Tonjanita Johnson named 10th president of Universities of Wisconsin

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 30 Oct, 20:50 · Archive

Dr. Tonjanita Johnson has been unanimously selected as the 10th president of the Universities of Wisconsin system.

The Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents has unanimously selected Dr. Tonjanita Johnson as the system's 10th president, following a nationwide search. Johnson, 57, will take office on or about January 1, 2027. She was recommended by a 24-member search committee after public forums, interviews and meetings with university chancellors and system leadership across the state.

Johnson has served since 2019 as senior vice chancellor for academic and student affairs for the University of Alabama System, overseeing student success initiatives, academic planning and institutional research. Her career in higher education also includes executive roles as chief operating officer at the University of Tennessee System, chief deputy to the president at Stony Brook University, and leadership positions at Middle Tennessee State University and Mississippi Valley State University.

She will oversee a public university system spanning 13 campuses, serving more than 164,500 students and employing approximately 41,000 faculty and staff. In a statement, Johnson described public higher education as 'an engine of opportunity and economic vitality', saying her focus will be on strengthening connections between UW campuses and communities statewide. Regent leadership praised her experience managing complex public university systems and building consensus around long-term educational goals.

Interim President Renée Wachter will remain in the leadership role until Johnson takes office, then return to her post as chancellor of UW-Superior.

How it is being reported

• Universities of Wisconsin regents select Dr. Tonjanita Johnson as next presidentThe Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents has unanimously chosen Dr. Tonjanita (Tonja) L. Johnson to serve as the system’s 10th president, beginning on or about Jan. 1, 2027.WBAY · 30 Oct, 20:27
• Tonjanita Johnson named 10th president of Universities of WisconsinThe Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents voted unanimously Friday to name Dr. Tonjanita Johnson as the system’s 10th president.WSAW · 30 Oct, 19:41

In this story: Tonjanita Johnson · Universities of Wisconsin · University of Alabama System · Renée Wachter · UW-Superior

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