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Luann Andersen, center, with husband Roger Andersen, left, and UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D., at her retirement tea on Tuesday. The Andersens are headed to Texas to spend more time with their children and grandchildren. |
Well, when Luann Andersen doesn’t report to the chancellor’s office for work on Monday, people around the campus will no doubt feel that someone important is missing.
Today, Andersen — executive administrator to Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D. — will work her last day at UNMC, where she has been a familiar face since 1976.
“It’s kind of weird, like getting to go to your own funeral,” Andersen said earlier this week as she prepared to retire from the medical center and head to Houston to be closer to her children and grandchildren. “I’m really going to miss a lot of people here.”
Based on the turnout and response at a retirement tea on Tuesday, a lot of people at UNMC and beyond will miss Andersen, too. Among those who will miss her most is Dr. Maurer.
In remarks made at Tuesday’s tea, the chancellor emptied the compliment book when he described Andersen — who has worked for Dr. Maurer, off-and-mostly on — since 1998 when he was dean of the College of Medicine.
“I’ve shared more about my personal and business life with Luann than any other person save for my spouse,” Dr. Maurer said.
While he noted Andersen’s tremendous loyalty, kindness and her ability to seemingly, read minds, Dr. Maurer described the day about a year and half ago when she told him that she would leave the chancellor’s office and UNMC and retire in 2008.
“She knows I like plenty of advance notice,” Dr. Maurer said, drawing laughs from the crowd before he turned a touch more somber. “I was heartbroken.”
Dr. Maurer wasn’t the only member of his family to be troubled by the news of Andersen’s eminent departure.
“When I told my wife, Beverly, that Luann was leaving, she asked me, ‘What did you do to her?'” Dr. Maurer said, again drawing laughter from the crowd.
It was Beverly Maurer, the chancellor said, who talked Andersen into joining Dr. Maurer in the chancellor’s office in 1999 — but more on that later.
Andersen’s career at UNMC began in 1976 when she took a temporary job as file clerk in the human resources department. A few months later a full time position opened that allowed her to work full time as an administrator for an assistant hospital director and then chief of medical staff, F. Miles Skultety, M.D., Ph.D.
She stayed in that job until January of 1979 when she left the medical center to stay home with her first child. She was back at the medical center part time in October of 1979 working for assistant hospital director Sigrid Anderson.
“Staying at home with children all day long just didn’t suit me,” Andersen said.
She was back full time by 1983 and remained on the hospital side until 1998 when she came to the university side to work for Dr. Maurer in the College of Medicine dean’s office.
Adjusting from hospital issues of credentials, licenses and background checks to the academic realm where education and research were the focus was an
adjustment, Andersen said.
“I loved what I did in the hospital but it was time for a change,” Andersen said.
Learning a whole new cast of players and rules — both internally and externally — proved to be an educational experience for Andersen.
“It was a whole new career,” she said.
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But … “I turned him down,” Andersen said. “I just felt like I wasn’t ready for that job yet. I still had a lot to learn about work on the university side.”
Dr. Maurer — being, well, Dr. Maurer — didn’t give up easily and in March of 1999, with the help of his wife, Beverly, convinced Andersen to join him in the Chancellor’s office where she’s been ever since.
Her job, she said, is to help make sure the chancellor gets what he needs, goes where he needs to go and talks to who he needs to talk to – no small task when one considers the pace at which Dr. Maurer moves.
Andersen has a special instinct that allows her to carry out her job with grace, Dr. Maurer said.
“She knows without asking what I need and that’s a rare quality,” Dr. Maurer said.
In her time in the chancellor’s office, Andersen’s friendly face and voice have become familiar to everyone from campus mail carriers to high-profile and high-ranking leaders of education, commerce and politics from around the country.
The job also allowed her to assist Dr. Maurer as he led the medical center through a revolutionary growth phase that completely reshaped the campus.
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Luann and Roger Andersen – both ardent Nebraska fans – display shirts given to them by Luann’s UNMC coworkers to remind the Andersens where their athletic loyalty lies as they depart for Texas. Luann Andersen, executive administrator to Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D., retires today from UNMC, where she has worked for more than 30 years. |
Andersen’s role in the campus’ development is larger than she lets on, Dr. Maurer said.
“When you’re chancellor, your job is to take all the good ideas that the people around you have and try to make them come to fruition,” Dr. Maurer said. “Throughout my time with Luann, she has consistently been one of those who provide excellent ideas into how to get things done. … I’m really going to miss her.”
The feelings are mutual, Andersen said.
“He’s been wonderful to work for — it’s really been a great experience and I’ll definitely miss working for him and working here,” Andersen said.
What others are saying
“Luann is one of those rare people who makes hard work look so easy! No matter how busy she is, she always makes time for any question or request. She has a great style, treating everyone with courtesy and respect. She loved her job and UNMC — and that has reflected in her work. I’m going to miss her, but I’m so glad that she and Roger will get to spend more time with their kids and grandkids.” — Anne Lawlor, who has succeeded Andersen as executive administrator for the chancellor
“Luann has been the ‘go to person’ in dealings with the chancellor for me and many others for several years. She’s always been amazing to work with and I will truly miss her.” — Keith Swarts, director for business services
“Luann (or as I like to call her ‘Lullabelle’) is truly a perfect example of being the right person for the job. One can only imagine the juggling act required in being administrator for a busy chancellor such as ours. I’m sure every day is a roller coaster ride. Despite all the challenges of the job, Luann is as steady as Tiger Woods over a three-foot putt. She is never flustered, always professional, and just enjoyable as can be every time you talk to her. Whenever I introduce her to others, I like to call her ‘the most powerful woman at UNMC.’ It’s always said with tongue in cheek, but at the same time, there’s a lot of truth to it. What a great lady! We’re going to miss you, Lullabelle!” — Tom O’Connor, senior associate director of public affairs
“I have certainly enjoyed working with Luann over the past couple of years. She always has a positive attitude and a sunny smile for everyone. She will be sorely missed.” — Anita Solon, administrative associate II in the chancellor’s office
“Really she’s just been a marvelous person to work with. Every project is a joy and she’s always had the right attitude. Nothing is too difficult for her. We always worked so well together and that always led to a positive outcome. She’s just a very unique person. I will miss her a lot.” — Rick Boldt, project manager for business continuity
“Luann is truly one of a kind! She has made my job a lot easier in the time we have worked together. She is always upbeat and positive and she really cares about other people. I will miss hearing her voice on the other end of the phone and working with her on our many events. UNMC is losing a great employee, but an even better person in Luann Andersen.” — Jessica Brummer, special events coordinator in the department of public affairs