Universities of Wisconsin announced on Nov. 21 the members of a search committee who will help look for Chancellor Andrew Leavitt’s replacement following his resignation announcement in October.
As reported by the Advance-Titan in October, Leavitt will step down from the university this summer.
“The institution is on the right track, and it won’t lose a step through the leadership transition next summer,” Leavitt said in his resignation announcement.
“Student success is at the heart of UW-Oshkosh, which enrolls nearly 13,000 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and high school learners. Students benefit from personalized support with small class sizes, a wealth of academic and personal support services and personalized career and academic advising,” the Universities of Wisconsin wrote in a press release. “(…) The university plays a critical role in the region through partnerships and research, while students benefit from employment, entertainment, and recreation in a thriving community and region.”
Universities of Wisconsin regent Ashok Rai will chair the Search and Screen Committee, assisted by UWO Associate Radio/TV/Film Professor Andrew Smock, who will serve as vice chair. The committee will feature five other regents, including UWO student and nontraditional student Regent Desmond Adongo, as well as other university and City of Oshkosh representatives.
“The next leader of UW Oshkosh must be prepared to embrace the opportunities and challenges facing the university as it pursues financial sustainability and academic renewal – all while focusing on student success,” Amy Bogost, Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents President said.
“We appreciate Presidents Bogost and [Universities of Wisconsin President Jay] Rothman sharing their decisions and helping launch a timely search process,” UWO Chief of Staff Alex Hummel said in an email. “[We] also appreciate UWO shared governance leaders who advanced nominees for this crucial committee’s service.”
The committee, assisted by executive search firm Storbeck Search/DSG Global, will hold listening sessions on Dec. 9. These will be held at both 2:30 and 5:30 P.M. in the Reeve Theatre (307). The committee and firm will take the feedback from the listening session, and find and interview candidates. Candidates selected from the interviews will be forwarded to a special regent committee for further approval before being recommended to the full Board of Regents, who ultimately has the authority to hire the 12th chancellor. A dedicated webpage has been created on the UWO website which will serve as a hub for information during the process.
As reported, Chancellor Leavitt’s final day will be June 30, 2025. UWO hopes to have a new chancellor in place by July 1.
