The Universities of Wisconsin invites applications and nominations for the position of Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM).
UWM is Wisconsin’s second-largest university and delivers a life-changing, high-quality education to 23,000 students from more than 80 countries every year. UWM is an R1 university and has earned the Carnegie Foundation’s Community Engagement classification, transforming the state and region by advancing equity through education and addressing societal issues through research, strategic reinvention, and partnerships. The University embraces its unique dual mission of performing world-class research and ensuring college access for students from all backgrounds. UWM offers over 200 degree programs with classes taught by faculty members recognized worldwide as experts in their fields. Eighty percent of the University’s graduates live and work in Wisconsin, further contributing to the state’s health, vibrancy, and economic growth.
As executive head of the University, the Chancellor is vested with the responsibility of administering Board of Regents policies under the direction of the President of the Universities of Wisconsin and contributes to the Universities of Wisconsin by working alongside the 13 chancellors in the system to improve higher education opportunities across Wisconsin. The Chancellor serves as UWM’s primary advocate and ambassador and oversees a budget of $721 million.
The next Chancellor of UWM will be expected to:
- Champion and actively engage with UWM’s mission, vision, and values
- Drive implementation and success of the 2030 Action Plan
- Strengthen the University’s finances and ensure its sustainable operations
- Promote impactful research and innovation, elevating UWM’s role and reputation as a leading public, urban, access, and research university
- Foster a campus culture rooted in inclusive excellence
- Be a leader in the community at large and within the business community, building strong and effective partnerships across higher education and with businesses and community organizations
- Enthusiastically lead initiatives to recruit and retain a diverse student body, including lifelong learners, reflective of the Milwaukee-area and Wisconsin communities.
- Build upon strategies to recruit and retain a highly qualified and diverse workforce that includes world-class faculty
- Accelerate UWM’s growth as a leader in advanced manufacturing, data science, IT, and related fields to meet the needs of Wisconsin businesses and citizens
- Cultivate strong relationships with faculty, staff, students, and external stakeholders, including donors, alumni, legislators, and community members
- Advance student success, with a particular focus on closing equity gaps
- Promote impactful research and innovation
The University seeks a collaborative, innovative, and transformative leader who will build on UWM’s history, mission, reputation, and accomplishments to optimize its potential. Candidates should possess a deep understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing higher education and the leadership record, preferably within higher education or a comparable professional environment, necessary to lead a complex organization.
Additional information about the search can be found on the institution’s website.
All applications, nominations, and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or résumé and a letter of interest addressing the responsibilities and requirements described in the leadership profile found at www.wittkieffer.com.
WittKieffer is assisting the Universities of Wisconsin in this search. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by January 10, 2025. Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer’s candidate portal. The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except the identities of those identified as final candidates.
Nominations and inquiries can be directed to the WittKieffer consultants supporting this search: Christine J. Pendleton, Ashlee Winters Musser, and Maya Holt-Brockenbrough, Ph.D. at UWMilwaukeeChancellor@wittkieffer.com
The University of Wisconsin System is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and actively seeks and encourages applications from women, minorities, and persons with disabilities. It is our policy to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment.
