Leading with Authenticity: Interim Provost Beth Giles-Klinkner

In this first episode of Season Two of the CETL PIE podcast, we get to know our new Interim Provost, Dr. Beth Giles-Klinkner. Dr. Giles-Klinkner talks about her journey from initially having no intention of going to college to becoming a passionate educator and advocate for educational equity. Beth also shares her vision for faculty-driven professional development, strategic planning and dreaming in the face of budget constraints, and creating a sense of community within the college. Tune in to discover more about our Interim Provost’s goals for this year at Madison College.

Beth Giles-Klinkner has spent her career in education at multiple levels and multiple systems. She began as a TA during her master’s degree program at Miami of Ohio and quickly realized teaching was where she wanted to spend her energy. She went on to teach middle school in both public and private schools but the most impactful experience to her was being a Milwaukee Public Schools teacher. This work drove Beth to pursue a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction. Upon her completion, she taught in the teacher education field, lead teacher education efforts and ran the University of Wisconsin’s Institute for Urban Education which provided UW System students with a pathway to become a well-prepared urban educator in the Milwaukee Public School District. She then led the University of Wisconsin Madison’s Office of Education Outreach and Partnerships for many years. The office provided meaningful professional development opportunities for K-12 teachers and other education professionals. After a year in policy work at the Department of Public Instruction, Beth returned to higher education becoming the Associate Dean for the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Science at Madison College. Her love for Madison College and its mission was evident in the relationships she built with faculty, leadership and students. She is currently serving as the Interim Provost for the College and providing strategic leadership for Academic Affairs.