OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) – Two finalists have been announced in the search for the next UW System president. But what are exactly are chancellors looking to find in that person?
UW Oshkosh Chancellor Andrew Leavitt says it takes a special person to fulfill the obligations of the job and push the system into the future.
“It’s a big job! There’s no question. Whomever they hire needs to be a super person, and I have every confidence that they will be,” Leavitt told WTAQ News. “Someone who can really help us make in-roads here in Wisconsin in terms of the local support we receive from citizens and from our legislature, and to make sure that we continue to produce the best possible experience, a world class experience, for our students.”
The search began as interim UW System President Tommy Thompson announced earlier this month that he would be stepping down, effective March 18th. Leavitt credited Thompson for what he was able to accomplish in that role.
“Right person at the right time, as we all like to say, in terms of marshalling the resources for working through COVID,” Leavitt said.
Leavitt hopes the next person can keep that work rolling, and move the system forward.
“Someone who can continue to lead us out of COVID, and at the same time, set the stage for what’s next for the UW,” Leavitt said. “[Someone who can] engage huge numbers of people who have some college but need access for degree completion. Someone who can provide leadership in terms of resource development, how good are they at securing resources from federal and state sources?”
UW Oshkosh Chancellor Andrew Leavitt. (IMAGE: Courtesy of UW-Oshkosh Chancellor’s Office)
Leavitt says they need a storyteller who can articulate and passionately discuss the value of the university system to the citizens of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin idea, and to really bring people closer to the University of Wisconsin System.
Another factor, Leavitt says, is how the person would interact and build a culture within the system.
“They have a profound impact in terms of creating the kind of leadership culture amongst the chancellors and vice chancellors that is most constructive for the institutions. We exchange a lot of ideas,” Leavitt said. “We’re close as colleagues, and we work together on issues. It’s really that the UW System president is our leader in that kind of work as we come together to solve problems and create opportunities.”
And considering that individual would also be Leavitt’s direct boss, he’s excited to meet with the finalists next week.
“We actually have quite a bit of input! We had a search and screen committee, which was comprised of almost 20 individuals from across all of the campuses, the board of regents, and also the general public,” Leavitt said. “You have multiple finalists, and then those individuals are brought forward so that different constituencies can weigh and measure them…The chancellors will have an opportunity to meet with the candidates, perhaps sometime next week, to ask questions and just get a sense of these individuals. And certainly, they’re [the committee] going to ask us what our input is.”
The finalists are:
- Jay O. Rothman, chairman and CEO of the law firm Foley & Lardner LLP in Milwaukee. He has served in that role since June 2011 and has been a member of the firm’s Management Committee since February 2002. He joined Foley in October 1986 and has been a partner since February 1994. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Marquette University and a law degree from Harvard Law School.
- James C. Schmidt, chancellor at UW-Eau Claire. He has served in that role since July 2013. Previously he was vice president for university advancement at Winona State University in Winona, Minn., and vice president for student affairs at Riverland Community College in Austin, Minn. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Winona State University, a master’s degree in business administration from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, and a doctorate in educational policy and administration from the University of Minnesota.
Biographical information and photos for both candidates are available online.
The finalists will interview Tuesday with the Special Regent Committee and other groups, including shared governance representatives, chancellors, and UW System executive leaders. Manydeeds and Search and Screen Committee chair Karen Walsh, the Regent Vice President, announced that because of the extraordinary public input in the process so far, there will be no public session with the finalists.
After the interviews, the Special Regent Committee will forward a recommendation to the full Board of Regents, which will make the final decision on hiring a new UW System President. A decision is expected by the end of January.
The next UW System President will be the System’s eighth since 1971 legislation unified two public university systems under a single Board of Regents. The system educates approximately 165,000 students at 13 universities across 26 campuses, serves more than 1 million Wisconsin residents through statewide outreach programs, and employs about 39,000 faculty and staff statewide. The total estimated annual economic impact of the UW System exceeds $24 billion.
