The staff of the University Career Center congratulates Kate on a job well done and a lifetime of impact far beyond what she ever imagined when she started at the University of Oregon. We wish her the best as she enjoys her retirement and inspires us all to make the most of our career journeys.
Introduction
On April 3, 2026, Kate Werdebaugh, the University Career Center's Senior Associate Director, retired after 20 years of service to the University Career Center. What started in 2005 as an opportunity to build her skills as an office manager grew into something high impact as she implemented strategies and initiatives across the career center's administrative functions of human resources, technology, fiscal management, data collection, and so much more. She was also a driving force behind the professional development of student workers’ supervisors through the Student Employment Enhancement (SEE) initiative. Today, as Kate is off enjoying her retirement, we take a look back, in gratitude, at Kate’s career journey and all the wisdom she has gained from being a leader at the UCC.
Origin Story
Growing up in Portland, Kate dreamt of being a ballet dancer. She comes from a family with many artistic and talented people, like her mom, who was an abstract artist, and her grandfather, who was a filmmaker, advertiser, writer, and cartoonist. Most notably, Kate’s uncle is Matt Groening, the creator of The Simpsons. Many of the Simpsons characters are actually named after other family members: Her grandfather's name is Homer, her grandmother's name is Margaret, and her aunts are Lisa and Maggie. Although she does want to clarify that they are nothing like the Simpsons characters, and are simply just inspiration for the names. “I'm really proud of the artistic talent that runs in my family, and the success of The Simpsons,” Kate said.
When she went to the University of Oregon for undergrad, she decided to major in English, not dance, but ultimately didn’t know what she wanted to do. “If I had to go back and change anything, I would have utilized the Career Center more. I waited until my senior year to work with the Career Center, and as a result, I missed out on useful career development opportunities. My advice is – start early! Don’t miss out,” Kate said.
During her undergrad at the UO, she was involved in Greek life on campus, being a member of Alpha Phi. Additionally, she had an internship with a clothing retailer and was able to see what it would be like to be a buyer. “This was a really impactful experience for me, because I realized it was nothing like I thought it would be,” Kate said. The work was data-heavy and involved working with numbers all day, which she learned she didn’t enjoy. Ultimately, she was grateful for the opportunity and was able to find out that it was a career path she wouldn't be happy in.
Navigating The World of Work
Following graduation, Kate started working as a human resources coordinator at Selectemp Employment Services, a temporary staffing agency. She was eventually promoted to Claims Manager and HR Director. After working there for over 10 years, she was ready for a big change. It was a high-pressure position and she decided she wanted something low-stress. She came across the office manager job opportunity at the UCC, and the rest is history.
“Little did I know that one day I’d be the senior associate director,” Kate said.
As the Senior Associate Director, Kate's work involved the management and implementation of UO administrative processes – including HR, UO policies, contracts, and business processes. She served on several teams across the Division of Student Life, including the Student Life leadership team, the Workplace Experiences HR team, and the Student Life Equity and Inclusion team. Mentioned previously, Kate was also the lead of SEE, which has equipped campus supervisors with effective student employment supervision practices that support UO students' career readiness. In 2023, she was honored as the Anne Leavitt Award winner–the UO Division of Student Life’s highest honor given to an individual whose contribution has significantly changed the lives of students.
During her time at the UCC, she reflected that UO students are some of the most talented and inspiring people she had the pleasure of interacting with. “There is great hope for the future,” Kate said. She has also really enjoyed the relationships she has made with the UCC staff over the years and is grateful to have such an incredible team. With every great job comes obstacles, and the hardest aspect for Kate was learning how to be adaptable and open to change: “The nature of higher education is many shifting priorities that can change often.”
What Career Readiness Means to Kate
Kate defines career readiness as the foundation that a student develops to launch a successful career. She advises students to be open to different experiences and to see each experience as a stepping stone to the next professional role. “Your first job will not be your last – even if you are in a role that you don't want to be in forever, use that experience as an opportunity to gain skills that you can take with you,” she said.
The best career advice Kate received from a former supervisor was a simple Post-It note that said, “Is it on fire?” As someone who tends to overstress and worry, Kate said it was a moment of reflection, “I realized that while the work we do is important, it's not the be-all and end-all.”
As for her advice for Ducks as she heads off on her next adventure of retirement, “Enjoy each moment. You will look back on your college experience as one of the most impactful moments of your life. It’s a special time, and full of hope.”
“Let people make mistakes – that is part of growth,” Kate said.
Looking Forward
After retirement, she is excited to have the freedom to do whatever she chooses, and is especially looking forward to not having a schedule or having to wake up to an alarm. She is also looking forward to having more time to devote to her hobbies, which include interior design, cooking, art, gardening, reading, travel, and fitness. She plans to be in amazing shape, “I will be able to work out all the time!” Kate said. Additionally, she wants to use her time to learn new skills, like playing the guitar. With more time on her hands, she also wants to travel more and would like to go to her bucket list location, Italy.