First candidate for UVa-Wise chancellorship to visit campus June 16-17

The first of four finalists for the chancellorship of The University of Virginia’s College at Wise will visit the campus on June 16-17.

“All four of these individuals are outstanding. They are all tremendously credentialed in their educational backgrounds,” said James M. Gott, who chairs the Chancellor Search Committee. “All have come up through the ranks from teaching to serve as deans and in the upper levels of administration.”

The first candidate, John “Fritz” Schwaller, has served as the vice chancellor for academic affairs and dean at the University of Minnesota, Morris (UMM) since 2001. Schwaller and his wife, Anne, will spend two full days in Wise meeting with faculty, staff, students, and members of the UVa-Wise Board.

An open forum with faculty will be held at 1 p.m. on June 16 in the Chapel of All Faiths. An open student forum follows at 2:15 p.m. in the Honor Court Room of the C. Bascom Slemp Student Center. Schwaller will participate in an open forum for staff at 1 p.m. on June 17 in the Chapel of All Faiths. The public is invited to attend the open sessions.

“We realize that we’re bringing these candidates on campus at a difficult time for everyone because of summer schedules,” Gott said. “However, we really encourage as much participation as possible in the open forums.”

Gott said the Search Committee is optimistic a new chancellor will be in place by the start of the fall semester. “We expect within a week after all visits are concluded the search committee, with approval from the UVa-Wise Board, will send a name or names to University of Virginia President John T. Casteen and the Board of Visitors for their consideration,” Gott said.

Additional candidate visits are being scheduled for late June.

John F. Schwaller

Schwaller is the author, co-author, or editor of seven books and the author of more than 50 articles and encyclopedia entries. He is the editor of two additional books both awaiting publication. His primary areas of interest are the Church in Latin America and other topics related to colonial Latin America. He is the founder and owner of the Internet discussion list Nahuat-l, which focuses on the study of the Aztecs and the Aztec language called Nahua.

Prior to his appointment at UMM, Schwaller spent six years at the University of Montana in Missoula where he served as associate provost and associate vice president for academic affairs.

From 1993 to 2002 he served as the director of the Academy of American Franciscan History at the Franciscan School of Theology in Berkley and from 1993 to 1995 at the Academy office in the Franciscan School of Theology. From 1990 to 1993, he was the associate dean of The Schmidt College of Arts and Humanities of Florida Atlantic University. Schwaller began his teaching career at Florida Atlantic University in 1979, as an assistant professor of history and languages.

A professor of both history and Spanish at UMM, Schwaller received his Ph.D. in colonial Latin American history from Indiana University in 1978; his master’s degree in Spanish from the University of Kansas in 1971; and his bachelor’s degree in history from Grinnell College in 1969. He is the recipient of two Fulbright-Hays Research Fellowships for research in Spanish archives.

A native of Kansas, Schwaller is married with two grown sons.