ll be learning about the Perspectives Project, which was awarded a 2021-22 Wisconsin Idea Fellowships. Wisconsin Idea Fellowships (WIF) are awarded annually to UW–Madison undergraduate projects working to address issues identified by local or global communities.  Fellowships are awarded to semester-long or year-long projects designed by an undergraduate student or group of...