Spring 2023
Name: Mae Hurtado-Thiele
Hometown: Milwaukee, WI
Year/Major: Graduated May 2023 with a degree in Genetics and Genomics with a certificate in Leadership.
Mae was extremely involved throughout her time at UW-Madison. She held an abundance of roles on campus, including a student lead historical researcher, academic chair of the Undergraduate Genetics Association, Undergraduate research in the Judith Simcox Lab, president and co-captain of the Club Field Hockey team, and ambassador for the UW-Madison College of Agricultural & Life Sciences. When Mae talks about her Leadership Certificate experience, she acknowledges that it has helped her grow into the student, scientist, and leader that she is today. The most influential part of the certificate was her ability to reflect on her strengths and shortcomings. Mae has worked incredibly hard to establish herself as a leader to young women and Hispanic students in STEM. She is proud to have built a network of diverse individuals who share similar goals with the mindset of turning them into a reality. Mae started a two-year fellowship at the National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute, hoping to attend medical school and become a physician-scientist.
To see Mae’s video submission, click here.
Spring 2022
Name: Tamia Fowlkes
Hometown: Hortonville, WI
Year/Major: Graduated May 2022 with a degree in Journalism and Political Science with certificate in Leadership and Gender and Women’s Studies
During Tamia’s time at UW-Madison, she has had incredible opportunities to expand upon her passions through her work with the Morgridge Center of Public Service and in the student organizations she participated in. Whether she is registering students to vote, writing an article about her community, in conversation with policymakers and activists or advocating for legislation on Student Council, Tamia remains highly aware that her work grants her a unique power to educate and shape the minds of the public and serve as a critical tool in their pursuit of positive change and action. Each interview she has done, policy she has advocated for, and person she has encountered informs her understanding of the issues which most influentially shape our country, democracy, and social interactions. Tamia has always sought to utilize her platform to serve as an advocate and leader for her peers and community while maintaining an elevated consciousness about the changes occurring in the world around her. Through her work, Tamia has been granted a unique opportunity to facilitate meaningful work that places power into the hands of underrepresented, unheard communities.
To see Tamia’s video submission, click here.
Name: Katelyn McVay
Hometown: New Castle, PA
Year/Major: Graduated May 2022 with degrees in Global Health, Environmental Studies, and Botany; Leadership Certificate
Katelyn started college at the University of Pittsburgh and transferred to Wisconsin because she wanted to be somewhere that took her out of her comfort zone and enabled her to be her best self. While this is exactly what transferring did for Katelyn, her transition to UW-Madison was not exactly easy at first. However, Katelyn joined programs that helped her become acclimated to the campus and became a leader both on and off campus. Her personal and academic background has inspired her efforts to promote inclusion on campus and to advocate for environmental equity. She has been actively involved in environmental justice work through the Community Environmental Scholars Program and has supported students as a Housefellow and WISCIENCE Research Peer Leader. She is also passionate about research and promoting environmental and urban activism through studying environmental issues. From her own experience, Katelyn knows there is a large opportunity gap for people of certain backgrounds to succeed in relation to their peers. Katelyn will be pursuing a graduate degree in Environmental Planning and Policy and hopes to become an academic researcher in order to use her privilege of education to further advocate for the issues she cares about.
To see Katelyn’s video submission, click here.
Spring 2021
Name: Shehrose Charania
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Year/Major: Graduated May 2021 with a degree in Health Promotion and Health Equity with Certificates in Global Health & Public Policy & Leadership
Shehrose, a Posse Scholar, focused on systematically helping the Madison and Wisconsin community through empowering future women STEM leaders through the WIScience STEM Immersion Program, serving as a peer mentor through public health projects, and through the Wisconsin Alliance for Women’s Health’s Providers and Teens Communicating for Health (PATCH). Through her leadership experiences, she became self-aware by recognizing the barriers to knowledge that can exist and gained skills on how to communicate, develop and implement programs that would increase the quality of lives and serve different populations. Post-graduation, Shehrose will matriculate into the Master of Public Health in Health Administration and Policy at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.
To see Shehrose’s video submission, click here.
Spring 2020
Name: Anna Walther
Hometown: Kenosha, WI
Year/Major: Graduated May 2020 with a degree in Community and Environmental Sociology
Anna spent most of her time at UW-Madison focused on systematically helping the Madison community as a student leader through the Morgridge Center for Public Service, by implementing various food security initiatives, and by collaborating with research centers like the Institute for Research on Poverty. Through her leadership experiences, she learned about empathizing with others and how to empower people and organizations seeking to make lasting change. Post-graduation, Anna will matriculate into UW-Madison’s School of Social Work for their joint MSW/PhD program in Social Work.
