MADISON, Wis. — The former head of Wisconsin’s university system says he was completely caught off guard when the board of regents unanimously voted to terminate him Tuesday evening, and he still doesn’t understand why it happened.
Jay Rothman, who led the Universities of Wisconsin for nearly four years before his dismissal, spoke with The Associated Press Wednesday in his first public comments since the firing. The regents made their decision after approximately half an hour of private deliberations, but have offered no public explanation for the action.
“Absolutely I was blindsided,” Rothman stated during the interview. He emphasized that despite multiple requests, no one has provided him with justification for the termination.
“I really don’t know,” Rothman explained. “I asked for reasons why. They were not able to articulate any.”
Despite the abrupt nature of his dismissal, the former president indicated he probably won’t pursue legal action against the university system. Rothman previously served as the leader of a major Milwaukee law practice with over 1,000 lawyers before taking the university position in 2022.
“We’ll have to see how circumstances develop,” Rothman commented. “I don’t think it’s likely that I would go in that direction. That’s not who I am.”
Earlier this month, news reports revealed that regents had given Rothman an ultimatum to step down voluntarily or face termination. Rothman acknowledged Wednesday that he had contemplated retirement, but ultimately chose not to resign because officials wouldn’t explain their concerns.
Before the dismissal vote, Board President Amy Bogost released a statement saying the decision focused on the system’s future direction. The university network includes 13 institutions, anchored by the Madison flagship campus, and serves approximately 165,000 students statewide.
“The Universities of Wisconsin must be led with a clear vision that both protects and strengthens our flagship, supports our comprehensive universities and ensures we are meeting the evolving needs of our students, workforce and communities across all 72 counties,” Bogost’s statement read.
The firing drew criticism from Republican state Senator Patrick Testin, who serves as Senate president. Testin characterized Rothman’s removal as a “blatant partisan hatchet job.”
However, Rothman declined to offer theories about the motivation behind his termination.
“I’ve asked multiple times for a reason,” Rothman reiterated. “I have not gotten one.”
