UW–Parkside will play a key role in an important moment for higher education in Wisconsin as it hosts the public forums for the three finalists seeking to become the next president of the Universities of Wisconsin.
The forums, scheduled for Monday, Oct. 26, will give students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members an opportunity to hear directly from the candidates and provide feedback as part of the statewide presidential search process.
The three finalists, listed in alphabetical order are:
- Dr. Steven Gareth Holley, Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer at the University of Mississippi
- Dr. Tonjanita L. Johnson, Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs for the University of Alabama System
- Dr. Bernard J. Savarese, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Research, and Student Success for the University of Tennessee System
UW System leadership said the finalists were selected for their experience, leadership, and vision to guide the state’s 13 public universities and help advance the system’s mission of serving students, communities, and Wisconsin’s workforce needs.
The forums will take place in Bedford Concert Hall at the Rita Tallent Picken Regional Center for the Arts & Humanities on the UW–Parkside campus.
Feedback gathered during the forums will help inform the Presidential Search Committee as it makes a recommendation to the Board of Regents, which will ultimately select the next Universities of Wisconsin president.
Community members may attend in person, watch via livestream, and submit feedback through the presidential search website. The new President will become the tenth leader of the Universities of Wisconsin since the system’s creation in 1971.
For more information visit: https://www.wisconsin.edu/presidential-search-2026/presidential-search-finalists/
About the University of Wisconsin–Parkside
Since 1968, the University of Wisconsin–Parkside has been turning ambition into achievement. Through undergraduate and graduate degrees, certificates, and hands-on learning experiences, UW–Parkside empowers students to launch careers and strengthen the regional workforce. Located in the Milwaukee-Chicago corridor, UW–Parkside connects students with employers, internships, and partnerships that drive innovation and economic growth across southeastern Wisconsin.