Chancellor forum events conclude after six sessions of robust discussion

The UW-Green Bay Chancellor Search and Screen Committee held its sixth and final listening session Thursday, Feb. 6, wrapping up a week-plus of events designed to garner input on the University’s next leader.

The session at the Neville Museum of Brown County was the second off-site forum held, offered in addition to four on-campus sessions held the preceding week. Attendees from faculty, staff and students to alumni, trustees and civic and business leaders — Green Bay Packers CEO Mark Murphy and Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt among them — took advantage of the opportunity to provide feedback, generating vibrant discussions about the future of UW-Green Bay.

And while attendees acknowledged challenges facing higher education generally, as well as UW-Green Bay and the UW System, the events also reflected plenty of optimism about the future — and the type of leader who can take campus and community forward.

“This really is a community university,” said Rick Beverstein, a UW-Green Bay Trustee and Vice President of AON Risk Services in Green Bay. His comments were echoed by numerous individuals during the noon session held Tuesday, Feb. 4 at the Brown County Central Library, and also at the 5:30 p.m. session Thursday, Feb. 6 at the Neville. And though the evening session was perhaps the least attended of the six, discussion was nonetheless robust.

“Being a country person, (UW-Green Bay) just drew me,” said Donna Sheedy ‘94, president of the UW-Green Bay Alumni Association. “But by the same token, it had everything I needed to be successful.”

Forum attendees shared their thoughts both on the characteristics and background the new chancellor ought to have, as well as the selling points of UW-Green Bay, the larger community and the region. Both on-campus and off, one constant theme was that the new chancellor ought to emphasize community ties and partnerships, and be an outspoken, visible advocate for UW-Green Bay. At the Tuesday library session, attendees noted that current Chancellor Tom Harden and previous Chancellor Bruce Shepard, along with their wives Cathy and Cyndie, have laid a framework for engagement upon which the new chancellor can build.

Individuals who are interested in the chancellor position must submit application materials by March 28 for full consideration. Preliminary candidate interviews will take place in April, with on-campus interviews of the publicly announced five finalists taking place in early-to mid-May. A Chancellor Search website including updates and information will be active by Wednesday, Feb. 12.

Although the listening sessions have concluded, interested individuals still may email feedback to Search Committee chair Cheryl Grosso at grossoc@uwgb.edu.