Paula Gilman retires as executive director of Western’s Office of University Planning and Budgeting

Paula Gilman, executive director of Western’s Office of University Planning and Budgeting for more than 10 years, is retiring.

“I would like to personally thank Paula for her dedication, professionalism and sheer hard work on behalf of Western, often during extremely challenging budget years,” said Western President Bruce Shepard. “Paula’s service to the university was exemplary, and we all wish her well in future endeavors.”

Shepard noted that Gilman’s leadership was critically important in university-wide efforts to establish a bottom-up, transparent operating budget process in the face of steep state budget cuts to Western.

“Paula and her staff worked tirelessly to implement a new budget process while also responding to a rapidly changing state budget situation for Western,” Shepard said.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working for Western and supporting its mission and will miss my many good friends and colleagues,” Gilman said. “It has been a meaningful experience to work for the university, and I am proud of the accomplishments of my office and especially the hard work of my staff.”

Linda Teater, associate director, will serve as interim director of University Planning and Budgeting until a decision is made on organizational alignment for the office, which has primary responsibility for development, implementation and administration of Western's operating budget.

Gilman started at Western in 2002. Before her service at Western, Gilman was director of budget operations for the Oregon University System. She also was the first woman to serve as state budget director for New Mexico, and she was director of that state’s Administrative Service Division. As a senior legislative fiscal analyst for New Mexico’s non-partisan finance committee, she worked closely with legislative leadership and members of the state’s Senate and House to develop the legislature’s annual budget recommendation.

She holds a bachelor’s degree from St. John’s College, Santa Fe, and a master’s degree in comparative literature from the University of Chicago. She is married to Roger Gilman, dean of Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies.