Northwest President-elect Rebecca Blank, who resigned to battle cancer, dies at 67

Madison, Wisconsin (AP) — Less than a year after announcing the death of economist Rebecca Blank, former president of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. advanced cancerShe was 67 years old.

Blank’s illness forced her to step down from her new position as president of Northwestern University last July.

“Becky has been an innovative leader at UW-Madison and has served in difficult times,” said Chancellor Karl Scholz, the school’s Chief Academic Officer. “Early in her tenure, she helped navigate difficult budget cuts. Later in her term, the COVID pandemic. She was smart and determined.”

Blank died Friday, the university said.

She was Madison’s prime minister from 2013 to 2022. Bucky’s Tuition Promise — Named after the school’s badger mascot — Guarantees scholarships and grants to students with a household income of $65,000 or less.

She announced her cancer diagnosis last July, just weeks after leaving Wisconsin.

“Words cannot express how disappointed and sad I am to tell you this,” Blank said. I am delighted to be able to join you all.”

Earlier in her career, she was a professor of economics at Northwestern University.

Blank’s career also included government service under Republican and Democratic presidents. She has held senior positions in the Department of Commerce under President Barack Obama.