MADISON – The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents today approved a request from UW-Madison Chancellor John Wiley to adjust the base salary of Kenneth Davis Jr., dean of the UW Law School, and pay his salary with private funds.
For the first time, the entire dean’s salary will be paid by an endowment provided by the estate of Frederick W. Miller, former president and publisher of The Capital Times. A gift of more than $7 million created the Frederick W. and Vi Miller Dean of the Law School.
“We are most grateful for this support,” said UW-Madison Provost Patrick Farrell. “This will help us retain one of the most talented and respected law school deans in the nation, and it will help keep our law school vital and respected.”
According to Farrell, Davis’ current salary is the second-lowest among law school deans at UW-Madison’s peer institutions and is $30,000 below the median. The $22,352 base salary adjustment approved by the regents will bring Davis’ salary to $270,000, effective July 1.
“This will keep our law school competitive,” Farrell said, “and it will also allow us to increase the salary to an appropriate level for Dean Davis, as well as for future law school deans.”