MADISON― University of Wisconsin System President Kevin P. Reilly has appointed a 17-member search-and-screen committee to identify a Chancellor to serve at UW-Eau Claire.
The committee will be chaired by Robert Hooper, UW-Eau Claire professor of geology. He will be joined by eight other faculty members, two academic staff members, two students, two university administrators, and two community members.
“The new chancellor at UW-Eau Claire will have the responsibility and privilege of leading a campus with a national reputation for providing exceptional opportunities to students,” Reilly said. “I have every confidence the committee will identify outstanding candidates for this important position.”
The committee will begin its work this summer and continue through the academic year. It will recommend at least five candidates for the permanent post. Vicki Lord Larson is now serving as interim chancellor at UW-Eau Claire, following the departure of Donald J. Mash, who is now executive senior vice president of the UW System.
“UW-Eau Claire consistently ranks among the top public undergraduate universities in the Midwest based on excellence in liberal arts education, research involving undergraduate students and liberal arts-based professional programs,” Hooper said. “It will take an excellent Chancellor to help the university maintain this reputation for excellence in a period of declining state support for higher education.
“The next UW-Eau Claire chancellor will have to work well with a diverse group of individuals including students, faculty and staff, local community leaders, business representatives from around the state of Wisconsin and political leaders,” Hooper said. “Given the diversity of the constituencies with an interest in UW-Eau Claire, finding the right chancellor for this institution will be challenging.
“In addition, former Chancellor Don Mash was very popular on this campus, and I think that always makes the selection of a new leader even more challenging,” Hooper said. “I know most of the committee members, and in my opinion, the UW System has appointed an excellent committee to undertake this challenge.”
The UW System President and a special committee of the UW System Board of Regents will conduct final interviews and make a recommendation to the full board.
Members of the UW-Eau Claire Chancellor Search and Screen Committee are:
Faculty: Linda Carpenter, professor of communication disorders; Mickey (Marie K.) Crothers, associate professor of psychology; Scott Hartsel, professor of chemistry; Robert Hooper, professor of geology (Search and Screen Committee Chair); Irene Lazda, associate professor of foreign languages; Douglas Olson, assistant professor of public health professions; Alan Rieck, assistant professor of music and theatre arts; M. Cecilia Wendler, associate professor of nursing systems; Martin Wood, professor of English.
Academic Staff: Kristina Anderson, executive director of enrollment services, director of admissions; Michael Rindo, executive director of university communications.
Administrators: Deborah Durcan, vice president for finance, UW System; Andrew Phillips, interim associate vice chancellor for academic affairs and dean of graduate studies.
Community Representatives: Charles Grossklaus, president, Royal Credit Union; Patrick Quinn, president, Ayres Associates.
Students: Jeff Baldovin, Avril Flaten.
Reilly appointed the committee after consultation with the university community, alumni and donors, regents and others. The Special Regent Committee for the UW-Eau Claire
Chancellor Search is chaired by Regent Peggy Rosenzweig of Wauwatosa. Joining her on the committee are Regents Eileen Connolly-Keesler of Oshkosh, Charles Pruitt of Milwaukee, and Jesus Salas of Milwaukee.
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Note to News Media
President Reilly and Regent Rosenzweig will meet with the UW-Eau Claire search-and-screen committee on Tuesday, May 17, from 1-3 p.m. in the President’s Room at the Davies Center on the UW-Eau Claire campus, 105 Garfield Ave. The committee will receive its charge and discuss the process. There will also be a review of the position description and an opportunity for committee members to ask questions. This is an open meeting.