After 12 years as chancellor of UW-Eau Claire, James Schmidt announced he will be parting from the university on March 26. Schmidt has accepted the position of president of James Madison University in Virginia effective July 1, which brings his tenure here to a close on June 30.
Jay Rothman, Universities of Wisconsin president, has appointed alum and current interim provost Mike Carney to serve as the interim chancellor following Schmidt’s leave.
At a press conference on March 28, Schmidt recalled when he first made the move to Eau Claire, bringing with a van full of boxes of books and papers, and being greeted and helped by fellow faculty members.
“As I walked up past the quad area in the relatively new Davies Center, it was quiet,” Schmidt said. “It all settled in on me and I shouldered the weight of responsibility of taking on stewardship for a campus.”
Schmidt spoke on a number of projects he aided working on including opening The Pablo Center at the Confluence, the new health sciences building and The Sonnentag Center, and thanked collaborators like Mayo Clinic and the Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce.
Schmidt, in his speech, praised Carney for his involvement in leading the development of the new health sciences building, and is confident in Rothman’s decision to make him interim chancellor.
“Mike, a Blugold himself, has always been a strong advocate for this university and its students,” Schmidt said. “He takes the reins at an incredibly important time for our campus and for higher education as a whole.”
Carney, when taking the podium, started by sharing the story of his life as a student at UW-Eau Claire in 1979 and finding his “ah-ha moment” in undergraduate research, his move to Maryland with his family and his move back to Eau Claire with his family to take a job in 1999 as a professor of chemistry and biochemistry.
“I never imagined returning to UW-Eau Claire as a faculty member and I certainly never imagined serving my alma mater in this capacity,” Carney said.
Carney, in his role as interim chancellor, will focus his work on implementing the newest 2025-2030 strategic plan, which he helped to develop, and revolves around a vision of national distinction.
Carney said that the ability for the university to thrive comes from a collaborative effort.
“UW-Eau Claire is a very special place, one known for remarkable commitment of our faculty, staff and administrators to providing a distinctive, life changing, academic experience for our students,” Carney said.
David Minor, Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce president and CEO, was the final speaker at the press conference. Minor, who worked closely with Schmidt during his time as chancellor, said there are few with an impact like the one Schmidt will have.
“I’ve been fortunate enough in my life to have worked with five chancellors in my 35 years working in the chamber industry in two communities,” Minor said. “Not taking anything away from anybody else, this man is heads and tails above the rest. It will be probably three or four years before this campus and this university truly understands the impact he’s had on us.”
Schmidt, in his closing remarks, said there is still more to do at UW-Eau Claire, and that he is thankful for the time he has had with Blugolds and what he will be leaving behind.
“It has been an absolute honor and privilege to serve as chancellor at this phenomenal university powered by Blugolds who strive for excellence every day,” Schmidt said. “We have made the world a better place and our work is not yet done, and the positions for the university to thrive and answer that call are as strong as it’s ever been.”
Braun can be reached at braunee6220@uwec.edu.
