Bousquet to return to faculty; Podestá continues in interim role

Gilles Bousquet, dean of international studies and vice provost for globalization at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, will rejoin the university’s faculty in July after taking leave to serve as UW-Eau Claire’s interim chancellor during the 2012-13 academic year.

“For many years, Gilles has led UW–Madison’s internationalization efforts, particularly in the areas of collaboration and curricular innovation,” says David Ward, interim chancellor of UW–Madison. “We look forward to welcoming him back to campus.”

Guido Podestá, who is serving as UW–Madison’s interim dean and vice provost in Bousquet’s absence, has agreed to continue in the position until the search for a permanent dean has taken place.

Bousquet plans to spend the 2013-14 academic year on sabbatical before returning to the Department of French and Italian the following year. He will also serve as a special advisor to UW System President Kevin Reilly on internationalization initiatives.

“I am greatly appreciative of Gilles’ support of the UW System, having accepted the appointment as UW-Eau Claire’s interim chancellor,” says Reilly. “I look forward to Gilles helping the rest of the system campuses identify and collaborate on international initiatives.”

Though his work with the UW System will begin this summer, Bousquet represented Reilly and the system as a member of Gov. Scott Walker’s trade mission to China earlier this month.  Bousquet has played a major role in building connections between UW–Madison and China, having established UW–Madison’s Innovation Center in Shanghai.

“The past year has given me a wonderful opportunity to see the state of Wisconsin from a different perspective,” says Bousquet. “I am excited to unite this new experience with a strategic system-wide effort to increase international engagement.”

Bousquet will focus his efforts on key priorities including coordinating international recruiting efforts and pursuing international economic development initiatives that mutually benefit both UW institutions and Wisconsin’s economy. 

Bousquet became UW–Madison’s dean of international studies in January of 2002. In 2010, he added the title of vice provost for globalization as UW–Madison pursued more strategic engagement in broadening the university’s worldwide reach. He also served as director of the International Institute, special assistant to the chancellor for international engagement, and the Pickard-Bascom Professor of French.  A former chair of the Department of French and Italian, he directed UW–Madison’s European Studies Program from 1996-2000.