Viterbo University has created its first endowed chair position, thanks to a $1.25 million gift from an anonymous donor. The William Medland Chair of Educational Leadership is named to honor the institution’s longest serving president.

“Endowed chairs are used to honor excellence and perpetuate values and important work,” Tonya Wagner, Viterbo’s vice president of academic affairs, noting that this is the first for the university. Endowments for chair positions could be used to augment salary, allow for additional release time to present at important academic conferences, engage in scholarly research, or participate in other kinds of leadership events.

“Chairships create legacy built on values, and the legacy is really built on the importance of service to community and others, the legacy of the Franciscan Sisters in really developing that next generation of educational leaders,” Wagner said. “The most important thing is it adds prestige and honor and recognizes the excellence in that person, but it also allows them to dedicate more time to scholarship and dissemination of their work to others.”

The honor of being named the first Medland Chair goes to Scott Mihalovic, a lifelong La Crosse resident who was a longtime and highly respected principal with the La Crosse School District before becoming Viterbo’s educational leadership program coordinator in 2014. Mihalovic oversees programs providing training for educators interested in becoming principals, superintendents and directors of student services or instruction.

“Bill Medland and I had a great relationship, and that’s what makes this honor special to me,” Mihalovic said. “The beautiful part of this opportunity is the value that’s bestowed on educational leaders and how that’s going to come to fruition to allow more good things to happen in the future.”

As Logan High School principal, Mihalovic served with Medland on the committee that created the La Crosse Tribune Extra Effort Award program. After two years of only giving out three scholarships, Medland and Mihalovic worked together to recruit support from the business community so all Extra Effort nominees would receive a monetary award.

Mihalovic also worked with Medland to establish an annual event at Viterbo honoring area high school students whose community volunteer activities have been exemplary of Viterbo’s Franciscan values.

In his 15 years as president (1991-2006), Medland expanded Viterbo’s scope and impact through new programs, innovations and developments that transformed Viterbo College into Viterbo University. Building upon the legacy of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, Medland recognized the importance of developing ethical leaders and made that a core part of Viterbo’s mission.

During his tenure, Medland greatly expanded enrollment with 13 straight years of record enrollment, and he initiated Viterbo’s first graduate education programs, including master’s degree programs in education, business and servant leadership as well as educational leadership certificate programs.

The donor knew Medland and wanted to honor his contributions to Viterbo and the community and help Viterbo continue its record of excellence in training educational leaders.

“We sincerely thank the generous donor for making this monumental gift to Viterbo,” said Bob Van Wicklin, Viterbo’s vice president for institutional advancement. “The positive impact of this endowed chair will be felt for on our campus and in our community for years to come.”

FUN FACT: Both Bill Medland and Scott Mihalovic were honored with the La Crosse Tribune Person of the Year Award.