UW-Superior Chancellor Renée Wachter will serve as interim president of the Universities of Wisconsin, following the April ousting of former president Jay Rothman.

Additionally, Board of Regents president Amy Bogost announced Friday that a 25-member committee will lead the search for the system’s next permanent president.

Wachter’s appointment takes effect May 18. Bogost said the longtime chancellor received strong support from regents and campus leaders as the system begins its presidential search.

“(Wachter) brings the experience, judgment, and institutional understanding this moment requires,” Bogost said in a statement. “As our longest-serving chancellor, she knows our universities, our communities, and the challenges and opportunities facing public higher education in Wisconsin.”

The presidential search committee will be chaired by regent Ashok Rai and includes regents, chancellors, faculty, staff, students and business leaders from across Wisconsin.

The Presidential Search Committee is expected to convene in the coming weeks to receive its formal charge and review search procedures. A team of staff from Universities of Wisconsin Human Resources, the Office of the Board of Regents, and  executive search firm AGB Search will support the committee throughout the process.

“The next president must bring the courage, discipline, and forward-looking leadership needed to guide the Universities of Wisconsin through one of the most consequential periods in higher education,” Bogost said.

Rothman was fired by the Board of Regents in April after a unanimous vote following what Regents president Amy Bogost described as a formal performance review process. Rothman, who had led the Universities of Wisconsin since 2022, said after his termination that he was “blindsided” by the decision and that the board had not clearly explained why it had lost confidence in his leadership.

Regents later defended the move during a state Senate hearing, saying Rothman had been aware of concerns about his leadership style before the vote. Regent Timothy Nixon said the board believed the university system needed more decisive leadership as higher education faces challenges including enrollment pressures, workforce demands and the rise of artificial intelligence.

Rothman disputed the board’s characterization, saying in letters sent before his firing that his evaluations had been positive and highlighting accomplishments during his tenure, including securing a major state funding increase for the university system.

More details regarding the upcoming selection process will be released in the coming weeks, according to the release. The successful candidate will require the approval of the full Board of Regents and is anticipated to be selected later this year.

In addition to Rai, the members of the search committee include:

• Ian Abston, president, Forward 48 and Hoan Group, UW-Oshkosh alumnus
• Angela Adams, regent
• Lynn Akey, chancellor, UW-Parkside
• Tracie Banning, academic department associate, educational studies, UW-La Crosse
• Johannes Britz, senior vice president, academic and student affairs, Universities of Wisconsin administration
• Kate Burns, provost, UW-Green Bay
• Raffay Chaudhry, speaker of the Senate, Student Government Association, UW-Green Bay
• Katherine Frank, chancellor, UW-Stout
• Noah Fritz, student regent
• Thomas Gibson, chancellor, UW-Milwaukee
• Michael Gilmer, assistant chancellor for student affairs and strategic enrollment and dean of students, UW-River Falls
• Julie Gordon, vice president, finance and administration, Universities of Wisconsin administration
• Marquell Johnson, professor and department chair, Kinesiology, UW-Eau Claire
• Jim Kreuser, regent
• Edwin Martini, incoming chancellor, UW-Eau Claire
• Rebecca Mueller, associate research administration director, Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, UW-Whitewater
• Tom Palzewicz, regent
• Joan Prince, regent
• Matt Richards, member, board of directors, UW-Platteville Foundation and Alumni Association
• Sara Rogers, regent
• Kristi Roth, professor, School of Education, UW-Stevens Point
• Nicholle Schuelke, professor of teacher education, chair of Department of Education, UW-Superior
• Bill Westrate, chair and chief executive officer, American Family Insurance
• John Zumbrunnen, provost, UW-Madison