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| Staff Newsletter | August 2025 |
Dear colleagues,
One of the joys of working at a university is that, with the cyclical nature of the academic calendar, we are fortunate to have new beginnings baked into our jobs. As we come to the end of summer, I think we can all use that reset.
As ever, the new academic year brings new students, new faculty, and fortunately for us this year, two new important additions to the Office of the Provost. Karen Smilowitz’s term as Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education will begin Sept. 1 and Constance Wright officially began her role as Assistant Provost for Undergraduate Education on Aug. 15. I am excited about working with these talented individuals and have every confidence they will bring innumerable contributions to the Office of the Provost and to the undergraduate experience at Northwestern.
With many challenges still facing the University and much work ahead, I want you to know how greatly appreciated you are. I recognize that the reduction in staff is requiring us to assess how we fulfill the responsibilities of the Office of the Provost. We are working with leaders across units to identify additional ways to support all of our staff, and I encourage you to communicate with your manager about expectations for your job.
In addition to helping us meet institutional goals, I want to make sure that you have the opportunity to consider your professional goals and needs, and we plan to offer more professional development opportunities in the coming months, starting with Coffee with Colleagues, coming up after the Fall Quarter All-Staff Meeting on Oct. 29.
Teamwork — something the Office of the Provost already does exceptionally well — will be more important than ever as we enter this new academic year. But first, I sincerely hope that as we approach the holiday weekend, you find the time to rest and have some fun. I look forward to collaborating with all of you when we return.
Sincerely,
Kathleen Hagerty |
All about the staff |
Meet Marc Wilson Marc Wilson joined Northwestern in January of 2025 as Implementation Manager for Student Union and Collaborative. He supports school and administrative units on implementation of the collective bargaining agreement with graduate students, along with efforts to align services and support for students across the Registrar, Student Finance, and Health Information Management Services.
How did you come to work in higher education and in your current role?
I’ve always wanted to work at Northwestern, and I am drawn to the curiosity, learning and growth that make a university so dynamic. However, I took quite a long and winding road to get here! I am a double Northwestern alum (undergraduate and law), and started my career as a lawyer in Los Angeles, where I worked at a law firm and then an entertainment studio for nearly 10 years. In 2015, I changed fields to education, spending several years at a non-profit in Los Angeles advocating for educational equity on behalf of schools in underserved communities. We moved to Chicago in 2021, and prior to joining Northwestern, I served as Chief of Staff at a Chicago-based education non-profit.
What do you most enjoy about your job and working for Northwestern?
There’s not a day that goes by when I don’t feel challenged or learn something new, and I love how mission-driven, curious and committed everybody is. I also enjoy being a part of the Northwestern community and getting to be on campus. Since I was a kid, I’ve always loved how special and unique college campuses feel. There is truly something magical about being on a campus where so much learning, growth and social connection occur. My favorite building on campus has always been Norris. I have so many fond memories of my time there, and it’s great to see how it still holds so much of its old charm as a central gathering point for students.
What is something fun or interesting about you that people may not know?
We are a Northwestern family through and through. I met my wife during orientation week at Northwestern, and we have three kids, all of whom love Northwestern as well. You can often find us at Northwestern athletics events, walking campus or having picnics on the lakefill. At this point, my kids have heard my “tour of memories” around Northwestern’s campus so many times that they could probably be tour guides!
Staff who started roles in June and July
International Student and Scholar Services
Student Finance
Undergraduate Admission
University Registrar
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News, notes and need to know |
Northwestern's Accreditation Renewal The Higher Learning Commission has renewed the accreditation of Northwestern through 2034-35, recognizing the University’s educational quality and dedication to its mission. In particular, the peer reviewers commended Northwestern’s interdisciplinary and collaborative culture. Led by Associate Provost for Strategy and Policy Roma Khanna, Assistant Provost for Strategy and Policy Mearah Quinn-Brauner and Associate Director of Strategy and Policy Andrianna Kurzenberger, in collaboration with the Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching and engagement from units across the Office of the Provost and the University at large, the review process began more than a year ago and took immense effort. Congratulations to all on this tremendous achievement!
New Offerings Through the Office of Community Enrichment Since its launch in April, the Office of Community Enrichment (OCE) has been working toward its vision of building a Northwestern community rooted in belonging, learning through difference and collective thriving. This fall, OCE is introducing several new initiatives, including a restorative practices learning community, CoLAB (Collective Learning, Action, and Building) Partnerships, a workshop on Understanding Conflict Styles, and expanded mediation services. Together, these efforts invite students, faculty and staff into deeper engagement with one another. To learn more, visit OCE’s website or sign up for its newsletter.
Buffett First Friday Lunches Join the Buffett Institute for a faculty research lunchtime talk series on the first Friday of every month. Faculty members give a half-hour talk intended for a broad, multidisciplinary audience of Northwestern students, faculty and staff, followed by a Q&A. Lunch is provided beginning at 12:15 p.m. The Oct. 3 event will feature Bruce Carruthers, the John D. MacArthur Professor of Sociology.
News from The Block This fall, The Block will launch The Living Room, a new drop-in space at the museum designed with students in mind and open to all. Each month, a work of art from The Block’s collection will be featured in an inviting lounge setting, accompanied by reflection prompts written by Student Associates. Visitors are encouraged to stop in, take a pause and connect with the museum in a low-pressure, meaningful way.
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