University of Wisconsin–Madison

A summer of celebration, connection: Travels with the Chancellor

Throughout the summer, the Office of Business Engagement highlighted the impact and importance of industry partnerships, advancing connections on campus and across the state. For more summertime connections, see our post about the 175th anniversary state tour.  While the summer of 2023 contained much celebration and connection around UW–Madison’s 175th anniversary, Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin also took the opportunity to make several visits around the state to connect with key industry partners at their home base.

Chancellor Travels

In early July, Chancellor Mnookin traveled to La Crosse, where she met with partners from Trane Technologies, a global climate innovator and leader in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning manufacturing. She also met with representatives of Gundersen Health, a partner with the Wisconsin Academy for Rural Medicine at the UW–Madison School of Medicine and Public Health.
A group of people stand in a hallway with a wall of silver plaques

During a visit to La Crosse, Chancellor Mnookin and members of the OBE team connected with UW graduates and leadership from industry partner Trane Technologies, a global heating and air conditioning manufacturer in La Crosse.

Later in the month, Chancellor Mnookin made a visit with university partner GE HealthCare at their Waukesha headquarters, highlighting the importance and impact of the decades-long partnership between GE HealthCare and UW–Madison.
A mannequin in scrubs lies on a table in front of a group dressed in business casual attire. An expert stands in front of the group, appearing to explain the technology that the mannequin is being used to demonstrate.

Chancellor Mnookin and members of the OBE team took a tour of GE HealthCare’s Waukesha headquarters and met with several Badger alumni on the GE HealthCare Team. The visit demonstrated of the importance and impact of the decades-long partnership between GE HealthCare & UW–Madison around research collaboration and technology invention.

Another visit to Green Bay in the waning days of summer allowed Chancellor Mnookin an opportunity to visit Lambeau Field to meet Packer President Mark Murphy. She also visited Titletown Tech and lastly, saw how sausage was made (literally) during a tour of Salm Partners.

Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin visits Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers, in Green Bay, Wisc. on Aug. 28, 2023. (Photo by Althea Dotzour / UW–Madison)

Most recently, Chancellor Mnookin made a visit to Racine, connecting with partners at SC Johnson, DeltaHawk Engines, Inc. and O&H Danish Bakery.
Chancellor Mnookin stands and center, surrounded by large group in front of a projected UW–Madison rest with the SCJohnson logo to the left and right. The group smiles and hold up their hands in the Wisconsin W symbol."

Chancellor Mnookin’s visit to Racine included a tour of the SC Johnson headquarters with CEO H Fisk Johnson and lunch with Badger alums working at SCJ.

Campus Connections

In addition to travels throughout the state, OBE staff also had the chance to welcome partners to campus, taking advantage of great weather and the Memorial Union Terrace. As the school year gets underway, the Office of Business Engagement will continue to foster connections on campus and across the state. There are also several opportunities for businesses to connect directly with students on campus through career fairs, as well as networking opportunities and other events. If your company is interested in talent solutions, visit OBE’s website for a comprehensive list of career fairs and ways to partner.
A group of people smile at the camera holding dishes of ice cream among colorful tables and chairs on the Memorial Union Terrace on a sunny summer day.

Partner visits to campus included an August connect with representatives from PPG in partnership with the UW–Madison Department of Chemistry, UW­–Madison College of Engineering, the UW Bridge to the Chemistry Doctorate Program and the Graduate Engineering Research Scholars Program.