By Eric Pringle

Published November 20, 2008

The five finalists for the UW-River Falls chancellor position were named Nov. 18 at the Town Hall meeting. The search and screen committee comprised of 19 members, including students, community members, staff and faculty, chose the five finalists from 11 candidates whom they have been reviewing since June.

  The committee made their recommendations to the Board of Regents of the UW System and will continue to follow-up on the candidates prior to the final chancellor being selected in December.

  “Now we give the campus a chance to have their say,” James Madsen, chair of the search and screen committee, said. “We need to make an impression on these candidates so they want to be here.”

  Finalist William G. Colclough currently holds the position of dean of the college of business administration at UW-LaCrosse.

  Candidate Geri H. Malandra holds the position of vice chancellor for strategic management in the University of Texas System. She has also held the position of associate vice provost at the University of Minnesota.

  Finalist Raymond W. Cross currently holds the position of president at Morrisville State College in New York.  Before going to New York he held the position of department head of engineering technologies at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Mich.

  Dean Van Galen currently holds the position of vice president for university advancement at the University of West Florida.  Galen also teaches environmental studies at the college and was awarded the outstanding teacher award at Truman State University in Missouri.

  Finalist Ellen J. Neufeldt holds the position of vice president for student affairs at Salisbury University in Maryland.  Previously she held the positions of assistant vice chancellor for student development at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

  The five candidates will participate in public forums from Nov. 19 through Dec. 6. The Board of Regents is expected to announce their decision for chancellor by Dec. 23.

Jens Gunelson
Professor and Chancellor Search Chair Jim Madsen, surrounded by others from the 19-memeber search and screen committee, announces the five Chancellor position finalist names at the Town Meeting Tuesday in the UC. The five candidates will participate in a variety of public forums from Nov. 19 through Dec. 6.. For a complete list of schedules for the campus and community visits and a vita for each candidate, visit http://www.uwrf.edu/chancellorsearch/welcome.htm.