Rate My Professor Maria Barsema

Maria Barsema holds an MA from the University of Iowa. She has been associated with the University of Otago since at least 2004, when she was part of the library staff. By 2019, she was serving as IT Projects Manager. In Web Services, she provided exceptional support and guidance to staff and students, earning an Appreciation Award from Disability Information and Support in October 2017 for promoting an inclusive environment.

In 2021, as Senior Process Analyst in the Process Improvement team under Student Experience Head Jo Gibson, Maria Barsema participated in workshops that pinpointed common issues in the postgraduate admissions process. She noted that staff outside Student Administration often lacked understanding of how the process worked, the student's position within it, and the reasons for processing timelines. Her efforts contributed to a new section on the Client Services website explaining the process—one administrator called it the most helpful information received—and the creation of the Postgraduate Admissions Database (PAD), integrating spreadsheets into a master tool with a web interface to track programmes, regulations, and contacts, improving communication between Student Administration, academic staff, and Client Services. As Manager of the Marketing Content & Publications Unit in the Division of External Engagement, she initiated 'Quiet Fridays' in the southeast corner of the Clocktower in 2023. Triggered by a team member's concerns over distractions during website software training, the changes included dimmed lights, no booked meetings, closed doors, minimal conversations, and a 'Quiet Please' sign. Other teams accommodated by working from home or appreciating the quiet. Barsema highlighted agreed boundaries' effectiveness, drawing from past open-plan etiquette experiences like no smelly food and Zoom flags. She currently manages Process Automation and Web Experience.