Editor’s note: The following was posted on the UW-Whitewater announcements page on February 1, 2023.

Robin K. Fox, interim provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, will retire from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater at the end of the spring term.

“It has been my honor to serve UW-Whitewater for more than 30 years,” Fox said. “I came here to teach at the Children’s Center and to work on my master’s degree. Very quickly, I found UW-Whitewater to be a good fit for me – the sense of community, the focus on meeting the needs of all students, the amazing arts and athletics events, were all reasons for staying. However, the most influential reasons to stay were the people I had the privilege to work with at the university and in the community. UW-Whitewater will forever hold a special place in my heart.”

A professor of curriculum and instruction, Fox came to UW-Whitewater in 1990 as a lead teacher in the Children’s Center, later elevating to the role of director from 1992-1999. After serving as the department chairperson of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and then associate dean of the College of Education and Professional Studies, Fox served as the dean of the same college from 2018-2022. Her areas of research include teacher preparation, how teachers can meet the needs of children who were adopted or are gender fluid, and working with schools on how to be inclusive of members of the LGBTQ community. 

Fox holds early childhood education degrees from the UW-Stevens Point (bachelor’s) and UW-Whitewater (master’s), and a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from UW-Madison. 

“I’d like to thank Robin for her decades of service to UW-Whitewater,” said interim chancellor John Chenoweth. “Throughout that time, she has regularly answered the call to provide formal and informal leadership across the institution. Her willingness to serve as interim provost is just the most recent example. In all cases she provides thoughtful leadership and a caring attitude to help us all move forward. UW-Whitewater is a better place because Robin chose to spend her professional life with us.”

The following leadership transitions will take place on Wednesday, March 1:

• Corey King will assume the role of UW-Whitewater chancellor.
• John Chenoweth will return to his role as provost and vice chancellor of academic affairs, a position he has held since April 2021.
• Fox will move from interim provost into a temporary role of associate provost until her retirement effective May 19. 

Lana Collet-Klingenberg will remain interim dean of the College of Education and Professional Studies and a national search for the permanent dean position will launch in the next academic year.