January 6, 2015
Mark Pagano selected as chancellor of UW Tacoma
University of Washington President Michael K. Young and Provost Ana Mari Cauce announced today the selection of Mark Pagano, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at Montana State University Billings, as the next chancellor of the University of Washington Tacoma, effective March 16. The appointment is subject to approval by the UW Board of Regents.
“President Young and I are delighted to have Dr. Mark Pagano join the vibrant UW Tacoma community. Chancellor Pagano brings his expertise in leading Montana’s only urban university in Billings, Montana, and we are certain his leadership will continue to make UW Tacoma a nationwide example of a university in daily concert with its community. We welcome Mark and are excited about the future,” Cauce said.
On the eve of UW Tacoma’s 25th anniversary, Pagano plans to forge strong relationships with a broad group of internal and external stakeholders who will work together to craft the campus vision for the next 25 years.
Mark Pagano
“I hope to craft a process for how we build a shared vision for UW Tacoma, design a workable plan to achieve that vision and secure the resource base to ensure it becomes reality,” Pagano said. “The quality of the leadership at the University of Washington and the firm commitment to supporting UW Tacoma’s efforts to extend the reach and impact of the UW in the south Puget Sound region is exciting.”
Pagano has been at Montana State University Billings since 2011, where he has overseen academic programs at the university’s five colleges and a number of additional programs and centers, including international studies and outreach, graduate studies, extended campus and information technology and e-learning. He has led daily operations of the university and co-chaired the formation and implementation of the school’s strategic plan.
Before joining Montana State University, Pagano served as dean of Purdue University’s extended campus from 2003-2011. In this role, he led all of Purdue’s continuing education and executive programs, conference activities and e-learning. He joined Purdue in 1992 as a faculty member in the mechanical engineering technology department, later chairing the department as a tenured professor and also serving in other university leadership positions before becoming dean of Purdue Extended Campus.
Pagano began his higher education career at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where he taught from 1983-1992. He received multiple teaching awards at both universities.
Pagano holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in thermal and environmental engineering and a doctorate in engineering science from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
He has been involved in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the American Society for Engineering Education and the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology and currently serves on several community boards in Montana. He has published more than 70 journal articles, conference proceedings and professional presentations.
Pagano’s annual salary will be $276,400.
UW Tacoma was established in 1990 to expand access to higher education and promote economic development in the South Puget Sound region. As an urban-serving university, its educational programs and research agenda are determined in collaboration with regional leaders across business, nonprofit and public sectors. The 46-acre campus seeks to be a catalyst for the revival of downtown Tacoma, with today’s enrollment of 4,500 students projected to grow to 7,000 within 10 years.
