MADISON (WKOW) — Chancellor Rebecca Blank is leaving UW-Madison at the end of the 2021-22 school year.
She is leaving to become the 17th president of Northwestern University, as announced Monday.
Blank has served UW-Madison since 2013. It's an eight year tenure that makes her the longest serving chancellor at the university and second longest of any Big Ten public institution.
“Leading UW–Madison and serving the people of Wisconsin has been an honor and a privilege," Blank said. “Now it’s time to let someone else step into leadership. I have many connections with Northwestern and am excited about this new opportunity.
According to UW-Madison, Blank is credited with enhancing outreach to communities and businesses, creating new relationships with the legislature and state government, managing questions about the university’s tenure protections and taking multiple new steps to improve the university’s finances.
“The University of Wisconsin is one of the finest universities in the world, and Chancellor Blank’s tenacious advocacy and strong leadership have helped build on that legacy during her tenure," said UW System President Tommy Thompson. "On behalf of the University of Wisconsin System, I want to thank her for her service to our state and wish her well at Northwestern.”
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