Mash accepts UW System post:
Comments in the media
Leaders in education, state and student government, and the business community comment on Chancellor Donald Mash's departure from UW-Eau Claire, his accomplishments here and his new position as executive senior vice president of the UW System:
"The time is right for this change, and Don Mash is the best individual to manage the tasks at hand. I have observed Chancellor Mash's administrative performance for several years, and I am convinced that his senior leadership is precisely what the UW System needs." — UW System President Kevin Reilly (UW System news release, Feb. 4, 2005)
“Don Mash clearly has the skills and experience to manage the UW System’s daily operations, advise and assist our 15 UW institutions, and direct critical strategic planning. I have full confidence that, working together, our university leaders will maintain momentum and help improve our service to the state.” — Toby E. Marcovich, UW System Board of Regents president (UW System news release, Feb. 4, 2005)
"Mash has been one of the university system's most eloquent, outspoken leaders in recent years, and some had speculated last year he might end up as the system president after Katharine Lyall announced she would retire. Mash, who has been chancellor at Eau claire since 1998, did not apply." — Aaron Nathans of The Capital Times (news article, Feb. 4, 2005)
“He is such a vibrant leader that it doesn’t surprise me that the UW System wants to use his talents systemwide.” — Sue Tietz, chief executive officer of McDonough Manufacturing, Eau Claire; UW-Eau Claire alumna; former UW-Eau Claire Foundation board member; member of Business Advisory Council for the UW-Eau Claire College of Business (Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, Feb. 4, 2005)
"He is just a solid guy. He will bring skills (to Madison) that they need. He has good relations with the Legislature, he is well spoken, reaches out to the business community and is willing to try new things." — State Rep. Rob Kreibich, R-Eau Claire, chairman of the state Assembly's Committee on Colleges and Universities (Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, Feb. 5, 2005)
"He really leaves a legacy of being involved with students. He made himself known to the average student very well.” — Meredith Marx, UW-Eau Claire student body vice president (Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, Feb. 5, 2005)
"I think he accomplished a tremendous amount. He was extremely knowledgeable — he knows what he's doing — and he's very hardworking.… He's been a tremendous enhancement in securing the future of UW-Eau Claire, and he really has enhanced the reputation of UW-Eau Claire." — David Anderson, Eau Claire attorney, chairman of the UW-Eau Claire Foundation board of directors (Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, Feb. 5, 2005)
"He's a real star of the system." (Commenting on how Mash's strong vision and administrative abilities make him a good fit for his new UW System position.) — Eileen Connolly-Keesler, member, UW System Board of Regents; executive director, Oshkosh Area Community Foundation (Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, Feb. 5, 2005)
"No matter how contentious the issue, Mash never talked down to anyone or gave the impression he was anything other than what he considers himself. And what he considers himself is a regular guy working for a cause he cares about deeply: public higher education. … Mash focused on solving problems and being a positive influence, not griping about what he didn’t have. That refreshing style no doubt is part of the reason UW System President Kevin Reilly tabbed Mash for his new job. Our loss is the UW System’s gain." — Don Huebscher, editor, Eau Claire Leader-Telegram (Feb. 5, 2005, editorial)
