By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
When it comes to collaboration, innovation and economic growth within the community, newly installed University of Wisconsin-Whitewater chancellor Beverly Kopper said she anticipates following in the footsteps of her predecessor.
Kopper, who became UW-Whitewater’s 16th chancellor July 1, replaced Richard Telfer, who announced his retirement from the top position a year ago. Kopper’s previous role with UW-Whitewater was as provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs.
Kopper met with members of the Community Development Authority on July 22 and briefly discussed her vision to maintain a strong relationship.
“I wanted to stop by,” Kopper said during the CDA’s public comments portion of the agenda. “I’m really looking forward to working with all of you.”
Telfer’s term as chancellor included the development of the Innovation Center that serves as a partnership between the city, CDA and university. Described as a business incubation facility, entrepreneurial students at UW-Whitewater have launched their brainchild visions within the confines of the Innovation Center in the past half-decade.
In addition to continuing support of the Innovation Center, Kopper said her goal is to seek out additional ways to partner with the city so UW-Whitewater does not operate in a vacuum within the community.
“I think it’s a real win-win when we do this,” Kopper said of collaborative efforts. “It’s when the magic happens. I know it’s critical to continue building strong relationships.”
During her brief meeting with the CDA, Kopper announced the UW Board of Regents will hold their annual meeting this year in Whitewater on Sept. 10-11. A reception will be held at the Innovation Center — a gesture, Kopper said, that is designed to showcase the success of the facility.
“We hope (the reception) will be an opportunity to showcase the Innovation Center and everything that has taken place here,” she said.
CDA Chair Jeff Knight said he and CDA Executive Director Patrick Cannon anticipate meeting with Kopper to go into greater detail about current and future partnerships between the city and university.
While Kopper is new in her top-level administrative role at UW-Whitewater, she has taken up other economic issues in the past. Case in point: She was elected and serves on the Walworth County Economic Development Alliance.
Kopper also previously served on the UW System President’s Advisory Committee and was charged with offering advisement on tweaks to the entire system’s administrative structure.
Kopper’s other contributions to UW-Whitewater and the UW System as a whole include co-chairing a work group devoted to maintaining accountability across all campuses.
Locally, Kopper has shaped an initiative known as LEAP (Liberal Education and America’s Promise) and a program known as Inclusive Excellence that is designed to bridge racial and cultural divisions within the campus.
Prior to joining UW-Whitewater, Kopper served at the University of Northern Iowa, where she was an associate provost for academic affairs.
