Nancy E. Mathews (B.S. Penn State, M.S. and Ph.D. State University of New York – College of Environmental Science and Forestry) is the Director of the Morgridge Center and a professor at the Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies. Nancy’s past administrative leadership includes directing the 2009 reaccreditation for the University of Wisconsin-Madison, chairing the Conservation Biology and Sustainable Development program at the Nelson Institute, serving as a Peer Reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission, and serving on Biological Divisional tenure committee. For the past 15 years Nancy has taught interdisciplinary capstone courses on the conservation of endangered species.  Her research has focused primarily on wildlife ecology and, in particular, white-tailed deer behavior and their role in spreading chronic wasting disease. She and her graduate students also focus on community-based conservation.  Nancy was a recent fellow in the CIC Academic Leadership Program and currently serves on the board of directors for the International Crane Foundation.  As the new director for the Center, she said she “looks forward to working with its exceptionally talented staff to advance the Center’s mission in support of the Wisconsin Idea through partnerships with the public.”  Nancy is particularly excited about promoting international service learning, community-based research, and the Wisconsin Idea Centennial in 2012.

Contant Nancy at 608-262-0787 or nemathew@wisc.edu

Randy Wallar (B.A. Hanover College, M.A. and Ph.D. Ball State University) is the Associate Director of the Morgridge Center. He provides leadership for the Center’s academic and extra-curricular functions and is responsible for day-to-day management and financial oversight.  In 1994, Randy served on the University committee that crafted the proposal for the Morgridge family that ultimately led to the creation of the Morgridge Center.  He has served in an administrative capacity since 1996. As such, Randy brings a valuable historical perspective to our work.  He said, “One of the most enjoyable aspects of my work here has been interacting with students… working with them to expand the Center’s programs and services and watching them develop into fully engaged citizens.”

Contat Randy at 608-262-5781 or jrwallar@wisc.edu

Elizabeth Tryon (B.A. University of Illinois, M.A.Ed. Edgewood College) is the Assistant Director of the Morgridge Center.  In this position Beth manages several of the Center’s academic service-learning programs including Service-Learning Fellows and the Wisconsin Idea Undergraduate Fellowship grants. She also works independently with faculty and staff across campus on special projects relating to community-based research and service-learning with a special focus on community partner relations.  She co-authored of The Unheard Voices: Community Organizations and Service Learning (Temple University Press, 2009). Prior to joining the Morgridge Center Beth worked at Edgewood College for five years as a Community Partner Specialist in their service-learning program.  She had previously run a nonprofit music education program called “The Groove Project” and has been a performing and recording artist for 35 years. Beth said what she loves most about her job is “working with so many talented students, staff and faculty in all disciplines and helping them create partnerships in an authentic, reciprocal, and mutually respectful way.” 

Contact Beth at 608-890-3334 or etryon@wisc.edu

Megan Miller (B.S. in Community and Nonprofit Leadership at the University of Wisconsin – Madison) is currently a Civic Engagement Coordinator for the Morgridge Center.  In this position she is responsible for managing several of the Morgridge Center’s co-curricular programs including Badger Volunteers, which engages over 500 UW students in weekly service at local nonprofit sites, coordinating volunteer fairs, and the Volunteer Transportation Program.  Megan became involved with the Morgridge Center as a student using the Volunteer Transportation Program to tutor at Glendale Elementary School.  She later served two terms as an AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteer with the center.  When it’s not Badger Volunteers, it’s Badger sports!  In her free time Megan enjoys going to football, basketball, and hockey games with her family and friends.  Megan says what she likes most about working at the Morgridge Center is “seeing and helping students develop into lifelong engaged citizens in their communities.”