To see Anna’s video submission, click here.
Spring 2019
Name: Mimi Le
Hometown: Brooklyn Park, MN
Year/Major: Graduated May 2019 with a degree in Nursing
During Mimi’s time at UW-Madison she has has been heavily involved with WUD Alternative Breaks. She learned that she enjoys building interactive environments to foster better interactions between her committee members, and loved her active involvement as this year’s Associate Director of the program. Mimi will be graduating this year with her Bachelor’s of Science in nursing, and has accepted a position to start her nursing career at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago on the cardiology floor starting this August.
To see Mimi’s video submission, click here.
Spring 2018
Name: Iffat Bhuiyan
Hometown: Platteville, WI
Year/Major: Graduated May 2018 with a degree in Community Environmental Sociology and Environmental Studies
During Iffat’s time at UW she has tackled numerous social justice issues, while obtaining the opportunity to expand her leadership skills. This year she completed her Presidency within the Wisconsin Union, where she learned a tremendous amount of responsibility as well as how to be challenged by her peers, faculty and administration. At the WI Union, Iffat worked tirelessly with staff and student leaders to improve the campus climate. As a recent graduate Iffat is excited to explore the world of student affairs!
To see Iffat’s video submission, click here.
Name: Lily Hansen
Hometown: San Anselmo, CA
Year/Major: Graduated May 2018 with a degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders
Lily learned that everything she does to help others and be a leader is connected. She was able to do a lot of self-reflection over the four years of pursuing the certificate and in this time she found the Leadership Framework to be complimentary of what she was already doing. The Leadership framework sharpened Lily’s skills and after graduating in May, she will be directing a program at my overnight camp for young adults with disabilities. She then hopes to work for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and eventually go to law school to study child advocacy or special education law. This year, she was able to start two campaigns: they are both photo/video projects, and one addresses sexual assault awareness and the other, mental health.
To see Lily’s video submission, click here.
Spring 2016
Name: Alexandria Pham
Hometown: Kenosha, WI
Graduated in May 2016
Major: Management and Human Resources
The leadership accomplishment that Alex most values is her time as President of University Wellness Foundation, where she had the opportunity to be a facilitator of a young women’s empowerment group at James C. Wright Middle School. Alex led an 8-week program speaking to issues of racial and gender diversity, self-esteem, body-image, and bullying. This experience led Alex to pursue a career in Learning and Development. She has accepted a position at Kohl’s as a Talent Development Designer in Human Resources, where she will develop training materials and courses that will empower employees to fulfill their personal and career aspirations.
To see Alexandria’s video submission, click here.
Spring 2015
Name: Kayla Sippl
Hometown: Seymour, WI
Year/Major: Graduated in May 2015 with a degree in Biology
During Kayla’s time here at UW-Madison she was involved in many diverse activities. To name a few, she joined the CALS Honors in Science Research Program, Global Health Certificate, and African Students Certificate communities. Additionally, she was involved in groups such as Partners in Health Engage, AΣD Pre-Medical Honor Society, and served as the Vice President of Badgers Empowering Women. Kayla volunteered for the UW-Children’s Hospital, Expand Your Horizons Conference, Girl Neighborhood Group, and worked as a line therapist for Integrated Development Services. Her sophomore year, she studied abroad in Kenya and upon returning, earned the Wisconsin Idea Fellowship with Social Entrepreneurship distinction for her idea, “The Soap Project.” Kayla represented UW-Madison at the Clinton Global Initiative University and will present the project at the Global Health and Undergraduate Research Symposiums. She became the leader of an after-school science club at the Salvation Army, helped pilot the new leadership certificate program, and attended the AHANA Conference entitled, “Developing Today’s Leadership for Tomorrow’ Issues.”
To see Kayla’s video submission, click here.
Spring 2014
Name: Maimoua Xiong
Hometown: Madison, WI
Year/Major: Graduated May 2014 with a degree in Human Development and Family Studies
Maimoua is the eldest of five siblings and the first in her family to go to college. She created her own scholarship award to help students from low-income, first generation, and historically underrepresented backgrounds to fund their study abroad program.
To see Maimoua’s video submission, click here.
Name: Caitlin DeVos
Hometown: Plymouth, MN
Year/Major: Graduated in May 2014 with a degree in Communication & Non-Profit Leadership, and Sociology
After losing her mom to colon cancer in November 2010, Caitlin dedicated her time to the American Cancer Society to serve as a volunteer for Colleges Against Cancer of UW-Madison. Because of her commitment to this cause she serves as one of eight members on the National Collegiate Advisory Team which provides support to volunteers nationwide.
To see Caitlin’s video submission, click here.