GridgeFridge Morgridge Center for Public Service

Since the grand opening of the Bakke Recreation & Wellbeing Center on April 24, 2023, the facility has been used by an average of about 4,000 students daily. In combination with the Nicholas Recreation Center, together, both gyms see about 10,000 students a day, a fifth of the student population. 



In this episode, we are talking with Sadat Khan, the director of facilities and operations at Recreation Wellbeing at the UW–Madison and with this April episode, we are celebrating the one year anniversary of the Bakke Recreation & Wellbeing Center, UW–Madison’s newest gym and recreation center.



As an integral part of the design process, Sadat explains the design motivations behind the Bakke and how the design process incorporated student perspectives. Keep listening to learn how the recreation center is a chance to promote inclusivity and holistic health, and how the new facility has been received on campus.

In this episode of GridgeFridge, we bring you an Intern Extravaganza Special. GridgeFridge host, Laine Bottemiller, is joined by Morgridge Center interns Barsha Pantha, Isa Hernandez-White, and Makayla Cole to share and reflect about their personal and professional experiences at the center as graduation is around the corner.

Tune in to learn how they've grown and hone their skills over the course of the past three years and what the Morgridge Center means to them and what it could mean to you.

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Elise Ahn, the founding director of the International Projects Office and lecturer in educational policy at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Elise studies language, linguistics, and education policy. Previously, Elise has also lectured at KIMEP University in Kazakhstan.

The International Projects Office, or IPO, globalizes the Wisconsin Idea through international projects and partnerships—this can look like capacity building at Nazarbayev University in Kazakhstan or partnering with different countries through the United Nations to address COVID-19.

Beyond the work accomplished by these UW–Madison programs, internationalizing the university is a chance for valuable person-to-person connections, we find out. Keep listening to learn about mutually beneficial international relationships at UW and how learning new languages—despite being intimidating—is a chance to build connections and foster inclusion in education.

Did you know that UW–Madison has an economic impact of $30 billion dollars annually on the state of Wisconsin? In this bonus episode, we talked about how Crystal has seen UW–Madison’s impact across the state of Wisconsin and how she communicates this value to Wisconsin policymakers.

As the senior director of State Relations for the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Crystal Potts is the connecting piece between UW–Madison and the state government, balancing the interests and needs of Wisconsin legislators and policymakers with those of UW–Madison leadership, faculty and students.

Listen to learn how state funding of UW–Madison impacts the university’s competitiveness and how Crystal advocates for the university while responding to legislators’ needs.

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Travis Wright. Dr. Travis Wright has been the faculty director of the Morgridge Center for Public Service since 2022, but beyond the Morgridge Center, his life experiences have been full of public service. Growing up facing housing insecurity instability and then finding his own passion for public service, Travis has witnessed firsthand the importance of service and community engagement. 

In this episode, we’re breaking the fourth wall and talking with Travis about his background, research, ideas of community engagement, and how those notions inform his work at the Morgridge Center. Join us as Travis and I discuss emotionally responsive teaching, how public service changed his life, and how community partnerships have the potential to build empathy and understanding.

In this episode, we talk with Gracey Niedzielak and Avery Simpson, the chapter president and vice president of A Moment of Magic at UW–Madison. A Moment of Magic, also known as AMOM, is a nonprofit organization that uses engaging social wellness activities to inspire children to be brave, strong, and fearless.

The organization raises awareness for families impacted by pediatric cancer, children with disabilities and other medically vulnerable and underserved populations. Members of AMOM volunteer and visit these children at hospitals, fundraisers, or their home, often dressed as the children’s favorite character.

Keep listening to learn how AMOM impacts the children and volunteers involved with the organization, and how the organization is making magic happen here at UW–Madison.