Have you met our new academic department manager, Wendy Barton?
10 September 2026
Wendy Barton
The Department of Medicine's new Academic Department Manager.
{excerpt from The Quad, September 10, 2026}
Give us the “elevator pitch” for what you do at work.
The ADM role is like being the COO to the Chair’s CEO role. ADMs are the linchpin of the department, making sure staff and faculty have the support they need while keeping everything on track with policies, budgets and procedures. A huge part of the job is navigating university systems, driving process improvements and troubleshooting issues as they arise. It’s all about offering guidance, managing special projects and connecting people with the right resources to get things done. Plus approvals, lots and lots of approvals!
What is your first U of A memory?
The U of A has always been a part of my life. In fact, I was born right here in the U of A Hospital! Growing up, campus life was everywhere around me. My earliest memory was probably gowning up in the hospital to meet my baby brother, but I have many other early memories, including learning to ride a bike in an alley next to the U of A Farm, and visiting the farm on school field trips. I had sleepovers with friends in Michener Park, went to sports camps in the Butterdome, cheered on the Pandas basketball team in the Main Gym and even used the library as a high schooler. I actually planned on going elsewhere, but when the U of A offered me a scholarship, it sealed the deal.
One of my favourite early student memories was moving into Lister Hall. My mom took one look around my room and said, "Yep, hasn't changed at all!" It turns out she had lived on the exact same floor in Kelsey, just two doors down, back when she was a student!
If you were enrolling in one course, program or degree right now, what would it be?
I’ve been slowly growing my knowledge in various aspects of Indigenous history and culture, and I’ve been thinking about taking the Indigenous Canada online course. As a fifth-generation Canadian and a third-generation Edmontonian, it’s important to me that I learn the history that wasn’t taught in school. I just need to make some time and sign up. I know it’s going to be fascinating!
If you could show a visitor a unique spot or experience on campus, what would it be?
Honestly, just strolling through North Campus on a beautiful summer day is the best. It's the best way to share the beauty and scale of our university. That said, I just discovered the Star Trek lobby in the basement of the Mazenkowski! It’s really neat.
What’s a kind gesture a colleague has done for you?
When my mother passed away unexpectedly, I was taken aback by how many of my U of A work friends showed up to her memorial service. Maybe it shouldn’t have been a surprise, but it was touching and reminded me that my U of A family is an amazing group of people.