MADISON, Wis. – Ray Cross, chancellor of University of Wisconsin Colleges and University of Wisconsin Extension, today named Paul Chase to be the interim campus executive officer and dean at the University of Wisconsin-Sheboygan. Chase is CEO/dean of UW-Barron County.

Chase will begin his temporary duties January 15, replacing Al Hardersen. Hardersen announced in December that he will step down as CEO/dean this month and will undertake other duties until his expected retirement June 30.

During Chase’s absence from Rice Lake, Tracy White, an associate professor of biology at UW-Barron County, will serve as acting CEO/dean. She has been associate campus dean since 2010.

Cross said Chase’s substantial administrative experience, “will be valuable to the UW Colleges during this time of transition at UW-Sheboygan.”

Chase has been CEO/dean of UW-Barron County since 1997. Originally from Ashland, he spent 19 years in administration at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook before returning to Wisconsin to head UW-Barron County. He has a Ph.D. in modern European history from SUNY Stony Brook, a master’s degree in modern European history from UW-Milwaukee and a bachelor’s degree in history and German from Northland College.

White came to the UW-Barron County campus in 2002. She earned her Ph.D. in biochemistry at Michigan State University and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and biology at Lawrence University in Appleton.

Hardersen has served as CEO/dean of UW-Sheboygan since July 1, 2007. During his tenure, enrollment increased 23 percent to 894 from 725. Hardersen also pursued several collaborative agreements to allow students to earn bachelor’s degrees at UW-Sheboygan.

“My thanks go to Al Hardersen for leading UW-Sheboygan since 2007 through a time of growth and record enrollment,” Cross said. “I have especially appreciated his ability to forge strong ties between the campus and the community.”

Cross said he will name a search and screen committee on the UW-Sheboygan campus soon to begin a national search for the new CEO/dean. He hopes to have new leadership in place later this year.

UW-Sheboygan and UW-Barron County are part of the University of Wisconsin Colleges, comprised of 13 campuses and UW Colleges Online that offer an Associate of Arts and Sciences degree and prepare students of all ages and backgrounds for baccalaureate and professional programs.