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Carney named assistant chancellor for strategic partnerships and program development

| Gary Johnson

Photo caption: Dr. Michael Carney will become the assistant chancellor for strategic partnerships and program development on Oct. 1. Carney is the current UW-Eau Claire associate vice chancellor for academic affairs. (Photo by Bill Hoepner)

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is expanding and strengthening its collaborative partnerships with Mayo Clinic and other organizations with the creation of a new assistant chancellor position at the university.

Dr. Michael Carney will become the assistant chancellor for strategic partnerships and program development on Oct. 1. Carney is the current UW-Eau Claire associate vice chancellor for academic affairs and will continue to assist academic affairs until a replacement is named.

“Dr. Carney has played an integral role in helping to develop our powerful and unique collaboration with Mayo Clinic, and I am confident he will lead the expansion of our efforts in this newly created role for the university,” says Chancellor James Schmidt. “Dr. Carney will be a strong bridge working with physicians, clinical researchers and corporate leaders, as well as UW-Eau Claire faculty and instructors in all disciplines across our Eau Claire, Rice Lake and Marshfield campuses as we work to provide even more world-class opportunities for Blugolds.”

Carney, who will be a member of the chancellor’s executive team, says he is honored and excited to serve in the new position. He noted UW-Eau Claire has “incredible partners in the region” such as Mayo Clinic, Marshfield Clinic and Hewlett Packard Enterprise, that have helped transform educational opportunities at the university.

“Their commitment of expertise and resources to UW-Eau Claire has provided one-of-a-kind learning and research experiences for our students, as well as outstanding collaboration opportunities for our faculty and staff,” Carney says. “I look forward to extending the reach of these partnerships throughout all of our campuses and to helping develop new programming that builds upon the expertise of our partners. I’m also excited to help establish new partnerships and collaborations that will hopefully replicate the success and impact of those already underway.”

The assistant chancellor will help to identify and develop strategic program opportunities for Blugolds based on student demand and partnership resources.

Provost Patricia Kleine says Carney has been instrumental in developing the Blugold Biomedical Innovator Program that provides first-year students with opportunities to collaborate on research with Mayo Clinic Health System personnel and faculty members.

Carney’s experience and connections in industry before he joined the university have helped UW-Eau Claire graduates find their own successful careers, Kleine says.

“Having Dr. Carney in this position will be reassuring to departments and colleges as he works to develop university partners,” Kleine says. “He knows the curriculum, the faculty and staff, and the caliber of our students. He will not lose sight of potential challenges and rewards in forging a partnership with a department, college or university. He always has the best interests of the university and our students in mind.”