UW System President Kevin P. Reilly and a special committee of the UW System Board of Regents announced their recommendation of James C. Schmidt on Monday. After action by the full board, scheduled for April 5, Schmidt will step into his new leadership role in July. Schmidt has a dual role at Winona State. He also is executive director of the WSU Foundation Board of Trustees.
Schmidt joined Winona State in 1998, overseeing development, government relations, marketing and other functions. Working with the WSU Foundation's president and other community leaders, Schmidt led efforts to secure significant new investments from the state and federal governments, as well as private benefactors, and assets grew significantly, according to a news release from the UW System.
Schmidt previously served as vice president for student affairs at Riverland Community College, where he was responsible for admissions, financial aid, diversity, career placement and other programs. He has also held leadership positions at Austin Community College and Minnesota Riverland Technical College.
"Along with a keen understanding of university priorities, Dr. Schmidt clearly has the skills and desire to help the campus thrive, and that success will create a positive ripple effect across the state," Reilly said in a prepared statement.
Schmidt holds an Ed.D. from the University of Minnesota. He earned a master's in business administration from the University of St. Thomas, and a B.A. in political science from Winona State University.
"The excellent reputation and the powerful vision of UW-Eau Claire drew me to this university," Schmidt said in a prepared statement.
"The commitment of faculty and staff to engage students in a 'rigorous, integrated, globally infused liberal education' resonates deeply with me, and grew to be my greatest attraction."
The UW-Eau Claire chancellor position attracted candidates from around the country. But three of the five finalists reportedly dropped out before the decision was made.
If confirmed by the full board, Schmidt will succeed former UW-Eau Claire Chancellor Brian Levin-Stankevich, who stepped down last spring to accept a new job as president of Westminster College in Salt Lake City. UW-Madison's Gilles Bousquet has served as UW-Eau Claire's interim chancellor since July.
UW-Eau Claire enrolls more than 11,000 students in more than 80 degree programs
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