Leadership

Gretchen Baumgardt, Ph.D., joined Edgewood College in July 2023, and serves as Vice President for Mission Integration. She holds an M.Div. degree from the University of Notre Dame and a Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Marquette University, with a focus on ecofeminist theologies and spiritualities.

She brings more than 25 years of professional experience designing and facilitating programs in spirituality and ministry. In addition, during her five years as a visiting assistant professor in the Theology Department at Marquette University, she taught courses on Christian & Ignatian spiritualities, spirituality and justice, and women’s theologies from around the world. She also directed the department’s online master’s degree program.

Dr. Baumgardt sees herself “as a life-long learner, empathic listener, learner-centered teacher, and spiritual seeker who approaches life with a good sense of humor. I meet people wherever they are on their spiritual journey.”

gbaumgardt@edgewood.edu

Arhelia Dalla Costa Behm joined Edgewood College in 2015. She currently serves as Vice President for Administration/Chief Human Resources Officer with more than 20 years of Human Resources experience. She is responsible for Human Resources, Information Technology, Risk Management, Facilities and Security. Prior to her newest role she served as Director of Human Resources, and as Deputy Title IX Coordinator.

Prior appointments include Employee Relations Consultant with Nova Southeastern University; Employee Relations Specialist with Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., and Employee Relations Specialist with American Family Insurance.

Her areas of professional expertise include employee relations, change management, investigations, training, performance management, and corporate recruiting. She is also a certified Civil Rights investigator.

Ms. Dalla Costa Behm holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University, and a Master of Science degree in Management from Cardinal Stritch University. She is a proud first-generation college graduate. In her free time she enjoys cooking, hiking, and kayaking with her family.

adallacostabehm@edgewood.edu

Prior to joining Edgewood College, Ms. Berg was Executive Vice President/Chief Financial Officer with Slipstream Group, Inc., overseeing finance and program delivery operations as well as spending time overseeing human resources, legal/contracts, facilities, and the vehicle fleet. Previously, Amanda accumulated more than 15 years of financial and accounting experience at various organizations throughout the Madison area. Most recently, she served as Financial Controller overseeing the finances and human resources at ZD Studios, Inc., an environmental graphic design firm specializing in transforming and inspiring environments and brands. Amanda also previously held auditing, accounting and finance positions at Famous Footwear, Fiskars Brands, Inc., and Grant Thornton, LLP.

Amanda earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and a Master of Accountancy degree from UW-Madison. She is a Board Member for the Greater Dane County Advisory Board of First Business Bank, a Council Member of the UW-Madison Athletic Department’s Equity Diversity Council, Treasurer of Out Professional Engagement Network (O.P.E.N.), and a Lifetime Member of the National W Club. In her free time, Amanda enjoys occasionally serving as an announcer and scoreboard operator for athletic events at UW-Madison, hiking and biking the great outdoors, walking her dogs, and camping in her VW van.

amberg@edgewood.edu

Paul Eggers brings with him more than 15 years of enrollment management experience. Recent appointments include Vice President for Enrollment Management at Marian University, and enrollment management consultant for Edgewood College. Other roles include positions with small private colleges, the Wisconsin Technical College System, and posts in higher education services organizations.

Since 2016, Eggers has specialized in developing and implementing strategies for colleges to enter high-growth, high-demand program areas where significant barriers to entry are present. This innovative approach has produced a track record of significant enrollment growth.

Eggers earned his bachelor of business administration degree from Wisconsin Lutheran University and his master of science in organizational leadership and quality degree from Marian University.

peggers@edgewood.edu

Tess Ferzoco joined Edgewood College professionally in April of 2016 and currently serves as Vice President for Enrollment Management. She is a double alumnus of Edgewood College receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and Business in 2015, and her Master of Arts in Education degree in 2019. She has previously served in a variety of roles within Undergraduate Admissions, most recently as the Associate Vice President for New Student Enrollment.

Prior to her career in higher education she worked as a corporate recruiter in the Madison area serving at American Girl, LLC, and at Robert Half International.

