MILWAUKEE, (CBS 58) — On Sunday UW-Milwaukee awarded more than three thousand degrees to graduates at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena.

"I'm so proud of them for having accomplished this to get to this point, given so many challenges that have been going on in the world," said Mark Mone, Chancellor, UW-Milwaukee.

As these students step into the next chapter of their lives so will their Chancellor.

After 11 years at the helm, UW Milwaukee Chancellor Mark Mone addressed his final commencement ceremony.

"I haven't had a lot of time to think about this is the last one maybe it will hit me in the afternoon," said Mone.

Before Mone looks to his next endeavor, he reflected on some of the challenges he overcame during his tenure.

"Pretty much the day I was announced back in 2014, we had the largest budget cuts in the history of the university of Wisconsin system, Covid, I have had a couple rounds of cancer there were encampments. There's no shortage of things that come at you that's the nature of the job and I have felt strong throughout I am very fortunate to have an incredible team," Mone explained.

According to UWM Report, Mone will return to teaching after this coming spring. He says right now he's focusing on finishing the job strong.

"I have an appointment to help with the transition of my successor over the summer. We have already begun onboarding Dr. Gibson he's going to be great, and I really forward to after September having an administrative subapical to figure out what are the next steps," said Mone.