Timeline: Highlights of Jennifer Mnookin's tenure at UW-Madison
From her own ice cream flavor to a tense standoff with pro-Palestinian protesters and battles with the Legislature and the Trump administration over DEI, Jennifer Mnookin made a mark during her four years as chancellor at UW-Madison. On Sunday she was named the next president of Columbia University. Here are highlights from her tenure in Madison.
2022
May 16
Jennifer Mnookin has been named as the next chancellor to lead UW-Madison.
May 19
The Board of Regents unanimously selected Mnookin, law school dean at the University of California Los Angeles, to be UW-Madison's 30th chancellor. Mnookin's appointment will take effect Aug. 4.
Aug 05
Mnookin joins UW-Madison amid declining state funding, a decade-long tuition freeze and polls suggesting marginalized groups feel less safe on campus.
Sep 10
'Sifting and Reckoning,' opening Monday at the Chazen Museum of Art, takes a hard look at past inequities and those who fought them.
Oct 12
Wisconsin’s athletic director says 96 hours earlier he never imagined firing his football coach. After a meeting with Paul Chryst, "it became clear" a change was needed.
Nov 27
Luke Fickell was approved as Wisconsin football coach around 4:30 p.m. Sunday, and athletic director Chris McIntosh "couldn't be happier."
2023
Jan 27
The new center extends the work of the Public History Project, the entity behind the popular "Sifting and Reckoning" exhibit at Chazen Museum of Art last fall.
Feb 02
According to a new UW System survey, most students said also they never or rarely consider others' viewpoints on controversial topics such as abortion or transgender identities.
Feb 10
About 800 in-state students are expected to be eligible for Bucky's Pell Pathway, starting next fall.
Feb 20
Rebecca Blank helped put a university education in reach for low-income students through the Bucky's Tuition Promise, steered UW-Madison through the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and brought billions in gifts and donations to expand research enterprise.
Apr 15
Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin's namesake mix joins other celebrity flavors including "Berry Alvarez" and "Bec-Key Lime Pie."
Apr 15
“Quite frankly, Jennifer Mnookin is made for this university,” University of Wisconsin System President Jay Rothman said.
May 04
Students with the Blk Pwr Coalition are planning another protest for later this afternoon following UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin's response to their demands.
May 04
The Ho-Chunk Clan Circle is a set of sculptures signifying the Ho-Chunk Nation's historic presence on the UW-Madison campus, as well as its future in the area.
Sep 20
"I don’t think that they deserve to have any more resources until they accomplish the goal,” Vos told WisPolitics.
Oct 14
UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin has joined a small number of college administrators who have spoken out on the attack.
Dec 14
Ahead of the vote, UW system chancellors pleaded with the Regents to approve the deal, arguing their campuses would be further hurt if the deal did not pass.
2024
Feb 13
Construction on the UW-Madison facility is scheduled to start in 2025, and the center is scheduled to open in 2026.
Feb 23
That and another bill funneling millions in tuition revenue back to UW system universities now only need Gov. Tony Evers' approval to become law.
Apr 29
"I'm in it for as long as it takes," UW graduate student Halsey Hazzard said.
May 11
Students will leave Library Mall and not disrupt Commencement, university says.
Jul 25
Chris McIntosh's new agreement to be Wisconsin athletic director runs through the 2028-29 school year.
2025
Jan 23
The demotion comes at a time when diversity, equity and inclusion positions are under increased scrutiny.
Feb 11
The cuts, which were to take effect Monday, threatened to blow a $65 million hole in UW-Madison's medical research budget, officials said.
Mar 27
Vice chancellors can no longer have a carry-over balance of more than 10% to the next year, which is partly what enabled the high amount of bonuses and travel reimbursements.
Apr 17
Talented international students have been vital to UW-Madison since its founding, ever since William Stewart of Ancaster, Canada West (now Ontario), was among the 20 students who attended the first UW classes on Feb. 5, 1849.
Apr 18
University officials and industry leaders have wanted the building for years, but it got caught up in, among other things, DEI negotiations.
May 12
"It was like someone had pulled the rug out from beneath me and left me reeling."
Jun 24
"Higher education is in the midst of tremendous upheaval," a letter from administration to departments Monda said. "Like our peers, we are not insulated from the impacts."
Jul 11
"We must create the conditions here ... that allow all of our students, faculty and staff to flourish and to reach their full potential," a letter from Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin said.
Aug 22
The library closures are a result of a 7% budget cut UW-Madison officials directed departments to pursue for the next school year.
Sep 22
UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin declined an interview request but issued a statement on athletic director Chris McIntosh.
Oct 06
A Universities of Wisconsin proposal to redesign general education curriculum would eliminate requirements that students take an ethnic or cultural studies class.
Oct 22
Athletic director Chris McIntosh says many allegations by former Badgers women's basketball players in a lawsuit "lack full context or are simply false."
2022
Nov 27
Luke Fickell was approved as Wisconsin football coach around 4:30 p.m. Sunday, and athletic director Chris McIntosh "couldn't be happier."
Nov 27
Luke Fickell was approved as Wisconsin football coach around 4:30 p.m. Sunday, and athletic director Chris McIntosh "couldn't be happier."
