Thomas Gibson was chosen Monday to be the 10th chancellor in the history of UWM.
Gibson, currently chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, will take the place of Mark Mone, who will step down this summer after 11 years as UWM chancellor and return to a professorship in the Lubar College of Business.
The Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents unanimously approved Gibson’s appointment, following a recommendation made by a selection committee.
“I’m honored and humbled to be appointed chancellor of UW-Milwaukee, and I look forward to working with students, faculty, and staff to collectively define a vision for the future,” Gibson said. “Students considering UW-Milwaukee should know that our faculty and staff are dedicated to your success, and I’ll be right there with them cheering you on.”
Gibson has been chancellor of UW-Stevens Point since January 2021. In that time, the university has created new opportunities for graduate and first-year students, experienced two consecutive years of enrollment growth and secured major philanthropic gifts from business and individual partners, including $10 million from Sentry Insurance for the new Sentry School of Business and Economics, donations of land for College of Natural Resources research, the Skyward Internship Center on campus and a faculty fellowship in cello and music studies.
Mone welcomed the selection of Gibson.
“Tom has been a terrific colleague at the Universities of Wisconsin,” Mone said. “His experience and passion will serve what we have built at UW-Milwaukee well.”
Regent Joan Prince, chair of the Search and Screen Committee, said Gibson will be a good leader for UWM.
“As a Milwaukee native with four degrees from UW-Milwaukee, where I also worked for more than 20 years, I look forward to Tom’s leadership of our great university,” said. “He understands what is important to students, creates a culture of support and purpose among faculty and staff, and develops trust with community and business leaders.”
Prior to joining UW-Stevens Point, Gibson served as vice president for Student Affairs and vice provost at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. In that role, he advocated for the academic and social development of students, devised institutional policies, engaged in strategic planning and led student success efforts. He also led efforts to increase record student retention and helped raise $8 million with University Advancement.
He has held numerous positions to enhance student success and promote access in higher education. He was associate vice president of Student Affairs at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. He held several roles at York College, City University of New York in New York City, including associate dean for student development. He led academic support services at Queens College/CUNY and the University of Connecticut at Stamford.
He completed his bachelor’s degree in communication from Eastern Connecticut State University; his master’s in education from University of New Haven, Conn.; and his doctorate in educational leadership in higher education at Johnson & Wales University, Providence, R.I.
