Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman named Eric Wilcots as interim chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison effective May 17.
Wilcots, currently dean of the College of Letters & Science, the university’s largest college, will succeed Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin when she departs to become president of Columbia University.
“Dean Wilcots is an energetic leader who will continue the positive momentum at our flagship while we search for a permanent successor to Chancellor Mnookin,” Rothman said. “He is extraordinarily well respected across the campus and has a deep knowledge of the university. He is the right person to continue to carry UW-Madison forward.”
Wilcots has served as the dean of the College of Letters & Science since May 2020. Prior to his role of dean, he served as deputy dean of the college and associate dean for research, as well as associate dean for natural sciences.
Wilcots has been part of the UW–Madison campus since 1995, when he started as a lecturer in the Department of Astronomy before joining the faculty a year later.
“I am both humbled and honored to be asked to serve in this leadership role at such a consequential time in UW-Madison’s history,” said Wilcots.
