Three students and faculty from the UW–Madison School of Education have been selected for the 2025-26 cohort of Morgridge Fellows. The program, run through the Morgridge Center for Public Service, brings together faculty, staff, and graduate students for a year-long learning community focused on advancing community-engaged scholarship.
The program is directed by Morgridge Center Assistant Director of Community-Engaged Scholarship Dave Lassen and Community-Engaged Scholarship Specialist Cory Sprinkel. “We are thrilled to welcome this year’s cohort of fellows, our largest yet,” says Lassen. “They join a vibrant, growing community of UW scholars who recognize and respond to the critical work of community-engaged scholarship.”
As part of the program, fellows will participate in sessions focused on strengthening community-university partnerships in courses and research. They will also engage directly with local residents, leaders, and organizations, to build relationships and support their efforts to integrate community engagement.
This year’s Morgridge Fellows from the School of Education include:
Jina Chun is an assistant professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education. She has more than 20 years of experience supporting transition-aged youth and working-age adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, particularly autistic individuals and their families. Her work is rooted in her practice as a rehabilitation counselor in both Korea and the U.S., where she developed a strong commitment to research with direct, real-world impact. Chun’s research examines the intersection of career development, mental health, and quality of life for autistic individuals, with a focus on autism advocacy and employment equity. Chun aims to identify service gaps, address systemic barriers, and co-create interventions that promote vocational identity, self-efficacy, and inclusive career pathways.
Hannah Jeanette Laufenberg is an occupational therapist and PhD student in the Sensory Motor Integration Lab within the Department of Kinesiology. Her scholarship focuses on improving mental health service accessibility through inclusive, equity-driven partnerships with nonprofit organizations and individuals with lived experience. Laufenberg brings a strong background in participatory methods, inclusive teaching, and interdisciplinary collaboration, all shaped by her experience in community-engaged research and outreach. She is passionate about transforming academic spaces through reciprocal engagement contributing to a learning community that values critical reflection and community impact.
Makamae Sniffen is a Native Hawaiian and Filipino third-year joint PhD student in the Department of History and the Department of Educational Policy Studies. Her history scholarship focuses on the 19th century Hawaiian Kingdom, centering Hawaiian-language documents and considering how to make these sources more widely accessible. Her work in educational policy studies engages Indigenous language revitalization efforts through collaboration and co-creation with community partners. Guided by those who came before her, motivated by those alongside her, and inspired by the generations to come, Sniffen’s scholarship emphasizes reciprocity, cultural preservation, and Indigenous-led research.
Learn more about the 2025-26 Morgridge Fellows cohort.