MADISON, Wis.—UW-Parkside Chancellor Debbie Ford announced today that she will be leaving the university to assume the leadership of Indiana University Southeast in New Albany, Ind. UW System President Jay Rothman issued this statement today:
“Debbie has been an extraordinary leader at UW-Parkside, and it is bittersweet to see our friend and a fantastic leader leave the UW System. She is articulate, thoughtful and passionate. Her personal touch connected her with the community and students like few others, as she served as UW-Parkside’s chancellor for over 13 years. As the first person in her family to go to college, she had a natural affinity for the close to 60 percent of UW-Parkside graduates who are first-generation students.
“In her new role at Indiana University Southeast, Debbie will be closer to her daughter and hometown of Louisville. We wish her the best in the next chapter of her career. She will be missed.”
The University of Wisconsin System serves approximately 161,000 students. Awarding nearly 37,000 degrees annually, the UW System is 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 UW System graduates stay in Wisconsin five years after earning a degree – with a median salary of more than $66,000. The UW System provides a 23:1 return on state investment. UW System universities also contribute to the richness of Wisconsin’s culture and economy with groundbreaking research, new companies and patents, and boundless creative intellectual energy.