Chancellor Gallo expresses condolences on the passing of Rebecca Blank
 

Feb. 20, 2023 – University of Wisconsin-River Falls Chancellor Maria Gallo didn’t know Rebecca Blank for as long as most of her chancellor colleagues across the University of Wisconsin System, but Blank still had a positive, helpful influence on Gallo. 

Shortly after beginning her job at UWRF in July 2021, Gallo met Blank – who was chancellor at UW-Madison at the time – at Gallo’s first Board of Regents meeting. Blank died Friday at age 67, less than a year after announcing she had an aggressive form of cancer. Her illness forced her to resign in July from a new job as president of Northwestern University.

Blank’s willingness to reach out to Gallo at a time when she was new to the UW System - and to leading UW-River Falls - helped her adapt more quickly to her new surroundings, Gallo said.  

“In the short time I knew her, she was a wonderful mentor to me and I will miss her friendship,” Gallo said of Blank. 

Blank was UW-Madison chancellor from 2013 to 2022. She is credited with creating Bucky’s Tuition Promise, which guarantees scholarships and grants for students whose household income is $65,000 or less. Her willingness to help Gallo in her transition was symbolic of how she assisted educators in Wisconsin’s higher education system, Gallo and other chancellors said. She is being remembered for navigating challenging budget times and for successfully dealing with many difficulties posed by the coronavirus pandemic.  

Earlier in her career, Blank was a faculy member at Northwestern University, Princeton University and the University of Michigan. She held senior positions in the Commerce Department under President Barack Obama.

“She was a great leader for UW-Madison and was a strong advocate for higher education across Wisconsin. Her passing is a great loss for our state,” Gallo said. “May she rest in peace and may her family find comfort.”