University of Oregon appoints economist John Karl Scholz as president

The University of Oregon has named economist John Karl Scholz as the school’s incoming president.

He takes up the new role on July 1, and moves to the institution from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he is currently provost.

Much of Karl Scholz’s work has focused on taxation policy, and his expertise is in household savings, low-wage labor markets, financial barriers to higher education and bankruptcy laws.

Outside academia, he has also served in two United States presidential administrations, working in the U.S. Treasury Department and the Council of Economic Advisors.

Commenting on the appointment, University of Oregon Board of Trustees Chair Connie Seeley said: “I think everyone on the search committee would agree with me when I say Karl Scholz is an inspiring, humble, and approachable leader with an impressive depth of experience. He radiates his joy for working in public higher education and care for serving students,” said Seeley. “He personifies the qualities the university community said they most value.”