A native of Wisconsin, Ferzoco is proud to work at an institution where many of her family members have also attended including her mother, sister, and several aunts and cousins. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her husband Tony, daughter Molly, and their two dogs.

tferzoco@edgewood.edu

Dr. Mangan is an experienced higher education administrator whose career has focused on Catholic higher education. With his work in academic affairs has come senior experience in advancement and fundraising. His most recent institutional appointment included service in both Academic Affairs and Advancement at Marian University. He began his service to Edgewood College during the Spring Semester 2022.

He holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education and a Master of Arts degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Minnesota. His baccalaureate degree is in political science from the University of South Dakota. Dr. Mangan holds as central to his professional life that higher education can be one of the most positive and transformative forces in a person’s life. He calls contributing to such transformation for others “profoundly enriching and rewarding.”

wmangan@edgewood.edu

Richard Sims currently serves as Interim Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer at Edgewood College.

As a higher education professional, Sims has more than 15 years of experience and has held professional roles where his primary function was to strategically lead, design, and develop initiatives to improve access and success for students who hold marginalized identities.

Sims has served students in various professional roles, including athletics, enrollment management, diversity, equity, and inclusion, financial aid, and student life.

Sims has presented and consulted for K-12 school districts, non-profit organizations and facilitated and led training for faculty, staff, and students that encourage learning, reflection, awareness and understanding.

Sims has also instructed courses at the graduate and undergraduate level on social justice, equity and inclusion, civil rights, civic engagement, and identity development.

Sims joined Edgewood College in 2022 as the Executive Director for Student Equity and Inclusion. He earned his bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from Western New Mexico University and his Master’s degree in Educational Administration from New Mexico State University.

rsims@edgewood.edu

Matthew (Matt) Sullivan, Ed.D. joined Edgewood College in June 2018 and currently serves as Vice President for Student Development. Dr. Sullivan’s previous roles at Edgewood College included serving as Assistant Vice President for Student Development and also as Assistant Dean of Students/Director of Student Conduct.

Before Edgewood College, Dr. Sullivan served in various roles in student conduct, student support, Title IX, off-campus student services, and residence life at Regis University, the University of Washington, the University of Colorado – Denver, Creighton University, and Colorado College. In addition, Dr. Sullivan has been active in the Association for Student Conduct Administration (ASCA), and served as the chair of the 2016 Annual Conference and 2016 Sexual Misconduct Institute.

Matt is a first-generation college graduate, earning a B.S. in Sports Administration Comprehensive from the University of Nebraska at Kearney, and an M.S. from Oklahoma State University in Educational Leadership Studies, with a concentration in College Student Development. Matt completed an Ed.D. in Higher Education and Leadership Studies from Edgewood College in Winter 2023.

MSullivan@edgewood.edu

Ed Taylor joined Edgewood College in 2005 as the Director of Marketing & Communications. After serving in a variety of capacities for three presidents through the years, he assumed his current role in 2021.

He has served in communications roles in both the private and public sectors in Wisconsin. Prior to relocating to the Madison area, he served as reporter, anchor, and eventually assistant news director at KHBS/KHOG-TV, the ABC-TV affiliate in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Taylor holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from the College of Wooster, and a Master of Science degree in Journalism from the Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University.

edtaylor@edgewood.edu

Katie Vesperman joined Edgewood College in a professional role in 2007, and currently serves as Vice President for Institutional Advancement. Prior to joining the College, Katie served as Program Director for the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce. She is a 1999 Edgewood College graduate from the School of Business. Her husband Mac graduated in 2015 from the Henry Predolin School of Nursing, and currently serves on the Venus Access Team at UW Hospital and Clinics.

Katie is an active member of the Madison Chapter of the Association for Fundraising Professionals, the Wisconsin Association of Charitable Gift Planners, and is a graduate of Leadership Greater Madison.

In her free time, Katie enjoys the outdoors, sports, and spending time with her family.

kvesperman@edgewood.edu