MADISON, Wis. -- Cornell University Provost Biddy Martin is poised to become the University of Wisconsin-Madison's new chancellor.

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Martin said that she's eager to get to work to "enhance the standing of an already great university."

She said that one of her top priorities will be lobbying for higher salaries for faculty and staff. She said that the competition for top scholars is fierce and will only get more intense in future years.

She said that among her priorities will be seizing the opportunities of what she calls a "global knowledge economy" and pushing for competitive benefits and pay so the UW is ready for a big exodus of retiring staff.

"The University of Wisconsin is not the only university in the country that's concerned about getting as possible in advance of this massive retirement, so we want to be in a strong position going forward and I'll work with everyone I can possibly work with."

Madison lawyer David Walsh, the chairman of a Board of Regents committee, headed the five-member search committee that was charged with selecting a candidate to recommend to the full board. They weighed the three remaining finalists who sought to be the next leader of the state's flagship university.

The Board of Regents must still approve Martin's recommendation by the committee. They are set to consider her in June.

Walsh said that all the candidates were excellent and that the final decision was a close one, but that Martin won out because of her experience, confidence and combination of skills.

"We thought this leader had the experience we needed to face the challenges and this is relationships with the Legislature, the globalization of this university and also meeting some of the national challenges. She has a lot of national experience," Walsh said.

Walsh said that she also has a passion for the campus while understanding its specific challenges. He said it's clear that Madison is a special place to Martin.

Martin said she will make in the $500,000 range annually for running a campus with 40,000 students and 16,000 faculty and staff. She earns about $500,000 per year at Cornell.

Bill Tracy, UW professor of agronomy and a member of the faculty Senate, said that he supports the selection.

"I think mainly she'll bring a very positive attitude, a can-do attitude that we're going to solve problems and move forward in a very positive way," he said.

Martin Got Her Doctorate At Madison

Carolyn "Biddy" Martin has been at Cornell for the last 24 years. She spent four years at the school as senior associate dean in the College of Arts and Sciences and became provost in charge of Academics and Operations in July 2000.

She received her doctorate from UW-Madison in German literature in 1985.

Martin said that her nickname comes from when she grew up in the rural South. She said that for several generations, all the women in her family have been named Carolyn and each was assigned a nickname starting with the letter "B." She said that her's came from her father coming home when she was a baby and asking where the "biddy" baby was.

The three remaining finalists for the chancellor position were Martin, UW-Madison College of Letters and Sciences Dean Gary Sandefur and former University of Michigan dean Rebecca Blank.

University of Minnesota Vice President for Research Tim Mulcahy announced on Tuesday he had withdrawn his candidacy.

Sandefur released a statement on Wednesday congratulating Martin.

"I look forward to working with her as I continue in my position as dean. My plans are to remain in Madison and at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for the foreseeable future," he said in the statement.

Doyle, Wiley Praise Selection

Gov. Jim Doyle praised the selection in a news release on Wednesday afternoon.

"Through wise and dedicated leadership, the University of Wisconsin has grown to become our country's largest public research institution, and I welcome Dr. Martin to a role that is so vital to our state. I am confident that she will use her expertise to carry UW-Madison, her alma mater, forward," he said in the statement.

Martin is replacing current Chancellor John Wiley, who is stepping down. Wiley said that he will leave in September.

Wiley's office released a statement saying that he was pleased with the choice.

"I was extremely impressed with the slate of finalists. I met Dr. Martin during her campus visit and found her to be very aware of the issues facing higher education, and enthusiastic about helping us maintain our position among great public land grant institutions," Wiley said in the statement. "Her breadth of experience at Cornell is very impressive and should translate well to leading UW-Madison. And she is a Wisconsin alumnae, after all. I'm looking forward to getting to know her better and working with her through the transition."

Martin said that she hopes to start working in August before students arrive on campus.

Stay tuned to WISC-TV and Channel 3000 for continuing coverage.