Dr. Aaron Brower is University of Wisconsin System Senior Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs and Executive Director for UW Extended Campus. His primary responsibility is to develop and expand educational opportunities for adult and professionally-oriented students, the largest segment of the state and nation now seeking higher education. UW Extended Campus has built a national reputation for creating award-winning innovative and student-centric programs that partner with and leverage resources across all University of Wisconsin campuses. Among the many collaborative programs within UW Extended Campus’s portfolio is the UW System’s UW Flexible Option, the first-in-the-country competency-based educational program. UW Flex was created under Dr. Brower’s leadership when he was Provost and Vice Chancellor for UW-Extension.
From 2012-2018, Dr. Brower served as Provost and Vice Chancellor of UW-Extension and was named Interim Chancellor of UW Colleges and UW-Extension in 2014. Prior to that, he spent six years as UW-Madison’s Vice Provost for Teaching & Learning, overseeing and supporting undergraduate education and professional development for teaching and learning. Dr. Brower remains a tenured professor at UW-Madison in the School of Social Work and in the departments of Integrated Liberal Studies and Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis.
Dr. Brower has written five books, more than 50 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, and received over $18M in grants to support his work. His scholarship demonstrates the academic and social outcomes produced when colleges blend in- and out-of-class learning and experiences. Dr. Brower’s expertise is in educational innovation, student learning, and outcome assessment – engaging the whole university to support “whole student” education. He has created and led many teaching and learning programs focused on integrative learning and evidence-based curricular reform. He consults widely with institutions across the country.
Dr. Brower earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, a Master’s Degree in Social Work, a Master’s Degree in Psychology, and a Doctorate in Social Work and Psychology, all from the University of Michigan.