Reflections from the 2024 Wisconsin Idea Seminar
“The Wisconsin Idea Seminar trip was an amazing experience! It was very inspiring to learn about various communities that make up Wisconsin and to meet so many selfless individuals that put their minds, hearts and souls into improving their communities. Sharing the bus with fellow UW faculty and staff, learning about their roles at UW, and making new human connections was a very special part of the experience.”
Daniela Drummond-Barbosa
Professor, Genetics, CALS
“Being new to UW-Madison, I didn’t have a sense of what the Wisconsin Idea looks like in action. The many ways in which Extension and alumni across the state are affecting positive change and creating partnerships is so apparent now. I see it now, and am fully invested in the Wisconsin Idea!”
Samara Frame
Advancement Manager, Division of the Arts
“The Wisconsin Idea Seminar deepened my understanding of the many contributions that immigrant communities are making to education and industry in rural and urban communities across Wisconsin. I will weave these observations into my work to promote the international dimensions of the Wisconsin idea in our state and around the world.”
Fran Vavrus
Vice Provost and Dean, International Division
“The Wisconsin Idea Seminar instilled in me a profound sense of connectedness to the university community and the communities we serve across the state. Among the seminar’s many impactful experiences, our day with Ms. Venice Williams at Alice’s Garden and The Table stands out as particularly meaningful, both personally and professionally. Ms. Williams’ work to foster the health and healing of both the people and the land of Milwaukee reignited a sense of purpose and commitment to my own research on Black women’s well-being and to thoughtfully engaging in community-based scholarship.”
Morgan Jerald
Assistant Professor, Psychology
“The Wisconsin Idea Seminar was a chance to be a student again. To say it enhanced the way I think about my career is an understatement. The extremely well planned and detailed week is designed to provide insight into the history, culture and presence of the different groups throughout the state. I learned of the specific challenges faced by certain groups and I will take these lessons back to my practice as a physician. It was truly an honor to interact with our hosts throughout the state!”
Jeanette Comstock MD
Assistant Professor, Dermatology, School of Medicine & Public Health
“The Wisconsin Idea Seminar is an immersive experience and goes way beyond any work conference you would ever attend. We got to hear many impactful stories and meet incredible people during our journey, and it touched every sense of being- from food we ate, to the stories we heard, to the people we met and the places we visited. I have a greater appreciation for people in Wisconsin who have been caring for the land for thousands of years and for those who have moved to Wisconsin in recent years.”
Meenu Verma
Associate Director, UW Veterinary Care, School of Veterinary Medicine
“Deep listening is not a given; it is a precious gift to be learned, practiced, and cultivated in a supportive, communal space. The Wisconsin Idea Seminar gave me the chance to witness the magic of deep listening. We, as a group, learned to listen to each other and to people across different communities in Wisconsin with care. I’d love to further weave this skill into my ethnographic research as well as teaching and mentoring in the future.”
Jing Wang
Assistant Professor, School of Journalism & Mass Communication
“I am new to Wisconsin and to UW-Madison. I worked at other land grant universities but have never experienced anything like this and I feel very fortunate to be introduced to the rich legacy of the engagement of the university in the state. Community engagement was richly highlighted during the Wisconsin Idea tour and was truly inspirational. Looking to the future, I am committed to creating pathways for the UW-Madison Libraries to contribute in very tangible ways to the Wisconsin Idea. This has been my goal since I arrived in January 2024 and started my new role as Dean and Vice Provost of Libraries, and now this goal is even more meaningful.”
Erla Heyns
Dean and Vice Provost of Libraries
“I loved learning from Dr. James DeLine about his work at the clinic in La Farge. He was so genuine and inspirational in his commitment to serving rural communities in Wisconsin, with his particular focus on the Amish community living there.”
Diego Román
Assistant Professor of Bilingual Education, Curriculum and Instruction
“The Wisconsin Idea Seminar was five days of learning about many of the complexities of Wisconsin’s communities. And one of the many lessons that I will carry with me is this: that the work of listening to and engaging with the communities that one is surrounded by is a forever commitment, one I am happy to be a part of.”
Kirk Sides
Assistant Professor, English
“It was really intellectually stimulating, a great way to get to know the state and your new colleagues outside of your discipline.”
