Managing Director
Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and High Road Strategy Center (L&S) | UniverCity Alliance
Hometown: Danville, IL
Megan McBride is the Managing Director of UniverCity Alliance, a program that connects Wisconsin communities with courses, faculty, and resources at UW-Madison. She joined UniverCity Alliance as the Program Manager in August 2024 after working in local government for over seven years. She served as the Assistant Planner and Planning Director in Ashland, WI, before relocating in 2022 to serve as the Grants Administrator with the City of Beloit. She is passionate about empowering local governments to achieve community goals and appreciates the opportunity to do this through UniverCity Alliance while creating valuable opportunities for students.
Talks:
Better Places Together
UniverCity Alliance partners with local governments to address community-identified projects related to economic development, water quality, housing, communications, public health, placemaking, sustainability, finance/accounting, government performance, transportation, and more. Request a talk on any topic, and we’ll assemble a panel to share outcomes, insights, and impact from related UniverCity collaborations across Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin Idea in Action
Learn how UniverCity Alliance brings the Wisconsin Idea to life by connecting community-identified projects with courses, faculty, and other resources at UW-Madison. By working collaboratively, students and faculty help find innovative solutions to real-world problems — creating lasting impacts for communities and invaluable learning opportunities for students.
Future Leaders and Local Impacts
Today’s students are tomorrow’s civic leaders. Learn how UniverCity Alliance connects UW–Madison students from diverse disciplines with community projects to build civic engagement skills, explore public service careers, and see firsthand how they can affect positive change. At the same time, communities receive fresh perspectives, innovative ideas, and increased capacity to address local priorities.