After the dean of the University of Wisconsin’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences announced her decision to step down, UW officials announced Monday who her temporary replacement will be effective Jan. 2.
UW agronomy professor Bill Tracy will serve as the interim dean of CALS until a permanent dean is chosen, Provost Paul DeLuca said. Current Dean Molly Jahn decided to step down to work with more government agencies and re-join the faculty.
Tracy was chosen because of his years on staff, leadership experience within CALS and leadership experience within UW, DeLuca said.
DeLuca said CALS has multiple missions, with both the agricultural and basic science components, and Tracy’s knowledge in these areas combined with his experience as chair of the University Committee made him the right man for the job.
CALS is currently in an excellent position, Tracy said, which he attributed to the faculty, staff and students. He said he hopes to maintain CALS’ good standing as interim dean.
“We’ll try to reduce whatever impediments to their progress we can [to] make sure they can do their jobs,” Tracy said.
The biggest challenge he will face will be helping CALS attract a permanent dean, Tracy added.
Tracy said he already spoke with Jahn and said she offered her help. Working in collaboration with others is something Tracy said would be integral to the job.
“I look at this as a college-wide effort,” Tracy said. “Making sure the college stays strong is going to require everyone in the college…the only way to do that is to consult widely [with] people.”
Putting a staff in place to assist Tracy will also be crucial, so the college mission continues to be executed smoothly, DeLuca said.
Tracy will start as interim dean Jan. 2, 2011, and by that time DeLuca said he hopes to have a search committee selected and the job opening posted.
If the process goes smoothly without any setbacks, a permanent dean could be in place as early as late May or early June, DeLuca said. However, the process could take longer, pushing selection back to the beginning of the 2011-2012 academic year.
