Joanne Berg was recently appointed the University of Wisconsin’s new registrar after faculty, students, and staff combined their efforts in a national search to fill the position.

Berg, who spent the last 15 years holding administrative positions within the graduate school, was appointed UW’s interim registrar during the past year, a position Berg said she developed a genuine interest in, particularly the community-service aspect of the job. This newfound focus led her to apply for the position.

“Joanne has already done a tremendous job of helping the staff deal with technology and change while also instilling a strong sense of confidence and teamwork,” said Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Paul Barrow. “Under her leadership, I believe the office will continue to thrive and grow.”

According to Berg, her time on campus, background in business and marketing, as well as her previous involvement in strategic planning, set her apart from the rest of the candidates.

Berg’s prospective modifications include taking full advantage of the My UW-Madison Internet portal, which is designed to assist faculty, staff and students. She also hopes to work directly with faculty to develop a system for faculty to submit grades electronically.

In an attempt to involve students in her duties, she has brought in a new community-service staff and a group of UW students, who will provide her with feedback.

“Ideally, better service is the main goal,” Berg said. “I only hope we can improve and get in touch with students’ needs.”

Berg also hopes to begin new collaborative programs with other universities and improve the quality of advising for students during registration, including updating student-record information and improving the flow of current information to both advisors and students.