By Kelly Senter
Some of the big-wigs upstairs are trading places at the University of Wisconsin–Stout, including Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs Joseph Bessie.
With more than 30 years of experience in higher education, Bessie is returning to the classroom. The last 13 years or so have been spent in the administration of several universities including Valley City State University in Valley City, N.D., Ridgewater College in Willmarin, Minn., as well as our own UW–Stout.
This won’t be Bessie’s first experience as a professor. His areas of expertise include the philosophy of science, mathematical logic and management ethics. From 1990 to 2000, he was a professor of philosophy at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Okla., and he also held a variety of teaching positions at multiple institutions in the Twin Cities.
Replacing Bessie as provost and vice chancellor for academic and student affairs will be Dr. Jacalyn Weissenburger, former associate chancellor, interim provost, associate vice chancellor, director of the school of education and director of the school psychology program at UW–Stout. This expansive list speaks for itself: Dr. Weissenburger is ready for whatever her new post can throw in her direction.
So let’s all give a warm welcome to our new provost and vice chancellor for academic and student affairs, Dr. Jacalyn Weissenburger, and returning professor, Joseph Bessie.