Madison Hird is pursuing a career in the sports industry. She’s earning her degree in Journalism and Information Science with a certificate in Sports Communications and works as a football assistant with the UW-Badgers, where she’s learning about sports operations, recruitment, and behind‑the‑scenes logistics. Now in her third year at UW–Madison, she’s excited about where a career in sports could take her.

 But her direction wasn’t always so clear.

Madison originally came to UW–Madison as a Biochemistry major. Her initial goal was forensic science, after she had taken several biomedical classes throughout high school. She thought it was her passion, until a first‑semester biochemistry seminar made her question her direction. 

But switching majors wasn’t simple. As a Posse Scholar, she worried about applying to the business school and not getting in on her first attempt. If she needed a fifth year, her scholarship might not cover it. The possibility of losing funding was a real concern.

Feeling lost, Madison sought advice from friends, family, and the campus career services network, including career advisor Ryan Bouchard at the Career Exploration Center (CEC).

“[Ryan] was very welcoming,” she recalls “He was open to hearing what my interests were, and he honestly put me on a better path.”

While talking with Ryan, she reflected on her experience as a varsity basketball manager in high school. As they explored her interests, Madison identified Journalism and a Sports Communication certificate as an exciting path forward. She was particularly excited about adding in an Information Science certificate, feeling it would help her remain competitive in an increasingly technology-driven world.

At first, Madison hesitated. When she thought of journalism, she thought of broadcast and traditional writing, neither of which matched her interests. But Ryan introduced her to the strategic communications track, which focuses more on marketing and aligned closely with her passions of operations and behind-the-scenes work. 

“I was really grateful that he opened up that world to me because I didn’t know that the J-school, or that UW–Madison, offered that.”

Today, Madison is actively involved in her professional community. Working with the Badgers has put the skills she’s learning in her studies into action and strengthened her interest in the field. Back home in New York, Madison also works with Made Hoops, a youth development basketball organization. She supported their operations team during the summer of 2026 and will soon begin a second internship with them as a Strategic Planning and Facility Database Intern. 

Madison’s advice for students who haven’t found their direction yet is simple: start with what interests you, and don’t be afraid to explore where it might lead.

And while finding your way takes time, Madison emphasizes that you don’t have to do it on your own. She points students toward the resources and people already around them, including UW–Madison’s career services network.

In Madison’s words, what helped her most was “relying on what’s already there for you, using your network, and speaking to other students because they could potentially know more than you do, especially as an incoming student.”

Two years after questioning the path she had chosen, Madison isn’t just studying something she enjoys – she’s putting it into practice and building a career around it.

By: Nia Davis, Rachel Goodman