UW-Extension announces new interim provost, vice chancellor

John Shutske will take over for Aaron Brower who is now taking over Ray Cross' position

MADISON, Wis. — UW-Extension announced Tuesday a new interim provost and vice chancellor will take over Feb. 17, according to a release.

John M. Shutske, who has a joint administrative appointment with the University of Wisconsin-Madison and UW-Extension, will be the new interim provost and vice chancellor, according to the release.

Aaron Brower, the current provost and vice chancellor of UW-Extension, has been appointed as interim chancellor of UW Colleges and UW-Extension, a position Ray Cross is leaving to be the new UW System president.

“John is recognized as a leader by his colleagues at University of Wisconsin institutions, by his peers around the country and by state and federal agricultural policymakers,” Brower said in the release. “His knowledge and his leadership and communication skills will help keep UW-Extension moving forward to serve the state.”

Shutske has worked in extension services for 25 years in Indiana, Minnesota and Wisconsin, according to the release. Since 2008, he has served as associate dean for extension and outreach in the UW-Madison College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and as the Agricultural and Natural Resources Extension program director within the Cooperative Extension Division of UW-Extension.

“I look forward to working with our other UW System partners and supporting our UW-Extension deans and divisional directors as we build and grow one of the important and diverse two-way channels for the Wisconsin Idea,” Shutske said. “I’m also pleased to be able to build on the relationships I have developed through my role at UW-Madison CALS and UW-Extension and to continue to engage with community and state leaders, businesses, families and all those who benefit from UW-Extension activities.”

UW-Extension officials are working to identify a candidate to take over for Shutske as the program director and associate dean.