Sheryl Van Gruensven

Sheryl Van Gruensven

September 30, 2019 - April 30, 2020

Sheryl Van Gruensven was named the Interim Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay on October 1, 2019. Van Gruensven’s 20+ year professional career includes extensive work in the areas of employment and labor law, human resources operations and leadership and organizational finance in both corporate and higher education environments. Her background in the private sector and public education bring a valuable perspective to the university’s executive role.

A first-generation college student who grew up on a farm in Western Wisconsin, Van Gruensven began her career at Ruder, Ware & Michler in Wausau, Wisconsin as a paralegal and has advanced steadily throughout her career. She joined UW-Green Bay in 2004 as Human Resource Manager and within two years was named Director of Human Resources and Affirmative Action, with responsibility for HR policy, information systems, labor and employment relations, payroll, benefits and affirmative action.

In 2014 Van Gruensven was named Vice Chancellor for Business and Finance at UW-Green Bay, serving as the institution’s chief business officer, providing accounting, budgeting and fiscal control of a $123.6 million budget and senior leadership oversight for 10 functional departments, including Finance, Human Resources, Safety and Risk, University Police, IT and Facilities. During her tenure Sheryl advocated for the residents of the region and UW-Green Bay within the Universities of Wisconsin, lead the change to an Incentive Based Budget Model, found cost savings while increasing services and lead the University from a $3 million deficit to being financially solvent in four years.

Highly respected throughout the Universities of Wisconsin, and the first female chancellor to lead UW-Green Bay, Van Gruensven’s interim period is marked by a “Business as Usual” call to action for the University located in the state’s third largest city. Alignment and responsiveness to the needs of the region and the rapidly changing face of higher education are priorities.

She returned to the Vice Chancellor of Business and Finance on May 1, 2020 upon the anticipated naming of a new permanent chancellor for UW-Green Bay.