New UWM Chancellor Mark Mone Pledges to Bring UWM Into a “New Era”

Mark A. Mone, who will take over as the 9^th chancellor of the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, effective immediately, promised Monday to move “forward together boldly” on a new agenda emphasizing student success, research, and community engagement.

Referring to a “new era,” Mone, who has worked at UWM since 1998, said one of his goals is to reinforce engagement with the community and alumni.

“[UWM] will do this in ways you have never seen,” he said, shortly after learning he was named the new chancellor from a field of three finalists.

The new chancellor also spoke briefly on plans to maintain the location of the Panther Arena amid rumors that it may be bought and torn down to make room for the Milwaukee Bucks’ new arena, as well as advocating plans to construct a new student union.

Mone, the only internal candidate left among the finalists, served as interim chancellor for the last nine months after former chancellor, Michael Lovell, stepped down to become president of neighboring Marquette University. The selection of an internal candidate as chancellor comes after UWM has seen high turnover in its top position; since John Schroeder left the chancellor post in 1998 after seven years, three other people – Nancy Zimpher, Carlos Santiago, and Lovell – have been named to, and left, the chancellor’s job.

“Mark understands the vital role that UWM plays as developers of the high-impact talent necessary to move Wisconsin forward,” said Ray Cross, UW-System president, in announcing the selection.  “I am confident that he has the vision, the talent and the experience to guide UW-Milwaukee into a new era.”

At a press conference held in the union’s fireside lounge shortly after the announcement, Mone addressed a big crowd and flank of media and pledged, “The vision I’d like to articulate briefly today, is moving forward together boldly. What I learned today in terms of me receiving this appointment is not just a thrill, but it’s something that energizes me to work with you all to build on our strengths.”

Mone stressed the importance of being able to work together as not only a university but a community as well. Mone then laid out a five-part plan for moving UWM forward into a “new era:”

• Increase student success, and ‘double-down’ on graduation rates and student experience. “We need to look at doubling down on attention to students graduating, student life, and student experience while they are here,” he said.
• Strengthen research capabilities and impact on southeastern Wisconsin and abroad. This involves developing UWM’s Innovation Campus in Wauwatosa and the completion of the Kenwood Interdisciplinary Research Center.
• Reinforce engagement with the UWM community and Alumni.
• Improve climate and culture. Mone said, “We are the most diverse campus in the UW System, but I would argue we are the most diverse across any institution of higher education in the state, and that’s something we can take pride in.”
• Build visibility, brand and image for the University. Mone argued that UWM contributes too much to the surrounding Wisconsin area to go unnoticed.

As for how Mone will achieve his goals, he believes increasing the resources associated with the university will be the biggest key.

“The resources will come from continued enrollment, our campaign vision 20/20, the state continuing to be a part of the requests that our supportive Regents and system administrat(ors) have put forward and through partnerships,” Mone said.

Mone is a longtime fixture on campus. He’s been a faculty member at UWM since 1998, according to the news release announcing the selection. He’s served for more than 15 years as “the Lubar School of Business Associate Dean for Executive Education and Business Engagement. His responsibilities involved external relations for the Lubar School, including partnerships with business, medical, legal, government, and not-for-profit organizations.” He also ran the Executive MBA program, “the longest running program of its kind in Wisconsin,” the release said.

Mone’s Ph.D. is in management from Washington State University. According to the release, he “earned a master of business administration degree from Idaho State University, and his bachelor’s degree in organizational management with an English minor from Central Washington University.” His salary as chancellor with be $340,000 a year, the release said. His CV can be found here. 

Mone was recommended by a 27-person search committee formed in May earlier this year.  The committee featured key figures within UWM’s reach such as students, faculty and members of the community.  Their recommendation was approved by the office of UW-System president, Cross, early this morning.

“I’m thrilled, I’m honored, and I’m so flattered that you’re all here today,” Mone said at his news conference. “This was voted upon today by the Board of Regents, so I knew about this as long ahead of time as you did.”

Student Administration president and search committee member, Ryan Sorenson, spoke favorably on the selection.

“I think he has a great vision for the university to move forward and implementing each of his plans,” said Sorenson, who added that he has met with Mone frequently to discuss issues on how UWM can “move forward. Whether it’s the Panther Arena or the new union, accreditation or general requirements for students.”​

The search was cut down to three after two candidates removed their names from consideration and then final interviews were held on Dec. 10 in front of Cross and the Board of Regents. Two other finalists, Gail Hackett, provost and executive vice chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and William M. “Mike” Sherman, senior vice president and provost, chief operating officer at the University of Akron, were also considered for the position.

See a list of past UWM chancellors here.