Dawn Crim, who has served as the UW-Madison School of Education’s associate dean for external relations since 2011, is leaving her post at the end of June to take a leadership position with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI).
“I’m excited to have Dawn join our staff as the assistant state superintendent for the Division for Student and School Success,” says Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers. “Her extensive background and experience within and outside of education will be a tremendous asset as we continue to focus all aspects of our work on ensuring every child is a graduate, college and career ready.”
The Division for Student and School Success is responsible for ensuring that all children attain proficiency in meeting the Wisconsin Academic Standards.
“This position combines the skills and experiences I have acquired over the years,” says Crim in a statement. “In addition to my higher education work, I have served on a range of school and district-wide committees over the past decade-plus in support of pre-K through 12 education. I love working at UW-Madison but I am very excited about this opportunity to serve students and schools statewide.”
Crim will oversee four units within the division: the Office of Educational Accountability; the Office of Student Assessment; the Title I and School Support Team; and the Wisconsin Educational Opportunity Programs and Urban Education Team. Crim will begin her new appointment on Aug. 1.
“Dawn has made significant contributions to the School of Education and the entire UW-Madison campus,” says School of Education Dean Diana Hess, who holds the Karen A. Falk Distinguished Chair of Education. “Her excellent leadership of our external relations team accounts for why so many alumni, friends, and the general public know about the great work of our faculty, staff and students in the school.”
Crim has spent two decades working within the University of Wisconsin System and first arrived on the UW-Madison campus in 1996 to work as an assistant coach with the Badger women’s basketball team. Crim later served as the business development manager for UW-Extension’s UW-Learning Innovations program before becoming UW-Madison’s assistant to the director for community relations from 2004-07.
Prior to joining the School of Education, Crim worked from 2007-11 as a special assistant to UW-Madison’s chancellor as director for community relations.
“We will miss Dawn but the position of assistant state superintendent is important for pre-K through 12 and higher education, and we are thrilled that Dawn has been appointed,” says Hess. “There is no doubt she will be an outstanding member of Superintendent Evers’ very strong leadership team.”
