Rebecca Blank

Rebecca Blank
Official portrait, 2009
11th Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin–Madison
In office
July 22, 2013 – June 1, 2022
Preceded byDavid Ward (interim)
Biddy Martin
Succeeded by
United States Secretary of Commerce
Acting
In office
June 11, 2012 – June 1, 2013
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byJohn Bryson
Succeeded byCameron Kerry (acting)
In office
August 1, 2011 – October 21, 2011
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byGary Locke
Succeeded byJohn Bryson
United States Deputy Secretary of Commerce
In office
November 18, 2010[a] – June 1, 2013
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byDennis Hightower
Succeeded byBruce H. Andrews
Under Secretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs
In office
June 9, 2009 – March 29, 2012
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byCynthia Glassman
Succeeded byMark Doms
Personal details
Born
Rebecca Margaret Blank

(1955-09-19)September 19, 1955
Columbia, Missouri, U.S.
DiedFebruary 17, 2023(2023-02-17) (aged 67)
Fitchburg, Wisconsin, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Hanns Kuttner
(m. 1994)
Children1
Education
a. ^ Acting until March 29, 2012

Rebecca Margaret Blank[1] (September 19, 1955 – February 17, 2023) was an American economist and academic administrator. She was chancellor of the University of Wisconsin–Madison from 2013 to 2022. She served in several senior roles in the United States Department of Commerce during the presidency of Barack Obama, including more than a year as acting United States Secretary of Commerce.

  1. ^ "S.Hrg. 111–429 — NOMINATIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE". www.congress.gov. Archived from the original on April 30, 2022. Retrieved April 30, 2022.