Provost's Office Personnel

Office of the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Wes Chapin, Ph.D.

Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Start Year: 1997
Office: 116a North Hall
Phone: 715-425-4096
Email: wes.chapin@uwrf.edu

Professional Information

Education

Ph.D., University of Illinois, 1996
M.A., Marquette University
B.A., University of Wisconsin - River Falls

Areas of Specialization

International Relations
Comparative Politics
European Politics
Political Economy
American Politics

Courses Taught

POLS 245 Introduction to Comparative Politics
POLS 260 Introduction to International Relations
POLS 346 Politics of Western Europe
POLS 364 International War and Peace
POLS 365 American Foreign Policy
POLS 369 Politics of the World Economy
POLS 371 The Politics of German-speaking Europe
POLS 372 The Politics of Scotland
POLS 377 The United Nations
POLS 378 Semester Abroad Research
POLS 480 Seminar: Political Science
INTS 200 International Studies
INTS 365 Contemporary Europe
INTS 370 International Study Tour
INTS 377 Semester Abroad
INTS 480 International Studies Senior Seminar

Wes Chapin joined the University of Wisconsin–River Falls in 1997. He was appointed interim provost in 2024 after serving as the associate vice chancellor for academic affairs and graduate studies. Chapin also previously provided leadership as the university’s dean of graduate studies, director of institutional research, and director of the Robert Bailey Office of International Education. He additionally served as UWRF’s Higher Learning Commission accreditation liaison officer, assessment coordinator, coordinator for learning effectiveness, program integrity rules officer, and program planning and review liaison to the Universities of Wisconsin.

Promoted to full professor in 2008, Chapin chaired both the political science and international studies programs and played key roles in international education. He has led numerous semester-long and short-term study abroad programs, directed Semester Abroad Europe and the International Traveling Classroom and continues to champion experiential learning experiences for students.

Chapin has also contributed to shared governance, serving more than 15 years on the Faculty Senate, including three years as chair and faculty representative to the Universities of Wisconsin and the Board of Regents.