Wim Wiewel (Vim Ve 'väl), dean of the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois at Chicago was named dean of the business school, Provost Elizabeth Hoffman has announced.

Wiewel had served as interim dean of the College of Business Administration since November when he succeeded Anthony Rucci, who returned to the private sector. The appointment, supported by the college's executive committee and operating committee, was approved by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees at their July meeting.

"I have the greatest confidence in Wim's vision for the College of Business Administration, his experience and his leadership, as exemplified through his interim role over the past eight months," said Hoffman. "I believe Wim has clear strategic priorities in mind for the coming years and will propel the college to prominence."

Wiewel will continue as professor of urban planning and policy in the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs, and will be appointed professor of managerial studies in the College of Business Administration.

"Eight months ago, I had no idea that this is where we would wind up," says Wiewel. "The quality of the faculty and research centers, the supportive student body, business friends, alumni and the strategic priorities we have jointly developed make it clear that together we can make a difference."

As dean, Wiewel says some of his strategic priorities will be the development campaign for a new home for the college to be built as part of the South Campus project, to improve and expand the MBA and undergraduate programs, and to strengthen the college's research and outreach centers.

"I have been tremendously impressed by Wim's ability to articulate a vision for the business school, and his sensitivity in dealing with people," says David Weinberg, Business Advisory Council chairman for the College of Business Administration. "I personally think Wim will offer exactly the right leadership to move the business school forward."

Wiewel joined the UIC academic community in 1983 and has served as dean of the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs since 1996. Prior to this appointment, he served as special assistant to the chancellor. In this role, he developed and implemented the Great Cities initiative - an effort to define UIC's identity as a major research university implementing its land grant mission in a metropolitan area.

From 1983 to 1993, Wiewel headed UIC's Center for Urban Economic Development (UICUED), a 15-person research and technical assistance center. At the center, he specialized in strategic planning, evaluation and impact analysis, and analyses of economic structure and specific industries. Before joining UICUED, Wiewel conducted research on the Housing Assistance Supply Experiment for the RAND Corporation.

Wiewel, the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs' first permanent dean, greatly increased external funding and brought the college to quick prominence. He also directed the Great Cities Institute for several years and helped establish the Institute for Research on Race and Public Policy. A search to replace Wiewel as urban planning dean will start this fall.

A graduate in sociology and urban planning from the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands, Wiewel also earned a Ph.D. in sociology from Northwestern University.

With 2,600 students and several nationally recognized programs - including the Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies, ranked among the nation's top 10 programs by Success magazine - the UIC College of Business Administration is rising rapidly to even greater prominence in business and technology.