Wisconsin Board of Regents Fires UW System President

Rothman's ouster comes amid leadership changes at flagship Madison campus

Apr. 7, 2026 at 10:51pm

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A dimly lit, cinematic office space with a lone desk and chair, the walls and floors cast in deep shadows and warm, angled light, conveying a sense of solitude and unease.The sudden dismissal of the UW System president has cast a pall of uncertainty over Wisconsin's public universities.Today in Milwaukee

The Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents voted unanimously on Tuesday to fire UW System President Jay Rothman, effective immediately. The board took the action after a closed-door meeting, with no public discussion or explanation provided. Rothman had served as president since 2022, despite having no prior experience in higher education administration.

Why it matters

The sudden dismissal of the UW System president has thrown the state's public university system into turmoil, raising questions about the board's decision-making process and the future leadership of the system. The move also comes as the flagship Madison campus is losing its chancellor, Jennifer Mnookin, who is departing to become president of Columbia University.

The details

The board's vote to fire Rothman came after a roughly 30-minute closed session meeting, with no public comment or discussion. Republican state Sen. Rob Hutton criticized the board's decision, saying they owe the public an explanation for "throwing the System into turmoil." Rothman, the former chair and CEO of the Milwaukee-based Foley & Lardner law firm, had a $600,943 salary as UW president despite having no prior higher education experience.

  • The Board of Regents voted to fire Jay Rothman on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
  • Rothman had been president of the UW System since 2022.

The players

Jay Rothman

Former president of the Universities of Wisconsin System, who was fired by the Board of Regents on April 7, 2026. Rothman had no prior experience in higher education administration before becoming UW System president in 2022.

Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents

The governing body that unanimously voted to fire UW System President Jay Rothman on April 7, 2026.

Jennifer Mnookin

Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who is leaving the flagship campus at the end of the current academic year in May 2026 to become president of Columbia University.

Rob Hutton

Republican state senator who criticized the Board of Regents' decision to fire Rothman, saying they owe the public an explanation.

Tony Evers

Governor of Wisconsin, who said the decision to fire Rothman was "their call" when asked about it.

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What they’re saying

“The Regents owe the Wisconsin citizens, employers, and students who rely on a strong, stable UW System an explanation for why they chose to throw the System into turmoil.”

— Rob Hutton, Republican state senator

“It's their call.”

— Tony Evers, Governor of Wisconsin

What’s next

The Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents will appoint an interim president to lead the UW System while they search for a permanent replacement for Jay Rothman.

The takeaway

The sudden dismissal of the UW System president has created instability and uncertainty within Wisconsin's public university system, raising questions about the board's decision-making process and the future leadership of the state's higher education institutions.