In 2024, the School of Human Ecology welcomed over 1,000 new students, taught 335 courses, and gave students the tools to make an impact in the world. Our experts published more than 100 scholarly articles and were quoted or mentioned around 900 times in media stories, sharing new knowledge from their research to improve public understanding. The photos below highlight some memorable moments from throughout the year.
Francesca Mahoney ’04 is shifting the pet industry into a more sustainable direction through her role as Petco’s Vice President of Sustainability. Her time as a Retailing student taught her how to take the consumer’s point of view into consideration when making business or product changes.
A team of students partnered with Lands’ End to revitalize their iconic heritage brand, Willis & Geiger.
“I grew my skills in project management, customer segmentation and professional presentations,” says Kiran Shenoi x’25, a Consumer Behavior & Marketplace Studies student. “Receiving direct feedback from Lands’ End was extremely impactful in shaping my outlook on how corporate retail functions.”
Several groups of Human Ecology students worked on community-based projects with UniverCity Alliance to solve challenges in Wisconsin through applied student work and partnerships with local governments. One team brought their research skills to help high school student groups toward their goal of preventing substance use.
Through a shared class project on food and sustainability, graduate and undergraduate students had a unique opportunity to practice community-based research and improve the nutrition of elementary school lunches.
Members of Human Ecology’s Dean’s Advisory Board serve as ambassadors for the school and offer input, advice, and guidance to Dean Soyeon Shim (front row, center). Collectively, they serve as thought leaders, supporters, and powerful connectors to advance the school’s mission to improve human well-being.
Cuauhtemoc Guizar ’24 (right) carried the School of Human Ecology’s flag at UW–Madison’s commencement ceremony. Guizar was selected by Human Ecology faculty and staff for his accomplishments in and out of the classroom. He was one of nearly 500 students who graduated from the School of Human Ecology in the spring semester.
“Human Ecology has challenged me to think creatively and lead equitably to make a positive social impact,” Guizar says.
Thanks to donor support, Human Ecology students can participate in high-impact learning experiences like conferences. A group of 17 students traveled to Las Vegas to attend two trade shows in the fashion and retailing industries. The connections students made in marketing, merchandising, and trend analysis will help set them up for success in their own careers.
For the first time in nearly half a century, Human Ecology launched a brand-new undergraduate major: Design, Innovation & Society, which aims to develop skill sets in design processes to innovate and solve problems in everyday life. Three coursework pathways are offered: Design & Social Change, Design & Culture, and Design & Technology, preparing students for in-demand careers such as market research analysts, art directors, digital interface designers, and more.
The School of Human Ecology held an investiture ceremony to celebrate three esteemed faculty members who hold endowed professorships and the visionary donors whose philanthropy made the positions possible. The event honored Melissa Bublitz as the Liz Kramer Professor of Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship; Carolee Dodge Francis as the Leola R. Culver Professor in Nonprofits and Philanthropy; and Cliff Robb as the Lorna Jorgenson Wendt Professor in Money, Relationships & Equality (MORE).
Audrey Treptow x‘25 (right) gained invaluable career skills through a paid work experience with Co-Create, a community-led research, evaluation and facilitation initiative housed within the Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies. Treptow contributed to a report for the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families outlining strategies for helping children transition from childcare centers to schools. Treptow’s major, the newly renamed Community & Organizational Development, prepares students to advance positive societal change through communities and organizations.
Ashley Stellick x’26 (left) and Rena Finkel x’28 (right) were each in a course studying vastly different subjects: children’s development and material culture. An innovative workshop brought their classes together — toys and games were the common connection point to explore each other’s field. For example, they looked at versions of The Game of Life from across decades to learn how objects reflect the culture, time period, and family systems they were created in.
More than 700 Human Ecology students completed internships in 2024, giving them essential professional experience in their field. Caroline Koleszar x’25, a Consumer Behavior & Marketplace Studies student, interned with Milwaukee Tools, a Wisconsin-based retail company.
“My mentors are my managers and supervisors, who also function as my cheerleaders as they push me to exceed and learn every day,” Koleszar says.
Students Lilith Wehrs x’26 (left) and Joslyn Salamanca x’27 (right), utilized the Mapping Teejop digital tool for their class project in Community Based Research and Evaluation. Kasey Keeler, assistant professor of Civil Society & Community Studies, led the creation of Mapping Teejop with others on campus. The growing collection of self-guided digital tours highlights histories and the ongoing presence of Native peoples on the UW–Madison campus, a region long known as Teejop. It encourages learning and self-reflection by examining landmarks and sculptures like “Effigy: Bird Form,” created by Ho-Chunk artist Truman Lowe.
Alvin Thomas, associate professor of Human Development & Family Studies and Phyllis Northway Faculty Fellow, co-chaired the inaugural Fathers in Focus Conference with UW–Extension. The sessions on relationship skill-building, mental health and navigating the justice system as a parent helped to support fathers in their vital roles within families and communities. Thomas’ research on fatherhood is also being shared on his nationally-recognized The Black Fatherhood Podcast, which won two silver Signal Listener’s Choice Awards and a silver Anthem Community Voice Award in 2024.
Human ecologists learned the origins of ancient feltmaking with Janice Arnold (center), a visiting artist with the Center for Design & Material Culture. In Central Asia, wool felt is a platform for cultural identity and creative expression. In the Western world, felt is seeing a resurgence as a sustainable material for various applications. Students in the Introduction to Textile Design course worked with Arnold to make felt with wool fibers through a combination of methods, providing them with valuable hands-on experience.
Student financial coaches — most of whom are Personal Finance students, like Alexis Swaney x’26 (right) — practice their profession and empower other students to make informed financial decisions through Badger$ense. The Badger$ense program offers financial education workshops for student groups across UW–Madison and individual coaching tailored to a student’s specific needs.