Katherine P. Frank’s first day on campus Monday, March 2, as the eighth chancellor in the 129-year history of the University of Wisconsin-Stout was packed from start to finish and included a walk around the campus to talk with students, faculty and staff.
“Certainly, for me, today signals a new beginning as a leader and individual, and I hope that it signals a new beginning for our long-standing, unique and award-winning university,” Frank said in a memo to students, faculty and staff distributed Monday morning. “As I have said many times already, I felt that UW-Stout was the right university for me from the outset of the search process. I already have immense respect for our institution, our history and for the community we are today.”
Frank, the first woman to serve as UW-Stout’s chancellor, officially took office Sunday, March 1. She succeeded former interim Chancellor Patrick Guilfoile, who served since Chancellor Emeritus Bob Meyer retired in August. Guilfoile will serve as special assistant to the chancellor to help with Frank’s transition until he retires from UW-Stout on May 1.
Her day began with a meeting of her Cabinet, comprised of top administrators, and was followed by a series of other meetings. At 1 p.m., Frank began a 90-minute walk around campus that included stops at Career Services, Admissions, ASK 5000 technology help desk, Dining Services, the QUBE, Student Life Services, Campus Card Office, University Housing, Student Center offices and the Involvement Center.
The walk around campus, which Frank said she will do regularly, was in keeping with her often-stated message that she wants to hear from everyone on campus: “I hope that you will feel comfortable communicating with me freely, expressing your ideas, sharing your achievements, posing questions and letting me know when things are just not working,” she said in the memo. “I promise you that I will listen, learn and do everything in my power to live up to your expectations.”
More on Frank is available here.
