When Heidi Putnam was at the start of her academic career, she came up with the motivational guiding phrase of “environmental inspirationalist.”
Putnam was influenced by experiences like spending a semester of high school at the border of northern Wisconsin learning about environmental education, forestry, and wilderness and a safari in South Africa that opened her eyes to the field of wildlife biology.
Then, during her undergraduate career at UW-Stevents Point, Putnam dove into experiences that brought her directly into contact with a person or group that she could positively affect through her work.
“You can really feel the difference you’re making when you really learn to listen to people and understand what issues they are having,” Putnam said. “It was really humbling and gratifying every time I finished a project or figured out something that worked for somebody, and you could visually see that difference.”
While pursuing a master’s of science degree in urban and regional planning at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Putnam remained dedicated to connecting with people and communities and making a difference through a variety of projects with UniverCity Alliance. For her commitment and dedication to community-engaged work, UniverCity Alliance is excited to recognize Putnam with the inaugural Commitment to Partnership award.
“Students like Heidi represent the gold standard,” UniverCity Alliance Managing Director Megan McBride said. “Not only did Heidi complete high-quality work for multiple community partners, she went above and beyond by supporting two UniverCity Alliance undergraduate scholars with their community-based projects.”
During her time at UW–Madison, Putnam completed UniverCity projects with Polk County, the Koshkonong Creek Collaborative, and the Village of DeForest. These projects included creating a rebranding initiative, developing water management strategies, and planning for phosphorus reduction and sustainable development.
Putnam graduated in 2024 with a master’s of science degree in urban and regional planning with a concentration in community-engaged watershed planning. She now works as an environmental planner at Snyder & Associates doing a mix of environmental-based projects, traditional planning, and internal GIS training.
Her commitment to building authentic relationships and creating stronger communities continues through her work today.
“It gives you the ‘feel goods,’ knowing that you’ve made a difference for somebody or a group of people. Maybe it’s a resource, like a local park … but you just know that you’re making something better. You’re leaving something better than you found it,” Putnam said. That’s the biggest thing for me is that it’s not just making these projects happen, but it’s building relationships and maintaining those relationships long term.”
Putnam will be recognized with the 2025 UniverCity Alliance Commitment to Partnership award during the Nelson Institute’s annual alumni gathering, Rendezvous on the Terrace, on Sept. 18 in Tripp Commons at the Memorial Union from 5-7 p.m.
–Abigail Becker