Former chancellor, 87, had a transformative impact on UWL

Former chancellor, 87, had a transformative impact on UWL

Judith Kuipers, who left an indelible mark at UW-La Crosse as the first woman to serve as chancellor, died Oct. 15 at age 87.

Kuipers became the eighth leader in school history in 1991 and went on to lead UWL until 2000 - a transformative decade that saw the university reach new levels of excellence and become a rising star in the Universities of Wisconsin system.

"We know that Judy's legacy will continue to endure here at UWL and we have nothing but the deepest gratitude for all she accomplished and the way she led this fine institution," Chancellor James Beeby says. "She was a role model and mentor to so many and clearly a transformative chancellor."

Provost Betsy Morgan, who worked as an assistant professor under Kuipers, describes her as a "positive voice for change and a tireless advocate for UWL."

A Michigan native, Kuipers devoted her professional life to higher education, climbing the academic ladder from instructor to professor to department head to dean to assistant chancellor.

Having previously worked at large land-grant institutions with a heavy focus on research, Kuipers was eager to make a difference upon her arrival at UWL, where undergraduate teaching flourished.

At UWL, Kuipers found faculty who prioritized teaching alongside research, scholarship and creative work. Kuipers embraced that culture while spearheading efforts to increase fundraising and community engagement.

Major accomplishments during her tenure include:

• Establishing the La Crosse Health Science Consortium, a collaborative approach to health care and education among UWL, Mayo Clinic Health System, Gundersen Health System, Western Technical College and Viterbo University
• Constructing or renovating several campus facilities, including Hoeschler Tower, the Recreational Eagle Center, the Cleary Alumni & Friends Center, Murphy Library, the Veterans Monument, the Archaeology Building and Laboratories, and the Health Science Center
• Enhancing undergraduate education by adding eight majors, along with new minors and emphases/concentrations
• Kickstarting the university undergraduate research program with an inaugural fund of $20,000
• Connecting UWL to the world through the launch of the university's first website.

After leaving UWL, Kuipers served as president of the Fielding Institute in Santa Barbara, California, until her retirement in 2009.

Beyond her leadership as chancellor, Kuipers' support of the La Crosse community could be seen through her participation on several volunteer boards, including the La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce, the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra, the Gundersen Luteran Foundation, Family & Children's Services and the Rotary Club of La Crosse.

In 2000, friends and colleagues established the Judith L. Kuipers Scholarship at UWL in her honor.

Read more about Kuipers' tenure at UWL:

»> Spring 1992 UWL Alumnus introducing Kuipers as chancellor

»> Summer 2000 UWL Alumnus announcing Kuipers' resignation