Madison Reporter

Kent Weigel has been appointed as the vice provost for faculty and staff affairs at UW–Madison. This role involves providing administrative leadership through collaboration and strategic action to support faculty and staff with various policies, programs, and services.

Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Charles Isbell commented on Weigel's appointment: “Kent impressed me with his strategic vision, analytic approach to problem solving, and his inclination for taking on big challenges to improve the experience for faculty and staff on our campus in the context of our very diverse culture.”

Weigel holds the Judge John J. Crown Chair of Dairy Genetics and has chaired the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences since 2010. He joined UW–Madison in 1995 as a research scientist in the Department of Dairy Science. During his tenure, he played a key role in merging two departments within CALS during the pandemic. He also contributed significantly to faculty hiring and mentoring initiatives. Additionally, Weigel was involved in establishing the UW System Dairy Innovation Hub and is currently engaged with the Center for Biomedical Swine Research and Innovation.

Expressing enthusiasm about his new position, Weigel stated: “I am very excited about the opportunities associated with this new role, especially the chance to work alongside our amazing faculty and staff to advance the university’s research, teaching and outreach missions and position ourselves for the future.”

The vice provost for faculty and staff affairs manages several initiatives independently on behalf of the provost, develops programs collaboratively, chairs or serves on committees, supervises academic staff colleagues, and represents UW–Madison in matters involving the Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) and Universities of Wisconsin.

Beth Meyerand currently holds this position but will transition to her new role as associate dean in the Graduate School by late June. Provost Isbell praised Meyerand's contributions: “Beth has been instrumental in a number of important campus initiatives including conducting a review and working on several enhancements to our efforts to address Hostile and Intimidating Behavior. She also has worked with team members to shepherd the Faculty Strategic Hiring Initiative.”

Weigel will assume his new responsibilities starting December 30.