Photo by Candice Brown,
UNH - Manchester
Center for Graduate and Professional Studies

"It's all about people," is the first thing Kate Ferreira says about her job. As Director of the Center for Graduate and Professional Studies (CGPS) at UNH Manchester, Kate deals with people from all walks of life each and every day. "There is no typical day," she says. "It is never boring." Kate walks the halls of UNHM and greets each employee by name, whether they are a security guard, a librarian, a computer technician, or a professor. She smiles at students and asks them how they are doing. Kate is not only an integral part of the UNHM community, she exemplifies it.

"Everybody wants a hand in the students' success," Kate says. As Director of the CGPS, Kate has a lot to do with this. Her duties include marketing and recruiting for the UNH graduate programs offered on the Manchester campus, providing faculty and student support, and public relations, among other things. With 335 graduate students and 750 undergraduates at Manchester, Kate's job is never finished, and she doesn't mind. "We're small enough here that you really get to know students," she says. "We see undergrads as potential graduate students."

Eight years ago, Kate came to UNHM as a Data Analyst for Admissions. She then became Program Coordinator for the part-time MBA program in Manchester before moving on to her current position. As a former student, Kate got her Master's of Education in Counseling from UNH, going between the Durham and Manchester campuses to take classes. She cites her own professors as having a significant influence on her along the way. "The program impacted my life," Kate says.

Then Bruce Mallory, current Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, hired her for her current position. "Once I had it I thought, 'Oh my heart! I applied for this job. What was I thinking?' It was bigger than I thought!" Kate says. "But what an opportunity I had been given."

When Kate's not working hard at recruiting potential grad students, she enjoys spending time with her husband Steve and daughter Beth who lives in Tennessee with her husband, Randy. Kate and Steve are now anticipating the birth of their first grandchild. "We're very excited about being grandparents!" Kate says. In 1996, Kate became a licensed motorcyclist, and loves riding her Yamaha 650 V-Star Classic out on the road. "New Hampshire is a great place to ride," she says, "and you'll find that there are a lot of women riders in this state."

Kate is also active in the local community. As former pastors, Kate and her husband now volunteer at their local church, running a Sunday school program once a month for first through fifth graders. "It's active, loud, and fun-a very different delivery model!" Kate says. She also works at a food distribution ministry on Saturday mornings called "Food for Children." Between her work at UNHM and her volunteer efforts, Kate manages to keep busy and stay happy. "It's a good balance and contrast between working with those that are on their way and those that need a hand up," she says. "It's about having unconditional positive regard for both."

Kate was a recent winner of the 2005 Presidential Award of Excellence