Ousted University of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman Speaks Out

Jay Rothman, the president of the Universities of Wisconsin, has been fired by the system’s Board of Regents. In an interview with The Associated Press on April 8, 2026, Rothman stated that he was blindsided by the decision to remove him from his position.

The decision followed a unanimous vote by the Board of Regents on Tuesday, April 1, 2026. The vote occurred after the board convened in a private session lasting just over 20 minutes. This meeting followed another private session held the previous week to discuss personnel matters.

Timeline of the Ouster

The effort to remove Rothman became public on Thursday, March 27, 2026, after The Associated Press obtained correspondence sent by Rothman to the regents. In a letter dated March 26, 2026, Rothman indicated he had no intention of resigning or retiring, despite being informed that an unidentified majority of the board wanted him out.

Rothman had previously expressed surprise regarding the board’s desire to remove him. He noted that no regents had publicly aired concerns about his performance and he claimed that no regent had provided an explanation for why they wanted him removed from the post.

Administrative Transition and Leadership

Following the board’s vote, Chris Patton, a vice president for university relations, was named acting executive-in-charge. Patton will hold this role until an interim president is appointed.

The leadership change occurs as the system is also managing a transition at its flagship campus. Jennifer Mnookin is departing her role as chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison to become the president of Columbia University. Prior to his firing, Rothman had appointed Eric Wilcots, a dean at UW-Madison, to serve as interim chancellor.

System Overview and Contract Terms

The Universities of Wisconsin system, created by the state Legislature in 1971, includes 13 universities and several branch campuses. The system enrolls more than 160,000 students annually and operates with an annual budget of approximately $7 billion.

Rothman, who served as the eighth president of the system, was hired in 2022. Before taking the presidency, he served as the CEO of the Milwaukee-based law firm Foley & Lardner.

Rothman’s annual salary was $600,943. According to the terms of his contract, he was required to receive six months’ notice before termination. The contract also allows for reassignment to other duties during that six-month period while the individual continues to receive full salary.

The president of the system reports to the 18-member Board of Regents. The role involves overseeing the entire university system, including the administrative offices, and managing the chancellors and vice presidents who run the individual campuses.