Tommy Thompson, the interim President of the University of Wisconsin System, has submitted his letter of resignation to Edmund Manydeeds III, University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents President.
In the letter to Manydeeds, Thompson wrote that he loves Wisconsin and the UW System, but when he agreed to take over as leader, he knew he was needed, and he knew it was temporary.
"While I firmly believe the pursuance of excellence never ends, I am satisfied that I have accomplished what has been asked of me," Thompson wrote. "I am confident our foundation is as strong as ever."
In a statement, Manydeeds responded:
“Tommy Thompson was the right man at the right time," he said. "His leadership has helped carry us through a pandemic and set the standard for managing during a crisis. As important, President Thompson has been a relentless champion of the University of Wisconsin. It showed in everything he did as System President. He raised the profile of public higher education in our state and ensured that it is relevant, not only to students, parents, faculty, and staff whose leadership we entrusted to him, but also to all Wisconsinites."
The 80-year-old former governor took on the role of interim president on July 1st, 2020, accepting the role after a committee failed to find a replacement for Ray Cross. The former U.S. Health and Human Services secretary advocated for strong COVID-19 protocols on campuses, such as frequent testing, vaccinations and mask mandates. He also pushed for the return to in-person classes in the fall of 2021.
Thompson is the only individual to have been elected to four, four-year terms as Wisconsin governor. He stepped down midway through his fourth term in 2001 to serve as then-President George W. Bush’s health secretary. Thompson also had a brief run for president in 2008 and ran for U.S. Senate in 2012, but lost to Democrat Tammy Baldwin. He was a member of the state Assembly in 1971 when it voted to create the UW System.
The resignation takes effect March 18.
