Division of University Relations
The Division of University Relations is responsible for oversight of the Office of Government Relations, Office of Economic & Employer Engagement, the Office of Business & Entrepreneurship (OBE), the Office of Educational Opportunity, and the Wisconsin Institute for Public Policy & Service (WIPPS).
Christopher Patton
Executive-in-Charge
Contact
1756 Van Hise Hall
1220 Linden Dr.
Madison, WI 53706
Telephone: (608) 263-9676
chris.patton@wisconsin.edu
View Bio
About Christopher Patton
Chris Patton is Executive-in-Charge of the Universities of Wisconsin, one of the nation’s largest public higher education systems comprising 13 universities with over 164,000 students. The Board of Regents named him to this position on April 7, 2026. As the Universities of Wisconsin’s Vice President for University Relations, he has been responsible for state and federal government relations and advocacy efforts. In this role, he also has provided leadership to UW Administration’s business, entrepreneurship, and employer engagement offices that provide consulting services and continuing education courses to thousands of entrepreneurs across all 72 Wisconsin counties. Additionally, Chris has overseen efforts to promote civil dialogue, civic engagement, public service, and the first amendment across the Universities of Wisconsin.
Before joining the Universities of Wisconsin in 2024, Chris served as the Vice Chancellor of Administration and Finance at UW-Platteville. In this role, he served as the Chief Financial and Operating Officer overseeing human resources, financial management, compliance and institutional ethics and university police including the development of a $140 million annual operating budget supporting 900 faculty and staff across three colleges and six divisions. Additionally, Chris oversaw student affairs including the Dean of Students, residence life, student center, student health services and student mental health services on a campus of 6,700. Under Chris’ leadership, UW Platteville eliminated a $9.7 million structural deficit and implemented financial measures that resulted in positive operating budgets across all funds and positive net revenues.
Chris's career also includes significant roles at the Wisconsin Department of Administration, where he served the Chief Operating Officer for the state of Wisconsin as DOA Deputy Secretary, and at Epic Systems as Administration Operations Director. His policy and legislative expertise was honed during his tenure as Policy Director for former Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle and Chief of Staff to the Wisconsin Assembly Minority Leader.
Chris is the 2022 Distinguished Deputy Award recipient, an award presented annually by the National Association of State Chief Administrators, for outstanding contributions during his two decades of public service. Chris currently serves on the Board of Trustees for WiSys, the Educational Communications Board, and is a volunteer for Special Olympics. Past board service includes University of Wisconsin Hospital & Clinics Authority Board, Destination Madison Board, Educational Communication Board, National Governors Association, Midwestern Governors Association, Governors Forestry Council, and Madison Area Down Syndrome Society.
Chris earned a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from UW-River Falls. He resides in Verona, Wis., with his wife and two sons.
Ginger Auchter
Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub Employer Engagement Manager
161 West Wisconsin Ave.
Ste 6144
Milwaukee, WI 53203
Telephone: (414) 254-9424
ginger.auchter@wisconsin.edu
Sasanehsaeh Jennings
Tribal Liaison
UW-Superior
801 N. 28th St.
Superior, WI 54880
Telephone: (608) 262-5563
sasanehsaeh.jennings@wisconsin.edu
View Bio
Sasānēhsaeh Jennings joined the University of Wisconsin System in July 2018. In the role of Tribal Liaison, she serves as the principal resource for areas of strategic importance related to the educational success of Native American students within the UW System.
Sasānēhsaeh is an enrolled member of the Menominee Nation, growing up on the Menominee Indian Reservation of Wisconsin. She has worked in education for over 11 years both with college and high school students in a variety of areas at UW-Madison and the University of Minnesota. She began her career at UW-Madison where her work focused on multicultural students with the PEOPLE program and the Multicultural Student Center. She then moved to the University of Minnesota, where she served as the Transfer Coordinator and Academic Advisor for the College of Biological Sciences and most recently the Assistant Director of Diversity and Inclusion for the College of Science and Engineering and Program Coordinator for the North Star STEM Alliance. As an educator and scholar-activist, Sasānēhsaeh continues to work to transform educational spaces to honor and reflect indigenous student and community experiences. She centers her community in all that she does and believes it is her responsibility to always work on their behalf.
Sasānēhsaeh earned her Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development from the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota, and both her M.S. in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis and B.A. in Sociology from UW-Madison.
Brenda Joyce
Administrative Assistant III
1700 Van Hise Hall
1220 Linden Dr.
Madison, WI 53706
Telephone: (608) 263-5512
brenda.joyce@wisconsin.edu
Idella Kangas
Director for Economic and Employer Engagement
432 North Lake St.
Madison, WI 53706
Telephone: (608) 263-3315
idella.kangas@wisconsin.edu
Jeanne Tarantino
Director of University Relations
1752 Van Hise Hall
1220 Linden Dr.
Madison, WI 53706
jeanne.tarantino@wisconsin.edu
Office of Business & Entrepreneurship
Helps entrepreneurs, businesses, and economic development professionals throughout the state to achieve their goals by offering technical assistance and leveraging data.
Office of Economic & Employer Engagement
Advances the Universities of Wisconsin's mission through business and economic-related stakeholder engagement.
Office of Educational Opportunity
Connects students, families, professional educators, and community leaders with opportunities to create, operate, and be a part of public schools that meet local needs, interests, and demands.
Office of Government Relations
Interacts with state and federal government legislators, agency and other government officials, third party advocates, and key stakeholders to keep them apprised of the UW System and Board of Regents’ legislative policy and funding priorities.
Wisconsin Institute for Public Policy & Service
Enhances the civic life of communities in Wisconsin by developing future leaders, educating, and engaging citizens and addressing community needs.