The University of Wisconsin Survey Center (UWSC) has completed a national search for a new Associate Director, and have selected Kelly Elver to serve as the UWSC’s next Associate Director. Kelly is taking over for John Stevenson who retires in July after 29 years at UWSC! Kelly is only the third Associate Director in the UWSC’s 36-year history.
Kelly brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the role of Associate Director. She began her career at UW-Madison in 1989, conducting survey research as a Research Program Manager in the School of Human Ecology. In 2000, she joined the UWSC as an experienced Project Director and managed UWSC’s first round of the highly innovative and influential MIDUS (Midlife in the United States) project. For the past 20 years, Kelly has trained, directed, and overseen UWSC’s Project Directing team, growing that staff from 5 to 15 highly skilled and talented Project Directors that have completed over 1,400 projects for clients at the UW, state agencies, and universities across the country. Leading by example, Kelly has created and fostered a culture among her Project Directors that is characterized by initiative, innovation, knowledge, and competence.
Kelly has been a leader within the UWSC’s strategic planning team of Department Heads and has worked closely with John Stevenson on client management, study design, and budgeting for the past 15 years.
As UWSC makes this transition in senior leadership, we are pleased to maintain the historical knowledge and expertise in conducting high-quality academic survey research for which we are known, and we look forward to new challenges and continued growth in the coming years under her direction.