Journeying to the U.S. awakened something inside her and taught her that in America, she isn’t just a Black woman — she is an Afro-Latina woman. Looking forward, Kristhel Maholy Vernaza Sanchez is steadfast and dedicated to becoming a politician back in Ecuador and holding public office where she could make real change.
Student Life
The Trifecta of Impact: Wisconsin Idea Fellowship Connects Students, Faculty and Communities
The Wisconsin Idea Fellowship (WIF) program offers undergraduate students the opportunity to engage in long-term, community-based projects that explore diverse approaches to public service and research. Awarding annual grants, the fellowship supports initiatives that aim to create positive change in Madison and communities around the world.
When the Whispers of UW-Madison Speak, Who Do We Hear?
Join us on the GridgeFridge for a spooky walking tour through UW–Madison’s haunted history, from Science Hall’s rumored “cadaver chute” to the ghosts buried beneath Bascom Hill. These chilling tales demonstrate how tragedy and rumor shape campus memory, prompting us to ask whose stories are preserved — and whose fade away over time.
Wisconsin Idea in Action: Collaboratively Designing a Health Literacy Curriculum
2025-26 Wisconsin Idea Fellow Amy Liang develops a health literacy curriculum for Dane County residents learning English as a second language.
Bolstering Innovative Engagement: Student Journalists get Hyperlocal
With help from a community-based learning grant from the Morgridge Center, Sue Robinson works to create meaningful relationships between student reporters and community partners while providing journalism students with hands-on, real-world experience.
Showcase Your Work at the Wisconsin Idea Conference
The Morgridge Center for Public Service is currently seeking submissions for proposals and student posters for the Wisconsin Idea Conference.
Bolstering Innovative Engagement: Disability Justice through Participatory Action Research
The Disability Justice Collective is a participatory-action research group at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater that works toward fostering more inclusive environments in college campuses by reflecting on their own lived experiences as students with disabilities. Their work is funded in part through a $7,000 Community-based research Grant from the Morgridge Center.
Environmental leader Devin Guthrie Chosen as UW–Madison’s 2025 Newman Civic Fellow
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is proud to announce Devin Guthrie as its 2025 Campus Compact Newman Civic Fellow. The fellows are nominated by the chancellor based on their project idea, leadership skills and community work.
Morgridge Center for Public Service 30-Year Celebration
The Morgridge Center for Public Service celebrated its 30th anniversary on Thursday, Oct. 9, hosting an open-house party with keynote speakers, food and community. The celebration brought together students, faculty and staff, alumni and community partners to appreciate the center’s three decades of service.
Building Stronger Communities Through Student Leadership: The Morgridge Center’s Civic Engagement Team
Both Sam Arnold and Mira Halker view their work as part of a larger story, one that lays the groundwork for a future in public service, whether that be practicing law or drafting policy.