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Marketing and University Communication UW-Green Bay, CL 815 2420 Nicolet Drive Green Bay, WI 54311-7001 (920) 465-2626 Email: hildebrs@uwgb.edu Last update: 10/2/07 |
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In
the News Archive - Year:
August 9, 2001 Shepard pledges openness, a little fun The new UWGB chancellor asked the audience questions at his public forum By Michelle Kennedy
The appointment, effective Nov. 1, was recommended by a special committee of the UW System Board of Regents after interviewing four finalists for the post on Monday. The recommendation was unanimously adopted by the Executive Committee of the board during a conference call.
"All four candidates were well-qualified, but for this campus at this stage in its history, Bruce Shepard is an excellent leader who is ready for a challenge of this kind," UW System President Katherine Lyall said.
Shepard replaces Mark Perkins, who resigned in June to become president of Towson State University in Maryland. He said that he and his wife are not only excited by the offer, but intrigued by the community of Green Bay.
"That is what sold us on this community," he said. "We met so many marvelous people when we were there. It seems to be a great place to live."
Kristy Watzlawick, a senior at UW-Green Bay, said that Shepard left a good impression during his public forum.
"Just the fact that he has a Web cam in his office shows that he is open and that he doesn't hide behind closed doors," she said. "The fact that he is very family oriented also impressed a lot of people, I think. He said that this was the only year he'd consider moving because his son is to start high school in the fall and he didn't want move him once he started. We thought that was very considerate."
Associate professor Scott Furlong, who chaired the search and screen committee at UW-Green Bay, said that the committee was very happy with all of the candidates, but that Shepard definitely stood out.
"He seemed to have an immediate connection with the audience," he said. "What impressed people the most was the fact that he asked them questions and really showed a willingness to listen and learn."
Furlong also said that Shepard has been in his position as provost a little longer than the other candidates and that appeared to give him an edge in experience, along with the fact that he just seemed "really ready" to move on in his career.
"We had fun during the process of selecting a chancellor," Furlong said. "And I think that meshes well with Shepard's idea of having a little fun in the workplace."
In addition to fun, though, Shepard said that his first priorities will be to not only learn the issues on campus but to start cultivating relationships in the community.
"I have a lot to do here in Oregon before I leave," he said. "So I will be focusing on building relationships, getting to know people and getting to know the campus."
Shepard said he has plans to come back to Green Bay at least twice before he takes office officially, the first trip will be for the convocation at the end of August.
Although he has lived and worked in Oregon for 29 years, Shepard said that he has "no trepidation at all," about leaving and moving to Green Bay.
"I see so much that is positive in Green Bay," he said. "I am convinced there are great things ahead for Green Bay and the University."
Shepard, 54, has been provost at Eastern Oregon University since 1995. He is also a political science professor there as well.
Shepard has bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in political science from the University of California-Riverside.
He has helped lead Eastern Oregon in the renovation of its general education program, created an honors program, and was instrumental in securing $33 million for a new science center.
Under Shepard's leadership, EOU has seen the highest retention rates in its history and has secured a high ranking in U.S. News & World Report as Oregon's only public "top tier" university.
Before joining EOU, Shepard spent 23 years teaching at Oregon State University, where he earned tenure. He spent his time there as state government liaison specialist, special assistant to the provost, assistant vice president for undergraduate studies and director of undergraduate academic programs.
He has also been a visiting scientist at the Population Study Center in Seattle, a policy analyst for the USDA Forest Service, and visiting fellow at Mitchell College in Bathurst, Australia.
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