MADISON, WI (WSAU) – Dr. Jim Johnsen, the lone finalist to be the next President of the UW system, has withdrawn from consideration.
He was in Madison earlier this week for a series of interviews.
More than 12,000 people had signed an online petition calling for the search process to start over. Other applicants had dropped out of the process, either citing COVID-19 challenges facing higher education, or taking other jobs.
UW System Regent President Andrew S. Petersen issued the following statement: “It’s disappointing, a dark day for the UW System. Dr. Johnsen is a fine person who conducted himself with professionalism and honor throughout the process, during which he was unanimously identified by the search committee as the best candidate for our system.
“We will work to identify and get through our immediate financial and operational challenges with the pandemic, then deliberate on the next steps to conduct a new search when there is a better opportunity.”
Johnsen had been the President of the University of Alaska since 2015. Had had also served as a Vice President at the University of Alaska and the University of Minnesota.
