In the world of education, Judith L. Kuipers, PhD , is a pioneer. Dr. Kuipers is the first female President of Fielding Graduate University. At the time of her appointment in 2000, she was the only representative from a non-traditional, independent university serving on the Board of Directors for the American Council on Education (ACE). Dr. Kuipers was also the first female Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse where she posted significant contributions to the university and community.

After serving for many years in land grant universities and nine years as Chancellor of UW-LaCrosse, Dr. Kuipers was attracted to the contemporary learning model offered by the Fielding Graduate University. A unique university, Fielding pioneered networked-distributed learning for mid-career professionals seeking graduate degrees in schools of Psychology, Human & Organization Development and Educational Leadership & Change.

Highlights of Fielding's new programs and accomplishments under Dr. Kuipers' leadership over the last three years include:

• Positioned Fielding as a major example of the distributed 21st century graduate university.
• Increased student enrollment each year.
• Increased the number of doctoral programs offered.
• Established the first doctoral program in "Media Psychology" in the world.
• Received the number one ranking in the nation in the rate of Native Americans earning PhD 's.
• Launched a strategic Community College Leadership Program to prepare leaders of the future in concert with the launch of a major Kellogg Foundation-funded community college leadership legacy project with the American Association of Community Colleges.
• Established partnerships with various organizations including the Santa Clara County Psychological Association and PsychPrep to provide continuing postgraduate education for licensure of health care professionals.
• Established the Center for Innovation in the Non-Profit Sector and obtained funding from the Irvine Foundation.

Her legacy at UW-LaCrosse is the establishment of the Judith L. Kuipers Endowment to help fund scholarships in music, international studies, and diversity. While serving as Chancellor of UW-LaCrosse from 1991 - 2000, Dr. Kuipers:

• Working with a community collaboration, created the LaCrosse Medical Health Sciences Consortium serving as its president until leaving Wisconsin. A cutting edge collaborative curriculum was created, and a $38 million building was built to house the programs of education, research, and service.
• Successfully led the University through a major strategic funding process and re-organization.
• Facilitated the development of the first undergraduate research program, which became locally and nationally recognized.
• Witnessed the average ACT score increase every year from 21.7 in 1992 to 23.8 in 1999; percentage of freshman in the top 25% of their high school class also increase seven of the eight years, from 47% in 1992 to 64.7% in 1999.

Previous positions include Vice President for Academic Affairs at California State University-Fresno, Dean of Undergraduate Studies at Oregon State University, Department Head - Child and Family Studies at University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and Acting Director, Institute for Child and Family Studies at Michigan State University. She has been an ACE Fellow, Fulbright Scholar, and the recipient of numerous research grants. Dr. Kuipers has conducted seminars and presented papers in 15 states and in China, Taiwan, Israel, Egypt, Europe, Russia, Eastern Europe, Canada, and Mexico. Working in the international higher education arena for 20 years, in June 1994 she was the recipient of a Fulbright Award to East Germany to examine higher education in the new German states. In July 2003 she was an invited Oxford Roundtable Scholar.

Dr. Kuipers earned a PhD in Human Development and Early Education from Michigan State University, and her MA in Guidance and Counseling from Central Michigan University. Co-author of a book and author of numerous scholarly articles, Dr. Kuipers has presented her research findings throughout the United States and the world. She has been honored many times for her civic contributions and for her commitment to affirmative action and to international education. She received an honorary doctorate from the University of Dubna (Dubna, Russia) in 1994.

Dr. Kuipers also maintains a commitment to giving back to the community. She has served on the Board of various organizations that reflect her interest and passions, which include children and families, women's issues, and the arts. Her volunteerism has ranged from advocating for educational programs within the Hmong Asian community, to helping implement a community-wide program for at-risk children. In Santa Barbara, she currently serves on the Boards of the Santa Barbara Symphony, the Channel City Club, the Santa Barbara College of Law, and is a member of the Santa Barbara Rotary Club.

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