Interim Chancellor John Chenoweth has announced the appointment of Jim Disrude as chief of staff and legislative liaison for the Chancellor’s Office at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, effective Aug. 22.

“I’m pleased to welcome Jim Disrude back to UW-Whitewater. He is a trusted and respected member of our community with 13 years of experience as a higher education instructor, advisor and administrator,” Chenoweth said. “The chief of staff role is a critical position in the Chancellor’s Office that builds partnerships and collaborations on campus, in the community, with our legislators and with other stakeholders. Jim’s passion for UW-Whitewater and diverse skill set will serve us well as we move the university forward.”

Most recently, Disrude served as the director of student success for McHenry County College in Crystal Lake, Illinois, where he oversaw the campus advising center, new student orientation, student success coaches, and an adult education program. 

Disrude served in previous roles at UW-Whitewater, including coordinator of academic advising for the College of Arts and Communication, director of advising and lecturer in the Department of Communication, and director of the nationally competitive Forensics program. Before his career in higher education, Disrude worked in sports broadcasting for ten years as a TV anchor and live sports producer.

“It is an honor to accept the position as chief of staff and I can’t wait to get started,” Disrude said. “As an alumnus, I have deep roots here at UW-Whitewater and I’m immensely proud of the efforts by our faculty and staff to help students succeed. I look forward to working with Dr. Chenoweth, members of the Chancellor’s Cabinet, and colleagues on both the Whitewater and Rock County campuses to carry out our mission.”

Disrude earned his doctorate in educational leadership and innovation from Arizona State University. His research interests include change leadership, education innovation, high-impact practices, and student retention. In 2021, his dissertation won the national research award from NACADA, a global organization for academic advising. Jim also earned a master’s degree in communication and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from UW-Whitewater.

Editor’s note: The above announcement was made by UW-Whitewater on July 27. The image on the homepage is from ResearchGate.