Rebecca Blank

Rebecca Blank
Official portrait, 2009
11th Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin–Madison
In office July 22, 2013 – June 1, 2022
Preceded by	David Ward (interim) Biddy Martin
Succeeded by	John Scholz (acting) Jennifer Mnookin
United States Secretary of Commerce
Acting
In office June 11, 2012 – June 1, 2013
President	Barack Obama
Preceded by	John Bryson
Succeeded by	Cameron Kerry (acting)
In office August 1, 2011 – October 21, 2011
President	Barack Obama
Preceded by	Gary Locke
Succeeded by	John Bryson
United States Deputy Secretary of Commerce
In office November 18, 2010[a] – June 1, 2013
President	Barack Obama
Preceded by	Dennis Hightower
Succeeded by	Bruce H. Andrews
Under Secretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs
In office June 9, 2009 – March 29, 2012
President	Barack Obama
Preceded by	Cynthia Glassman
Succeeded by	Mark Doms
Personal details
Born	Rebecca Margaret Blank (1955-09-19)September 19, 1955 Columbia, Missouri, U.S.
Died	February 17, 2023(2023-02-17) (aged 67) Fitchburg, Wisconsin, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Hanns Kuttner ​ (m. 1994)​
Children	1
Education	University of Minnesota (BA) Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA, PhD)
a. ^ Acting until March 29, 2012

Rebecca Margaret Blank^[1] (September 19, 1955 – February 17, 2023) was an American economist and academic administrator. She was chancellor of the University of Wisconsin–Madison from 2013 to 2022. She served in several senior roles in the United States Department of Commerce during the presidency of Barack Obama, including more than a year as acting United States Secretary of Commerce.