Trustees name Bruce Shepard as next president

By Paul Cocke

Bruce Shepard, chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, will be Western Washington University's 13th president, succeeding current President Karen W. Morse, who is retiring.

"The Board of Trustees strongly believes that Bruce Shepard is the person we need to lead Western Washington University into its increasingly bright future," said Kevin Raymond, board chair. "Dr. Shepard is a compelling leader who listens and inspires, with a demonstrated record of achievement. He is the right choice for Western."

Shepard, who will assume his new duties at WWU on Sept. 1, said he is honored to become Western';s next president and that he and his wife Cyndie are eager to learn more about Western and its community.

"We are so excited to be joining a university that is recognized across the country for its excellent programs made so by the outstanding people who are the university. We very much look forward to calling Bellingham home," Shepard said.

In talks with campus groups in late April, Shepard stressed that as WWU president he will work collaboratively with others on and off campus.

"My leadership style is that I don';t come in with answers. What does work is for groups of people to share ideas," he said.

Shepard said he was impressed by how passionate Western students, faculty and staff members are about Western. And he praised the leadership of President Morse and the many achievements during her 15-year tenure as president.

"She has positioned this university for a very successful transition and has done a beautiful job here at Western," Shepard said.

Morse said she is delighted Shepard will be succeeding her as Western';s next president. "I have complete confidence that Western will be in very good hands," Morse said.

Shepard was named the next president after a nationwide search and extensive review of candidates. A WWU search committee, chaired by Trustee Phil Sharpe, forwarded to the Western Board of Trustees 53 candidate applications, with the recommendation to take an especially close look at five candidates. The trustees then interviewed those five candidates, leading to their selection of Shepard on April 25 as Western';s next president.

Shepard assumed his duties as chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay on Nov. 1, 2001. The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay has an enrollment of 6,111 students and is part of the University of Wisconsin system.

Shepard came to the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay from Eastern Oregon University, where he served as provost and also was a professor of political science. Prior to joining EOU, Shepard spent 23 years at Oregon State University, earning tenure as a faculty member in the Department of Political Science before moving into university administration.

His academic background includes bachelor';s, master';s and doctoral degrees in political science from the University of California, Riverside. His scholarship and teaching focus on American government, public policy and policy analysis, research methods, and environmental and natural resource politics and policy.