“I’ve remained worried about the future of the state and how the state is going to support the university,” Suri said.

His new job, the Mack Brown Chair of Global Leadership, endowed with money raised by the Longhorns football coach, will allow him to research and teach courses on how history can inform public policy, especially foreign policy.

Suri is taking a one-year leave of absence with the opportunity to come back. His salary will increase from $113,000 to $220,000.

“Obviously, should he choose to stay at Texas, it would be quite a loss for our department,” said Florencia Mallon, chair of the UW-Madison history department.

Balser said the University of Florida offered her a unique position, one that doesn’t exist on the UW-Madison campus.

As dean, Balser will be responsible for 750 faculty, 5,200 undergraduates, the undergraduate curriculum and faculty development.

Because there are two other deans who focus on research and outreach, she’ll be able to focus on academics.

“It was pretty well recognized that this was an exceptional opportunity,” Balser said. “It’s where I’d like to go with my career. There isn’t really a position like it on this campus.”

She’ll go from getting a salary of $110,000 a year to $215,000 a year.