Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents chooses Tonjanita Johnson to lead UW System

“I am deeply honored by the confidence the Board of Regents has placed in me and excited about the opportunity to serve the people of Wisconsin,” Dr. Tonjanita (Tonja) L. Johnson said following her selection.

Unanimous Regent Vote Names Johnson Tenth President

The Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents voted unanimously Friday to select Johnson as the system’s next president, according to a Universities of Wisconsin press release. Johnson, a native of Butler, Alabama, currently serves as the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs at the University of Alabama System, a post she has held since 2019.

Her appointment is scheduled to begin on or about January 1, 2027. Johnson will step into the role as the 10th president of the Universities of Wisconsin.

A Search Following Historic Leadership Turmoil

The selection follows a turbulent period for the university system. In April, the Regents voted unanimously to fire former president Jay Rothman, marking the first time in university history that such termination action had been taken against a sitting leader, according to reporting from The Badger Herald.

To find a successor, a 24-member Presidential Search Committee evaluated candidates through public forums, interviews, and meetings with chancellors and university staff leadership. Prior to her recommendation to the full board, Johnson participated in public forums, including a session with UW-Madison students on Tuesday where she addressed academic freedom and diversity, equity, and inclusion as personal priorities, as reported by The Badger Herald.

Leadership Perspectives on the System’s Future

Regent Vice President Ashok Rai, who chaired the search committee, emphasized the scope of the appointment in the release.

From the beginning, our goal was to identify an exceptional leader who understands both the enormous responsibility and the extraordinary potential of the Universities of Wisconsin, and who can chart a bold course for our future. Dr. Johnson brings the vision, experience, and leadership to do exactly that.

Regent President Kyle Weatherly noted that Johnson understands how the university system has historically opened opportunities for students and expressed confidence that she will closely connect the institutions to the state’s future trajectory.

Extensive Administrative Background Across Public Systems

Johnson’s background in higher education administration spans multiple public university systems. She has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at the University of Tennessee System, Chief Deputy to the President at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, Associate Vice President for Marketing and Communications at Middle Tennessee State University, and has held several executive positions at Mississippi Valley State University.

Academically, she earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in communication from the University of Alabama, followed by a doctorate in urban higher education from Jackson State University.

A Vision for Connection and Community Impact

“Public higher education has the power to improve lives, strengthen communities, and shape a state’s future,” Johnson said in the release. “My goal is to help our remarkable UW universities become even stronger, more connected, and more consequential to the future of Wisconsin.”