MADISON, Wis.— Universities of Wisconsin (UWs) President Jay Rothman today announced two interim vice presidents.
Rothman announced that Julie Gordon will serve as interim Vice President of Finance and Administration effective September 9, 2024. She will replace Sean Nelson, who has served as Vice President since May 24, 2017, and has recently announced his retirement.
Nelson, who will present the UWs Administration biennial budget recommendation at the August Board of Regents meeting, has played a significant role in finance for many years and more recently oversaw an administrative reorganization.
Gordon, a graduate of UW-Madison, has served in the role of associate vice president of finance since December 13, 2010, and has spent over 17 years in various roles at the Universities of Wisconsin.
“I am grateful to Sean for his years of service. He leaves the Universities of Wisconsin better than he found them. We wish him well as he returns home to the Boston area to be with his aging parents,” said President Rothman. “I am pleased that Julie is willing to assume Sean’s role following his retirement. Her long service to the Universities of Wisconsin will allow her to step in without missing a beat.”
Rothman also announced that Chris Patton will join the Universities of Wisconsin as interim Vice President of University Relations effective September 1, 2024. Patton is currently Vice Chancellor of Administration and Finance at UW-Platteville and previously served as Deputy Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Administration. He replaces Jeff Buhrandt, who has served as Vice President since August 1, 2021, helping the UWs through a series of budgets. Deej Lundgren, current associate vice president of government relations, will lead the university relations office until Patton begins.
“We thank Jeff for his commitment to the Universities of Wisconsin and respect his desire to explore other opportunities,” said President Rothman. “I am confident that Chris will accomplish some great things in his new role. We look forward to the experience and expertise he will provide the UWs.”
“Chris has been a valued thought-partner and visionary colleague over this last year, and I am grateful for the time he spent at UW-Platteville helping us identify challenges, capture opportunities, and execute strategies,” said UW-Platteville Chancellor Tammy Evetovich. “I look forward to continuing to work with him to advance the mission of the Universities of Wisconsin.”
Patton, a graduate of UW-River Falls, has also served as administration operations director at Epic Systems in Verona and as policy director for Gov. Jim Doyle.
The Universities of Wisconsin serve more than 162,500 students. Awarding nearly 37,000 degrees annually, these 13 public universities are Wisconsin’s talent pipeline, putting graduates in position to increase their earning power, contribute to their communities, and make Wisconsin a better place to live. Nearly 90 percent of in-state Universities of Wisconsin graduates stay in the state five years after earning a degree. The universities provide a 23:1 return on state investment. The Universities of Wisconsin also contribute to the richness of Wisconsin’s culture and economy with groundbreaking research, new companies and patents, and boundless creative intellectual energy. Learn more at wisconsin.edu.