Wake is Out as Provost

From a University press release:

Dr. Wake to resign as provost, return to faculty

Marquette President Robert A. Wild, S.J., today announced the resignation of Dr. Madeline Wake as provost, effective Dec. 31, 2007. She has held the position since 2002.

“Madeline has devoted herself to Marquette for 30 years, serving in a number of administrative and faculty positions,” Father Wild said. “As provost, she has directed our efforts to diversify our student body and our faculty, to expand our global outreach and to ensure accountability through assessment of our academic programs. I honor her desire to return to faculty and am pleased to appoint her as a university professor so we can continue to take advantage of her expertise and commitment to Marquette.”

Father Wild noted that during Wake’s tenure the university elevated its national profile, set application and admissions records, developed a new shared governance model, increased external grant funding and created a number of new academic programs, including the nursing Ph.D. program, the neuro-science track in the biological sciences doctoral program, the doctoral program in physical therapy, a new major in Catholic theology, and the master’s programs in Christian doctrine, leadership and dispute resolution.

“The mission of Marquette is close to my heart,” said Wake, who earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Marquette and her Ph.D. at UW-Milwaukee. She said she was originally reluctant to accept the provost position “because it meant I had to leave my profession of nursing. However, I saw that my accepting the position was important as we restructured university administration. The provost model would give more attention to academic priorities.”

Wake served as dean of the College of Nursing for nine years before being appointed provost. She joined the nursing faculty in 1977 and directed the nursing continuing education program for 14 years. She is currently board chairperson of the Aurora Visiting Nurse Association and a member of the board of directors for St. Francis Seminary, the Blood Center of Wisconsin and the Center for International Health. The recipient of many awards, Wake has researched nursing care delivery systems and spoken both nationally and internationally on nursing and nursing education. Working with the International Council of Nurses in Geneva, Switzerland, Wake was instrumental in helping to establish the international classification of nursing practice.

Wake said she viewed her efforts to improve academic quality and faculty life as her greatest accomplishments as provost. She established special programs for participating faculty and enacted a special salary increase of $3 million, which brought faculty salaries to the 60th percentile of the AAUP benchmarks. “Our faculty is the backbone of the university, both intellectually and in terms of our day-to-day contact with students,” she said. “It has been my honor to work with literally hundreds of faculty members and staff who are truly devoted to the Marquette mission.”

Wake, who is 65, said she intends to make additional contributions to Marquette and society through her efforts in nursing and health. She is also looking forward to spending more time with family, especially her grandchildren.

Father Wild said the university will conduct a national search for Wake’s successor.

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