If you’re reading the messages, it is probably safe to assume that you care about WiCC’s mission.  Even if we haven’t met in person, this newsletter is my attempt to keep you “in the loop” about all Wisconsin happenings community/university-engagement-related.  This segment has been a fun way for me to put thoughts on paper and speak directly to you about what I’m thinking and where I see things headed.  So, it with great sadness that I announce that this will be my last “From the Director’s Desk.”  I have accepted a position as Director of the UniverCity Alliance at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  The position allows me to stay active in the Wisconsin community engagement field by building partnerships between UW-Madison and local governments across the state.  Perhaps I will even be able to work with your campus in the future if you are interested in these kinds of initiatives.  Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Director for the last few years.

In the interim I am pleased to announce that Carie Hertzberg, former Rhode Island Campus Compact director and current Burke Scholar Program Director at Marquette University, will be consulting with WiCC through the summer.  Hopefully the position will be posted and filled by then.  Lynne Blinkenberg will still be our point of contact for all logistics-related efforts.  Dean Pribbenow will still serve as Board Chair.  As we know more about the transition, either Carie, Lynne, or Dean will be in touch.

On a positive note, we have an actual (as opposed to an interim) Advisory Board in place now that we’ve completed our first year of administrative transition under National Campus Compact! Please help me welcome our newest board members: Fay Akindes, Director of Systemwide Professional & Instructional Development for the UW System; Dave Anderson, former Assistant Deputy Secretary of the WI Department of Workforce Development; Mark Gesner, Executive Director, The Cardinal Stritch University Hub for Innovation & Community Engaged Learning; and Esther Letven, WiCC Founding member and former UW-Parkside Associate Vice Chancellor for Extended Services.  For more information on the full board, see here: https://wicampuscompact.org/about/executive-leadership/

Thank you all for your support through the last few years.  It has been an honor to get to know you all and hope you keep up the inspiring work on your campuses. My new e-mail address will be gavin {at} cows(.)org.  Please stay in touch!

Best,

Gavin