Former Governor Thompson interim UW-System Head

University of Wisconsin System regents have selected former Gov. Tommy Thompson as the system’s interim president. The system announced Thompson’s appointment today & he’ll take over on July 1st. He will replace outgoing President Ray Cross, who announced in October he would step down when a successor was found. The regents ‘had’ planned to hire University of Alaska System President Jim Johnsen, but Johnsen ‘withdrew’ from consideration last week amid criticism from faculty, staff and students. Thompson, a Republican, is Wisconsin’s only four-term governor. He stepped down during his fourth term to serve as then-President George W. Bush’s health secretary.