As you all know, Maggie Hartley, Associate Registrar & Director, Transformation, is retiring at the end of this year. With this being our last ES Connected of 2016, we wanted to take this opportunity to hear from Maggie before she rides off into the sunset in her Mustang convertible!
How long have you worked at UBC?
It’s been a long time. I quit UBC 3 times before getting serious about staying. I started out in the Registrar’s Office and then when I got the opportunity to get into business re-engineering projects I got a chance to work in various departments like Research Services, Finance, UBC IT. One year I was seconded to the Faculty of Arts to be Acting Director of Arts Advising. All in all I’ve been in the industry 30 years.
What did you do before you came to UBC?
I used to work for doctors but I eventually realized it wasn’t really my cup of tea. I did enjoy it at the start though. I used to be a temp and go to work in doctor’s offices when people went on holidays. I remember working for a doctor for one month in the old George Medical building – whenever I had to extract blood (something we used to do for insurance physicals) he would always tell me to take twice as much and put the rest in a jar because he took it home to feed to his roses!
Eventually I went to work for another doctor and I was assisting him during a little in-office surgery but when he made the first cut I fainted and thought nah – maybe I should try something new.
What brought you to UBC?
I started out in International Admisions. I was basically the first person any international student would see. I would speak with them about the requirements to get in, do the whole meet and greet thing. I liked getting to talk to so many people.
What have you enjoyed most about working here?
The people, for one thing. Also the freedom I’ve been allowed to have over the years to take my roles in the direction I wanted and the opportunities I’ve been given to get involved in things outside of a “normal job.” For example, I was one of the initial people involved in the development of the Managing@UBC program even though it had nothing to do with my job at the time.
What is one of the best lessons you’ve learned at UBC?
That relationships with the community are so important. You can succeed or fail on those relationships – you live and die on them, really.
Do you have a favourite memory from your time here?
About 10 years ago, a colleague was having her own last day at UBC and a few of us took her out for lunch. We ended up going to the Pit, ordering some beer and finishing off with Chinese food in the basement of Brock Hall. It was not something that anybody had planned. It was totally random – everybody had assumed she would be busy so nobody planned anything – so we said, “well, let’s go to the Pit!”
What is your favourite place on campus?
I really enjoy the walk down to Spanish banks. I don’t get to do it much anymore – SASI keeps me 500% engaged –but it’s a really nice walk. You can go far or stay near and it’s really pretty. I like Nitobe Gardens too. There’s all sorts of nice places, really.
Do you have any advice for the rest of us?
Be open to taking risks for yourself and for your work. Challenge yourself and take some risks. That’s what I did and found it really gave me great satisfaction when I would actually get it right. A few times I didn’t but ‘oh well’.
What are your post-retirement plans?
Travel, definitely. I have a daughter in England now. Barcelona for sure. Road trips in my mustang convertible. I am also looking forward to having time to come back and take some courses – ones that don’t have any hard tests, though.
Any last thoughts you want to leave us with?
Enjoy the positive and have fun at work.
Thank you Maggie, for the interview and for the last 30 years. While it will be strange and new to go on without you, your legacies here in Enrolment Services as well as across campus will continue to guide and support us. We wish you only the very best in your retirement – you deserve it!