Photo by Jessica Maloney,
UNH Human Resources

For the past year, Kathy Mandsager has worked in the Office of the Vice President for Research & Public Service. As an Administrative Assistant III, Kathy's position entails supporting the efforts of Julie Williams, Associate Vice President for Research & Public Service. Kathy states that working for Julie in a great office, with a great team is what she enjoys most about her work at UNH.

Amongst other responsibilities, her work often involves organizing and scheduling meetings, coordinating mailings and event planning. As Kathy finds being busy, useful and successful to be the most satisfying aspects of her job, the many undertakings of Research & Public Service suggest that she seldom disappointed. For example, she has been responsible for assisting on such department initiatives as the Undergraduate Research Conference, planning and development of the Leitzel Center, and strategic planning efforts. Being a part of so many activities requires that she be supremely well-organized, and those who know her can attest to the fact that she meets this requirement.

Being organized also serves Kathy well in her life outside of the University, where she voluntarily takes on many responsibilities to improve life for others. Kathy is an accomplished volunteer puppy-raiser for an organization, Canine Companions for Independence (CCI), that provides assistance dogs to enhance the lives of people with disabilities. Six years ago, when Kathy's son was the recipient of a canine companion, she realized the improvements such animals could make in the quality of people's lives. Since then, she has taken puppies into her home and worked with them on socialization and training. From Kathy's home, and after a year and a half together, the puppies go on to an intensive training program and, ultimately, are paired with an individual with a disability. For Kathy, her efforts are rewarded at an emotional graduation ceremony when she is asked to present her puppy to its new companion. She is currently working with her fifth adorable puppy, Moku.