Dear UWM community,
Dr. Rebecca Klaper, dean of the School of Freshwater Sciences (SFS), has decided to retire from UWM effective August 31. She has been named the dean of the University of Delaware’s College of Earth, Ocean & Environment.
Dr. Klaper joined UWM faculty in 2003. Her research has focused on investigating emerging contaminants in freshwater such as pharmaceuticals, nanomaterials, and PFAS compounds and how they may impact environmental health. She was a Fulbright Scholar in 2017-2018, has served on National Academy of Sciences panels and is a 2026 Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters Fellow.
Named dean of SFS in 2022, Dr. Klaper has helped grow SFS into a nationally recognized program and strengthened UWM’s collaborations with government and national agencies. She has helped secure and steward major research investments. Remarkably, throughout all of her administrative successes, Rebecca has also continued to be an exceptional researcher, colleague and mentor.
I am working closely with Dean Klaper on a smooth transition, and I am fully committed to ensuring the continued success of the SFS. We will begin the process for an internal interim right away. More information will be shared as it becomes available.
Best,
Tina Freiburger, PhD
Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs