By VSA Wisconsin Staff
Kathie Wagner will step down as the leader of VSA Wisconsin on Feb. 15. She has spent the past 27 years of her career making a difference in the lives of children and adults with disabilities. Kathie began her tenure as the administrative assistant, later assumed duties in the development department and was promoted to vice president of development and operations in 1999. She was named president of VSA Wisconsin in 2002 and currently manages an annual budget of more than $630,000. Last year, VSA conducted more than 120 educational programs throughout the state, providing direct service to 1,600 Wisconsin residents, most with disabilities. An additional 250,000 people were impacted through VSA concerts, exhibitions and other special events.
In addition to her work at VSA, Kathie served one term on the Wisconsin State Journal Nonprofit Advisory Board and just finished her term as president of Access to Community Services, an umbrella group of organizations working together to help people with disabilities and other challenges to live, work, play and succeed in Dane County. She was also a member of the Community Arts Team of the Any Given Child Madison initiative, assisting in the design and implementation of a Collective Impact model to ensure greater access and equity to arts education for all public school students.
Under Kathie’s leadership, VSA Wisconsin received significant recognition from the national VSA. Wisconsin was selected from 42 VSA affiliates to receive the Excellence in Organizational Management Award in 2009 and received an award for Excellence in Education Programming in both 2006 and 2007. During Kathie’s tenure, VSA Wisconsin weathered the economic downturn, established an art center and gallery on Madison’s Northside, developed an art program for military veterans and initiated the practice of Universal Design for Learning to ensure that all program participants experience success.
As she reflected on her time with VSA, Wagner said, “It has been an honor to lead this incredible organization, and I appreciate the community’s generous support over the years. The future of VSA Wisconsin is bright and I’m leaving the organization in good hands with a strong board of directors and dedicated staff.”
Karen Gallagher has been hired to replace Wagner. She comes to VSA Wisconsin from the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County having served as vice president of development for the past five years. Her resume also includes stints at St. Coletta of Wisconsin, the American Heart Association and the University of Wisconsin.
Gallagher said, “I am honored to serve as the next leader of VSA Wisconsin. VSA’s long history of serving people with disabilities has had a profound impact here in Madison and across the state. I look forward to being a part of the next chapter and am excited to build upon VSA Wisconsin’s strong foundation and mission to provide arts programs for people with disabilities in our communities.”