Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin’s decision to leave the University of Wisconsin-Madison for Columbia University has drawn mixed reactions from campus, varying from bittersweet goodbyes from campus leaders to celebratory farewells from Badger sports fans, labor leaders and student activists alike.
Mnookin’s time as chancellor included major accomplishments that increased the university’s global standing, creating new financial aid programs, academic hiring initiatives and campus infrastructure. However, some took issue with her inaccessibility to students and organized labor, along with the decline of Badger football.
In early 2023, Mnookin launched Bucky’s Pell Pathway, which covers tuition and fees, alongside other expenses, for Pell Grant-eligible Wisconsinites and has benefited more than 7,800 students. She also introduced the Wisconsin Tribal Educational Promise later that year, which guarantees scholarships and grants to cover undergraduate tuition for students who are members of federally recognized Wisconsin American Indian tribes.
Under her leadership, Wisconsin rose to a top-5 research institution in the country and debuted the Wisconsin Research, Innovation and Scholarly Excellence (RISE) Initiative, a hiring project focused on human health, artificial intelligence and environmental sustainability.
Mnookin also courted record-breaking philanthropy bringing campus buildings like Morgridge Hall through to the finish line. In late 2025, Mnookin announced the Wisconsin Exchange program, another privately-funded initiative which aims to spur conversation between students who may differ politically.
For campus leaders like Glenda Gillaspy, dean of College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Mnookin was a friend and treasured colleague. Gillaspy reflected on traveling with Mnookin across Wisconsin and gave her credit for encouraging new experiences.
“Together, we visited cranberry bogs, farms and cheese factories, and talked with stakeholders about how UW-Madison can better serve Wisconsin. She is the person who finally convinced me to try Limburger cheese — an experience that I’ll never forget,” Gillaspy said in a statement. “I’m grateful for her partnership over the years and wish her all the best at Columbia.”
Yet, many students said Mnookin was inaccessible.
Drake White-Bergey, former Daily Cardinal Editor-in-Chief, recalled learning about the Wisconsin Idea — the premise that UW-Madison should serve not just the university community, but the state.
He said he hopes the next chancellor focuses on Wisconsin students and serving them, saying “for most of us, from poor, working class, rural Wisconsin families, UW-Madison was our Ivy League.”
“Wisconsin is very thoroughly working class,” he said. “UW-Madison provides this beacon of hope for the working class of Wisconsin. Mnookin didn't see that beacon of hope that we saw, she just saw an opportunity to build her resume out so she can move on to greener pastures.”
But White-Bergey did acknowledge the Tribal Educational Promise and UW-Madison’s rising national profile, which he said will be essential in bringing top faculty to UW beyond Mnookin’s tenure.
These recollections reveal sharp distinctions between how colleagues — and more distant students — perceived her time at UW-Madison. Regarded by many campus administrators as a thoughtful, impressive academic leader, she too was criticized by students who felt their concerns and voices were too often left unheard.
Activism and athletics
From Library Mall to Camp Randall, whether her handling of pro-Palestine protests or the football team’s losing streak, students generally expressed relief toward Mnookin’s departure.
Students for Justice in Palestine member Adam Donahue said the decision seemed “convenient,” pointing to Columbia being a national “focal point” for both pro-Palestine activism and debates over antisemitism.
Mnookin faced large-scale pro-Palestine protests herself at UW-Madison before ultimately reaching an agreement in May 2024 to end the 12-day encampment. The deal later drew criticism from Donahue, who said campus administration ignored their demands as a tactic.
A view of the encampments set up on Library Mall during a pro-palestine protest on April 29, 2024.
“It was a very good way of slowing down any actual attempts at progress and I think that's one microcosm of how her general tactic, with respect in responding to pro-Palestine activism, has played out over the years — is obfuscating, delaying and handling the protests and not actually responding to their demands,” Donahue told The Daily Cardinal. “I think that's probably what Columbia is looking for.”
Donahue also said Mnookin was inaccessible to much of the student body, highlighting her infrequent attendance at student government open forums, calling it her “checklist” for interacting with students.
“I'd like to see a chancellor that is genuinely receptive to the demands of their students, staff and faculty — a chancellor that actually makes real attempts to connect with them. I don't think students feel actually connected to her, or like they can see her as a representative for their wishes,” Donahue said. “I would like a chancellor that is willing to take students' wishes to higher ups like the UW System President or the Board of Regents, and actually advocate for us.”
White-Bergey recalled Mnookin’s reaction to the Blk Pwr Coalition’s 2023 protests and sit-in over a video depicting a student saying racial slurs. Mnookin briefly attended the sit-in, with White-Bergey saying she showed up 30 minutes late and left after 20 more minutes, physically stepping over students to exit.
In a letter delivered to the Blk Pwr Coalition the day after the sit-in, Mnookin thanked protesters for coming to her. “You took time and care to record and share your expectations of me and of your university. Thank you. You belong here and I want you to know that we hear you,” she wrote.
One of the leaders of the Blk Pwr Coalition guiding the protest down N Lake Street
Badger football fans have also made their priorities for the next Chancellor clear: more money and attention directed toward the football program.
“She gave no damn money to that football team. When Mnookie announced that she’s leaving, I was pretty happy, because she screwed over a football team by not giving any money to them, which is why they suck this year,” Andrew Weidemann, a UW-Madison sophomore, told The Daily Cardinal. “I just want to see a lot of football in the next chancellor — a lot of money going to the football team so we can go to the Rose Bowl.”
Fans have expressed public frustration in recent years as Badger football continues to decline, with many directing frustration and blame at the chancellor. During Wisconsin’s homecoming game against Iowa in October, boos directed toward Mnookin and head coach Luke Fickell echoed throughout Camp Randall. Mnookin has stood by both Fickell and Athletic Director Chris McIntosh, pledging more funding for athletics instead of personnel changes.
