Beverly Kopper named UW-Whitewater chancellor
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WHITEWATER—Preparing for the fall semester, addressing possible budget cuts and continuing UW-Whitewater's history of excellence is what new Chancellor Beverly A. Kopper has planned when she starts her job in July.
The UW System Board of Regents unanimously named Kopper the 16th UW-W chancellor Tuesday.
Kopper will replace retiring Chancellor Richard Telfer, who announced his retirement in November.
"UW-Whitewater has a rich tradition of fine leadership and excellence," Kopper told The Gazette. "One of my main goals is to continue that tradition of excellence in all that we do."
Kopper, who is provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at UW-Whitewater, was one of five finalists for the chancellor position.
She will begin her new role July 1, according to a UW-Whitewater news release. Telfer's final day is June 30.
Each of the five finalists participated in campus and community forums held earlier this month during individual campus visits. The 21-member UW-Whitewater Chancellor Search and Screen Committee used the forums to gauge how well the participants meshed with students, employees and community members.
UW System President Ray Cross appointed the search committee—made up of UW-W faculty, staff, students, administrators and community representatives—in January.
The committee met weekly and sent observations and comments to Cross and a special committee of the UW System Board of Regents chaired by board President Margaret Farrow.
The regents' committee interviewed the finalists May 20 in Madison and recommended Kopper to the full board of regents, which approved the appointment.
"The regents and I were very impressed with Dr. Kopper as an experienced educational leader who understands what it takes to help students succeed," Cross said in the release. "She is clearly enthusiastic about UW-Whitewater, all of its strengths and all of its potential. … I am confident she has the vision and the experience to lead UW-Whitewater to a bright future."
Kopper was in her office when she received news of the final vote Tuesday morning. She was informed at the end of last week that she was the candidate recommended to the board, she said.
"I'm very honored to be able to serve as chancellor of this great university, and it is a real privilege," she said.
While at UW-W, Kopper has served on several committees locally and at the UW System level.
Kopper served as interim chancellor at UW-W from Jan. 1 to Feb. 14, 2014, while Telfer was interim UW System president, the release states.
Before coming to UW-W in 2010, Kopper held various administrative positions at the University of Northern Iowa.
Kopper has a master's degree in counseling psychology from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, a master's in social work from UW-Madison and a bachelor's degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo, according to the release.
Kopper's yearly salary will be $238,000.
The university will appoint an interim provost until a national search begins in fall, Kopper said.
