Lone Finalist For UW System President Withdraws From Consideration

The only finalist to be the next University of Wisconsin System president is taking himself out of the running.  University of Alaska System President Jim Johnsen was the lone candidate interviewed by the search committee looking for Ray Cross’ successor.  Johnsen’s candidacy was controversial among faculty and staff who complained about his track record at Alaska, and about the selection process in Wisconsin which shut them out.  In his letter withdrawing his name, Johnsen says U-W officials “have important process issues to work out.”  Regent President Andrew Petersen called it,” disappointing, a dark day for the U-W System.”  Petersen says they will work to get through 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.”