MADISON, Wis.—University of Wisconsin System President Tommy Thompson and Regent President Andrew S. Petersen issued this statement today:
“It is with great sadness that we learned our friend and colleague José Delgado passed away yesterday. Regent Delgado was a Wisconsin leader, creating the American Transmission Company and serving as its initial President and Chief Executive Officer. While serving on the Board of Regents since 2014, Regent Delgado was a champion of higher education as a way to improve lives and communities in Wisconsin while holding the UW System accountable. He was continually looking for ways to stay involved in his community and his state. We will all miss his charm and grace at our meetings and extend our heartfelt condolences to his family.”
The University of Wisconsin System serves approximately 165,000 students. Awarding nearly 37,000 degrees annually, the UW System is 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 UW System graduates stay in Wisconsin five years after earning a degree. The UW System provides a 23:1 return on state investment. UW System institutions also contribute to the richness of Wisconsin’s culture and economy with groundbreaking research, new companies and patents, and boundless creative intellectual energy.