Contact Megan at 608-262-8446 or mmiller5@wisc.edu

Janet Niewold (B.S. in Zoology and B.A. in Spanish at Southern Illinois University,  M.A. in Latin American Studies at the University of Wisconsin – Madison) is currently a Development Director for the Morgridge Center.  In this position she develops connections with individuals, foundations, and corporations to create opportunities for them to financially support the Morgridge Center’s mission and programs. Before joining the Morgridge Center, Janet worked for ten years in grants administration with the Department of Astronomy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  She has an extensive background in environmental management and worked in business development and marketing in both the public and private sectors.  Janet speaks Spanish and has traveled extensively including as a volunteer to rural Mexico and as the owner of a small business importing indigenous arts.  Janet said she likes working at the Morgridge Center because “she knows securing additional financial support for the Morgridge Center allows the center to develop new programs that educate students to be active citizens and create social change.”

Contact Janet at 608-890-3590 or jkniewold@wisc.edu

Mary Rouse (B.A. Michigan State University, M.A. University of Michigan – Ann Arbor) currently serves as a part-time Community Liaison at the Morgridge Center.  Mary retired from the University of Wisconsin-Madison as Director of the Morgridge Center for Public Service in July 2005, having been instrumental in creating the Center in 1994. She reflects on her good fortune to have been given the assignment by Chancellor Ward to expand the curricular and co-curricular service, learning and research opportunities for students, faculty and staff on campus, and to listen, respond and form partnerships to meet the needs of non profits, individuals and families in our diverse communities locally, nationally and internationally. In almost 38 years of full time employment at the University, she held several positions in student and academic affairs including serving as the Dean of Students/Chief Student Affairs Officer from 1987-2000.  Mary describes herself as a Mother, Grandmother, Homemaker, Educator, and Community Servant. Her commitment to public service underpinned by the Wisconsin Idea is woven through her University and personal life and evidenced in the many nonprofit organizations which she has served.  She often reminds the people with whom she is working that she never works alone. 

Contact Mary at 608-263-2432 or mkrouse@wisc.edu

Katherine Cramer Walsh (B.A. University of Wisconsin-Madison, PhD University of Michigan) is an associate professor in the Department of Political Science, and is the Morgridge Center for Public Service Faculty Research Scholar. Her work focuses on public opinion, civic engagement, and deliberative democracy. She is the author of Talking about Race: Community Dialogues and the Politics of Difference (University of Chicago Press, 2007), Talking about Politics: Informal Groups and Social Identity in American Life (University of Chicago Press, 2004) and co-author of Democracy at Risk: How Political Choices Have Undermined Citizenship and What We Can Do About It with the members of the American Political Science Association's Task Force on Civic Engagement and Civic Education (Brookings, 2005). She is currently a member of the City of Madison Equal Opportunities Commission, as well as a member of the local YWCA Board of Directors. As a Morgridge Faculty Research Scholar, Kathy studies UW-Madison students' perceptions of their experiences in service-learning courses, and investigates ways for the university to better connect with the broader community.

Contact Kathy at 608-265-3679 or kwalsh2@wisc.edu

Kala Grove (B.A. University of Wisconsin - Madison) Kala is the Morgridge Center's AmeriCorps*VISTA and coordinates the Badger Volunteers Program.
Contact Kala at 608-262-0731 or vista@morgridge.wisc.edu

Dean Ladwig is the Morgridge Center's Financial Specialist
Contact Dean at 608-263-2432 or drladwig@wisc.edu

2011-2012 Student Staff & Interns

2011-2012 undergraduate student interns

Undergraduate Interns

• Rebekah Ludwig, Campus Outreach, outreach@morgridge.wisc.edu
• Anna Emmerich, Community Liaison, community@morgridge.wisc.edu
• Amanda Burke, Marketing, marketing@morgridge.wisc.edu
• Annie Paul, Badger Volunteers, badgervol@morgridge.wisc.edu
• Meredith Wald, Events Coordinator, events@morgridge.wisc.edu

Peer Advisors

• Elliot Luckenbill, volunteer@morgridge.wisc.edu
• Mike Tecca, volunteer@morgridge.wisc.edu

Service Learning Fellows

Graduate Students

• Susan Cosgrove, Engaged Scholarship Fellow, scosgrove@wisc.edu
• Ashleigh Ross, WID/MC Graduate Project Assistant, jaross2@wisc.edu
• Marian Slaughter, Engaged Scholarship Fellow, mlslaughter@wisc.edu