Meghan Duggan ’11 has a wealth of accolades to her name. Duggan led the Badgers women’s hockey team to a national championship in 2011. She played on three Olympic teams, winning gold in the 2018 games. She’s currently the director of player development for the New Jersey Devils. And now, she can add UW–Madison commencement speaker to that resume.
Duggan stopped by La Bahn Arena with her family to answer questions and offer her thoughts on what it means to be a Badger alumna.
Meghan:
Being a Badger is something in my life that I’m most proud of. I think when I chose to come to this university, I selected it for a number of reasons: the campus, the culture, the team, the traditions. But I wanted to be a part of something big and exciting, and something that was rooted in community and people. And that’s what I experienced here. And all of those things are why, my four or five years were some of the best years of my life, and why I’m always so overjoyed to come back and why this weekend, being here for commencement and celebrating the graduates and being here with my family, is so special.
WAA:
What did the university give you that you wouldn’t have been able to experience [elsewhere]?
Meghan:
What makes this university unique and special? It’s just the passion and traditions that are grown out of here. Anyone that I have come across globally that is wearing, you know, the cardinal and white, or as I see someone in an airport with a Motion W hat or backpack, it’s an instant connection. And for me, relationships and people in my life are so critically important that I love having that community. I love being able to high-five a random person in the airport just because they have a Wisconsin jacket on, and [know] that they feel the same way. So, I know a lot of schools boast themselves on a strong alumnihood or on proud, you know, connections and network after that.
But I really feel this is, you know, one of the greatest. And I could be biased, but it’s such a special group to be a part of. And I think that that’s one of my key takeaways from this, my time here.
WAA:
You brought your kiddos here today. Is it your dream to have them come to Madison?
Meghan:
For sure. Yeah. I mean, this place changed my life. And so if I can offer that to my children, you know what? What a joy that would be. I think my experience here as a student-athlete and everything I went through and everything I learned probably set me up to be a better mom.
And I think that the most important aspect of my life currently, above all else, is my kids. I have three young kids, a four-year-old, a two-and-a-half-year-old, and a four-month-old. I think also time management is critical. And I learned that being here.
So, it’s just such a joy to be back with them. This is obviously their first time here in Madison, and being able to experience the university and come to the rink and see pictures of their mom and some of their aunties all over the walls here is really special for them and really, really special for me. So, really thrilled to have them back here with me.
WAA:
When you look at the championship banners hanging here, talk about what that means.
Meghan:
Yeah, I mean, just to be a part of this program is a really special thing. And there’s a lot of girls and women that now grow up and dream of wanting to play here for the Badgers. And there is a reason why. Look at this building, the facilities, the team, the championships, the fans. It’s an amazing place to play. And I grew up here so much as an athlete, from when I first stepped foot on campus to when I left. That was due to all of those things. It was due to Coach Johnson and his staff and the support staff here and my teammates and the fans and the city and the culture around women’s hockey here. It’s like we’ve got our own little pocket out here of excellence. I said up there that I would call this program a dynasty. I think it deserves that title. And, I’m just honored to have been a part of it and specifically to watch them continue to have so much great success these last couple of years.
I’m a proud alum. I watch all the games and follow, and I’m always texting the coaches and see them on the road if I can, if they’re out east. And so it’s a great thing to be a part of. And I get a lot of emotions, looking at those banners. And I played in the Kohl Center because this great building wasn’t here when I was here. But, being in the Kohl Center or even stepping foot in here, I’ve come to a couple games and, yeah, it makes me emotional. It was a wonderful time in my life for a million reasons. And the championship certainly added to that.
WAA:
Awesome! And what an honor to speak at commencement!
Meghan:
Yeah. Great thing. Honestly, it’s hard to put into words. I think when I was asked to do it, I was blown away. And I just initially thought they made the wrong call or that, it was an accident, but just to [have] that honor, to be in Camp Randall with all those people, to be celebrating the class of 2024 — it’s truly just the honor of a lifetime for me. It’s something I’ll never forget. I’m just overcome with emotion when I think about it. And to be able to have my family back here with me is just so special. And this place gave me so much. And feeling like I can come back this weekend and give something to the graduates — it’s really great. So, very exciting. Yeah.
