McMillen Named Chief Research Administration Officer

After a nationwide search, Kurt McMillen has been appointed Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief Research Administration Officer a role in which he also serves as the Director of the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (RSP), a key leadership position within the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (OVCR). McMillen has been serving in the role on an interim basis since January 2025.

In this role, McMillen leads UW–Madison’s central research administration enterprise and oversees the full lifecycle of sponsored research—from proposal development and award negotiation to post-award management, compliance and closeout. He serves as a senior advisor to campus leadership and plays a central role in shaping the administrative infrastructure that supports faculty, staff, and students as they pursue groundbreaking research across disciplines.

“Kurt brings deep expertise, steady leadership, and an unwavering commitment to service,” says Dorota Grejner-Brzezinska, vice chancellor for research. “Throughout his interim tenure, he has demonstrated an exceptional ability to navigate complexity, respond thoughtfully to rapid changes in the federal funding landscape, and bring people together around shared solutions. His focus on strengthening research support systems—while keeping faculty and staff experience at the center—will be critical as we continue to optimize how we support research on campus.”

McMillen has more than 15 years of leadership experience in research administration at UW–Madison. As interim chief research administration officer, he helped guide the campus through significant change, including federal funding and compliance shifts, major enterprise system transitions, and evolving sponsor expectations. He also is contributing to OVCR’s strategic planning efforts, serves on the vice chancellor’s advisory committee, responds to high-profile media inquiries and leads strategic planning work within RSP.

“I’m honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve in this role at such an important time. Strong research administration depends on partnership, collaboration, and a shared commitment to supporting the research enterprise,” McMillen says. “As that environment grows more complex, trusted collaboration across campus matters more than ever. I look forward to working with colleagues to keep building the responsive, effective support our research community needs for today and for the future.”

Prior to his interim appointment, McMillen held several leadership roles at UW–Madison, including assistant director of RSP and lead roles within the multi-year Administrative Transformation Program, where he helped modernize research administration systems and processes across the UW System. His work has emphasized consistency, transparency, risk-informed decision-making, and a people-centered, service-oriented culture.

McMillen earned a master of business administration from the UW–Whitewater and a bachelor’s degree in business administration and economics from the UW–Stevens Point. He is an active leader within the National Council of University Research Administrators and has received multiple awards recognizing his contributions to research administration and organizational improvement.

“Kurt’s appointment provides continuity and momentum for RSP and for UW–Madison’s research enterprise more broadly,” Grejner‑Brzezinska adds. “I am confident that his leadership will continue to strengthen our ability to support innovative, high-impact research while meeting our shared stewardship responsibilities.”

The search and screening committee was chaired by Mark Rickenbach, interim associate vice chancellor for research policy and integrity, and professor of forest and wildlife ecology, and included Dave Rothamer, associate dean for research and professor of mechanical engineering; Troy Runge, associate dean for research and extension, and director of the Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station; Lauren Bishop, associate professor of social work and member of the University Research Council; Brigid Daly, senior university legal counsel; Christy Schulz, research administration director for the School of Medicine and Public Health; John Varda, assistant dean for research services in the College of Letters & Science; and Bob Gratzl, assistant director of RSP.

By: Natasha Kassulke, natasha.kassulke@wisc.edu