At the end of May 2025, I had the honor of serving as the keynote speaker for UW-Madison ’s Division of Enrollment Management Professional Development Day. Being invited by the Vice Provost to speak to the teams shaping access and opportunity for undergraduate students is something I’ll never take for granted. My keynote speech centered around radical imagination and the courage to dream big and take intentional action to create real change. Following the keynote, I had a fireside chat with Avery, a graduating senior, where we talked about the college experience and the importance of resources for first-generation and rural students. Her story reminded me that behind every student’s success is a team that believes in their potential. This experience left me inspired to keep building spaces where people feel seen, supported, and empowered to create bold futures.
