Daniel J. Blankenship has been the Campus Dean and Chief Executive Officer for the University of Wisconsin-Fond du Lac since July of 2002.

Dr. Blankenship came to UW-Fond du Lac from the position of Dean, School of Mathematics and Science at the University of Great Falls in Great Falls Montana, a position he held for eight years. He also held faculty rank as Professor of Biology in the School of Mathematics and Science and continued teaching and research during his 14 years as a faculty member there.

Within the UW Colleges, Dr. Blankenship is a tenured professor of biology and teaches microbiology at UW-Fond du Lac each year.

He is active in several area organizations, serving as treasurer and ex officio member of the UW-Fond du Lac Foundation Board of Directors and as a member of the Fond du Lac Arts Council Board and the Leadership Fond du Lac Steering Committee. He is a member of the Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce Sounding Board, the Northeastern Wisconsin Educational Resource Alliance, the UW System Liberal Arts Steering Committee and the Healthcare Workforce Shortage Committee of the Workforce Development Board in Neenah, Wisconsin. Dr. Blankenship completed a Ph.D. in 1985 at Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, California. He completed a M.A. in 1981 and his B.S. from what is now La Sierra University in Riverside, California in 1979. During his senior year in college, Dr. Blankenship had the opportunity to travel to Kisii, Kenya, where he taught biology at the Kamagambo Secondary School. Following the completion of his Ph.D., he did some post-doctoral research on the effects of herbicides on small animal populations at the University of Wyoming followed by a teaching appointment at a community college.

An aviation enthusiast, Dr. Blankenship holds a current pilot’s license with endorsements for operation of complex, retractable and high performance airplanes.  He is a member of the Aircraft Owner’s and Pilot’s Association (AOPA) and Mooney Aircraft and Pilot’s Association (MAPA) and he currently flies a Mooney airplane. Dr. Blankenship is certified as an Extra Class Amateur Radio Operator and also enjoys hiking and motorcycle riding.

Dr. Blankenship’s life philosophy is based on two of his favorite quotes: “The important thing is to not stop questioning,” – Albert Einstein; and “The way to get good ideas is to get lots of ideas and throw the bad ones away,” – Linus Pauling.