My 15 Years at MWU: A Retrospective

Last Friday, I was honored at the Annual Faculty/Staff Recognition Dinner on the Downers Grove Campus for my 15 years of service to Midwestern University. Yes, I started working here when I was 18. Just kidding. But it is hard to believe that 15 years have gone by. I am amazed at the change and growth I have seen, and I am humbled to have played a small part in it.

I started at MWU in 1994 as the Publications Manager, after just completing my master's degree at Northwestern University. I was excited to have a job that focused on writing and that was in a university setting. Just the year before, MWU had been officially created as a University. I worked in the Office of Institutional Advancement (the "old" name for the Office of Development & Alumni Relations). My job was writing for various publications and also supporting the fundraising efforts by crafting solicitations, thank you letters, etc. My current staff are forever amazed that I also fulfilled the functions of graphic design. Some of my primitive design efforts are still held up as fine examples of my lack of expertise in this area! However, I was very proud that I was able to learn at least enough of this skill set to perform the minimum design necessary.

In my first year at MWU, significant changes occurred. Due to economic necessity and the impossibility of owning community hospitals in an increasingly managed care environment, we sold our hospitals so that we could focus solely on our academic programs. In 1995, Dr. G also began her tenure as President & CEO. It was a very dynamic time of change and new vision, and I am so glad I was there to be part of it. Soon I was promoted to a new position, overseeing the newly created Office of Communications. My first undertaking, needless to say, was to hire a graphic designer! Dr. G understood the importance of communicating with all of our constituents, and I was in the right place at the right time for that role. In 1996, the next major change occured with the opening of our Glendale Campus. I remember working on the grand opening and watching this campus sprout up from the desert. From a dustbowl in the middle of the edge of civilization, our campus is now a thriving community in the heart of a growing city.

After five years at MWU, my job changed again, as I was also put in charge of the Office of Admissions in 1999. This was a new challenge for me, but one that I worked hard at to learn the intricacies of this important campus office and its dedicated staff. This was also around the time when we launched our first website. We laugh at how basic it seems now, but we were on the leading edge of campus websites at the time--just 10 years ago! How far we have come. The next year, I was asked to lead the Office of Development & Alumni Relations. In 2000, we celebrated the Centennial of our founding college, the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, as well as the inaugural graduation of our newest college, the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine. Looking back, I wonder how we ever found time to sleep and water our plants that year! So many activities and so much excitement for every member of our campus family.

The pace of change and growth has continued, with new colleges, more students, development of new alumni programs, building a new website (twice!), and traveling back and forth between our two campuses. Never once in my 15 years have I seen MWU rest on its laurels. The University's leadership is always planning for what comes next and how we can improve. What a wonderfully fulfilling environment in which to work! Certainly there were times when I exhaustedly thought, enough is enough, but fortunately we never let fatigue damper our plans.

So, what do I remember most? The great colleagues and friends I have had the privilege to know over the years. Watching my staff continue to reach for higher goals and to achieve greater successes. Seeing the development of our campuses. Getting to know our wonderful alumni and appreciating all they have given back to their alma mater. Remembering the hundreds of students who have walked across the stage on graduation day and knowing they were fully prepared to take on the next challenges in their professional careers.

I am very blessed and feel very proud to be part of the MWU family. This is indeed a special place because of its people and because we are all committed to helping our students and our alumni achieve their dreams in healthcare.

That's my personal perspective on this year's Faculty/Staff Recognition Dinner. My gift for my 15 years of service was, appropriately, a nice set of luggage, a plaque that I will proudly hang on my wall, and a lapel pin that I will wear with honor. But the real gift was the honor of being a part of this wonderful academic family. I told Dr. G that I probably have at least another 15 years left in me, and I am pleased to continue to serve our students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

Congratulations to all the honorees at this year's event!