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All of the memories and accomplishments that I recount would not be possible without the support of many people. First and foremost, I want to thank my wife Judy who encouraged me to take the interim position and who supported me in so many ways over the last year. I also want to thank my good friend, Provost Bill Laatsch, who delayed his retirement to serve this University and did an outstanding job of moving the academic program forward. I also want to thank my Senior Staff, Chancellor’s Office staff, Cabinet and Chancellor’s Council of Trustees for their unwavering support.
Judy and I were delighted to host the annual Chancellor’s Scholarship Reception last fall, reacquainting with old friends and meeting new friends of this special University.
UW-Green Bay is fortunate to have not only a dedicated faculty and staff but also community friends committed to our success. During my time in the Chancellor’s Office, I have benefitted repeatedly from campus and community support.
I urge all of you to support the new administrative team that will be in place by next fall. Our next chancellor, Dr. Tom Harden, will be on campus beginning June 1, and he will be finalizing his choice for Provost in the next few weeks. Please remember that the new administrative team will have its own management style and will take a little time to get oriented and fully involved in campus and community life.
Before I depart, I will have the great opportunity to preside over one of the happiest events of the year on campus: Commencement. About 600 graduates will participate in UW-Green Bay’s 40th Spring Commencement on Saturday, May 16 at the Kress Events Center.
Veteran CBS News anchor and commentator Bob Schieffer, the first member of his family to graduate from college, recently talked about the special feeling of pride that is unique to college graduation.
“Whether you’re a graduate or a parent or a sister or brother or someone who just dropped by, graduations bring out feelings we experience at no other time of our lives,” Schieffer said. “Graduation is my favorite day –
I hope you’re lucky enough to attend one this year.”
I’ll be one of the lucky ones. I hope to see you there.
In closing, let me again express my thanks for all of the support you have given UW-Green Bay this past year. This is a special campus with a very bright future. It will overcome the current challenges and will help this region prosper for decades to come.
David Ward
Interim Chancellor
Click here to download a PDF of the newsletter)
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Green Bay is where I started as a student and where I began my academic career. When I was invited last May to return as interim chancellor,
I considered it an honor and privilege to serve my hometown and alma mater in this way. The experience is something I’ll always treasure.
Greetings from the beautiful campus of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay!
All too soon, I am writing my final Chancellor’s FYI.
This has been a great year! Judy and I are grateful for the support of the University and community. Green Bay is a very special place and the community gives extraordinary support to its University.
To be sure we have faced some difficulties along the way. The most challenging problem has been shrinking state support as the economy has worsened. Despite that challenge, the faculty and staff have not been deterred and have continued to give the very highest level of service to our students and our community.
Over the course of the last year, UW-Green Bay has continued to move forward. Thanks to the excellent leadership and work of our former chancellor, Bruce Shepard, we have grown in a number of areas and have initiated some new programs.
We have grown our enrollments to a record level thereby increasing higher educational opportunity in the New North. We have grown the number of students and graduates in our Adult Degree programs. We have grown the reach and scope of the innovative Phuture Phoenix program. We have grown and strengthened our partnerships with Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, UW Colleges and our other educational partners in the region.
New initiatives under way in 2008-09 include the Environmental Management and Business Institute (EMBI), the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (IEI), and the University Connections program.
EMBI builds on our rich tradition of teaching, scholarship and service in environmental science and policy. IEI creates a focus on the primary economic drivers of this region – entrepreneurship and innovation – and looks to serve graduate and undergraduate students and the regional business community. The University Connections program aims to link minority professionals in the region with our students of color to focus on careers and post-graduate opportunities.
I have told many people that my period of service at UW-Green Bay has been energizing and fulfilling. I will take away many fond memories. Among those memories will be two Commencement ceremonies, my press conference with the fifth-graders at the Phuture Phoenix campus days, a number of exciting men’s and women’s basketball games, the receipt of the $1,000,000 scholarship donation from alum Craig Mueller, and the opportunity to meet and talk with so many of you.
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