Buff Schoenfeld Leaving Western for a Job in California

Elizabeth “Buff” Schoenfeld, Executive Assistant to the President, will be leaving Western in November to take a position as Assistant Vice President and Secretary to the Board of Trustees at the Keck Graduate Institute of Applied Life Sciences, the newest of the seven Claremont Colleges in Claremont, Calif.

“Buff Schoenfeld will be missed by her many friends at Western and in the community. Her high degree of professionalism, knowledge of higher education issues and ability to work well across a wide spectrum of people has served Western Washington University exceedingly well over the past 11 years,” said President Bruce Shepard.

While at Western, Schoenfeld received a number of honors and recognitions. In 2006, she was recognized by the National Association of Presidential Assistants in Higher Education (NAPAHE) as the 2006 recipient of the Distinguished Service Award.

“I welcome this exciting opportunity at the Keck Graduate Institute but regret leaving the remarkable energy, talent and character of my colleagues and friends at Western and in Bellingham.  WWU is truly a premier university in a beautiful, engaged community that is hard to match,” Schoenfeld said.

Schoenfeld previously served as assistant to the chancellor of the University of Wisconsin Colleges and to the executive vice president of the University of Wisconsin System. She has master’s degrees in political science and public policy and administration and a law degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

A reception for Buff Schoenfeld is planned for 3 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 17, in the Solarium.

This is the fourth position either open or eliminated in the President’s Office this year and so restructuring responsibilities are under review to determine how best the office can serve campus needs with reduced staffing. A search to fill one of the four positions is anticipated.