Advertising

The Seattle Times Company

NWjobs | NWautos | NWhomes | NWsource | Free Classifieds | seattletimes.com

The Seattle Times

Local News


Our network sites seattletimes.com | Advanced

Originally published April 23, 2008 at 12:00 AM | Page modified April 23, 2008 at 10:46 PM

E-mail article     Print view

WWU names choice for president

Bruce Shepard, the chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, is poised to become the new president of Western Washington University.

Seattle Times higher education reporter

BELLINGHAM — Bruce Shepard, the chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, is poised to become Western Washington University's 13th president.

Western trustees this morning announced Shepard as their preferred candidate, from an initial pool of 53 applicants. Shepard will meet with faculty and students here on campus Thursday ahead of a special meeting Friday, when trustees are expected to formalize the hire.

Western President Karen Morse announced last fall she is stepping down effective Sept. 1. Morse, serving her 15th year as president, has the longest tenure of any sitting president at a state university.

Shepard, 61, said today he is excited to return to the Pacific Northwest. He came to the 6,100-student Green Bay campus from Eastern Oregon University, where he was provost and a professor of political science. Before that, he spent 23 years at Oregon State University in the political science department. He said he's been impressed with Western during recent "incognito" visits.

"What caught my attention is that it's a university which is very good and wants to get better," Shepard said.

Shepard listed Western's focus on the environment and commitment to the "student experience" as factors in his decision. He said he and his wife Cyndie were impressed with the friendly feel of Bellingham and the beauty of the area during their visits. And, he said, it helps that Gov. Christine Gregoire has been a supporter of higher education.

It also happens that Shepard is an avid sailor, who, 15 years ago, chartered a sailboat from Bellingham. Shepard said that sailing wasn't a major factor in his decision, although "I have noticed, of course, that Western Washington is on Puget Sound."

Western Board of Trustees president Kevin Raymond said it was clear that Shepard was a standout candidate from the beginning. Somebody involved in the search had described him as a "giant among giants," Raymond added, with which he agreed.

"He's passionately committed to higher education and student diversity, community and the environment," Raymond said. "He's got a compelling presence. And his wife, Cyndie, is a community leader in her own right."

Cyndie Shepard is a special-education administrator and director of UW-Green Bay's Phuture Phoenix Program.

Before choosing Shepard, trustees earlier this month interviewed five finalists at a SeaTac hotel.

Western, with about 12,200 students, is the state's third-largest university. About one-third of the students live on campus in 15 residence halls. The campus is 215 acres and includes the 38-acre Sehome Arboretum.

advertising

Shepard, a California native, received his bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in political science from the University of California, Riverside. His scholarship and teaching focuses on American government, public policy and policy analysis, research methods, and environmental and natural resource politics and policy. He has published widely and is active in numerous professional and community organizations locally and nationally.

He and Cyndie have a son, Paul.

Shepard's salary will be announced Friday if trustees decide to hire him. Morse makes $242,880 annually.

Nick Perry: 206-515-5639 or nperry@seattletimes.com

Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company

Food-safety lawyer's wish: Put me out of business

Illegal workers quietly let go

Metro won't cut bus service after all

Jerry Large: Food-bank theft turns into a gift

Bumper to Bumper: How can the city let bridges go dark?

Advertising

Video

Real Salt Lake wins MLS Cup
Real Salt Lake defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy with penalty kicks after 120 minutes of play at Qwest Field in Seattle.

Raw Video | Real Salt Lake receives the MLS Cup trophy
Raw Video | Real Salt Lake fans celebrate
Real Salt Lake fans enter Qwest Field
Raw Video | MLS Cup Opening Ceremony
LA Galaxy's David Beckham
Real Salt Lake's Kyle Beckerman
MLS trophy arrives in Seattle
Chittenden Locks Inspection
Full interview with New Moon actors

Marketplace

Open Houses

Find this weekend's open house listings.
Or search by location:

nwautos

Less is more: Group rides, good gas mileage have led to a scooter swarm in Seattlenew
Local riders say they've seen a surge in scooter interest in recent years, mostly from people wanting another commuting option. Seattle now ranks as o...
Post a comment

 
Most read
Most commented
Most e-mailed
 
 
Advertising