UW-Madison and American Family Insurance Recognized for Partnership
MADISON, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin–Madison and American Family Insurance were recently awarded the Regents Business Partnership Award by Regent President Amy Bogost. The award, presented at the Board of Regents meeting held at Union South on February 7, 2025, recognizes the mutually beneficial relationship between the Universities of Wisconsin and the state’s business community.
Matt Maryl, vice president for strategy performance & partnerships at American Family Insurance, speaks at the Board of Regents meeting.
Regent President Bogost noted that the award highlights collaborations that have spanned many years. UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin echoed this sentiment, acknowledging that the partnership’s many areas of collaboration fuel growth and innovation across Wisconsin and beyond. The Chancellor emphasized how these partnerships strengthen workforce engagement and bring new ideas to the university.
Matt Maryl, Vice President for Strategy Performance & Partnerships at American Family Insurance, highlighted the unique nature of this collaboration, emphasizing the synergy between two respected institutions. He also pointed out that UW-Madison provides an exceptional talent pipeline for American Family, ranging from interns to executives.
University of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman also praised the partnership. He stated, “Our ability to be able to partner with businesses like American Family is absolutely critical to power up the workforce pipeline.”
Student Spotlight Focuses on Community
During the meeting, Shantanu Chaudhuri, a senior majoring in computer engineering and computer science, was featured in the host campus Student Spotlight. He shared his positive experiences at UW-Madison.
Shantanu Chaudhuri, UW-Madison undergraduate student, speaks at the Board of Regents meeting.
Chaudhuri described UW-Madison as his “dream school.” He emphasized that the university offered him academic challenges and also taught him how to navigate the world and find meaning in his community, particularly through his involvement with the Wisconsin Union Directorate. Chaudhuri, who was born in India but now calls Grafton, Wisconsin his home, called his Madison experience a transformative testament to the power of community and identity.
Fostering Innovation and Entrepreneurship
The meeting also addressed strengthening entrepreneurial pathways at UW-Madison, drawing on the findings of a recent study commissioned by Chancellor Mnookin. Panelists with experience in entrepreneurship at UW-Madison discussed how innovation and entrepreneurship are vital for economic development.
Jessica Martin Eckerly, CEO and cofounder of Forward BIOLABS, speaks during a panel discussion on entrepreneurship.
Jon Eckhardt, Special Advisor to the Chancellor for Entrepreneurship, explained the university’s strategy to recruit and support founders. He stated that UW-Madison aims to help entrepreneurs launch their businesses, and that helping the state’s economy innovate and foster job creation through entrepreneurship is key. Eric Iverson, CEO of Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), noted WARF’s role in handling approximately 400 new inventions from campus each year, with the mission of improving humankind and the environment. Keiran Furlong, co-founder of Realta Fusion, credited both UW-Madison and WARF for being foundational to his company’s existence, creating jobs and attracting investment.
Jessica Martin Eckerly, CEO and co-founder of Forward BIOLABS, described how her company facilitates early-stage companies. She shared that Forward BIOLABS has served over 50 companies and those companies have amassed over $400 million in investments and grants. Wes Schroll, CEO and founder of Fetch, emphasized the importance of raising the profile of UW-Madison’s contributions to entrepreneurship to attract both students and investors. Furlong pointed to the importance of access to capital, noting that investment follows good ideas and strong teams.
In other business, the Regents approved various items, including requests for new academic programs, revisions to handbooks, and agreements with external organizations. The next Board of Regents meeting will be held virtually on March 6, 2025.
