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Aaron Brower, Ph.D. Special Assistant to the President for Educational Strategies |
Brief biographical statement
Aaron Brower began his two-year term as interim provost and vice chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Extension on Aug. 27, 2012. The University of Wisconsin-Extension is a statewide institution charged with providing access to University of Wisconsin educational resources and research for the benefit of Wisconsin residents.
As UW-Extension interim provost and vice chancellor, Aaron is responsible for leadership for academic and program planning; administrative support for business and finance; and developing and supporting collaborative programs among UW-Extension divisions, other University of Wisconsin System institutions, and key partners of UW-Extension.
While he is serving as interim provost for UW-Extension, Aaron is also acting as special assistant to UW System President Kevin Reilly for New Educational Strategies. In that capacity, he provides key leadership for the Flexible Degree Initiative with UW System and with the other institutions in the system.
Prior to joining UW-Extension, Aaron was the vice provost for teaching and learning and a professor in the School of Social Work, Integrated Liberal Studies, and Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Aaron’s expertise is in educational innovations, student learning and outcome assessment – engaging the whole university on issues important to students and the people of Wisconsin. He has created and led many teaching and learning programs focused on integrative learning and evidence-based curricular reform, with an emphasis on high-impact learning practices.
Aaron's scholarship and teaching focus on the transition from high school to college, and issues related to college student life. His focus on integrative learning demonstrates that academic and social outcomes are produced when college environments blend in- and out-of-class learning and experiences to create communities of students, faculty and staff who share common learning goals (i.e., learning communities).
Aaron earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology, a master’s degree in social work, a master’s degree in psychology, and his doctorate in social work and psychology from the University of Michigan.
Through UW-Extension, all Wisconsin people can access university resources and engage in lifelong learning, wherever they live and work. UW-Extension includes Cooperative Extension Division offices in 72 counties and three tribal nations; the Building Community Capacity Through Broadband program in five communities; the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs' Network and 12 Small Business Development Centers, both programs of the Division of Entrepreneurship and Economic Development; Outreach and E-Learning programs delivered via the 26 UW System campuses, online and distance-learning channels; and the statewide networks of Wisconsin Public Radio and Wisconsin Public Television.
Contact Information:
Aaron Brower
Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor
University of Wisconsin-Extension
432 North Lake Street
Madison, WI 53706
E-mail: aaron.brower@uwex.edu
Web page: www.uwex.edu/provost/