Greetings from UW System President Ray Cross

Dear UW System colleagues,     

Today is my first day on the job as president of the University of Wisconsin System. As I told the Regents earlier this month at their February board meeting, I am overwhelmed by everyone’s kind reception. I am truly pleased and humbled to have been selected for this position, and I do not take the responsibility or trust placed in me lightly (although I hope you find that I do take myself lightly).

I sincerely thank the Board of Regents for their confidence in me, Interim President Dick Telfer for keeping everything running smoothly during the transition, and Aaron Brower for stepping in as interim chancellor for UW Colleges and UW-Extension in my place. I hope he loves the job as much as I did. I know firsthand from my three years there that he has wonderful, remarkable colleagues to work with all across the state.     

I am especially excited that, as president, my circle of colleagues and friends will grow even wider. I hope to get to know many of you, the faculty, staff, and students who are the heart and soul of this wonderful system of higher education.  

In the coming months, as you may have heard me say, I plan to spend a lot of time listening and getting to know people better – both inside and outside the university. I know there will be a lot of pulls on my time, but I want to get outside the four walls of my office and visit the campuses and local communities as much, and as often, as possible. I want to look at both sides of the Wisconsin Idea – bringing the university to the people of the state, and bringing the problems of the people to the university, so that we can better meet those needs.     

I look forward to the upcoming challenges and opportunities, and I thank all of you for helping make this public university system truly great.     

Sincerely,     

Ray Cross