Kathy Bassett has sat in a lot of different offices around the U. Iowa campus. But today, she’s concerned with the office she’ll soon vacate: the one inside the Admissions Visitor Center in the Pomerantz Center.

Bassett, the senior associate director of Admissions, will retire at the end of the month. So rightfully, she is overwhelmed with the mess of papers and files she says need her attention.

“Retirement is bittersweet,” she said. “You know you’re going to be happy to do it, but it’s just sad to leave people.”

The 61-year-old has been with the UI for slightly more than three decades.

She started out as a student in the Admissions Office in 1976, and after graduating, she decided to pursue a teaching career in Solon and Benton, Iowa.

After teaching four years, she returned to the Office of Admissions for five years, then became the assistant to the associate director of the physician’s assistant program for a year.

Bassett then returned to the Admissions Office as the coordinator. She has remained in that office and served on countless committees since.

Much has evolved since her start in Admissions. When she started, there were only three admission councilors, two tour guides, and one coordinator.

Today there are around 22 full-time employees.

“When I became the coordinator of high school/college relations, we started keeping track [of the number of visitors we had],” she said, noting the UI had fewer than 4,200 visitors in 1986, compared with the 20,000 visitors today.

Bassett said while a lot has changed, some things remain the same.

“The basic premise is to identify prospective students, interest them or solidify their interest in the UI, build relationships with them, give them good service, and a good visit experience,” she said.

“She will definitely be sorely missed,” said Michael Barron, the director of Admissions. “You never really replace somebody like Kathy Bassett, you just build on the platform of excellence that she has created for her piece of this pie [the UI].”

Colleagues said that through her work ethic and fun-loving personality, she has inspired a family-like environment in the Admissions Visitor’s Center.

“[Kathy] has made our office feel very much like a family,” said Sheila Schechinger, an assistant director of Admissions.

Katie Schaub, a clerk in the Admissions Office, agreed.

“She’s a strong leader, but on the same hand a motherly leader,” she said. “She hired me 10 years ago, and it’s just been wonderful working for her.”

Bassett said she believes the same about her staff.

“I think it’s important to hire the very best people you can, to train them, to create an environment in which people can thrive,” she said. “We expect a lot out of our staff, and I think that’s true of all of Admissions … for all of the university.”

As she faces her final two weeks, she looks forward to enjoying more time to read, visit her son and daughter, and also reflect on what her time at the university has taught her.

“What you learn in life is to try to create more balance,” she said. “We work hard here, but we also have a good time.”