FalconDaily Archives

Title: UW-River Falls

Falcon Daily

Monday, June 1, 2009

Dean Van Galen joins UWRF today as 18th chancellor

Van Galen photo Wisconsin native Dean Van Galen joined the UWRF today as its 18th chancellor in its 135-year-history as the western-most University of Wisconsin campus.

“As I become a member of the UW-River Falls community—and the St. Croix Valley—the most important task I have will be to listen and learn, so that I may develop a deep understanding of the university’s history, traditions, hopes and dreams and most importantly, its people,” said Van Galen.

Prior to his selection as chancellor, Van Galen served as the vice president of advancement at the University of West Florida (Pensacola) for six years, where he led alumni relations, development, marketing and communications as well as its Foundation.

He previously served as vice president for advancement at Truman State University in Missouri. Van Galen began his academic career in 1987 at Truman State University as a chemistry professor, earning honors as Educator of the Year in 1988-89. The Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) named him Professor of the Year for the state of Missouri in 1991. In 1994-95 he was American Council on Education (ACE) Fellow.

Van Galen earned his Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from UW-Whitewater, where he met his wife, Mary. After earning a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from Kansas State University, he worked as a post-doctoral research associate at the University of California, Berkeley.

“I send my best wishes to Dr. Van Galen as he assumes the role of Chancellor,” said Connie Foster, who served as the interim chancellor for the past year. “I am confident he will provide the leadership needed to ensure that we continue to serve as the learning nucleus for the St. Croix Valley.”

Foster will return to her previous position as interim provost until Fernando Delgado, currently dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Hamline University, joins Van Galen on July 1.

In announcing Van Galen’s hiring in January, UW System President Kevin P. Reilly said: “Dr. Van Galen, a Wisconsin native and UW alumnus, brings to this role a unique professional background, as both a faculty member in chemistry and a highly successful advancement executive. That’s a rare combination of capabilities, and I’m confident that he is well prepared to advance the academic reputation of UW-River Falls, as well as its core role in helping a rapidly growing part of Wisconsin pursue its future. Our UW institutions are engines for economic growth, and Dean knows how to make that engine run at peak performance.”

UW-River Falls, ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of America’s Best Colleges (Midwestern University, Master’s category), has more than 6,000 undergraduate students and nearly 500 graduate students. Part of the 26-campus UW System, UWRF employs some 800 people and has an annual operating budget of approximately $90 million.