Catherine Golden

Website

Office of Strategic Consulting

Areas of Responsibility

As associate vice provost and senior director of the Office of Strategic Consulting, Catherine Golden advises the provost and the vice chancellor for finance and administration on institutional strategy and campus-wide planning. She leads a dynamic team of consultants, project and policy managers, and other professionals dedicated to advancing the university’s mission.

Guided by its mission to enhance organizational effectiveness by supporting strategic initiatives, change, and improvement efforts while building organizational capacity, the Office of Strategic Consulting plays a pivotal role in driving institutional priorities. Under Dr. Golden’s leadership, the office delivers a comprehensive suite of services—including strategic planning, project and policy management, process improvement, organizational design, capacity building, change management, and climate and culture enhancement—that empower campus units to operate more effectively, adapt to change, and achieve lasting results.

Biography

Before joining UW–Madison, Golden served as assistant vice provost for academic initiatives at Purdue University, where she played a key role in launching Purdue University in Indianapolis and streamlining academic planning processes across campuses. Her work led to significant time savings for faculty and contributed to successful accreditation outcomes. She also founded Golden Turn, LLC, a boutique consulting firm specializing in higher education.

Golden’s earlier leadership roles include serving as associate dean at The George Washington University’s School of Medicine and Health Sciences, where she led strategic planning, curriculum development, and quality initiatives for over 45 programs. She began her career at West Virginia University, where she focused on student success and academic advising—experiences that continue to shape her commitment to institutional advancement and innovation in higher education.