Universities of Wisconsin Seek Next President
The Universities of Wisconsin (UWs) are searching for a new president to lead our 13 universities. To meet the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead, the next president should be a strong advocate for academic quality, research and innovation, student success, public accountability, and shared governance. Guided by the Board of Regents and informed by stakeholder input, the search process will seek an accomplished and visionary leader committed to the mission and values of the UWs.
For the past several months, the Presidential Search Committee, working in partnership with Regents, faculty, staff, students, alumni, business leaders, and community representatives, has conducted a comprehensive search for the next president. Through extensive stakeholder engagement and a nationwide review of candidates, the Committee will identify finalists for this important leadership role.
As a next step in the search process, the finalists will participate in a public forum at UW-Parkside on Monday, October 26 and UW-Madison on Tuesday, October 27. Members of the public are encouraged to attend. Please visit the Listening Sessions page for public forum details.
The Board of Regents and Universities of Wisconsin Administration is partnering with AGB Search in the search for its next president. If you have any questions regarding this search, please direct them to UWPresident@agbsearch.com.
About the Universities of Wisconsin
The Universities of Wisconsin serve more than 164,600 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% of in-state Universities of Wisconsin graduates stay in the state five years after earning a degree. The Universities of Wisconsin also contribute to the richness of Wisconsin’s culture and economy with cutting-edge and life-changing research, new companies and patents, and boundless creative and intellectual energy.
Through a constellation of universities statewide, our two nationally recognized Research I universities in Madison and Milwaukee together with 10 comprehensive universities and Wisconsin’s only polytechnic university offer a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate degree programs – including doctoral and professional degrees – providing unlimited opportunities to explore, learn, and thrive.
History and Mission
The University of Wisconsin System was created by legislation in 1971 through the merger of two public university systems under a single Board of Regents, but its roots date to the mid-1800s, when both the land-grant university in Madison and nine normal schools were founded around the state. In October 2023, the University of Wisconsin System announced its rebrand as the Universities of Wisconsin to place the emphasis on the universities and their students, faculty, and staff, not the administrative structure. The name change was also intended to increase general awareness of public higher education and its value in Wisconsin and to address the need for greater public understanding of how our individual universities are part of a collective network and brand. The Universities of Wisconsin are known throughout the world for the Wisconsin Idea, a long and deep tradition that signifies a general principle: that education should influence people’s lives beyond the boundaries of the classroom.
The mission of the Universities of Wisconsin is to develop human resources, to discover and disseminate knowledge, to extend knowledge and its application beyond the boundaries of its campuses, and to serve and stimulate society by developing in students heightened intellectual, cultural, and humane sensitivities, scientific, professional and technological expertise, and a sense of purpose. Inherent in this broad mission are methods of instruction, research, extended training, and public service designed to educate people and improve the human condition. Basic to every purpose of the Universities of Wisconsin is the search for truth.
Inquiries & Nominations
All inquiries regarding this position, including expressions of interest and candidate nominations, should be directed to UWPresident@agbsearch.com.