Celebrating the Career and Contributions of Paula Gates
For more than four decades, Paula Gates has helped make the University of Wisconsin–Madison a welcoming, supportive, and thriving place to work and learn. As she prepares for retirement this December, we want to recognize her remarkable career, her commitment to people, and the lasting impact she has had across campus and within the Division of Enrollment Management (DEM).
Save the Date: Paula Gates Retirement Celebration
Please join us in honoring Paula’s outstanding career and wishing her well in retirement. An open-house celebration will be held on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in DEM 11301. Stop by, share your memories, and help us celebrate the many contributions Paula has made to UW–Madison and the Division of Enrollment Management. We hope to see you there!
Paula’s Amazing Journey
Paula’s UW–Madison journey began in 1985, working as a typist for the History Department in the College of Letters and Science. This role included manually transcribing formal business letters, reports, publications, and interoffice memos using a typewriter. Filing systems included both physical document archives, and carbon copies. If you made a mistake, it required using liquid paper to correct it. She would later receive credit for her contributions to three different publications: America’s Half-Center: United States Foreign Policy in the Cold War, published 1989 by Thomas J. McCormick, George Washington in the Eyes of His Contemporaries by John P. Kaminski and Jill Adair McCaugham and The Brethren in Christ Church Comfort the City.. by Paul Boyer. If you ask her about working on campus in the 80’s, she will share about the amazing faculty she got to work and about how desks came equipped with ashtrays as an office supply because smoking on campus wasn’t prohibited until April 8, 1991.
In 1996, she transitioned to the Graduate School’s Office of Fellowships and Minority Programs. In that role, she supported graduate fellowships, student mentoring programs, recruitment initiatives, and graduate student orientation programs. She also played a key role in planning major campus events, including graduate school fairs and the National Black Graduate Student Conference. From the very beginning, Paula demonstrated a passion for helping others succeed and a commitment to fostering inclusive communities.
In 2000, Paula transitioned to executive support roles serving senior university leaders, including the Vice Provost for Diversity and Climate, the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, and later leaders within the Division of Information Technology. Throughout these roles, she coordinated major events, managed budgets and operations, supervised staff and student employees, and helped advance important university initiatives.
Since joining DEM in 2011, Paula has become an invaluable resource and trusted partner for employees and leaders across the division. She has guided recruitment and hiring processes, supported compensation and classification efforts, coordinated onboarding for new employees, administered payroll and benefits, and advised managers on performance management practices. Whether helping a new employee navigate their first day or supporting a supervisor through a complex HR process, Paula has consistently approached her work with professionalism, patience, and care.
In 2021, Paula stepped into her current role as HR Manager, further expanding her leadership and impact. Her expertise spans nearly every aspect of human resources, including recruitment, performance management, payroll administration, employee benefits, facilitation, conference coordination, and employee engagement. Her colleagues know her as someone who is always willing to help, answer questions, and ensure employees receive the support they need to succeed.
Beyond her formal responsibilities, Paula has been a passionate advocate for engagement, inclusion, and diversity. She has served on DEM’s Engagement, Inclusion and Diversity (EID) team and participated in several campus HR communities of practice. Throughout her career, she has championed opportunities for learning, growth, and connection, helping create an environment where employees feel welcomed, supported, and valued.
As Paula prepares for her next chapter, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for her 40+ years of service to UW–Madison and 15 years of contributions to DEM. Her influence can be seen in the countless employees she has supported, the programs she has strengthened, and the welcoming culture she has helped build. On behalf of the entire DEM community, we thank Paula for her extraordinary service and wish her happiness, good health, and many exciting adventures in retirement.