UW-Parkside Welcomes Dr. Matt Cecil as Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for...

Published: August 21, 2024

KENOSHA, WI - The University of Wisconsin-Parkside is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Matt Cecil as Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs. Dr. Cecil brings more than 25 years of higher education experience to UW-Parkside, including 16 years in key administrative positions where he has consistently advanced academic excellence and inspired faculty and students alike.

Dr. Cecil comes to UW-Parkside from Northern Kentucky University, where he served as Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs. His tenure was marked by significant advancements in student success initiatives and faculty engagement.

Before his time at Northern Kentucky University, Dr. Cecil held leadership roles at Minnesota State University, Mankato, serving first as Dean of the College of Arts & Humanities and later as Interim Provost. His extensive administrative experience also includes his work as Director of the Elliott School of Communication at Wichita State University and as a department administrator at South Dakota State University. Dr. Cecil began his academic career as a faculty member at Purdue University and later at the University of Oklahoma, where he developed a strong foundation in teaching and research.

A nationally recognized scholar in media history, Dr. Cecil has dedicated much of his academic research to critically examining the Federal Bureau of Investigation's communication strategies under Director J. Edgar Hoover. He is the author of three books and more than two dozen articles on the subject, with his 2014 book, Hoover's FBI and the Fourth Estate, being named History Book of the Year by the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.

Dr. Cecil holds a B.S. from South Dakota State University, an M.A. from Minnesota State University, Mankato, and a Ph.D. in Mass Communication from the University of Iowa.

"We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Cecil to the UW-Parkside leadership team," said Chancellor Lynn D. Akey. "His extensive experience in academic and student affairs, combined with his passion for advancing educational excellence, will be instrumental as we continue to enhance the academic environment at UW-Parkside. I am confident that Dr. Cecil's leadership will help us build on our strengths and achieve new levels of success."

Dr. Cecil expressed his enthusiasm for joining UW-Parkside and contributing to the university's mission. "The university's strategic location -- between the major metropolitan areas of Milwaukee and Chicago and at the heart of the rapidly growing Racine and Kenosha communities -- offers unique opportunities for growth and collaboration," he said. "I'm eager to work with the dedicated faculty, staff, and students to explore these possibilities, foster innovation, and contribute to the continued success and vibrancy of this institution."

The University of Wisconsin-Parkside is committed to high-quality educational programs, creative and scholarly activities, and services responsive to its diverse student population, and its local, national, and global communities. We are a dynamic learning community grounded in academic excellence and focused on student success, diversity, inclusion, and community engagement. The campus serves as a premier comprehensive public institution and a destination of choice, serving as a focal point of local, regional, and global progress.

Media contact:

Scott Rudie
Executive Director of Communication and Marketing
University of Wisconsin-Parkside
[email protected] | (262) 300-9549