He stepped down as chancellor and returned to the faculty on September 1, 2008. From November 1, 2008, through November 2011, he served as interim director of the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery.
He relinquished his role as chancellor on September 1, 2008, and resumed faculty responsibilities. From November 1, 2008, to November 2011, he served in a temporary capacity as the director of the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery.