Gilles Bousquet, who served as dean of the Division of International Studies and vice provost for globalization at the University of Wisconsin–Madison from 2002 until taking a leave to serve as UW-Eau Claire’s interim chancellor during the 2012-13 academic year, will rejoin the UW–Madison faculty in July.
“For many years, Gilles has led UW-Madison’s internationalization efforts, particularly in the areas of collaboration and curricular innovation,” says David Ward, interim chancellor of UW–Madison. “We look forward to welcoming him back to campus.”
Guido Podestá, who has served as interim dean of the Division of International Studies and vice provost since last July, will continue in the position until the search for a permanent successor has taken place.
Prior his current appointment, Podestá, professor in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, served as an associate dean in the Division of International Studies (2007-12), as director of the Latin American, Caribbean and Iberian Studies (LACIS) Program (2004-07), and as chair of the Department of Spanish and Portuguese (2000-03). He has been at UW–Madison since 1987.
Bousquet plans to spend the 2013-14 academic year on sabbatical before returning to the Department of French and Italian the following year. He also will serve as a special advisor to UW System President Kevin Reilly on internationalization initiatives.
“I am greatly appreciative of Gilles’ support of the UW System, having accepted the appointment as UW–Eau Claire’s interim chancellor,” says Reilly. “I look forward to Gilles helping the rest of the system campuses identify and collaborate on international initiatives.”
Bousquet represented Reilly and the system as a member of Gov. Scott Walker’s recent trade mission to China. Bousquet has played a major role in building connections between UW-Madison and China, having established UW-Madison’s Shanghai Innovation Office.
“The past year has given me a wonderful opportunity to see the state of Wisconsin from a different perspective,” says Bousquet. “I am excited to unite this new experience with a strategic system-wide effort to increase international engagement.”
Bousquet will focus on key priorities including coordinating international recruiting efforts and pursuing international economic development initiatives that benefit UW institutions and Wisconsin’s economy.
He became UW–Madison’s dean of international studies in January 2002, adding the title of vice provost for globalization in 2010. He also served as director of the International Institute, special assistant to the chancellor for international engagement, and the Pickard-Bascom Professor of French. A former chair of the Department of French and Italian, he directed UW–Madison’s European Studies Program 1996-2000.