Spring Break
'Living' Stankevich
Reporter spends day in the life of UW-Eau Claire Chancellor
Brian Reisinger
Issue date: 3/15/07 Section: Campus News
Pursuing a passion for Russian history, he went on to study as a Fulbright scholar in the then Soviet Union in 1977 and teach at institutions of higher education before climbing the administrative ranks.
These days "floundering" isn't a part of the agenda for the chancellor. But on a recent workday, a meeting about the implementation of new data software at the direction of the UW System certainly was.
The topic had close to 30 administrators, faculty and academic staff encircling the oval table openly concerned about everything from university efficiency to ease of course registration for students.
Though he listened intently, he also spoke up regularly, asking direct questions and simplifying others' points out loud. He was prone to making side comments and jokes, drawing chuckles from the otherwise respectful, serious group.
"Why don't we sell our system and make some money?" he said at one point after hearing that Eau Claire's current system is the envy of other schools.
Behind him, a large window framed dozens of students crossing the footbridge over the Chippewa River in the distance.
Serving in the interest of such students, he said later, has been enjoyable so far, though he misses the closeness he had as an instructor and later as a hockey coach at Eastern Washington University, where he ultimately became interim president before coming to Eau Claire.
Because whatever the commitments and distractions of the day, he said, it's the welfare of students and the university they attend that serve as the binding threads of what he does.
"We've got to leave this place better than we found it," he said.
These days "floundering" isn't a part of the agenda for the chancellor. But on a recent workday, a meeting about the implementation of new data software at the direction of the UW System certainly was.
The topic had close to 30 administrators, faculty and academic staff encircling the oval table openly concerned about everything from university efficiency to ease of course registration for students.
Though he listened intently, he also spoke up regularly, asking direct questions and simplifying others' points out loud. He was prone to making side comments and jokes, drawing chuckles from the otherwise respectful, serious group.
"Why don't we sell our system and make some money?" he said at one point after hearing that Eau Claire's current system is the envy of other schools.
Behind him, a large window framed dozens of students crossing the footbridge over the Chippewa River in the distance.
Serving in the interest of such students, he said later, has been enjoyable so far, though he misses the closeness he had as an instructor and later as a hockey coach at Eastern Washington University, where he ultimately became interim president before coming to Eau Claire.
Because whatever the commitments and distractions of the day, he said, it's the welfare of students and the university they attend that serve as the binding threads of what he does.
"We've got to leave this place better than we found it," he said.
Be the first to comment on this story