Margaret Shepherd

The University’s stickiest, most complex challenges inevitably land on Margaret Shepherd’s desk. The issues she manages are varied, including but not limited to leadership searches; UW-wide insurance coverage negotiations; managing campus unrest; leading the School of Dentistry through a transition; handling urgent medical infrastructure matters; union bargaining; all while continuing to serve in a leadership capacity for our small and mighty administrative team.

As the University’s chief of staff and chief administrative officer, Margaret is responsible for ensuring the universities mission and vision are upheld at the highest standards and the president has a trusted partner and advisor. As the team that supports the executive office of the president and provost, we are privy to Margaret’s strategy, approach and process from start to finish. We are witness to how the sausage gets made!

We watch Margaret quickly assess each situation and convene the right people to identify a solution. In consultation with others and with the University’s values, integrity and best interests at heart, Margaret develops a vision, strategy and plan that produces concrete results.

Time and time again, we have seen her work through seemingly impossible situations to find the best possible outcome for our faculty, staff and students- and the name of the university. For these reasons, and many more, it is an honor to nominate Margaret Shepherd for the 2025 David Thorud Leadership Award.

For each member of our executive office team, Margaret takes the time for the one-on-one conversations that build trust, and ultimately consensus. Margaret provides us with clarity to move forward logistically, and she advises how best to navigate the gray areas and political landscape of the University.

“One of the true privileges of my career is that I crossed paths with Margaret Shepherd. Her leadership style is admired by so many – internal and external stakeholders alike gush enthusiastically about her ability to lead in a clear and concise manner.”
– Stephanie Court

Margaret cares deeply for people and for this University. In the year I supported her, I saw up close the breadth and depth of her commitment and impact across the UW. The UW is a better place because of Margaret!
– Nicole Bell

“Every single day for the last 11 years I have been grateful for Margaret. I am grateful for the compassion and humor she brings to every conversation. I am grateful for the grace and persistence she uses to keep projects on track. I am grateful for the way she diffuses contentious situations through careful listening. I am grateful for the care she extends to all of us and to the UW. Margaret does all of this outside of the spotlight and without expecting anything in return. She is the epitome of selfless leadership. I am so grateful for her. Every. Single. Day.”
– Rachel Northquist

“Margaret’s skill in leading through ambiguity was crucial in 2017 when she actively advised the UW School of Nursing’s executive dean on accreditation. She helped the school navigate a change in the Washington Administrative Code that required the school to embark on a new tri-campus model of leadership where Bothell and Tacoma nursing schools shared governance and curriculum with Seattle. Margaret was a steady guide in the process in which the dean and her teams were entirely grateful.”
– Melissa Kreptul

She builds trust state-wide with political officials, corporate leaders and other university chiefs of staff. She responds quickly to the many people who seek her sage advice and factual guidance on topics ranging from labor negotiations, capital planning, regental matters, policy and procedure management, campus-wide communications, emergency management, etc.

Across the University, Margaret is admired and revered for her ability to lead in a clear and decisive manner:

“I have had the honor to work with Margaret since the start of the COVID pandemic, in early 2020, in my capacity as the Chair of the ACCD and Medical Director for EH&S. I have witnessed firsthand her extraordinary leadership abilities, dedication, and impact on our UW community during this unprecedented time. Margaret helped develop and implement comprehensive strategies to protect the health and safety of students, faculty, and staff while ensuring the UW continued to fulfill its academic mission. She coordinated with campus leadership, public health officials, oversaw the rapid transition to remote learning, and helped implement effective protocols for testing (the Husky Coronavirus Testing program), coordinated with the EH&S on our COVID contact tracing program, as well as campus reopening. This effort not only safeguarded the UW community but also set a standard for leadership, resilience and adaptability during a time of extraordinary uncertainty.”
– Geoffrey S. Gottlieb, MD, PhD, Chair, University Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases (ACCD)

“Margaret Shepard has the unique ability to understand and walk beside UW leadership and has the capacity to make sure we all do things right and that we do the right things. Year after year, if there is a major initiative, a significant problem solved, a significant success, Margaret will be involved. In the end, she will not be on this stage but she will have constructed the stage we stand on.” Ed Taylor, vice provost and dean for Undergraduate Academic Affairs

Since 2019, I have had the privilege of working with Margaret and witnessing her exceptional leadership, including during two major emergency response situations that had a significant impact on the University. The first was radioactive material release in one of the University’s medical research buildings that led to a two-year remediation effort. The second was leading the University’s response through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Margaret excels in navigating complex situations, quickly understanding issues, summarizing technical information from multiple sources, presenting clear options with consideration of all stakeholder perspectives, and always placing the best interests of the University community at the forefront of her decisions.

Throughout both emergency events there were numerous meetings and decisions to be made, often in an uncertain and evolving landscape. Margaret was able to identify the important factors to address and help forge a path forward to execute on those decisions, from facilitating agreements and contracts with outside agencies for remediation, to securing federal research funding for our researchers displaced from the building, to negotiating with the Department of Energy to remediate our building to a more conservative level than the regulations to ensure personal safety and health.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Margaret established the University’s decision-making framework, led stakeholder agreements and the establishment of several efforts and initiatives to limit the virus’s impacts including the COVID-19 testing program, contact tracing program, vaccine distribution, and equitable distribution of health and safety supplies (e.g., masks, test kits, cleaning supplies) equitably across the institution.

Margaret handled these major events and immense responsibility while maintaining a sense of humor and showing kindness and respect for others- even during the most stressful of times. Her strong leadership, dedication, and care ensured the University’s successful response. This is just a glimpse of Margaret’s impactful leadership at the University of Washington.
– Katia Harb, Senior Director, Environmental Health & Safety Department

I’ll join with the huge crowd in highlighting that Margaret’s ability to keep A LOT of plates spinning on behalf of the President is a huge benefit for students, staff and faculty. This is such a wide and federated place that making good things happen administratively takes both this plate spinning talent and a good ear to make sense of the noise of this place. What I really appreciate about Margaret, though, is that she hears the music, too, and calls it out. Good things happen around the UW world every day amid all the weird and sometimes difficult things, and she’s really good at naming the people, the actions and the events that are impactful in great ways. That makes for moments of appreciation that fuel me and others.
– Sally J. Clark, Vice President of Campus Community Safety

Margaret has the ability to think 5 steps ahead of the crowd and propose real-world responses to problems. She partners well, and readily, to achieve the right path for UW. What’s more, she maintains a sense of both perspective and humor throughout.
– Margaret Peyton, Chief of Staff, UW Medicine

Margaret Shepherd is a leader. She leads with intelligence, certitude and an incredible work ethic. But what sets Margaret apart from others is her greatest strength; leading with partnership. As your partner she will support you, challenge you and most importantly have your back in the tough times. It is why I always have and always hope to work with her.
– Ian Goodhew, Senior Director of External Affairs, UW Medicine and Associate Vice President for Medical Affairs

Margaret is one of the most distinguished and reliable leaders in our university community. Her north star is leadership in service to the University of Washington.

Sincerely,
Stephanie Court
Executive Assistant to the President

Rachel Northquist, Executive Assistant to the Provost

Nicole Bell, Provost’s Scheduler

Melissa Kreptul, Administrative Assistant