The University of Wisconsin–Madison Badger Talks program reflects the tradition of the Wisconsin Idea — to extend the resources of the University to citizens of the state. The program connects faculty and staff from hundreds of different disciplines with communities throughout the state to spark conversations on important topics, engage residents on critical issues, and share the latest UW research. Wisconsin schools, businesses, associations, as well as professional and civic organizations are invited to explore the website and request a speaker for an upcoming event. Please reach out if you would like help identifying a speaker who matches your needs.
Badger Talks is a privately funded program, housed under the Office of State Relations in UW Connects outreach.
Contact Us
For more information about Badger Talks or help with submitting a request, contact us at 608-262-3880 or badgertalks@uwmad.wisc.edu; or find us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Guidelines
Number of requests
Wisconsin groups are generally eligible to request two talks per calendar year. Special exceptions can be made on a case by case basis. Badger Talks reserves the right to turn down talk requests based on staff workload and schedule availability.
Fees
Most speakers volunteer their time, and the University covers their travel-related expenses. However, if a speaker needs to dedicate hours of preparation, or if the host group is a for-profit business, conference, etc., a speaker may ask for an honorarium. If a speaker receives an honorarium, Badger Talks is unable to cover their travel expenses. We do our best to communicate this early in the process, so you can find the best fit for your budget if this is the case.
Virtual and in-person
Speakers are available for both in-person and virtual presentations. Those with specific preferences have listed this on their profile page.
On-campus groups
If your group is headquartered at UW–Madison, or if your event is serving UW-Madison staff or students, please contact speakers directly. Badger Talks is intended for use by off-campus organizations and businesses.
Subject to change
Speaker and topic availability is subject to change.
Hosting responsibilities
Your organization is required to cover any non-travel, event-related costs, as well as designating a contact person who will meet the speaker on the day of the event. We expect that host groups will do their best to accommodate any special needs speakers may have.
Attendance
As a general guideline, Badger Talks requests a minimum of 20 attendees at events. Exceptions can be made with speaker approval. We will do our best to help host groups promote talks who expect a small turnout. Groups hosting public events should utilize the marketing tools offered by Badger Talks to make the talk known to as wide an audience as possible. We also ask host groups to report final attendance before submitting another request for a speaker.
For in-person talks located outside of Dane County, some speakers may reserve the right to switch to a virtual format if estimated attendance remains very low. The speaker is responsible for making this decision at least 1 week before the event out of respect to the host group’s planning efforts.
Cancellations
Out of respect for speakers’ time and efforts, host groups are encouraged to carefully consider and be confident in their choice of speaker and choice of event date before submitting a request. However, if a cancellation becomes necessary, host groups are required to provide a minimum of three business days’ notice in the event of an unforeseen conflict impacting a scheduled talk.
Timing
Engagements with speakers should be booked at least three weeks in advance to ensure adequate time to confirm a speaker and make any necessary travel arrangements.
Badger Talks Staff
Fran Puleo Moyer
Associate Director of Outreach Programs
Fran oversees UW Connects, a statewide outreach program housed in the UW-Madison Office of State Relations. UW Connects includes Badger Talks, Bucky's Classroom, and the Badger Ambassador program. She has 20+ years of experience in program development, event management, community and public relations, marketing, and communications. Formerly the Community Relations Manager at Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center, she served as a spokesperson for the facility, managed events, and developed robust partnerships within the Madison business community. In addition, she previously served as an Outreach Program Manager at UW–Stevens Point, and has held administrative positions for several orchestras including the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony, and the Lake Forest Symphony. Fran is an artist and musician and currently serves as an Arts Commissioner for Dane County. She earned a bachelor’s degree in music performance from the University of Illinois and an MBA in marketing from DePaul University but is a proud Badger in her heart, and is honored to support programming which shares information and resources from campus with the people of Wisconsin.
Maya Reinfeldt
Badger Talks Coordinator
Maya has been with Badger Talks since October of 2022. She is responsible for hosted talk requests and their marketing, human resources, office supplies and equipment, and travel and expenses for speakers, students and staff. Maya Reinfeldt is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin - Madison, where she earned her BA with Honors in International Studies and Russian Literature. During college, she was a Writing Fellow, an Interfaith Fellow, and a member of the Cabinet of Student Leaders. Her work experience also centers around the University - Maya has worked for Memorial Library, and as both a student employee and Community Engaged Intern at the Wisconsin Water Library under Wisconsin Sea Grant where she focused on elevating underrepresented voices in the library. Maya grew up near Madison and, as a very proud Badger, is excited to support and develop the Badger Talks goal of spreading the Wisconsin Idea throughout the state. In her free time, she plays with the UW-Madison Russian Folk Orchestra, having been raised bilingual in English and Russian.
Xitllali De La Torre Sanchez
Badger Talks Marketing Intern
Xitllali De La Torre Sanchez is a junior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, majoring in Journalism and Strategic Communications. On campus, she serves as Chair of Public Relations for the Dietetics and Nutrition Club, where she promotes nutrition education through engaging initiatives, such as collaborating with local businesses that share the goal of ensuring community access to proper nutrition. She also manages the club’s social media, creating weekly posts to enhance campus engagement.
In her free time, she enjoys hiking and sharing new recipes which further fuels her passion for connecting with communities. Xitllali strives to leverage her skills and experiences to create impactful communication strategies that educate and inspire. She is excited to be a part of the Badger Talks team to continue her mission of promoting education, and expand her efforts from campus-wide to state-wide and beyond.