Emilee Hendricks remembers the eras of her life by where she was living at the time. A third-story walk up apartment with no air conditioning? That was her first year living with roommates in Madison as an undergraduate student. A studio apartment that got infested with mice three times? That was her first place living solo.
“When I talk about housing horror stories with my friends, it comes off as normal,” Hendricks says. “But, it shouldn’t be shrugged off.”
Motivated to better understand the student housing climate as an undergraduate student at UW–Madison, Hendricks studied off-campus housing for a semester-long capstone project. She and peers examined the wants and needs of students and found that the majority of student housing was unaffordable. Additionally, students reported experiencing at least one environmental health risk in their off-campus housing, such as mold, pests or security issues like windows and doors that didn’t lock.
After completing her capstone, Hendricks graduated in 2022 with a degree in Anthropology and Geography. She landed a job at AmeriCorps with Schools of Hope as a literacy tutor at Madison-area elementary schools. While working with children in the community was rewarding, Hendricks knew she wanted to go back to school for a graduate degree.
When searching for graduate-level majors, the MS in Human Ecology intrigued her. Friends and colleagues who are alums of the school raved with glowing testimonials. The program prepares students to be professionals who solve real societal problems and take on leadership roles within organizations that promote the well-being of individuals, families and communities. Hendricks enrolled in the program and began her studies in the Fall of 2024, with the intention to extend research within the Madison housing community.
“I’ve become more interested in children and young families and their housing situations,” Hendricks says. “That’s also tied to growing up — I was lucky that my parents always kept a roof over my head, but that came with big costs, such as not being able to afford much-needed medication.”
In middle school, Hendricks and her siblings’ living situation was split between their parents. At one point, she shared a two-bedroom apartment with her mom and two brothers, making it difficult to feel confident in having friends over.
“I think about how that still impacts me,” Hendricks says. “I don’t want kids to feel that way, especially after working with kids who live in worse situations than I have. It feels terrible not being able to help.”
Now, as a Human Ecology graduate student, Hendricks believes she’s exactly where she needs to be to make a difference.
Finding camaraderie with fellow changemakers
Originally from the Green Bay area, Hendricks is proud to call Wisconsin home. In fact, she cannot see herself living in any other state. Being a positive, active member in her community fuels her. And while Madison is an exciting city that draws in a lot of people, events and perspectives, Hendricks is quick to note that the one thing that cannot keep up is housing.
“I’m always thinking about how someone is impacted by the housing situation through an intersectional lens,” Hendricks says. “Not only does race, class, ability, sexuality and gender create different experiences from person to person, but also the unique geography of the city with the isthmus and placement of airports and hospital systems.”
Working from this perspective, Hendricks found it heartening to learn about the School of Human Ecology’s approach of applied human science that studies the question of everyday life. Becoming a human ecologist was a natural progression for Hendricks’ passions, and she is thrilled to immerse herself in a human-centered community that is always seeking to improve the lives of others.
“I’m excited to get to learn and work among people who care so deeply about the world,” Hendricks says.
This semester, Hendricks is working as a teaching assistant alongside Kristy Burkholder, Human Development & Family Studies teaching faculty. Together they are teaching the Belonging, Purpose and the Ecology of Human Happiness: EcoYou course. Students explore opportunities and constraints for individual and shared flourishing. They envision themselves within a web of interconnected, evolving networks.
“Although I’m leading discussions and grading papers, I see myself as a fellow student of human happiness — learning and building my understanding of the world,” Hendricks says.
Prioritizing a more equitable future
Deciding to put yourself out there and apply to graduate school takes courage and often an ongoing commitment to fight off self doubt. Being on the fence about if it’s the right time to jump back into higher education is a common feeling.
Writing a personal statement for applications helped Hendricks focus on her goals and highlight all of the important, relevant work that she’s completed. The exercise harnessed her unique perspective and allowed her to gain clarity of how her passion to improve the housing situation in Madison is worthwhile.
Hendricks has her sights set on expanding the Tenant Resource Center and building a similar model to the one the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) uses to provide legal assistance.
With so many possibilities ahead of her at the start of her first semester of graduate school, Hendricks is grateful she took the step in investing in herself and her studies.
“My biggest advice is to apply before you think you’re ready,” Hendricks says. “Sometimes you have to take the jump anyway, because you don’t know if you’re ready until you do it!”