Five finalists announced for UW-Whitewater chancellor position

The University of Wisconsin System announced Tuesday that it has identified five finalists in its search for a new chancellor at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. 

The finalists are: Lynn D. Akey, a vice president of student success, analytics and integrated planned at Minnesota State University, Mankato; John D. Chenoweth, interim chancellor at UW-Whitewater; Corey A. King, vice chancellor for university inclusivity and student affairs, UW-Green Bay; Paul D. Plotkowski, dean and professor, Padnos College of Engineering and Computing, Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, Mich., and Mrinal Mugdh Varma, provost and senior vice chancellor, Auburn University at Montgomery, Ala.

According to information released by the UW system, a Special Regent Committee selected the finalists from a list of candidates identified by a 12-member Search and Screen Committee. 

Next month, the candidates will participate in separate campus public forums, offering opportunities for students, faculty, staff and community members to interact directly with them, the release stated. 

After reviewing campus feedback, UW System President Jay Rothman and the Special Regent Committee, comprised of Regents Amy Blumenfeld Bogost, chairman; Ashok Rai; Jill Underly, and Kyle Weatherly, will interview the finalists and recommend a single successful candidate to the Board of Regents, which will approve the appointment, the release continued. 

The next chancellor at UW-Whitewater will be the institution’s 18th, the release noted. 

Following is information about each candidate, including times when they will be made available to meet members of the public. 

Lynn D. Akey 

Lynn D. Akey will be on the UW-Whitewater campus to meet members of the public Tuesday, Dec. 6, between 3 and 4 p.m., in Timmerman Auditorium, Hyland Hall. 

According to information supplied to the UW System by the candidate, Akey has served at Minnesota State University in the following capacities:

• Associate vice president for institutional research, strategy and effectiveness, Office of the Provost, December 2017 to February 2019. 

• Assistant vice president for institutional research, planning and assessment, November 2013 to December 2017

• Director of institutional research, planning and assessment, July 2011 to October 2013.

• Director of institutional research and assessment, July 2010 to June 2011.

• Director of institutional assessment, March 2009 to June 2010. 

A full presentation of her professional accomplishments is here: https://www.uww.edu/documents/executive-search/akey-cv.pdf

John D. Chenoweth 

John D. Chenoweth will be made available on the UW-Whitewater campus to meet members of the public Wednesday, Dec. 7, between 3 and 4 p.m., in Timmerman Auditorium, Hyland Hall.  

According to information supplied to the UW System by the candidate, Chenoweth has served at UW-Whitewater in the following capacities:

• Interim chancellor, April 2022 to present.

• Provost and vice chancellor of academic affairs, July 2021 to April 2022. 

• College of Business and Economics, dean, January 2015 to June 2021.

• College of Business and Economics, associate dean,  August 2011 to January 2015. 

• Interim director of the Center for Global Education, January 2011 to August 2011.

• College of Business and Economics, Department of Information Technology and Supply Chain Management,  August 2002 to January 2011, serving as chair (2006-2011), professor (2016-present), associate professor (2005-2016),and assistant professor (2002-2005).

A full presentation of his professional accomplishments is here: https://www.uww.edu/documents/executive-search/chenoweth-cv.pdf

Corey A. King

Corey A. King will be on the UW-Whitewater campus to meet members of the public Thursday, Dec. 8, between 3 and 4 p.m., in Timmerman Auditorium, Hyland Hall.  

According to information supplied to the UW System by the candidate, King has served in the following capacities:

• Vice-chancellor for university inclusivity and student affairs, UW-Green Bay,  2020 to Present. 

• Vice president for enrollment management and student financial services, Bethune-Cookman University, Daytona Beach, Fla., 2019 to 2020. 

• System chair, Council for Student Affairs, State University System of Florida Board of Governors, 2016 to 2019. 

• Vice president for student affairs and enrollment management, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Fla., 2014 to 2019; associate vice president for student affairs/dean of students, 2008 to 2014. 

A full presentation of his professional accomplishments is here: https://www.uww.edu/documents/executive-search/king-cv.pdf

Mrinal Mugdh Varma 

Mrinal Mugdh Varma will be on the UW-Whitewater campus to meet members of the public Tuesday, Dec. 13, between 3 and 4 p.m., in Timmerman Auditorium, Hyland Hall.  

According to information supplied to the UW System by the candidate, Varma has served in the following capacities: 

• Provost and senior vice chancellor, professor of healthcare administration, tenured, Auburn University at Montgomery, Montgomery, Ala, February 2017 to present. 

• Associate vice president for academic affairs, June 2008 to February 2017; associate professor, tenured, Department of Healthcare Administration, College of Business, September 2012 to February 2017; assistant professor, Department of Healthcare Administration, College of Business, June 2008 to August 2012, University of Houston-Clear Lake, Houston, Texas, June 2008 to February 2017. 

• Director of institutional research, October 2002 to June 2004, State University of New York Empire State College, Saratoga Springs, NY, October 2002 to June 2004.

• Institutional planner, Office of Policy Analysis and Research, June 2001 to October 2002.University of Wisconsin System Administration, Madison, June 2001 to October 2002.

A full presentation of his professional accomplishments is here: https://www.uww.edu/documents/executive-search/varma-cv.pdf

Paul D. Plotkowski 

Paul D. Plotkowski will be on the UW-Whitewater campus to meet members of the public Wednesday, Dec. 14, between 3 and 4 p.m., in Timmerman Auditorium, Hyland Hall. 

According to information supplied to the UW System by the candidate, Plotkowski has served in the following capacities:

• Founding dean and professor, Padnos College of Engineering and Computing, 2004 to present; supplemental assignment with GVSU Development Division, 2015 to 2016; director and professor, School of Engineering, 1991 to 2004, Grand Valley State University, Mich. 

• Institute ABET accreditation coordinator, 1989 to 1991; director, manufacturing systems engineering program,  1988 to 1991; associate professor, tenured,  of mechanical engineering, 1986 to 1991; assistant professor of mechanical engineering, 1983 to 1986; GMI Engineering and Management Institute, Mich. 

A full list of his accomplishments is here: https://www.uww.edu/documents/executive-search/plotkowski-cv.pdf.

About the search

Information as provided by the UW System about the full and ongoing search effort is here: https://www.uww.edu/chancellor-search

An earlier story about the formation of the search committee is here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/system-names-members-of-uw-whitewater-chancellor-search-screen-committee/

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