Former Gov. Tommy Thompson Named As Interim UW System President

MADISON, WI — Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson will be the interim UW System President after striking an agreement with the Board of Regents was struck.

According to officials, Thompson is calling for a renewal of "The Wisconsin Idea," the principle that the UW System serves all parts of the state. At his request, Thompson will be paid the minimum under Board policy, $489,334 salary annually. Board of Regents policy vests the Regent President with authority to name an Interim President.

Current System President Ray Cross will remain with the System as a consultant for 90 days after he leaves office June 30 to assist Thompson’s transition into the role. The move comes one week after University of Alaska Sytem President Jim Johnsen backed out his candidacy for the UW System job. He was the only finalist for the position, and left system officials scrambling to find an interim solution.

The Board of Regents will not commence a search for a permanent president for at least a year. Under the terms of his contract, Thompson will serve until a new president is hired and takes office.

"As a former U.S. Secretary for Health and Human Services, Governor Thompson’s health policy experience will be critical as universities respond to the COVID-19 pandemic," officials said Friday.

“The University of Wisconsin System is the state’s most valuable asset, and I will be its biggest advocate and its toughest evaluator,” Thompson said. “No other institution in the state can do more to improve lives, communities, and Wisconsin’s economy.”

Born in Elroy, Wis., Thompson, 78, earned his bachelor’s and law degrees from UW-Madison. He was elected to the Wisconsin Assembly in 1966 and became minority leader in 1981.

He won election as governor in 1986 and won an unprecedented four terms, which makes him the longest-serving governor in Wisconsin history. As governor, he remained committed to a strong university system, faculty research, and the Wisconsin Idea. He stepped down during his fourth term to become HHS secretary under President George W. Bush, a role where he oversaw an increase in funding for the National Institutes of Health and enhanced local public health preparedness.

He is currently a senior fellow with the Bipartisan Policy Center and chairman and chief executive officer of Thompson Holdings. He serves on the board of directors of Centene Corporation; United Therapeutics Corporation; Physicians Realty Trust; and TherapeuticsMD, Inc.