Anne Stahr, PhD, Director of Faculty Development

What is your current position?

Director of Faculty Development in the Office of Faculty Affairs and Development at SMPH

When did you start working in SMPH? At UW?

I started working in SMPH and at UW in July 2013.

 What does a typical day look like for you?

My work is varied and very faculty-focused. I work closely with faculty and staff related to faculty affairs and development, such as managing, developing and delivering workshops, writing abstracts and manuscripts and reviewing award applications. So, my days are a blend of meetings with individuals and groups for various reasons; supervising employees; managing different projects; consulting with faculty; and deeper work on faculty development curricula and resource creation or curation.  

What is your workplace superpower?

I don’t know if I really have one, but I like people and enjoy working with them. So, maybe collaboration, if that can be considered a superpower. 

 What is something personal you keep on your desk?

I have lots of mementos of Australia, the U.S. and different countries where I’ve traveled. 

Where are you from originally?

I’m sort of a citizen of the world, being born in England, immigrating to Australia with my family before my first birthday, then moving to the U.S. as an adult. It’s hard for me to pinpoint where “home” is, as there are several countries where I feel connected. 

What is your favorite place to spend time in Madison?

It’s more about spending time with family and friends anywhere.

What is your favorite place to spend time in the world?

There are so many great places to live and visit; it’s hard to pick just one. I’m a national park nerd no matter the country, and Australia and America have some unique parks to visit. Seeing puffins up close in Scotland last year was amazing. 

What 1-2 books, articles, or podcasts can you recommend to your SMPH colleagues?

Non-fiction: The Five Dysfunctions of a Team – a leadership fable by Patrick Lencioni with some interesting perspectives for managing or working with a team.  

Fiction: The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck – great context for a recent road trip to California on old Route 66. On modern interstates, we travel miles in minutes compared to days or weeks of the wagon trails and Dust Bowl eras of western migration. 

 Share one fact about yourself that your co-workers might not be aware of.

I have a wide range of artisan/craft talents and skills from formal garment construction (think wedding or evening gowns) to quilting or anything with fabric, stained glass windows, glass mosaics and papercrafts. I love to create! 

What would you do if you were chancellor or provost for a day?

I would initiate a mechanism for continuous anonymous feedback from students, staff and faculty so we can share feedback and ideas in real time. Why not have a digital “Ye Olde Suggestion Box” instead of relying on hierarchical networks and periodic surveys? Also, I’d add more sweetness, or “treat-ness” to winter with a “cookies and cocoa” event at the start of the spring semester.