Badger Ready helps Alex Smith continue grandfather’s lifelong learning legacy
When Alex Smith graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2021, he wasn’t just completing a degree and a personal journey; he was continuing a powerful family legacy.
Alex with his mother Ellen visiting his grandfather Howard.
Smith navigated a unique pathway to his diploma through Badger Ready, a bridge program that helps students facing barriers to transfer admission at UW–Madison. This program — and the idea of making a UW–Madison education accessible to nontraditional learners — is part of the powerful mark left by his grandfather, Howard Martin.
Martin, the first dean of the UW–Madison Division of Continuing Studies (DCS), spent 42 years furthering the Wisconsin Idea and championing lifelong learning for a community of learners across Wisconsin and beyond. Now, 15 years after Martin’s retirement, his grandson is a living testament to that enduring vision.
Martin passed away on September 29, 2025. Smith continues to honor him through his accomplishments.
Returning through Badger Ready
Smith’s journey to graduation wasn’t straightforward. After graduating from high school, he attended Harvard University but withdrew after three semesters. He later enrolled at UW–Madison as a special student in 2015, but the experience was isolating.
In early 2020, Smith was uncertain about his future. He struggled with anxiety and depression, which made going back to school to finish his degree a challenge. Around that time, his grandfather told him about the Badger Ready program. Smith applied, which would begin the bridge between Martin’s guiding legacy and Smith’s fresh start at UW.
Badger Ready is rooted in shared humanity, centering dignity, curiosity and partnership between advisors and students. The program helps break down cultural barriers and clarifies the often-unspoken rules of university life, empowering students to make informed academic decisions. With a focus on lifelong learning and a growth mindset, Badger Ready recognizes that a transcript or background doesn’t define a person’s potential. What matters most is who students are today — and their drive to grow.
When Smith began Badger Ready, he moved in with his grandparents. The experience gave him the space and support to rebuild both his academic confidence and his relationship with his family.
Alex with Bucky at the Adult Career and Special Student Services award ceremony.
He also found a support system in Badger Ready. The program not only provided structure but also personal attention from staff and instructors who cared about his well-being and helped him move forward.
“The faculty and advisors were interested in what I was dealing with, not just academically but personally,” he said. “That made all the difference.”
A few semesters after entering the Badger Ready program, Smith graduated in fall 2021 with a data science degree. Graduating during the pandemic, he had to wait and walk through the graduation ceremony in May 2022, but he also celebrated earlier with his Badger Ready cohort.
Smith was amazed at the amount of progress he made in a short time. “A lot can change for the better in two years, and you don’t always realize in the moment that so many things are changing.”
Driven by learning
Martin had also faced plenty of change in his life. Born on May 26, 1941, in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England, he was raised during the hardships of World War II. His family shares that “he met life’s early challenges with vigor, resilience and determination – a spirit that defined him and carried through to his final days.”
Driven by a desire for growth and learning, Martin left his humble beginnings of a small row house in Doncaster in 1961 to attend the University of Durham. His desire to travel and love of academics earned him a university exchange scholarship to the U.S., where he met his wife, Cathie.
After they were married, the couple returned to England so Howard could complete his degree at Durham. They later settled in Madison, where Martin earned his PhD. He followed that with 22 years of teaching undergraduate, graduate and noncredit students and conducting research on Scandinavian and German languages and traditions.
Howard Martin at the Division of Continuing Studies during his tenure as dean.
In 1987, Martin was hired as the dean of the Division of Outreach. The Division merged with the other units to become the Division of Continuing Studies in 1994. Martin played a key role in advancing the Wisconsin Idea and lifelong learning. Under his tenure at DCS, the division evolved to serve a variety of nontraditional audiences, from summer session students and senior guest auditors to the first class of students in the award-winning Odyssey Project.
Former UW–Madison Chancellor John D. Wiley called Martin a national leader in continuing education and summer sessions, saying upon Martin’s retirement, “As our senior dean, Howard has led a variety of efforts to expand access to UW–Madison for nontraditional students, working professionals, seniors and Wisconsin citizens of all ages. His leadership strengthened our relationship with UW-Extension and made UW–Madison summer sessions a destination for learners from around the world.”
Carrying on the tradition
Smith is a prime example of the nontraditional student Martin spent his career supporting.
Today, Smith works as a senior integration specialist with Advarra, a company that helps advance the speed and efficiency of clinical research. Using his data science training, he builds systems that streamline communication between health care and pharmaceutical organizations, helping vital research reach patients faster.
Smith’s career began supporting technology originally developed by a startup associated with the UW Carbone Cancer Center, where he assisted with clinical studies and patient document exchanges. His role evolved into managing software integrations, a position that draws on the same curiosity and problem-solving instincts that defined his grandfather’s career.
Smith also recently bought a condo in Oregon, Wisconsin. He feels settled and part of a larger community. He is also considering going back to school to obtain a master’s degree. To give back and help others, he’s considering a career as a licensed therapist or social worker. He’s open to new experiences, adding that education isn’t a straight path or a race, but a lifelong process that meets you where you are.
Reflecting on gratitude, community and family, Smith appreciates his grandfather’s belief in lifelong learning and in helping people rediscover opportunities like Badger Ready, which provides a strong, supportive community for all learners.
For Smith and for many others, it’s proof that it’s never too late to learn, and that his grandfather’s legacy lives on through him and through the Wisconsin Idea.
If you’re thinking about finishing your degree or returning to UW–Madison, explore Badger Ready. Lifelong learning starts whenever you’re ready to take the next step.
Post written by Jakob Moe.
