Former Chancellor talks the future of UWRF

Maria Gallo, the 20th Chancellor of UW-River Falls, retired on Sept. 6, 2024, after more than three years in office. Gallo announced her retirement in August, calling it a “difficult decision.”

During her tenure, which began in July 2021 amidst the COVID pandemic, Gallo garnered praise from UW System leadership including UW System President Jay Rothman. “Chancellor Gallo has kept UW-River Falls focused on future growth and sustainability even while navigating challenging financial times,” he said.

Martin V. Michael has assumed the position of Interim Chancellor of UWRF and a search for a permanent replacement is underway.

Former Chancellor Maria Gallo was born in Westchester County, New York. A first-generation college student, she studied agronomy at Cornell University and crop science and genetics at North Carolina State University.

“I was always taught the value of getting an education as a way to make a better living,” she said. “My dad worked in construction, and he said, “I have a job, but you need to have a career where you get up every day and you love what you do.”

Since then, Gallo has worked as an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota, a professor and department chair at the University of Florida, a director and dean at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and president of Delaware Valley University.

Significant achievements during Gallo’s time at UWRF include the ongoing Science and Technology Innovation Center, or SciTech project, the Wuethrich Family/Grassland Dairy Center of Excellence, and the changes that were made to the Wisconsin/Minnesota tuition funding process in favor of UWRF. She also implemented the “Strategic, academic and enrollment management plans.”

She also led the university’s rebranding in 2022, the production of a College Tour episode found on Amazon, the establishment of e-sports, and much more.

When interviewed, Gallo said that she believes her most significant accomplishment to be “trying to set the vision for the future post-COVID,” and her other accomplishments were “a means to an end.” Gallo described the SciTech project as the “most significant,” and called it the “future of UWRF.”

She also highlihted its role in connecting students with local businesses. “Students can have more internships and training, and we can also benefit from those industries contributing to scholarships and other initiatives,” Gallo said.

She said that the lack of state support for public universities, including UW-River Falls, remains a critical challenge. Since a tuition freeze ended in 2021, the UW System has raised tuition twice, citing insufficient state funding to cover educational costs. The most recent increase was in April 2024 for the 2024-2025 school year.

“I don’t want the burden of getting an education in a public setting to fall upon the students,” she said, adding “The state did not come through with giving the kind of money that [is] needed to keep up with inflation and the cost of delivering [an education].” She also emphasized the need to pay employees a fair wage.

“We have to look for other ways to gain support,” she continued, adding “Partnering [with] and collaborating with the community and with business partners, that’s where it’s going to be if we want to continue to thrive in the future.”

Despite this concern, Gallo said she is optimistic about the future of the university. “We’ve had an amazing 150 years, and the next 150 are going to be even better. I think we have a strong foundation. A school like ours serves as a ladder for people, increasing [their] social mobility. So, we’re always serving the community and the needs that the region has, and that’s only going to get stronger with time.”

However, she acknowledged concerns about student retention. At UWRF, student retention from their first year to their second year is in the “lower 70s,” she said. According to UWRF’s 2023 financial review, “[UWRF] retention rates have consistently trailed averages for UW peers (excluding Madison), with a system-wide average of 76.6% for the Fall 2022 cohort.”

“Three out of every ten students that come don’t come back,” Gallo said. “Why don’t they come back?”

Gallo said that UWRF should aim to be around 80% in first year retention. “That’s the fastest way and the best way to be more stable.”She mentioned that athletic programs, as well as the marching band, increase student retention.

Student involvement is also beneficial for retention.

“Involvement in any kind of on-campus activity or club or initiative, that’s really the full experience of being a [student] at a residential college,” she stated.

Under Gallo’s leadership, the strategic plan “Soaring to New Heights” was developed to address student success and institutional thriving. Though set to conclude in 2025, Gallo has requested an extension to 2027 to ensure its objectives are met.

She described the strategic plan as involving “general categories” of promoting student success, a “thriving institution,” and student belonging and wellness. “And I don’t think [those general categories] will change all that much even in 2027.” According to her, “The tactical pieces might be different, but I think the overall vision will probably be the same.”

She expressed confidence in Interim Chancellor Michael Martin, whom she knows from their previous collaborations, to advance the university’s initiatives. “I think Mike will help get funding to move some of these initiatives forward,” Gallo said. “We need those infusions of one-time money, as well as continuous money. But one-time money to get projects off the ground, [and] pilot different initiatives to see how well they work.”

Gallo and Martin have worked together previously, first at the University of Minnesota, and again at the University of Florida. She said she is confident in his abilities to serve the university and its students. “He understands how to approach difficult situations.”

Following her retirement, Gallo has relocated to Florida with her partner and two cats. She plans to spend time with family, write, and volunteer, expressing a fondness for UW-River Falls and its community. “It’s bittersweet,” she said.

She said she wants to visit the Wisconsin-Minnesota area in the future, if able.

“I love UWRF,” she said. “I really enjoyed being here.”