Close up of the wall in Ember Hall, composed of ornately carved, wooden square diamond shapes. Amongst the tiles are red, glowing diamonds displaying donor names

Office of Strategic Partnerships

We Understand People

Technical skills get people in the door, but human insight keeps your organization moving forward. At the School of Human Ecology, we bridge the gap between global systems and the individuals who live and work within them.

Whether you are looking for your next generation of leaders or a fresh perspective on a systemic challenge, we connect you with talent ready to drive growth in a human-centric economy.

Ways to Engage

Four students talk with their business client on location at their salon.

We create customized engagement plans tailored to your specific goals.

Recruitment & Talent Access:
Participate in networking events, mentoring sessions and host students onsite to build connections and assess fit.

Classroom Collaborations:
Sponsor a student consulting project or case competition to solve real-time industry problems.

Leadership & Thought Exchange:
Engage with our faculty and students in leadership symposiums to stay ahead of emerging human trends.

“Human Ecology cultivates students with exceptional skills, creativity, and strategic insight. Partnering with their student consulting team brought fresh, forward-thinking ideas that added real value to our planning.”
— Melissa Beste, Global CEO of Akris

Our Areas of Expertise

Team collaborating in a conference room as a woman writes on a whiteboard while others review plans and laptops.

Bridging academic expertise with industry challenges to create measurable impact.

Marketplace Dynamics & Consumer Insights
Decode the “why” behind brand loyalty. Our students apply behavioral science to help you predict trends and gain a competitive edge in an evolving marketplace.

Human-Centered Design & Systems Innovation
Tackle your most complex organizational challenges through our design-thinking approach. We apply systemic problem-solving to help you rethink processes, products, and social impact.

Healthcare Strategy & Lifespan Initiatives
Collaborate with us to navigate the future of well-being. From aging populations to family health systems, we work to develop forward-thinking solutions for the modern healthcare landscape.

Social & Corporate Infrastructure
Join our experts in building more resilient organizations and communities. We focus on evidence-based development to strengthen leadership and community engagement.

Financial Health & Behavioral Economics
Explore the intersection of personal finance and human behavior. We analyze economic stability to help create more inclusive and effective financial solutions for your stakeholders.

The Future of Your Workforce is Human-Centric

From global icons to healthcare innovators we provide a direct link to a new class of professionals. Our students are trained to navigate complex systems with creativity, empathy, and solving the human-level challenges that drive sustainable growth in today’s economy.

Let’s Start a Conversation

We have the talent. You have the vision. Let’s discuss how a strategic partnership can support your organization’s next phase of innovation and growth.

A white woman smiling, with blonde, long hair, wearing an olive jacket.Get in Touch

Laura Hensen
Executive Director
Office of Strategic Partnerships
lhensen@wisc.edu
608-263-7996