Chancellor King named a top executive by Milwaukee Business Journal

Chancellor King named a top executive by Milwaukee Business Journal

October 27, 2025

During his tenure at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Chancellor Corey A. King has overseen three consecutive years of enrollment growth and a renewed sense of pride from students, faculty, staff, and alums behind a "Warhawk Bold" mentality he instilled on campus.

King was recognized for his efforts as the Milwaukee Business Journal selected him as one of 21 C-Suite Stars for 2025. He is one of six honorees in the Top Executive category, and the only higher education leader recognized.

King is joined on the full list by leaders from Bank Five Nine, Marcus Corporation, the Milwaukee Brewers, Northwestern Mutual, and other businesses and organizations in Milwaukee and southern Wisconsin.

"I'm honored to be selected among this group of talented individuals, but I'm most proud of serving as this university's chancellor and all that we've accomplished together," King said. "Over the last three years, I've witnessed the dedication, passion, and talent that make our university thrive. I'm so proud to call UW-Whitewater my home.

"I'd like to thank the Milwaukee Business Journal for putting a spotlight on our university and its contributions to southern Wisconsin. At UW-Whitewater, our guiding compass is student success and doing all we can to positively transform students' lives. By supporting students' educational goals, we are ensuring a bright future for the region and state."

Chancellor Corey A. King joins faculty in welcoming graduates as they process into the gym. The College of Integrated Studies on the UW-Whitewater at Rock County campus held its commencement ceremony on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, in Frank Holt Gymnasium at Wells Cultural Center.

Since his arrival in March 2023, King has inspired the campus under the mantra "Warhawk Bold," empowering faculty, staff, and community members to work collaboratively as they solve problems and drive positive change for the present and future stability of the university. A first-generation college student, King has placed a focus on student success and eliminating barriers to academic progress and graduation.

Last month, UW-Whitewater announced its largest incoming class in nearly a decade for fall 2025, and its enrollment of 12,267 students - as recently announced by the Universities of Wisconsin - is up 4.4% from fall 2024.

Chancellor Corey A. King continues his tradition of taking a selfie onstage in the Hamilton Room of the University Center with some of the new students at the SOAR program. New students with their family members and friends visited campus on Tuesday, June 11, 2025.

Under King's leadership, UW-Whitewater has also transformed its financial stability, eliminating a structural deficit that was as high as $8.9 million and beginning the 2025-26 academic year with a positive cash flow. This past year, the university launched a $50 million fundraising campaign - "Our stories. Our future." - the single largest philanthropic effort in its history. To date, over $28 million has been raised.

King's leadership has led to physical changes on campus. Last spring, UW-Whitewater received state approval to renovate Winther Hall, home of the College of Education and Professional Studies, and Heide Hall, and will see several minor facilities projects begin thanks to the largest increase in state funding for the Universities of Wisconsin in 20 years.

Kaylynn Bacon, left, from Albany, describes her research to Chancellor Corey A. King. UW-Whitewater student researchers visited the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison to join in Research in the Rotunda on Wednesday, April 2, 2025.

King has rallied colleagues across both campuses to focus on student success. Earlier this month, UW-Whitewater was named the top Wisconsin public university in student experience and social mobility by The Wall Street Journal. In fall 2024, the university launched One Stop, a universal, on-site resource available to students who have questions about any aspect of academic success and campus life. King's focus in the areas of veteran and servicemember success and mental health have continually enhanced the Warhawk student experience.

Chancellor Corey A. King greets students as he moves through a tunnel of welcoming Warhawks during the annual RU Purple Rally on Monday, Sept. 1, 2025.

Since joining the UW-Whitewater team, King has been a member of the Higher Education Regional Alliance (HERA) executive leadership team, the Walworth County Economic Development Alliance Board, the Whitewater Chamber of Commerce Board, and the Greater Whitewater Committee. He is a strong proponent of programs like the King/Chávez Scholars Program that create pipelines from Milwaukee to the university and support social mobility.

King was announced as UW-Whitewater's 18th chancellor in January 2023 after serving as vice chancellor for inclusivity and student affairs at UW-Green Bay.

Two other Warhawks were recognized on the Milwaukee Business Journal's list. Dave Anderson, who graduated from UW-Whitewater with a BBA in accounting and finance and serves as senior vice president/senior executive for Southeast Wisconsin at BMO Financial Group, joined King on the list of Top Executive honorees. Lynnette Fritz, who earned a B.A. in communication (public relations) and is the chief human resources officer at OwnersEdge, is among the publication's Top HR honorees.