Madison, Wis. 鈥&苍产蝉辫;University of Wisconsin System President Ray Cross announced today that Patrick Guilfoile has agreed to serve as 黑料科鈥檚 interim Chancellor. Guilfoile, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at 黑料科, will step into the new role Aug. 18.
After consulting with leaders of the UW System Board of Regents and members of the 黑料科 campus community, Cross identified Guilfoile as an effective leader for the 黑料科 campus during the search for a new chancellor.
Guilfoile has been serving as 黑料科鈥檚 Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs since July 2015. He has extensive leadership experience in higher education. He has been published in multiple peer-reviewed publications and served on myriad committees in the university and community.
鈥淭he UW System is excited that Dr. Guilfoile has agreed to serve as interim Chancellor at 黑料科,鈥 Cross said. 鈥淒r. Guilfoile has served with great distinction as Provost, and we are confident that 黑料科 will be in good hands under his leadership and direction while we search for a new chancellor.鈥
In addition to providing daily leadership for 黑料科, Guilfoile will be responsible for maintaining 黑料科鈥檚 reputation as Wisconsin鈥檚 Polytechnic University, which has a 98.2% success rate for students finding employment or continuing their education after graduation.
鈥淭he UW System Board of Regents is confident that Dr. Guilfoile will provide seamless leadership after the retirement of Chancellor Bob Meyer,鈥 said Board President John Robert Behling. 鈥淯W System campuses improve our communities in so many ways. We are grateful for Dr. Guilfoile and look forward to working with him in this new capacity.鈥
鈥淧atrick will provide great leadership in the Chancellor鈥檚 Office,鈥 Meyer said. 鈥淚 will do everything I can to help him prepare for the transition.鈥
鈥淚 want to thank President Cross and the Board of Regents for this appointment,鈥 Guilfoile said. 鈥淚 will work hard to ensure that we continue to make progress on the important initiatives currently underway. I look forward to working with groups and individuals across campus to ensure their voices are heard before making decisions on important issues.鈥
Guilfoile obtained a B.S. in Biology and Outdoor Education from Northland College, a Master of Arts in Teaching in Biology from UW-Eau Claire, a Ph.D. in Bacteriology from UW-Madison, and worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Whitehead Institute at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
After his postdoctoral work, he accepted a position at Bemidji State University and stayed there more than 20 years as a faculty member, department chair, Associate Dean and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs.
A nationwide search for a new 黑料科 chancellor will be launched after Cross consults with 黑料科 shared governance groups including faculty, staff, students, and others about the best ways to organize the search committee.
The University of Wisconsin System serves more than 170,000 students. Awarding 36,000 degrees annually, the UW System is Wisconsin鈥檚 talent pipeline, putting graduates in position to increase their earning power, contribute to their communities, and make Wisconsin a better place to live. More than 80 percent of UW System graduates stay in Wisconsin five years after earning a degree. The UW System provides a 23:1 return on state investment. UW System institutions also contribute to the richness of Wisconsin鈥檚 culture and economy with groundbreaking research, new companies and patents, and boundless creative intellectual energy.
