University of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman wrote in a letter obtained by the Associated Press on Thursday, March 26 stating he would not be leaving the 165,000-student system, having been given no reason by the Board of Regents. The board had previously told the president of 4 years that he had a choice: to either resign or retire on his own terms, or to be fired as the board “was prepared to terminate (his) employment despite all that has been accomplished.”
Rothman stated that his resignation would not be at the best of times since Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin, the current and soon-to-be former Chancellor of the UW-Madison campus, would be leaving to take a position at the University of Colombia. Rothman has also stated that he has poured his heart and soul into the mission of the University of Wisconsin campuses, and was surprised that an “unidentifiable majority had lost confidence” in his leadership.
Republican State Rep. Amanda Nedweski has since accused the board of trying to push Rothman out to “install someone more closely aligned with their progressive agenda,” as members of the board were appointed by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. This statement from Nedweski has since created disputes between the board and Republican lawmakers over diversity, equality, and inclusion initiatives.