University of Wisconsin System President Kevin Reilly announced the four finalists for the University of Wisconsin-Madison chancellor position Thursday.
The four finalists are Dr. Rebecca Blank, Dr. Nicholas Jones, Dr. Michael Schill and Dr. Kim Wilcox, according to a UW System press release.
A chancellor search and screen committee, chaired by UW-Madison history professor David McDonald, recommended the four finalists to Reilly and a UW System Board of Regents committee, according to the press release.
McDonald said the finalists have a “very strong endorsement” from the committee.
“My colleagues and I feel that these four candidates are distinctive for their fit for the needs of [UW-Madison] at this time,” McDonald said.
Cody Ostenson, undergraduate student appointee to the search committee, agreed saying all candidates showed a “visionary outlook” and paid special attention to student financial issues, public service and the ability to search out new sources of funding.
Blank, who is currently Acting Secretary of Commerce at the U.S. Department of Commerce, said if chosen she hopes to increase the university’s global presence while looking into new learning technologies to teach more effectively and keep costs down.
“The answer is always hard work and very good management and real leadership that communicates to people how you need to move forward and how to strategically position the university to be on the cutting edge,” Blank said.
Jones, dean and professor of engineering at Johns Hopkins University, said although he is coming from a private institution background he believes both JHU and UW-Madison are driven by “passion,” “commitment” and “camaraderie.”
Jones added he plans to make a strong effort to reach out to faculty, staff and students on campus if chosen.
“There’s great people, great motivation, great thinking that has already taken place about what the [university] would like to accomplish,” Jones said. “Personally that’s an exciting environment for somebody like me.”
Schill, current dean and professor of law at the University of Chicago Law School, said the appointment would be an exciting opportunity for him at a university he believes has a strong commitment to affordable access, something very important to him as a former first-generation college student.
He added that he recently visited campus to take an admissions tour and visit the student unions and was impressed by the “smart and incredibly engaged” students he spoke with and said he would make it a goal to engage regularly with students if appointed.
“There’s no way to know the university is doing the job it’s supposed to unless you talk with people who are consuming education,” Schill said.
Former Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Michigan State University Kim Wilcox was not available for an interview.
Ostenson said Wilcox exhibited a very “student-focused student services mindset.”
According to Ostenson, Wilcox created health care resources and “living-learning communities” for students while at MSU.
The public will have an opportunity to meet each candidate at a series of public forums. Jones will be on campus March 5, Schill on March 7, Wilcox on March 11 and Blank on March 13 with each reception taking place from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Ostenson encouraged students and community members to attend the forums and interact with candidates.
“They are searching as well,” Ostenson said. “We should do our best to put our best foot forward and show why this is a great place.”
Reilly and a special Board of Regents committee will interview each candidate on March 15 before recommending a single candidate for the full Board’s approval, according to the statement. The board will likely announce and vote the next chancellor at its April meeting.
McDonald said he could not confirm when the new chancellor would take office.
Abby Becker contributed to this article.
