Kate Braasch, chief of presidential affairs, has been named one of Milwaukee Business Journal’s 2021 Women of Influence — a list of 28 prominent business and community leaders from throughout southeastern Wisconsin. Braasch was one of four women in the “Behind the Scenes” category of the award.
Women of influence are pioneers in Milwaukee’s professional community. They’ve grown businesses, created products, inspired future generations and made southeastern Wisconsin a better place to live and work.
This is the 21st year of the award. The Business Journal received nearly 150 nominations for this year’s program, one of the highest totals they have ever received for this popular awards program.
Along with the other winners, Braasch will be honored in a special section of the Business Journal’s July 16 issue and at a July 15 virtual awards event.
Read the Business Journal’s profile of Braasch here.
“Kate’s expertise turns possibility into reality,” President Michael R. Lovell said. Braasch has been at Marquette for 16 years, beginning in the fundraising department where, President Lovell said, “her initial work brought opportunities to life for our campus community by connecting planned giving donors to causes that met their passions.”
As a representative for the Office of the President, her work impacts nearly every administrative department. She helps to onboard new leaders, making connections between them and the resources they need on campus and in the community. She also staffs the president in his interactions with high-level benefactors, community and corporate leaders.
In addition, Braasch led in the formation of the President’s Task Force on the Impact of Alcohol and Other Drugs, the President’s Commission on Racial Equity and the creation of the External Advisory Board for the new Office of Economic Engagement.
She has been a vital part of managing aspects of Scaling Wellness in Milwaukee (SWIM), a local nonprofit of which President Lovell and Amy Lovell are co-founders, which drives community-based collaboration that responds, heals and prevents trauma and promotes a resilient Milwaukee; she represents Marquette as a member of TEMPO, mentoring other women in the local area in their burgeoning careers; she is a member of the advancement committee at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School; and she is a VISIT Milwaukee board member. Recently, she assisted in the organization the Milwaukee Lacrosse program between Marquette and the Milwaukee Academy of Science.