Chancellor names business dean to advancement post

Chancellor Biddy Martin has announced a title change for Michael Knetter, dean of the Wisconsin School of Business, from special liaison for long-term strategy and development to a working title of vice chancellor for advancement.

The change is effective immediately. Knetter will stay on as the school’s dean. His new role in the chancellor’s office will be unpaid.

“This appointment is a continuation of Mike’s temporary appointment of December 2008 and reflects greater permanency to the valuable role he has played in my administration to date,” says Martin. “He will continue to work with the leadership team on developing and implementing long-term strategies to address non-state sources of revenue and other matters significant to the financial future of UW–Madison.”

Martin says Knetter will continue to work closely with leaders across campus and the university’s major partners: the UW Foundation, Wisconsin Alumni Association, the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, the University Research Park and the Office of Corporate Relations, among other entities.

Among other things, Martin says, Knetter will continue to work with her in partnership and in collaboration with the UW Foundation on UW–Madison’s current top development priority, “The Great People Scholarship Campaign,” an effort targeted toward raising funds for need-based financial aid. That campaign, which complements the Madison Initiative for Undergraduates, aims to provide increased access and affordability to undergraduate students and improve the quality of the undergraduate experience at UW–Madison.

Martin adds that Knetter also will continue his leadership role with the alignment of alumni and donor relations activities.

In 2007, Knetter orchestrated a gift that brought in $85 million from 13 donors to preserve the Wisconsin School of Business’s name for 20 years.

“Mike has established himself as a highly respected leader on the UW–Madison campus and beyond,” Martin adds. “I’m pleased that he has agreed to continue working with me in this important capacity.”

Prior to joining UW–Madison in 2002, Knetter was associate dean of the MBA program and professor of international economics in the Amos Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He is a former senior staff economist for the President’s Council of Economic Advisers for presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, and is a current research associate for the National Bureau of Economic Research.

Knetter completed his undergraduate studies in economics and mathematics at UW-Eau Claire and his Ph.D. in economics at Stanford University.