For the Badgers, 2025 was their second straight year missing a bowl game, a fall from grace for a storied program that, as recently as 2023, held the longest active streak of consecutive bowl appearances in the country, ending their season 4-8.
Socially, students are also expecting more from the next chancellor.
Joshua Metz, a junior at UW-Madison, was “thrilled” with Mnookin’s departure, saying she didn’t achieve anything “beneficial” during her time at UW-Madison.
“I think the school will be less uptight about a lot of things, which the students, including myself, will be happy with,” Metz said in a statement. “I am looking for someone that meets the interests of the student body. We go to school in Wisconsin where certain things are more important than others to the students. I hope the new chancellor can make my senior year positive here at UW.”
UW-Madison sophomore Quinlan Vining had a similar reaction when the news hit.
“I’m so excited. I feel like she did a lot that inhibited our social life, in terms of going out,” he said. “I don’t want to say much more.”
Students often blamed Mnookin for cracking down on nightlife although there is no evidence she played a role in increased drinking enforcement.
Labor at arm’s length
Leaders of UW-Madison’s labor organizations took a critical stance on Mnookin’s tenure.
Due to Act 10, legislation that prevents most Wisconsin public sector unions from engaging in collective bargaining, workers at UW-Madison are unable to directly negotiate their contracts.
Barret Elward, president of UW-Madison’s faculty union, United Faculty and Staff, said the union lacked a working relationship with campus administration.
“We have sought to work with the chancellor on many of the challenges facing the university,” he said. “But at every turn, we've been ignored or rebuffed.”
Elward pointed to a 2023 push for unions across the University of Wisconsin System to have a ‘meet and confer’ relationship with the chancellors to discuss working conditions.
“There's nothing stopping the chancellor or UW System from recognizing us and meeting with us regularly,” he said.
In an August 2024 statement, UW-Madison spokesperson John Lucas said Mnookin meets regularly with UW-Madison’s student government and other campus shared governance groups. Lucas said that under state law and regent policy, shared governance groups are the “exclusive vehicles” at UW-Madison for representation and communication regarding faculty, staff and graduate student working conditions.
This campaign for a meet and confer relationship, Teaching Assistants Association Co-president Gisel Flores said, was rejected by the chancellor’s office and sent to the Associated Students of Madison, who passed a resolution in support of it.
Even after this, there was no action. “The ball was back at her court,” Flores said, “but she didn't do anything with it.”
Peter Haney, president of the local chapter of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which represents nonacademic staff that work at UW-Madison, also hopes the next chancellor will be more responsive to requests to meet with the unions.
“We haven't seen much recently [from Mnookin] in the way of efforts to consult with labor organizations on important decisions that are made,” Haney said. “So we look forward to a new administration that takes input from staff and faculty more seriously.”
Deans weigh in
Deans from schools across UW-Madison shared congratulatory messages for Mnookin, highlighting initiatives she led successfully and joyful memories of their partnership with Mnookin.
Soyean Shim, dean of the School of Human Ecology, and Devesh Ranjan, Grainger dean of the College of Engineering, both praised Mnookin’s role in launching RISE.
“Schools and Colleges have benefited tremendously from this investment in strengthening faculty research, including the School of Human Ecology,” Shim said in a statement. “This level of coordinated, strategic investment in faculty excellence is quite rare and represents one of the most significant campus-wide research initiatives in recent years.”
Shim said she hopes the next chancellor will continue to build on RISE while also placing a strong emphasis on the student experience.
“I would welcome a chancellor who places strong emphasis on student experiences, which remain one of the top strategic priorities for UW-Madison. Strengthening the integration of research, teaching and student engagement will be essential for the university’s next chapter,” she said.
Nita Ahuj, dean of the School of Medicine and Public Health and vice chancellor for Medical Affairs, and Ranjan said they hope the next chancellor will remain committed to the Wisconsin Idea “and a willingness to make bold, strategic bets that expand the university’s impact,” in a statement.
Remzi Arpaci-Dusseau, director of the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences (CDIS), applauded Mnookin’s role in separating CDIS from the College of Letters and Science and establishing a new college focused on artificial intelligence and computing.
“She helped us bring the College of Computing and Artificial Intelligence from vision to reality — the first new college on our campus in nearly 50 years! — and guided the campus through some challenging moments,” Arpaci-Dusseau said in a statement. “I will miss her energy, clear thinking, eloquence and passion for UW. To our friends and colleagues at Columbia: you made a great hire!”
Dan Tokaji, dean and professor of Law at the UW Law School, highlighted the school’s rise in national rankings for best law schools during Mnookin‘s tenure, specifically its climb from No. 43 to No. 28. He said Mnookin, a former law school dean herself, “leaves the Law School and the University in a very strong position, poised for even greater successes in the future.”
Vallabh Sambamurthy, dean of the Wisconsin School of Business, Eric Wilcots, dean of the College of L&S and Jonathan Levine, dean of School of Veterinary Medicine, also commended Mnookin’s leadership and her support for their respective schools.
Zoey Elwood is the college news editor for The Daily Cardinal. She previously served as copy chief. As a staff writer, she's written in-depth on state and local budgets, protest coverage and Wisconsin politics. She has also written for state and city news. Follow her on X at @zoeyelwood.
Annika Bereny is the campus news editor for The Daily Cardinal. She previously served as the special pages editor. As a staff writer, she's written in-depth on campus news specializing in protest policy, free speech and historical analysis. She has also written for state and city news. She is a History and Journalism major. Follow her on Twitter at @annikabereny.
