Bazzell named vice chancellor for administration

Darrell Bazzell, a veteran Wisconsin state government administrator and current secretary of the Department of Natural Resources, has been selected to be UW–Madison’s new vice chancellor for administration.

Chancellor John Wiley said today (Dec. 23), “Darrell’s leadership of one of the state’s largest and most visible agencies is a testament to his abilities as an administrator and public servant. His leadership skills, along with his knowledge of state government and budget analysis, make him the right choice for this important position.”

Often thought of as the university’s chief budget officer, the vice chancellor for administration is responsible for the overall supervision of the university’s administrative functions, including budget, facilities planning, general business services and auxiliary operations. The vice chancellor also serves as a senior advisor to the chancellor and provost on administrative policies and practices.

Bazzell, 44, replaces Vice Chancellor John Torphy, who will retire next summer after 13 years at UW–Madison and nearly three decades in state government. Bazzell’s appointment will take effect on January 6, 2003, after which time Torphy will remain on campus as an advisor to Bazzell until his retirement date. Bazzell’s salary will be $165,000.

A 16-member search and screen committee, chaired by law professor Walter Dickey and consisting of faculty, academic and classified staff, and representatives from UW System and the Wisconsin Department of Administration, recommended Bazzell to Wiley after a four-month nationwide search.

“After an exhaustive search and intense review of many qualified candidates, Darrell Bazzell was unanimously recommended to the chancellor by the search and screen committee,” Dickey says. “He has demonstrated an ability to meet the challenges that await him here, and I have every confidence that he will be a valuable leader on this campus.”

“I am very honored to have the opportunity to return to my alma mater as vice chancellor for administration,” says Bazzell, who earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from UW–Madison in 1984.

“I am looking forward to working with the chancellor, the faculty, staff and students to maintain and advance the university’s position of preeminence in higher education and research.”

Governor Scott McCallum named Bazzell, who has been with the Department of Natural Resources since 1993, as DNR secretary in February 2001. Prior to that, Bazzell served as deputy secretary of the department for five years and administrator of its Office of Planning and Analysis for close to three years.

During his 18 years of service to the State of Wisconsin, Bazzell also served as deputy administrator for the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection’s Agricultural Resource Management Division and director of that agency’s Plant Industry Bureau. He was also a policy and budget analyst for the departments of Administration and Health and Social Services.

Bazzell has been active in numerous community service and professional organizations. He is the former president of the Wisconsin Association of Black Public Sector Employees, and remains active in leading the group. Among the activities he enjoys in his spare time is being a Big Brother.