Universities of Wisconsin names three finalists for system president

The Universities of Wisconsin Presidential Search Committee has named three finalists to lead the state’s 13 public universities. The finalists will appear at public forums next week.

The finalists are:

Steven Gareth Holley, executive vice chancellor and chief operating officer at the University of Mississippi
Tonjanita L. Johnson, senior vice chancellor for academic and student affairs at the University of Alabama System
Bernard J. Savarese, vice president for academic affairs, research, and student success at the University of Tennessee System

“Our universities serve every corner of the state, and their success is critical to Wisconsin’s future,” said Board of Regents Vice President Ashok Rai, who chairs the search committee.

Each finalist will speak at two public forums, one at UW-Parkside and one at UW-Madison. Both forums will also stream on Zoom.

Monday, Oct. 26, at UW-Parkside: Bedford Concert Hall, Rita Tallent Picken Regional Center for the Arts & Humanities, Kenosha. Holley speaks at 8 a.m., Johnson at 9:30 a.m. and Savarese at 11 a.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 27, at UW-Madison: Great Hall of Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St. Savarese speaks at 8 a.m., Holley at 9:30 a.m. and Johnson at 11 a.m.

The public can comment on the finalists through the search website, wisconsin.edu/about. Comments open at 8 a.m. Monday and close at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27. The candidates’ bios are also posted there.

The finalists will also interview with the search committee, the chancellors and Universities of Wisconsin administration staff. The committee will then recommend a candidate to the full Board of Regents, which makes the final hiring decision.

Renée Wachter has been interim president since May 18. The next president will be the system’s 10th since 1971. The Universities of Wisconsin enroll about 163,000 students and employ more than 41,000 people.

Madison365 is a news outlet covering communities of color in Wisconsin.