Edwin Martini was announced as UW-Eau Claire’s new chancellor on Wednesday via an email from a press release from the Universities of Wisconsin (UW) after the final four candidates from the chancellor search spoke to the campus community at interview forums.
Martini said when he first found out he was offered the position, he was helping his son pick out a suit for prom.
“I first found out last week when I was contacted by the search committee, the regents committee, and they let me know that they were going to make me the job offer. I could not have been more excited,” Martini said. “We took a time out to take the call, and we were just overjoyed.”
Martini said he believes his passion for the university’s existing goals may have set him apart from the other chancellor candidates.
“Whether it’s building the Academic Excellence piece, whether it’s positioning us as a national leader in healthcare, education and innovation, whether it’s trying to diversify the student segments that we serve,” Martini said. “That’s all work that really resonated with me.”
In the initial announcement, Karen Walsh, a UW system regent and chair of the chancellor search committee, said she was excited Martini would be UW-Eau Claire’s next leader.
“[Martini] brings a collegial and collaborative approach to leadership,” Walsh said. “He is poised to advance the university’s mission on day one.”
Martini said that mission was what attracted him to UW-Eau Claire.
“I read the strategic plan of the university, about kind of where we’re at and where we’re going,” Martini said. “It really aligns with work that I’ve done throughout my career and work that I want to continue to do going forward.”
Martini currently works at UW-Oshkosh as provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. The announcement detailed some of his work in that position.
“[Martini] led a major academic realignment, integrated enrollment and student success strategies with academic planning, and guided a comprehensive reimagining of the Polk Library Commons,” the announcement said.
Martini has over 20 years of experience serving at the university level. He said he believes his experience working with many departments also stood out in the selection process.
“The other thing that came through very clearly in what the university and the community are looking for is a collaborator,” Martini said. “Throughout my career, I’ve just been a collaborator. It comes naturally to me. That’s how I operate.”
Arthur Grothe, a theater professor at UW-Eau Claire and vice chair of the chancellor search committee, said Martini’s “leadership and advocacy” were also stand-out traits.
“[Martini] is a passionate advocate of the value of higher education, and his integrity, compassion and creativity are major assets as he assumes the role of chancellor and stewards the mission and vision that will define the future of the university,” Grothe said in the announcement.
Chancellor Martini will assume his new position on July 1, 2026.
“I’m not thinking about things to change,” Martini said. “I’m really thinking about getting here and getting to know people and really getting to know all the leaders, all the faculty and staff as well as community partners. I’ve got a lot to learn.”
Sherry can be reached at [email protected].
