UW-Madison interim chancellor named

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - Universities of Wisconsin leaders named the new interim chancellor of University of Wisconsin-Madison on Wednesday.

Dean of the College of Letters & Science Dr. Eric Wilcots will become interim chancellor starting on May 17, system President Jay Rothman said.

“Dean Wilcots is an energetic leader who will continue the positive momentum at our flagship while we search for a permanent successor to Chancellor Mnookin,” Rothman said. “He is extraordinarily well respected across the campus and has a deep knowledge of the university. He is the right person to continue to carry UW-Madison forward.”

Wilcots has been dean of the College of Letters & Science since May 2020, and served in the interim role before he was appointed to the position permanently.

Officials said Wilcots has worked at UW-Madison since 1995, when he was a lecturer in the Department of Astronomy. He later joined the department’s faculty, and has also served in a dean position in other colleges.

Wilcots’ interim appointment comes after it was announced that Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin would be leaving UW-Madison to serve as Columbia University’s next president.

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