Beyond the Title is a series of Q&As with alumni of Madison365’s Most Influential lists.
Graciela Engen (Wisconsin’s Most Influential Latino Leaders, 2025) is director of institutional research, assessment and planning at UW-La Crosse, a role she took on in 2022. She joined UWL in December 2011 as an institutional research analyst. Prior to that she held a similar role for six years at St. Mary’s University of Minnesota and human resources roles at the UCLA. Engen is a founder of a group that supports parents of young children in the community. She’s also a coordinator of the English Lutheran Church Welcome Center, has been a Centro Latino volunteer, and was an organizer of Comunidad de la Esperanza, a series of family-oriented gatherings focused on Spanish-English speaking community members. Engen is also a member of the Inclusive Excellence Assessment Team, a founding member of the Equity Liaison Initiative Steering Committee and an Institutional Research representative at conferences such as the Wisconsin Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers and the Association for Institutional Research of the Upper Midwest. In 2018, she was honored by the Universities of Wisconsin as an Outstanding Woman of Color in Education. She earned a bachelor’s degree at USA and master’s at UCLA.
What does presence before performance mean to you – and how do you stay grounded when the pressure to perform is high?
When I think of presence before performance, I am reminded of the book Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. She describes leaders as stewards, rather than dominant figures. Leadership is a generous sharing of one’s talents. It includes listening to and lifting others. It is not about accumulating personal power. Remembering this and our common mission to support student success at UWL helps me stay grounded.
What’s the best advice you’ve received from a mentor?
When speaking in front of an audience, I remind myself that they are rooting for me; they want me to succeed. This was advice I received from a mentor.
Tell us about a time you had to lead before there was consensus – when you were the only one who saw it, believed it or were willing to act. What gave you the courage to move anyway?
Many years ago I discovered an error made by a former employer that had resulted in several employees not receiving earned vacation time. The reparations were extensive and expensive, but looking the other way was not an option.
What’s one question every new leader should ask during their first 100 days and why?
Every new leader should ask their team what processes are completed regularly (because they’ve always been done that way) but have lost their value. In our office, we were able to save time by removing a dashboard that had been requested once several years ago and not used since. A newer dashboard had rendered the old one obsolete, yet it was still being updated annually.
Who’s in your “corner” – that voice of wisdom you trust when things get tough? How do you build and protect that circle?
At UWL, all of the directors in Academic Affairs work collaboratively and are very supportive. We build and protect this circle by meeting regularly.
Leadership can be exhausting. What practices or boundaries help you avoid burnout and stay aligned with your purpose?
I believe that it is important to stay connected with colleagues across campus to avoid silos, miscommunication, and overlap in work. These are things that can cause frustration and burnout.
Clout fades. Calling lasts. How do you stay anchored in impact over recognition?
Being the center of attention is not something I seek. I care more about having a positive impact in my community and the example I set for my children.
What’s a leadership value you refuse to compromise even when its inconvenient?
Our office provides data analyses for decision making, so accuracy and transparency are essential.
What book, quote, lyric or even scripture captures how you lead or how you live?
In Matthew 25:40, Jesus says, “Whatever you do for the least of my brothers, you do unto me.” This reminds me to treat everyone with kindness and respect.
When life gets heavy or leadership feels overwhelming, what’s something you turn to: music, travel or cultural connection that helps you feel like yourself again?
I go hiking with a group of friends every Saturday morning. The combination of exercise, nature, and friendship is rejuvenating.
Who is your favorite sports team?
UW-La Crosse Eagles (all sports)
What is your favorite holiday and why?
Christmas is a cozy and bright time during a long winter.
