UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN River Falls
Welcome
Welcome to my blog. I look forward to keeping you informed on topics that are meaningful to UW-River Falls and the Falcon community. It is my hope that my contributions spark conversations and ignite ideas throughout campus.
As always, I welcome your views and feedback and can be reached directly at dean.vangalen@uwrf.edu.
Chancellor's Blog
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When the past and future come togetherFebruary 5, 2020 |
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Summit focuses on international education and engagementNovember 17, 2019 This week, November 18-22, will be a very special one for our university and community as we host the Summit on International Education and Engagement. With over 30 events, most of which are free and open to the public, it will be a unique opportunity for global and intercultural learning. Our campus will also welcome some of our international partners, as leaders from Taiwan, Germany and the Netherlands join us for the summit. A full schedule of events can be found here. |
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UW-River Falls: 8th in the nationSeptember 23, 2019 When you wake up to find an email from one of your prominent alumni referring you to an article about the university in a major national media source—well, it causes a bit of apprehension. I experienced that feeling earlier this month when I was sent a link to a Wall Street Journal article by not one but two alumni that serve on our Foundation Board. |
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Leaders thinking globallyJuly 12, 2019 It’s energizing to discuss exciting and important ideas with people who really care. I was reminded of this just prior to spring commencement when I invited a group of eight highly successful UW-River Falls alumni from around the country back to campus for a two-day Thought Leaders Retreat. |
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State investment in SciTech Innovation Center critical to futureApril 12, 2019 With the approach of another commencement, I am reminded of the transformational impact that public higher education has on individuals, on our state and on the world. While the most essential elements of a UW-River Falls education are human—outstanding faculty and staff and dedicated, hard-working students—modern facilities that support teaching and learning are also critical. Read More |
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The intersection of art, giving, and communityFebruary 19, 2019 Some experiences in life are both humbling and inspiring. Such was the case last week when UW-River Falls art Professor Michael Helke and students from our ceramics program helped about 15 community members “throw bowls” (which, if you didn’t know, refers to the act of shaping pottery from a ball of clay using a pottery wheel) in the Kleinpell Fine Arts ceramics studio. |
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More than researchDecember 14, 2018 What could an accounting major from Rochester, Minn. gain from studying the health care system of Slovenia? Just ask University of Wisconsin-River Falls student Kristy Strain, who spent the fall interviewing individuals and organizations in Slovenia on the Semester Abroad: Europe program. Read More |
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Falcons foreverOctober 29, 2018 The book had a dark blue cover, obviously old. The cover bore the embossed words, The Meletean, and the year 1920. I was at our recent Homecoming-related event for alumni in Stillwater and this edition of our institutional yearbook, I was told, was coming to me from Anne Adams Keller, Class of 1961. |
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Impacting lives, one student at a timeSeptember 6, 2018 This past summer, a hand-addressed envelope appeared my inbox. Like many of us, I receive plenty of email messages, so when you receive a personalized card it gets your attention. The return address was Tallahassee, Fla. |
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Leaving an indelible markJuly 11, 2018 On Saturday, Mary and I attended a Celebration of Life honoring Dr. Nick Karolides. Nick, a UW-River Falls professor emeritus of English, passed away June 7. I was honored to be asked by the family to say a few words as family, friends, colleagues, and former students gathered to celebrate his life. |
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Long-term thinking is goldenApril 16, 2018 |
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One small act at a timeFebruary 26, 2018 Imagine a women’s basketball team being limited to playing “half court” basketball because of perceived “physical limitations”—based on their gender. Imagine those committed to coaching girls and women’s sports being denied access to facilities readily enjoyed by boys and men’s teams. |
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A late night traditionDecember 21, 2017 UW-River Falls has some unique traditions, and one of the best is the Chancellor’s Late Night Breakfast. First hosted by Chancellor George Field in 1984, the tradition is for university administrators to serve a hot all-you-care-to-eat breakfast to students one evening during finals week. |
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The impact of healthy choicesNovember 27, 2017 In the Midwest, we like to say that we "enjoy the four seasons." Whether this is truly the case, or simply a strategy to convince ourselves to perserve through essentially five months of winter, the phrase seems to serve its purpose. |
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Unsung heroesOctober 16, 2017 Let's face it. It's easy to take people for granted. We all get busy. With this post, however, I would like to spend some time reflecting on those people who make the university work-- the unsung heroes, if you will. |
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Here begins a new lifeSeptember 6, 2017 The late summer ritual happens every year. At over 3,000 colleges and universities across the United States, college freshmen and new transfer students arrive on campus, bringing with them a mixture of hope, excitement and anxiety. |
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When core values matter mostAugust 24, 2017 In the coming days, we will welcome over 6,000 students to the UW-River Falls campus. It's a time of excitment, opportunity, and certainly some anxiety for the students. I have been thinking about the academic year ahead and the larger societal issues that dominate the news and many of our conversations these days. |
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Kargie's legacyApril 4, 2017 I was recently in Mesa, Ariz., for a UW-River Falls alumni event. It’s a winter trek to the Southwest desert that UWRF chancellors have been making for the last 23 years. |
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Moments of prideMarch 6, 2017 A few years ago I was interviewed by a student reporter and was asked the question: "What is your favorite part of being a Chancellor?" For me, interacting with students and seeing the impact our faculty and staff have on student's lives is immensely enjoyable, and probably most rewarding. |
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The power of universities and communities working togetherJanuary 4, 2017 In 1870, a group of citizens from Pierce and St. Croix counties petitioned the Wisconsin Legislature to locate the next state normal school in River Falls. Voters from the towns of River Falls, Clifton, Troy and Kinnickinnic requested the authority to vote a tax of $20,000 to make this possible. Read More |
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Global gratitudeNovember 22, 2016 Over the years, many people have told me that Thanksgiving is their favorite holiday. Perhaps it is the harvest-inspired food, the time spent with family and friends, or the absence of any expectation for exchanging of gifts. Read More |
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The enduring power of education and philanthropyOctober 11, 2016 As chancellor, I attend and speak at many events. Although a mentor of mine, a former university president, once quipped that the role of a university president is mostly to talk and eat – and there may be a grain of truth in that! Read More |
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Who shaped your journey?September 7, 2016 Let's try an experiment. Make a list of the ten people who have had the greatest impact on positively shaping your life's journey.
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Brats, music, and is a college degree still worth it?August 2, 2016 As a first-generation college student, I have seldom questioned the value of college. Education has not only transformed my life, but the lives of so many of my friends and family. |
