Meg Sensenbrenner is the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association’s (WFAA) new managing senior director of development for the UW–Madison School of Education, a role she started on Feb. 9.
Sensenbrenner is taking over from Betsy Burns, who had led the School of Education’s development team since 2016. Burns has recently accepted the position of WFAA’s vice president and managing group leader for UW–Madison’s schools of Education, Law, and Human Ecology. Burns will support and work closely with each school’s development manager.
“Meg’s deep commitment to the university, the School of Education, and WFAA — combined with her seven years of fundraising success at the School of Education — make her the perfect leader for this role,” says Burns. “She has built meaningful relationships with some of the School’s most generous supporters, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to see her step into this position.”
Sensenbrenner brings extensive experience in development to this role, having joined WFAA in 2012. She has served since July 2017 as senior director of development for the arts within the School of Education.
“I am thrilled to move into this role,” says Sensenbrenner. “While my initial connection to the School was through its arts departments, I have developed a deep passion for all facets of the School over the past seven years. This is truly a dream job, and I am excited to partner with a strong and creative leader like Dean Marcelle Haddix.”
Burns has been making vital contributions to WFAA for the last 13 years, first with the College of Engineering, and since 2016 leading the School of Education’s development team. During that period, Burns has helped the School surpass its goal for the All Ways Forward campaign and fulfill many of its ambitious initiatives — including the groundbreaking UW–Madison School of Education Wisconsin Teacher Pledge program.
In addition to her management and fundraising responsibilities, Burns is helping WFAA’s development division effectively curate and coordinate campus-wide priorities and initiatives for the university’s next comprehensive campaign.