
Associate Vice Provost & Senior Director
Email: catherine.golden@wisc.edu
Phone: (608) 263-5565
As associate vice provost and senior director of the Office of Strategic Consulting, Catherine leads the office’s dynamic team of consultants, project and policy managers, and other professionals dedicated to advancing the university’s mission. In addition, she advises the provost and the vice chancellor for finance and administration on institutional strategy and campus-wide planning.
Before joining UW–Madison, Catherine 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.
Catherine’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.