In 2023, I joined the Chadbourne Residential College Team as one of six Peer Mentors. The previous team in 2022 struggled greatly with engagement. Their highest attendance numbers for any of their events was four people. By the end of the 2023/2024 school year, our highest attended event had over 150 residents, making more than a 3650% increase. At the end of the 2025/2026 school year, our largest event was 364 residents, an overall 9000% increase in event attendance.
In 2022, I planned, developed, and executed a week‑long signature event for the Chadbourne Residential College following five months of planning in response to a University of Wisconsin–Madison grant initiative celebrating the institution’s 175th anniversary. Working in collaboration with a colleague and under the guidance of our mentor, Kim Ann Lowe, we prepared a grant proposal that was subsequently approved by Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin’s office–and we were the only named undergraduate applicants to do so. In the months that followed, we coordinated a lunch panel with the College of Letters & Science, constructed a stand‑up weaving loom, and curated 175 unique facts about UW–Madison to highlight throughout the week. The event was highlighted and featured in internal newsletters across campus, including the Chancellor’s Office. To this day, my 175 facts sheet is still used by strategic communications.
Upon launch, the event achieved broad engagement, with more than a quarter of CRC residents participating in offerings ranging from a residence‑hall scavenger hunt to a community time capsule. As part of the program, I also conducted an interview with Peter Quimby, president of The Phi Beta Kappa Society and former associate director of the CRC, to capture his insights on the history and future of learning communities at UW–Madison.
Sofia More 