Fox named UW-Whitewater interim provost

Robin Fox, who has served the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater for 32 years — and most recently as dean of the College of Education and Professional Studies — will step into a new role as interim provost, effective April 11, according to information recently released by the university.

“We’re fortunate to have Robin Fox, an experienced administrator and respected scholar, lead our academic affairs unit. Over the years, Dr. Fox has worked tirelessly to continue the tradition of excellence that has made the College of Education and Professional Studies a premier school that nurtures exceptional teachers and leaders and, proudly, the college that prepares more teachers for licensure than any Wisconsin university. She is an alumna of UW-Whitewater and two other state schools and has deep roots in Wisconsin and expert knowledge of many aspects of public education. As interim provost, Dr. Fox will help us make strong progress on our institutional goals and priorities,” John Chenoweth, interim chancellor of UW-Whitewater, was quoted as saying in the release. 

Fox replaces Chenoweth in that position. Chenoweth was recently appointed to the position of interim chancellor after the resignation of former interim chancellor Jim Henderson. Henderson abruptly resigned on April 4. 

Fox holds a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from the UW-Stevens Point and a master’s degree from UW-Whitewater, and a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from UW-Madison. She is a former Head Start teacher and director. A professor of curriculum and instruction, Fox came to UW-Whitewater in 1990 as a lead teacher in the Children’s Center, and later assumed various leadership roles. Her areas of research include teacher preparation, how teachers can meet the needs of children who were adopted or are gender fluid, and working with schools about how to be inclusive of members of the LGBTQ community. She lives with her family in Whitewater.

Fox has appointed the college’s associate dean, Lana Collet-Klingenberg, to serve as interim dean, and an internal college search will be conducted for the interim associate dean position, the release stated.