Who is Jay Rothman? The president of the Universities of Wisconsin being pushed to step down

Every leadership change in higher education does not begin with a public announcement. Some begin in closed-door meetings and private conversations, before surfacing through documents. That is how the current situation involving Jay Rothman has come into view.

The president of the University of Wisconsin System is resisting efforts by members of the board of regents to force him to retire or face removal. The developments became public after letters sent by Rothman to regents were obtained by the Associated Press.

What the role involves

The Universities of Wisconsin president oversees a system serving about 165,000 students. This includes the flagship campus in Madison, 12 other universities and multiple branch campuses.

The president reports to an 18-member board of regents and supervises campus chancellors, vice presidents and administrative operations. The position sits at the centre of decisions on funding, staffing and system-wide policy.

Rothman is the eighth president of the system, which was created in 1971 by the state legislature.

Why the push to remove him is raising questions

The effort to remove Rothman has not been explained publicly.

In a March 26 letter to the board president, Rothman said he was not given reasons for the apparent lack of confidence in his leadership. “When I asked you to articulate reasons for the Board’s conclusion and apparent lack of confidence in me, you merely noted that each Regent has his or her own perspective on the matter,” he wrote, according to AP. “You did not provide any tangible reasons for the Board’s determination.”

This absence of explanation has turned what could have been a routine leadership change into a broader question about governance and accountability within the system.

Can the board force him out

It remains unclear whether the board of regents can remove the president without cause. A university spokesperson said officials were reviewing what state law allows.

Rothman has said he will not step down without justification. In his communication to the board, he stated that he had not been “provided any substantive reason or reasons” for a loss of confidence in his leadership, according to AP. He added, “I am not prepared, as a matter of principle, to submit my resignation.”

How the situation unfolded

The issue remained out of public view until this week.

The board met in closed session on Wednesday to discuss personnel matters. At the time, there was no indication that Rothman’s position was under discussion.

In a separate letter to two regents, Rothman said he was told that if he did not resign, the board was prepared to meet over the weekend to remove him.

The sequence has drawn attention to how major decisions within public university systems can take shape before becoming visible.

Who Jay Rothman is

Before entering higher education leadership, Rothman spent his career in law. He became chairman and chief executive officer of Foley & Lardner, a national law firm with offices across the United States.

He holds a bachelor’s degree from Marquette University and a law degree from Harvard University.

When he was appointed in 2022, regent Karen Walsh described him as a consensus builder. She declined to comment on the current situation when contacted by AP.

His time as president

Rothman’s tenure has included efforts to increase state funding, manage debates over free speech during campus protests and respond to declining enrolment that led to the closure of eight branch campuses.

In 2023, he raised the possibility of resigning after the board rejected a funding agreement with the Republican-controlled legislature related to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The board later reversed its decision and approved the deal.

These episodes reflect the pressures faced by university leaders operating between political priorities, financial constraints and campus demands.

What happens next

The dispute comes at a time when the system is preparing for another leadership change. Jennifer Mnookin is set to leave her role to become president of Columbia University.

For now, the immediate question is not only whether Rothman remains in office, but how decisions about leadership are made and explained within public institutions.

The outcome will determine more than one position. It will shape how authority, transparency and accountability are balanced in one of the largest university systems in the United States.

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