Portland State Magazine Fall 2008

Urban Visionary Wim Wiewel takes the helm as Portland State University's new president. WRITTEN BY JEFF KUECHLE ON HIS FIRST DAY arwork,newPorrlandSrareUniversity President Wim Wiewel rode his bike co campus, accompanied by Mayor-elect Sam Adams. Looking preppy in pleated green slacks, green PSU polo shirr, and cool lime-green cycling jacket, Wiewel was greeted by a crowd of PSU staff and students. "What better way co emphasize PSU 's commitment co sus– tainability than bicycling," said a cheerful Wiewel. "And what better way co symbolize our partnership wich the city than co do it wich our new mayor-elect." The event encapsulated Wiewel's approach: high energy, 8 PORTLAND STATE MAGAZINE FALL 2008 media-savvy, in couch with his environment, and oriented coward partnerships. Ir was chose same qualities char led co him raking on the interim deanship of che business chool at University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), even though he had no background in busi– ness. In 1999, Wiewel, chen dean of che UIC's urban planning college, was asked co seep in temporarily to head the business school. Its dean, a high-profile investmenc banking executive, was unable to make the transition from corporate to the aca– demic culrure and had left after just one year. The faculty was deflated, and infighting char existed before continued on.