The School of Human Ecology had a year full of activity as an unstoppable force for human well-being and thriving. Throughout 2025, faculty, staff and students advanced the school’s mission through transformative research and exceptional student experiences.
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- Nearly 800 students graduated from Human Ecology this year — the highest number ever.
- Dozens of alumni paid it forward by visiting classes and career events to connect with students and prepare them for what comes next.
- Over 500 people created opportunities — such as hands-on learning — by making generous gifts to the school
Please join Human Ecology in reflecting on its year with the photos below!
An in-depth, three-part feature story titled Unstoppable showcases the remarkable resurgence and astonishing enrollment growth of the School of Human Ecology — thanks to the bold leadership of Dean Soyeon Shim (left) and Dean Emerit Robin Douthitt (right). Douthitt returned to Human Ecology for a special visit in January to share her reflections with faculty and staff.
“When human ecologists come together to tackle pressing issues like AI, financial security and healthy parenting, we are unstoppable.”
— Soyeon Shim, Elizabeth Holloway Schar Dean | Ted Kellner Bascom Professor, Consumer Science
Consumer Behavior & Marketplace Studies students ventured outside the classroom to downtown Madison, where they consulted with the owner of Alan Koa Salon (center) as part of a capstone course. Through in-depth research and applied coursework, the students analyzed the salon’s market position and presented strategies to help grow the salon’s target audience.
“I’m energized to teach this class. Students learn to give and receive feedback, respectfully disagree with clients and be assertive. These are skills that will serve them in any future career path they choose.”
— Jeff Meyer, Consumer Science teaching faculty and capstone instructor
Heather Kirkorian, Laura M. Secord Chair in Early Childhood Development and Human Development & Family Studies (HDFS) department chair and professor, served on the Sesame Workshop digital well-being advisory board. While part of the board, Kirkorian shared ideas for the resources the Sesame Workshop can share with parents and caregivers. One of these ideas also turned into a guest article that gives practical, research-based advice to caregivers for managing a child’s screen time.
The Center for Design and Material Culture is launching a new era with a new name: the Nancy M. Bruce Center for Design and Material Culture. Thanks to the generous legacy of Nancy (Meng) Bruce and her husband Robert Bruce, who were longtime supporters of the center, Human Ecology can expand its research and teaching in material culture, textiles and design. More than 1,000 students from across campus visit the center with their classes each year, studying everything from art history to finance.
All School of Human Ecology faculty and staff gathered in one room to share their hopes and concerns about artificial intelligence (AI). Keynote speaker Lucas Fitzpatrick, creative director and designer for Microsoft AI (left), presented a compelling look at the growing use and iterations of personal AI. In a moment where there are more questions than answers, one thing is clear: Human ecologists must play a leading role in shaping AI’s design and use.
Quentin Riser, Human Development & Family Studies (HDFS) assistant professor and Dean’s Equitable Early Lifespan Faculty Fellow (left), leads the Riser Equitable Early Lifespan (REEL) Lab where he involves students in researching the complex dynamics between family income and child development. As undergraduate students, Emma Powers ’25 (center) and Genna Garrigan ’25 (right) presented their findings at the 2025 Society for Social Work & Research Conference in Seattle.
“Seeing Emma and Genna confidently present our work on Black fatherhood — where every other panelist was a professor — was truly a proud moment.”
— Quentin Riser, HDFS assistant professor
Stephanie Phillips ’12 was honored with a Forward Award from the Wisconsin Alumni Association for her innovative work to reduce waste. An alumna of the Interior Design program (now Interior Architecture), Phillips leads a municipal program in San Antonio that prevents reusable construction materials from entering landfills. Read more examples of human ecologists propelling sustainability.
Personal Finance alumni paid it forward by providing guidance and advice to current students. After developing a comprehensive financial plan for a fictional client, teams of students presented their plans to a panel of alumni judges who work in the industry. The students ended the semester with a stronger understanding of how to work with actual clients.
What might inspire more students across campus to engage with the annual Day of the Badger campaign? To help answer this question, the Wisconsin Foundation & Alumni Association brought in teams of Human Ecology students. After analyzing previous tactics, they identified new opportunities and proposed creative solutions. High-impact learning projects like these are possible because of supporters of the School of Human Ecology Annual Fund.
Sarah Anne Carter (second from right) is a Design Studies associate professor, the executive director of the Nancy M. Bruce Center for Design and Material Culture, and now also the Chipstone Foundation Design and Material Culture Chair. This endowed position allows her to invest more deeply in students, her research and the center’s mission. At the investiture ceremony, Interim Provost John Zumbrunnen (second from left) and Dean Soyeon Shim (right) reflected on the significant impact of The Chipstone Foundation’s generosity on UW–Madison and Human Ecology.
More than 30 Community & Organizational Development students visited the Wisconsin State Capitol and met with state legislators to discuss prominent policy issues affecting communities, such as healthcare, education and environmental causes. With this inside look at what it is like to work in state government, the students can envision their own potential career paths.
Four Textiles & Fashion Design students traveled to Vietnam for the inaugural Hmong Design Studies Internship, made possible through the generosity of David ’70 and Nancy Borghesi ’69 and the leadership of Jennifer Angus, Design Studies professor and Kay Vaughan Faculty Fellow of Design + Innovation. The students, who are all Hmong-American, found it powerful to practice what they have learned in class while also reconnecting with their families’ backgrounds. After visiting multiple Hmong communities, the students produced clothing and household goods with the new skills they learned from the local textile artists.
Consumer Behavior & Family Economics PhD student Alison Berube (right) earned a first-place prize for her research poster. With a donor-supported scholarship, she traveled to Boston for the Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management Conference, which drew more than 2,500 attendees to discuss public policy issues and opportunities. Berube’s research examined how the neighborhoods people live in and how often they move can impact a person’s ability to make child support payments.
Personal Finance students and Consumer Science teaching faculty Linda Lepe (center) — who is also the Financial Planning program director and Personal Finance academic director — traveled to Denver for the Charles Schwab IMPACT Conference. While there, students heard from industry leaders and networked with financial planning professionals. The students returned to UW–Madison with new professional connections and a stronger sense of what their career could look like after graduation.
Through 3D sensing, augmented reality and machine learning, human ecologists are making it easier for older adults to live safely in their homes. Developed by Kevin Ponto, Audrey Rothermel Bascom Professor of Design Studies, and a team of fellow researchers, the Augumented Reality Home Assessment Tool will provide free mobility and accessibility home recommendations. The innovative app received a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation.
“This grant will enable us to utilize cutting-edge technologies to empower individuals and communities to implement safety changes and increased accessibility, fostering greater independence and healthy living.”
— Kevin Ponto, Audrey Rothermel Bascom Professor of Design Studies
Effectively talking about your educational experiences and professional aspirations is key in communicating with potential employers. At the Advising & Career Center‘s Next Level Networking event, alumni helped students do just that. By learning tips from a keynote speaker, practicing with their peers and bringing curiosity to conversations with alumni, nearly 200 students leveled up their networking skills.
The School of Human Ecology announced world-renowned designer Bruce Mau (center) as the inaugural Phillip A. Levy Fellow in Life-centered Design. The first-of-its-kind fellowship is made possible by a generous gift from Jeff Levy ’72 in memory of his brother, Phillip ’64. Students from any major can take the course co-taught by Mau starting Fall 2026.