Students walk to class up Bascom Hill earlier this spring.
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is changing lives. I see it when students light up talking about their experiences in the classroom and in the lab. I hear it from alumni who share how a professor believed in them and altered their path for the better. I feel it when faculty spanning the social sciences, arts and humanities, natural sciences and computational sciences describe their pathbreaking research that helps us better understand the world in which we live.
My work to raise philanthropic resources for UW-Madison is both deeply personal and incredibly inspiring. As an alumna of this institution who was shaped by my professors, courses and classmates, I want to pay it forward for the next generation of students and leaders. The mission of the College of Letters & Science motivates me every day: to provide a first-rate education to students and pursue innovative research that tackles humanity’s greatest issues.
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Despite the challenges and rapid changes shaping our world, walking around campus gives me a sense of hope. Students are seeking out majors that will help them make a difference, and they are launched with the communication and critical thinking skills necessary to be effective leaders of tomorrow. Professors and graduate students are passionate about their research and share what they learn so that it may improve people’s lives across the state and beyond.Â
None of this work happens on its own. It takes people who believe in the power of education and who believe that research can push society forward. It takes people who value having a world-class university in Wisconsin and see it as an asset to our state and everyone who calls it home. These visionary supporters help us provide scholarships to students and retain faculty who are both making an impact in the classroom and pursuing breakthrough discoveries. Life-changing programs that you read about in this issue of Fueling Discovery, including Undergraduate Research Scholars (URS) and STEM Scholars, are made possible by people like you who want to see our communities thrive.
Please consider joining us in moving this work forward. Philanthropy helps us ensure that students across the state have access to an exceptional education right here in Wisconsin. Gifts enable researchers to tackle questions that could reshape the way we think about science, technology and the human story. Now is the time to make an investment in higher education and the future of our state. Donations of every size send a message and make a difference.
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About the Author
Katie Kruse Rather is the associate vice president and managing director for the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association. She received her graduate degree from UW–Madison’s La Follette School of Public Affairs and is a passionate alumna of the College of Letters & Science.
