Molly Hunter with daughter, Ellery.

The warmest of EEB welcomes to Molly Hunter, who began as the new executive secretary for the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology in early September 2018, and to Kati Ellis, who was promoted from graduate program assistant to graduate program coordinator in August 2018.

As executive secretary, Hunter provides administrative support to the department chair and the administrative manager, as well as staff support during faculty and executive committee meetings. She coordinates dossiers for faculty reviews, promotions and hires, and compiles department submissions of faculty and student awards.

In her new role, Hunter is most looking forward to getting to know the faculty and students and learning more about their work. “One of the best parts of my job is learning about the subject matter for the department I support,” she said. “I greatly enjoy my work!”

Hunter plans to take the Certified Administrative Professional exam in spring 2019. She has been at the University of Michigan for almost 10 years in the Art, Architecture and Engineering Library from early 2009 to late 2016 and spent most of the past two years in the Field Office at the School of Social Work.

Originally from Traverse City, Hunter has lived in Ann Arbor for close to 10 years. She’s married and has a 5-year-old daughter and two dogs. “I enjoy yoga, listening to and seeing live music, reading, going to the library, discovering new restaurants and going out to eat, enjoying adult beverages and watching sports, especially basketball and football. I am a huge Detroit Pistons fan!”

Kati Ellis

As graduate coordinator, Ellis supports the graduate programs and is responsible for all aspects of recruitment, admission, and student progress in the Ph.D. program. 

Ellis joined EEB in October 2017 as the graduate program assistant/recruiter. Prior to that, she worked for the U-M Health System’s Wheelchair Seating Service in customer service for four years. She graduated from U-M in 2013 with her bachelor’s degree in political science.

“I'm looking forward to getting to know the Ph.D. students better,” Ellis said. “I want the students to know that I'm open, honest and completely down to earth. Feel free to stop by whenever!”

Ellis is a native Detroiter whose biggest motivator is her six-year-old son, Carson. Read more about Ellis in previous EEB web news.

If you haven’t met the newest staffers yet, stop by the administrative offices to say hello.