The Ford School mourns the loss of former dean Rebecca M. Blank, an economist and educator who served in high-level U.S. government and academic positions. Her tenure as dean from 1999-2007 was transformational: the school was officially named after President Gerald R. Ford; the school’s home, Weill Hall, was constructed; and the school expanded academically, with the establishment of the undergraduate and doctoral programs established, making the Ford School a “full service” school of public policy. She most recently served as chancellor of the University of Wisconsin–Madison for nine years. She died of cancer on Feb. 17 near Madison, Wisconsin, at age 67.
You can read her obituary here and learn about her many contributions to the Ford School here.
Please consider making a gift that honors Becky Blank's tremendous contributions to the Ford School as dean through the Rebecca M. Blank and Hanns Kuttner Fund for Student Support. Student support defrays costs for undergraduate and graduate fellowships, internships, travel, and professional development, making it possible to select opportunities most relevant to their career goals.