Good morning, colleagues. I hope you enjoyed the holidays and I wish everyone health and happiness in the new year! Here is this week’s update from Academic Affairs.
College of Letters and Science Dean Finalists
I am pleased to announce four finalists for the position of Dean of the College of Letters and Science:
The candidates will visit campus beginning late January through mid-February. Their CVs are now online, and more details will be shared as they become available. Campus interview dates and schedules will be posted when finalized. I would like to thank the Search Committee, and especially Chair Jennifer Doering, for their service to the University and for producing a very strong pool of candidates.
Chief Enrollment Officer Finalists
I also want to share with you the names of the three finalists for the position of Chief Enrollment Officer:
- Raymond Brown
- Jennifer DeHaemers
- Susan Dileno
The candidates will be on campus this week and their resumés and itineraries are available online. I would like to thank the Search Committee, and especially Chair Paul Roebber, for their service to the University and for producing a very strong pool of candidates.
Kudos
The Office of Undergraduate Research is introducing several exciting summer research projects for incoming freshman. Well done – and kudos to Kyla Esguerra for being the main driver behind this initiative!
A team led by UWM Scientist Marcia Silva (Water Technology Accelerator) and collaborator David Rice (president of the startup Rice Technology LLC) are among 10 finalists in a NASA program aimed at finding ideas to solve critical problems on Earth and in future space exploration. The team has developed a sensor that is able to detect multiple contaminants in water, including dissolved and suspended solids, phosphorus, bacteria, and viruses. At the end of January, the NASA iTech finalists will present their innovations at a forum including representatives from NASA, other federal agencies, industry, and the investment community. Congratulations, Marcia and David!
Michael Zimmer (Information Studies) was interviewed on NPR’s All Things Considered about the Library of Congress’s recent decision to stop archiving all public tweets. Zimmer previously wrote about the practical and policy challenges of such a project in the journal First Monday. Another recognition of your work, Michael. Well done!
Junjie Niu and his team’s work on Sn hybrid composite as anode in long-cycling lithium-ion batteries was published by one of the top journals in the field, Nano Letters. This is the continuing work of alloys in batteries after they published another aluminum alloy work in Nature Communications in 2015. Congratulations, Junjie!
Panther News
Catch up on all the exciting things happening in Milwaukee Athletics by reading the latest issue of the Roar Report!
The Week
Monday
I start my Monday morning with a meeting with Chief Enrollment Officer finalist, Susan Dileno. I have my weekly meeting with Robin Van Harpen and bi-weekly meeting with Mark Harris. In the afternoon, I have an advising meeting and CEMAT (Chancellor’s Enrollment Management Action Team) meets. Agenda items include review of enrollment data, SEM (Strategic Enrollment Management Plan) update, Outstanding Learning Environment updates (which is one of our 3 key initiatives – the others being Excellence in Research and Leader in Community Engagement), International Pathways Program update, and financial aid update.
Tuesday
I meet with Chief Enrollment Officer finalist, Jennifer DeHaemers. I have the deans’ morning meeting, a meeting on microcredentialing, and standing meetings with Paul Klajbor, Ron Perez, and Nancy Nelson. Later, I meet with Bob Greenstreet. I also do a welcome word at the strategic planning event for the Accessibility Resource Center.
Wednesday
I meet with Chief Enrollment Officer finalist, Ray Brown. I have standing meetings with Joely Urdan, Brett Peters, UC Chair Kristian O’Connor, Pat Borger, and Nadya Fouad. In the afternoon, I meet with Kanti Prasad and the Chancellor.
Thursday
I start the day by providing remarks at the 3rd Annual UWM Teaching and Learning Symposium. Then, I’ll attend the APBC meeting and participate in a teleconference with other UW System provosts – focused on the 2 year colleges. Later, I’ll attend the Zilber School of Public Health all-school meeting where I will continue my discussion on our strategic initiatives as were laid out by the Chancellor in his plenary address last semester.
Friday
I’ll be working on administrative tasks for most of the day and have my weekly staff meeting and meetings with my direct reports.
Announcements
Pulitzer-Prize-Winning Author on Campus
Colson Whitehead will be speaking on January 31 at 7 p.m. in the UWM Student Union. Tickets go on sale January 8 and include a signed copy of his New York Times best seller, The Underground Railroad. $13 students, $16 faculty/staff.
Alumni Employee Awards
It’s not too late to recognize stellar alumni employee colleague! The Call for Nominations for the 2018 Alumni Employee Awards closes Friday, January 19. All nominees will be recognized at the Alumni Employee Awards and Appreciation Lunch on Wednesday, March 28.
Study Abroad Fair
The Center for International Education will host its Study Abroad Fair on Wednesday, January 24 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the UWM Union Concourse.
Take care,
Johannes
Johannes Britz
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs