Dean of the College of Community Engagement & Professions and Professor of Criminal Justice & Criminology Tina L. Freiburger will serve as Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, effective May 1, 2026.
As chief academic officer, Freiburger is charged with the administration of all academic units, including the schools and colleges, and provides leadership for all faculty and staff in ensuring excellence in the university’s mission to advance student success, research and community engagement.
In addition, the Interim Provost manages the Division of Academic Affairs, which includes all schools and colleges, enrollment management and many other centers, institutes and units with a total budget of approximately $300 million. The Interim Provost also co-oversees the university’s annual budgeting process for all non-auxiliary divisions, including UWM’s central infrastructure and administration.
Dr. Freiburger brings significant academic administrative experience to this position, including six years as a dean at UWM in multiple roles: Dean of the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare, Interim Dean of the School of Education and the School of Information Studies, and as of 2023, as the founding Dean of the College of Community Engagement & Professions, which brought together the three schools noted above.
New Leadership in CCEP
Associate Dean & Head of School for HBSSW and Assistant Dean for Research of CCEP Lisa Berger will serve as Interim Dean of the College of Community Engagement and Professions (CCEP).
This important leadership role will serve as the chief executive and academic officer of CCEP, providing leadership, stability, and oversight during a period of transition. Dr. Berger will begin her position on May 1, 2026.
Dr. Berger has been affiliated with UWM since 1998 and is a Professor of Social Work. She previously served as Director of the Center for Urban Population Health, a partnership among Aurora Health Care/Aurora Research Institute, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.