Megan McBride joins UniverCity Alliance as outreach specialist

UniverCity Alliance is excited to announce that Megan McBride has joined the program as the outreach specialist, bringing with her years of experience working for Wisconsin local governments.  

McBride most recently served as the grants administrator for the City of Beloit. Prior to that, she was the assistant city planner and director of planning and development for the City of Ashland. During her time at Northland College, McBride worked as an undergraduate researcher with the Center for Rural Communities.  

She will be working with Wisconsin communities and connecting them to resources on University of Wisconsin–Madison’s campus. Learn more about McBride in this Q&A:  

Why are you excited to join UniverCity Alliance?

I am excited to join UniverCity Alliance as the outreach specialist because I am passionate about local government and look forward to connecting with a wide variety of Wisconsin communities. I had the opportunity to work as an intern in the City of Ashland’s Community Development Department while completing my undergraduate degree, which truly deepened my college experience and enriched my education. Helping to facilitate similar firsthand experiences for students, while helping communities achieve local goals and priorities, is what excites me most about joining UniverCity Alliance.   

What about local government inspires you?

What inspires me about local government is that it is the most tangible and accessible level of government for most people.  It has very direct impacts on the daily lives of residents and fosters a sense of community and belonging. With the ability to directly engage with constituents in the development of goals and strategies, local governments can promote the values of participatory democracy and resident empowerment. For these reasons, effective local government is very important for creating inclusive, sustainable, and vibrant communities.  

Having experienced firsthand the types of resource constraints which hinder local government efforts to create and implement community-driven plans, I recognize that an inability to actualize community goals almost always stems from a lack of capacity rather than a lack of desire to improve the community. This is why I think the work of UniverCity Alliance is so important for empowering communities, as it helps to overcome these barriers by bringing together this passion of local governments, new ideas, energy, and expertise from students and faculty working on the projects.  

What does the Wisconsin Idea mean to you?

For me, the Wisconsin Idea means leveraging UW–Madison capacity, resources, and legacy to benefit communities around the state. This includes research, education, and public service, with the methods for achieving the Wisconsin Idea as diverse as the communities served. I think the work of UniverCity Alliance really exemplifies the Wisconsin Idea by directly connecting communities with UW students and classes through mutually beneficial projects.  

What do you appreciate most about the community you live in? What do you like to do outside of work?

I currently live in Cherry Valley, IL, and really enjoy the numerous public forest preserves near my house. Outside of work, I enjoy taking my dog, Bear, for walks at the preserves. When not spending time outdoors, my other hobbies include knitting, sewing, and reading. However, since I am currently in grad school for a master’s in public administration, most of my time outside of work is occupied by homework.