People of McMaster celebrates the incredible people who help make McMaster a great place to work, learn, teach and conduct research. This is the 12th instalment of this series. Click here for the previous one.  

For most students, move-in is the start of their McMaster journey. For Katie Ferguson, it’s the culmination of months of planning, coordinating, and continuous improvement.

As manager of Major Projects in Housing and Conference Services (HCS), Ferguson leads one of the most complex and high-energy weekends of the year — welcoming thousands of students and families to campus.

What is your role at McMaster, and what does a typical day look like for you?

I’m the manager of Major Projects in Housing and Conference Services, working on the projects and performance team.

Our group oversees major projects and operational projects, including move-in, move-out, and residence inspections.

We measure success with performance data and survey our students, families, and stakeholders to identify what factors contribute to positive outcomes and where to focus continuous improvement year over year.

Housing is cyclical and my role is dynamic, so each season looks different. Most often I am balancing multiple projects at various stages — managing documentation, deliverables and timelines, or working with staff and campus partners to get everyone aligned.

Project management is truly people-driven. My favourite part of the role is the collaboration with project teams to develop data-informed processes that support our operations.

It takes hundreds of staff, faculty, and volunteers to provide an exceptional student housing experience, and collaborative relationships, supported by strong processes, are what make the magic happen.

What first brought you to McMaster? 

McMaster has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. My dad worked here throughout my childhood, and I spent many summers at McMaster camps.

I did my undergrad in kinesiology at Mac, and my whole family are alumni — my parents, my two sisters, and I all earned degrees here.

After graduating, I worked at the McMaster Students Union and then in the Office of Sustainability before spending several years working outside the university, including in hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

I came back in 2021 to manage the asymptomatic testing centre, which was run through Housing. From there, I moved into my current role when HCS launched its projects and performance unit.

In many ways, coming back felt like coming home.

What’s the most meaningful project you’ve worked on? 

Without a doubt, it’s move-in.

McMaster’s residence move-in is remarkable, and the experience we provide for incoming students and their families is celebratory, inclusive and welcoming — while being logistically smooth with most of the heavy lifting done for them.

We have about 1,400 staff and volunteers supporting students and families each day.

From traffic direction to check-in tents to golf cart drivers to faculty and residence reps who are cheering and carrying boxes, to our custodial and maintenance teams, and many others, it’s a true campus-wide effort.

What makes it meaningful is the experience for students and families. For many, this is their very first impression of McMaster. Seeing parents light up because the move went smoothly, or watching students meet new friends and start picturing their life here — it’s incredibly heartwarming and a reminder of why the work we do is so important.

I’m proud of how far we’ve come behind the scenes. Housing has recently formalized our move-in planning strategy through the introduction of project management, continuous improvement, and assessment best practices.

This structure has fostered more streamlined and sustainable efforts, which enable the exceptional experience we continue to provide and enhance year after year.

What do you enjoy outside of work? 

I love being active — yoga and long walks are my go-to. The homebody in me makes it a priority to curl up on the balcony, watching the sunset, most evenings.

I’m usually enrolled in a course of some sort, whether that be for professional or personal development.

Outside of that, I love Hamilton’s restaurant scene, spending time with friends, and, of course, being with my cat, Leia — she also enjoys the sunset.

Finally — I have to ask — did you really give your Taylor Swift ticket to your sister? 

I did! It was the best gift I’ve ever given. Even though many people (and colleagues) advised me against giving up the opportunity of a floor seat at the Eras tour, I don’t regret it! The happiness it brought her was better than being there myself.