Hixson tabbed to chair committee overseeing university system
Photo 
Kim Hixson
MADISON — A local professor-turned-legislator will head up the Assembly committee overseeing Wisconsin's university system.
Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan, D-Janesville, appointed Rep. Kim Hixson, D-Whitewater, as chairman of the Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee.
Hixson, who is on unpaid leave from his associate professor position at UW-Whitewater, replaces Rep. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, a frequent critic of the University of Wisconsin System.
Sheridan said Hixson provided inside experience that will help the committee.
"He's got a strong background in the system," he said. "Why wouldn't you want somebody who has knowledge in that area to lead that area?"
Sheridan said he saw no conflict of interest in appointing someone on leave from the university system to head the committee overseeing the system.
"He's not overseeing the Whitewater campus; he's overseeing the entire system," Sheridan said. "Any decisions that are made are going to be voted on by the entire Legislature. And also, it's not a committee of one."
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