– WIS’22 alum
“Do it. Sitting on a bus for so long and making new friends may feel weird at first, but the experiences with colleagues and with Wisconsin will change you, or at least change how you think about the application of your research to the state.”
– WIS’22 alum
“The Wisconsin Idea Seminar was an amazing (and exhausting) opportunity to hear from a wide variety of Wisconsinites and learn SO MUCH about Wisconsin, and the University. It is absolutely worth a week away from work and has really enriched the way that I think about the state. It was five days of nonstop action and information.”
– WIS’22 alum
“It’s an investment that will pay dividends throughout your career.”
– WIS’22 alum
“Don’t hesitate, it’s one of the best opportunities available.”
– WIS’22 alum
“It’s a great way to immerse yourself in the history and culture of Wisconsin and in the process make some awesome friends.”
– WIS’19 alum
“You’ll make 40 new best friends, you’ll learn so much about new things and things you think you already know about. You’ll hear from different and unique perspectives.”
– WIS’19 alum
“It’s an epiphany experience. You will learn, feel, hear and see things that will forever change your perspectives.”
– WIS’19 alum
“It was really intellectually stimulating, a great way to get to know the state and your new colleagues outside of your discipline.”
– WIS’19 alum
I have a deepened understanding of the relationship between the University and the state, and of the importance of the relationship to us all. I understand now that our institution reaches far beyond Madison, and that we must take seriously the implications of that reach. I look forward to continuing exploring the state and its diverse communities, in my work and as a proud resident of Wisconsin.
– WIS’16 alum
While I’m a native of Wisconsin and have a general understanding of the state, the seminar allowed me to see working companies, businesses, agriculture, institutions, that I’d never have been able to visit on my own. Not only did we see them, we were provided context and background to make it a true learning experience.
– Maj Fischer, WIS’16, International Division
The seminar took me to places that I wouldn’t see in my own travels. It helped me to understand the experience of others from Wisconsin who experience the state very differently.
– WIS’16 alum
The Seminar provided many good examples of how researchers can partner with communities and organizations. It was inspiring to see and something I hope to emulate in my future work.
– WIS’16 alum
It validated my passion about the importance of outreach and public service whether in my professional capacity or community stewardship.
– WIS’16 alum
The seminar dramatically deepened my appreciation for the Wisconsin Idea. I returned with a new sense of purpose and dedication to the citizens of this wonderful state. I felt honored and humbled by the graciousness every one of our hosts showed us.
– Bret A. Payseur, WIS’15, School of Medicine and Public Health, Medical Genetics
The Wisconsin Idea Seminar identified faces and places in Wisconsin that represent the diversity of our population and professions as well as the remarkable work being done and the daunting challenges we face. It helped me to feel like a citizen of the state of Wisconsin rather than just a member of the city in which I live.
– Laura C. Smythe, WIS’15, Law School, Pro Bono Program, UW Law School Economic Justice Institute
I met some excellent colleagues on the Wisconsin Idea tour who I may not have met otherwise, but who I hope to continue discussions with for years to come. Viewing the state through the lens of this shared experience was a great opportunity.
– Brigitte N. Fielder, WIS’15, College of Letters and Science, Comparative Literature and Folklore Studies
I was able to see embodied results of Wisconsin Idea rather than an abstract mission statement.
– Emily W. Arthur, WIS’15, School of Education, Art Department
The trip made me feel part of Wisconsin. Outreach and public service bring theories to applications in the community to improve the health and development of the state.
– Yajuan Si, WIS’15, School of Medicine and Public Health, Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, Department of Population Health Sciences
I left the seminar with a much greater sense of attachment to the UW System and to Wisconsin. I left with a strong desire to get involved in public service and outreach in some significant way.
– Lesley D. Bartlett, WIS’15, School of Education, Education Policy Studies
Because of the tremendous thoughtfulness put into the itinerary, and connection with key individuals living in and leading their communities, we were able to dive quickly into key issues facing diverse communities in Wisconsin.
– Deborah B. Ehrenthal, WIS’15, School of Medicine and Public Health, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Population Health Sciences
The trip really helped me gain better insight to the University’s influence around the State–and to gain a better understanding of some of the enduring problems in the state.
– Karl S. Rosengren, WIS’15, College of Letters and Science, Psychology
