At our October 26 noon meeting, we got to know Dr. Maria Gallo, UWRF’s new Chancellor. She introduced herself to the club and told us a little about herself, updating the group about UWRF's COVID goals and results as well as highlighting accomplishments and strengths of UWRF and the promising future outlook for our regional university.
She told us that she grew up in Westchester County NY. Despite being a suburban kid, she always had interest in agriculture, which her father supported by activities like going to farmer’s markets. She went to Cornell for an agronomy degree, then to NC State for MS in Crop Science and PhD in genetics. Dr. Gallo's PhD project had to do with RNA stability, which has a bearing on Covid due to the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines being messenger RNA-based. Dr. Gallo’s first faculty position was at U of MN, working on barley and other crops. She then headed far south to U of FL, then spent 4 years at U of HI, then to Delaware Valley State in PA as her first presidency and first private school. She told us that this is the last stop on career journey, which has involved a number of universities and a wide variety of school mascots.
In talking about UWRF, Dr. Gallo listed accolades that the school has received for several academic areas, including women business students. She also mentioned UWRF’s sustainability focus.
Her listed chancellor’s focus areas are:
- Student success
- Academic excellence
- Innovation
- DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion)
- Fundraising and financial stewardship, and
- Telling the UWRF story.
Challenges include continuing decline in state funding. The UWRF story includes emphasis on the value that UWRF brings to the community.
She described the new science and technology center and what it will mean to UWRF. She expects the new facility to have a broad impact on the educational experience.
Dr. Gallo provided highlights of UWRF’s Covid-29 response. Face covering are required, vaccination clinics are being held, and testing is available for staff, students, and the community. Testing is required for the unvaccinated. UW system goal of 70 percent vaccination rate included some incentives. UWRF hosted UW system president Thompson, UW and Governor Tony Evers both to promote 70 percent vaccination goal. “Protect the nest” campaign. UWRF has hit its 70 percent goal as of mid-October.