Chancellor's Office

Dr. Lynn Akey
Chancellor, UW-Parkside

Dr. Lynn D. Akey is an engaged leader committed to educational excellence and student-focused success. With over 25 years of experience in higher education, her broad knowledge of higher education is shaped by administrative appointments in academic and student affairs, extensive professional engagement, and experiences crossing several sectors of the higher education landscape. Her passion centers on the transformative power of education to impact lives, communities, and the world.

Dr. Akey assumed leadership as the seventh chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside in January 2024. Her vision for UW-Parkside includes advancing the institution’s mission to meet the education needs of learners in Southeast Wisconsin and beyond. She advocates for a shift from being a “provider” of education to becoming a “partner” in education, aligning with regional needs to produce community and workplace leaders who apply future-focused ideas and solutions in the real world. Her emphasis on new educational pathways includes the expansion of accelerated completion programs, workforce-paired high-impact experiences, and innovative credentials.

Previously, Dr. Akey served as the founding Vice President for the Division of Student Success, Analytics, and Integrated Planning at Minnesota State University, Mankato. There, she led with expertise in strategic and integrated planning, student enrollment, development and success, financial sustainability and resource management, data-informed decision-making, and assessment of student learning and accreditation. Under her leadership, the University advanced a comprehensive, student-focused approach to success, increasing enrollment, retention, and completion rates while reducing success gaps for historically underserved populations.

Dr. Akey’s professional engagement is extensive at the national, regional, and local levels. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Society of College and University Planning (SCUP), including two terms as Board Chair. Additionally, she has been an integrated planning coach and facilitator for the SCUP Planning Institute and a member of the Higher Learning Commission Peer Review Corps since 2014. She has also served as an evaluator for the Performance Excellence Network, aiding organizations in improving results, fostering innovation, and sustaining operations.

Recognized as a leader in higher education, Dr. Akey has provided consultation for universities, community, and technical colleges in areas of academic and student affairs, student success, integrated planning, and data analytics.

Dr. Akey earned her Doctor of Philosophy degree in Educational Policy and Administration from the University of Minnesota, her Master of Arts degree in College Student Personnel from Bowling Green State University, and her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Truman State University.