MADISON, Wis.—On the recommendation of the 23-member Search & Screen Committee, the Special Regent Committee for the UW-Madison Chancellor Search has identified three finalists who have agreed to be interviewed for the position and appear at public forums next week.
The finalists, listed in alphabetical order, are:
- Dr. Rashid Bashir, Dean, College of Engineering, and Grainger Distinguished Chair in Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Dr. John Coleman, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, and Professor of Political Science, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Dr. Radenka Maric, President and Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Connecticut
The finalists will appear separately at public forums next week as follows:
- Monday, Nov. 9, 4:30–5:30 p.m., Tripp Commons, Memorial Union, 800 Langdon Street
- Dr. Rashid Bashir
- Thursday, Nov. 12, 4:30–5:30 p.m., Tripp Commons
- Dr. John Coleman
- Friday, Nov. 13, 4:30–5:30 p.m., Tripp Commons
- Dr. Radenka Maric
Students, staff, faculty, and members of the public are invited to attend the public forums, which will be held in person and will not be livestreamed. A feedback form will be available at the chancellor search page: https://go.wisc.edu/finalist_feedback. The form will be open until 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14.
The finalists will also interview with UW-Madison students, staff governance members, and deans; external partners; and others.
To select the next UW-Madison chancellor, the Regents convened a 23-member Search and Screen Committee, including UW-Madison students, faculty and staff, alumni and community stakeholders. The Search and Screen Committee, led by Universities of Wisconsin Regent Amy B. Bogost, chair, and UW-Madison Division of Extension Professor Annie Jones, vice chair, reviewed candidates and recommended qualified candidates to the Special Regent Committee, which determined finalists. After the interviews and forums, the Special Regent Committee will deliberate and forward a recommendation to the full Board of Regents, which will make the final decision on hiring the next UW-Madison chancellor. The process follows Universities of Wisconsin hiring policies, and the next chancellor will report to the President of the Universities of Wisconsin.
Biographical information and photos of each candidate are available online: https://chancellorsearch.wisc.edu/
UW-Madison is the flagship campus of the Universities of Wisconsin. It is recognized internationally for its rigorous academics, ground-breaking discovery, and rich student experience, as well as its steadfast commitment to public service, a core campus principle known as the Wisconsin Idea.
ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN–MADISON
With a nearly $5 billion budget, UW-Madison is composed of 13 schools and colleges which offer upwards of 300 undergraduate majors and certificates, as well as more than 250 master’s, doctoral, and professional programs. UW-Madison’s research enterprise is one of the largest and most diverse in the nation. The university is a member of the Big Ten Conference, and the Wisconsin Badgers field 23 NCAA Division 1 teams. In 2026, UW-Madison was ranked fourth among public universities in the United States by Time magazine, which uses the rankings to highlight institutions that drive academic excellence globally. The university was 12th among public universities in the U.S. News & World Report rankings in 2025.
ABOUT THE UNIVERSITIES OF WISCONSIN
The Universities of Wisconsin serve approximately 164,500 students. Awarding more than 37,000 degrees annually, these 13 public universities are Wisconsin’s talent pipeline, putting graduates in position to increase their earning power, contribute to their communities, and make Wisconsin a better place to live. Nearly 90 percent of in-state Universities of Wisconsin graduates stay in the state five years after earning a degree. The universities provide a 23:1 return on state investment. The Universities of Wisconsin also contribute to the richness of Wisconsin’s culture and economy with groundbreaking research, new companies and patents, and boundless creative intellectual energy. Learn more at wisconsin.edu.