Morgridge Center director announces retirement

Mary Rouse, who has served UW–Madison for nearly 38 years, most notably as dean of students and director of the Morgridge Center for Public Service, has announced plans to retire in June.

“After all of these years, I saved the best for last,” she says. “My years directing the center have been the most satisfying of my career.”

As an all-campus support unit, the center promotes public service among students through academic service-learning, community-based research, university partnerships and co-curricular activities.

Rouse, who helped establish the center in 1994, says it has been especially successful in developing volunteer and service opportunities for students and in beginning to integrate service-learning and community service into students’ academic experiences.

The commitment of the university to these activities remains strong, and the new director will further the development of campus-community partnerships and continue to integrate service opportunities into the curriculum.

Rouse came to Madison in December 1967 and began work at the university as an admissions counselor and, eventually, an assistant director in charge of transfer, re-entry and international student admissions. After six years, she moved from admissions into the Dean of Students Office, where she served as an assistant dean until 1987.

She was appointed dean and chief student affairs officer in 1987. In 1999 she added responsibilities as the director of the Morgridge Center and served in both capacities until 2000.

The center is named for UW alumni John and Tashia Morgridge, who spearheaded the renovation of the Red Gym and endowed the creation of the center.

In 2000, Rouse moved to Morgridge full time, where she worked with the Chancellor’s Office, the School of Human Ecology and the South Metropolitan Planning Council to establish and coordinate partnerships to bring the campus to the city’s south side and south side residents to campus.

A search committee is being formed to identify a tenured UW–Madison faculty member to take over the directorship of the center as part of a three-year rotation. Herbert Wang, associate dean of the College of Letters and Science, will chair the search.