Mary Minson, senior assistant dean of advising in the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences, will retire May 31, 2021, after 38 years with the university, Dr. Heidi Bostic, dean of the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences, announced today.
Bostic describes Mary as “a living legend.” “It is no exaggeration to say that Mary has personally played a significant role in the thriving and success of thousands of Marquette students,” she says. “Mary spends hours talking with students and families — offering advice and connecting them with necessary resources. Given the emphasis at Marquette on student success, I can think of no one who better embodies what that means than Mary Minson.”
Minson has served in various capacities throughout her time at Marquette. In addition to her role in the Advising Center, she directed the Freshman Frontier program for over 30 years, served on the Undocumented Student Task Force and assisted on the Dreamers Support Group.
Minson believes strongly in the power of university staff to make a difference in the lives of our students and improve the university. She has valued the opportunity to interact with students, faculty, staff and alumni throughout their Marquette journey.
She was co-chair of a university committee instrumental in enhancing the development of the Office of Disability Services and was active on Staff Senate for many years. As a member of the Good Student Task Force, Minson was part of the team that recommended the addition of Marquette Central to better meet the needs of students. She also helped write a suicide prevention grant and led sessions as a suicide prevention instructor on campus and in the greater Milwaukee community.
In 2020, Minson received the Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Staff Award, which recognizes one faculty member and one staff member at Marquette who demonstrates exemplary leadership and manifests the ideals of diversity, equity and inclusion into practical action. Minson is also a past recipient of the Excellence in University Service Award and the College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Staff Award.
A leader in college advising best practices, Minson won the National Academic Advising Association’s Outstanding Advisor Award, and under her leadership, the College of Arts and Sciences’ Advising Center received NACADA’s Outstanding Advising Center Award. Minson served as president of the Wisconsin Academic Advising Association and received the organization’s Outstanding Leadership Award in Advising.
An alumni couple has established an endowed student scholarship Minson’s honor. Donations to the scholarship fund can be made online.