Dr. Eric Wilcots was named interim chancellor of UW-Madison, Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman announced in a press release. 

Wilcots will take over for Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin May 17 when she departs UW to be President of Columbia University, according to the press release. 

Wilcots has served as the Dean of the College of Letters & Science at UW since May of 2020, leading the university’s largest undergraduate college, according to UW College of Letters and Sciences. 

“For the past six years, Eric has proven himself to be an effective, impressive and collaborative dean of the College of Letters & Science,” Mnookin said in the press release. “There are few leaders on our campus with as much passion and commitment to the Wisconsin Idea and the ongoing success of our state’s flagship.”

Wilcots has served the UW Campus since 1995, when he started as a lecturer in the Department of Astronomy, later joining the faculty, according to the press release. In 2023, he also served as interim provost for UW-Madison, according to UW CL&S. 

Outside of the classroom, Wilcots has won two teaching awards during his time at UW-Madison, the Chancellor’s Inclusive Excellence Teaching Award, according to UW CL&S. He is the current co-chair of the Wisconsin Science Festival’s statewide steering committee and has led the Universe in the Park outreach program, introducing the public to astronomy in Wisconsin’s parks, according to UW CL&S. 

Dean Wilcots received his undergraduate degree in astrophysical sciences from Princeton University and his Ph.D. in Astronomy from the University of Washington, according to UW CL&S. 

“I am both humbled and honored to be asked to serve in this leadership role at such a consequential time in UW-Madison’s history,” Wilcots said in the press release.