This month we say goodbye to some long time employees of the university. We thank them for their years of service and for the opportunity we have had to get to know them and work with them. Please join us in saying congratulations and wishing them well in the next chapter of their lives.
Office of the Vice Provost
Margaret Maly, Office of the Vice Provost
Margaret’s career with the state began in 1978 in the Dept. of Natural Resources where she worked in the Bureau of Environmental Analysis and Review. In 1989, Margaret moved to a paralegal position in the Office of Legal Counsel for the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, working for nine attorneys, writing subpoenas, and investigating personnel cases.
Margaret moved to our end of State Street in 1999 to work for the Director and the 36-member Board of Curators of the Wisconsin Historical Society. For more than fourteen years Margaret provided professional support for the director and the Board, served as a project manager, and planned donor events. Margaret’s historical society stories were well-known in OVP and if you wanted to visit a historic site, she was always the one to ask.
In 2013 Margaret moved to UW–Madison to become the executive assistant for the Executive Director of the Physical Plant. She helped the director manage operations for more than a thousand employees, oversaw the budget, lead the EID efforts, created a new website and served on the administrative process improvement team to develop a long-term strategy for the campus work order system.
In 2016 Margaret joined DEM to become the executive assistant for Vice Provost Steve Hahn. She composed correspondence and documents on behalf of the Vice Provost; handled confidential material; served as a liaison with staff, executive campus leadership, and internal and external customers; assisted with high-level divisional recruiting and campus committee assignments; and managed the Vice Provost’s time, calendar, schedule and travel .
Because of her vast experience, Margaret was asked to serve on the Advisory Board for the American Society of Administrative Professionals. Amidst the turmoil of the pandemic Margaret oversaw the transition of the financial aid director to become the new vice provost and the hiring of his replacement.
After more than four decades of service to the people of Wisconsin, from all of us who had the privilege of working with Margaret, we will miss her stories about her grandchildren, but are very happy that she will now have more time to spend with them.
Office of Admissions and Recruitment
Kim Morgan, Admissions and Recruitment
Kim Morgan’s last day in the office will be December 18 and will retire officially in August of 2021 after 35 years working at UW–Madison. Before working at UW–Madison, Kim held roles at the Department of Transportation and the (at the time new) UW Hospital. Kim first joined UW–Madison in the mid-1980s and worked for the Department of Zoology for six years. In Zoology, Kim supported the faculty with their activity, budget, and departmental reports, while also supervising clerical, financial, and graduate student staff.
The Graduate School was lucky to have Kim as their budget and personnel office manager for five years. In addition to managing the budgeting process, Kim researched personnel issues, advised staff on collective bargaining agreements, and developed an online timesheet for Graduate School Staff. It was Kim’s skill developing online forms and websites that led her to a role within the Employee Compensation and Benefits Office of the UW Processing Center (UWPC). There, Kim designed and maintained the UWPC website accessed by all UW System colleges.
Before joining us in the Office of Admissions and Recruitment (OAR), Kim’s longest role at the university was with the College of Engineering (1998–2011). It was at Engineering that Kim gained extensive knowledge of the various payroll types, website management, and HR policies and programs. Kim maintained strong relationships with staff and faculty throughout the College as she oversaw the creation and implementation of many of the first versions of online programs still used across campus today. Kim also worked with the Engineering External Relations (EER) Department where she supported EER staff developing websites.
It is no surprise to anyone that Kim was the recipient of an Exceptional Performance Award multiple times at each of these roles within UW–Madison.
In 2011, Kim joined us in OAR, where she has managed our HR, payroll, and budgeting processes and many other projects. Those who worked with Kim shared memories of her being the first person they met at OAR during the hiring and onboarding process. Kim became a mentor and a friend to many. Others may remember Kim as the creator of the largest Excel spreadsheets they have ever seen! And of course, when you asked about Kim’s plans, they likely involve her family and especially grandson, who we hope she can spend even more time with during her retirement. While Kim may not be around the office full-time after December, her legacy will remain in our many (organized!) internal processes. Kim shares that a highlight of working in OAR was supporting young professionals and being a part of the vitality and excitement involved in recruiting students. In the words of OAR Director André Phillips, “Kim’s attention, support, care, and compassion for every member of this office has taught us all how to model the best versions of ourselves.”