MADISON, Wis.—Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman today announced the appointment of John Chenoweth as interim chancellor of UW-River Falls.
Chenoweth, currently the provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs of UW-Whitewater, replaces Michael V. Martin. The appointment is effective on March 1, 2025.
“John is a seasoned leader who has built strong relationships at our universities that will enable him to hit the ground running at UW-River Falls,” Rothman said. “I expect him to lead UW-River Falls well into the future, and position UW-River Falls to best leverage the opportunities of the community and region.”
Rothman thanked Martin for his service as interim chancellor for the past several months.
“Mike stepped in at a critical time for UW-River Falls, and I’m grateful for his service,” Rothman said. “He has initiated a vision for UW-River Falls that I believe John will build upon.”
“As I noted when I temporarily took over the helm of the institution, UW-River Falls is a great regional comprehensive university that is at an inflection point,” said Martin. “I am grateful that UWs President Rothman has identified a qualified leader who will be able to dedicate a longer-term focus to ensuring UWRF achieves all that it has in front of it.”
Rothman said he anticipates that Chenoweth will serve as interim chancellor for an extended period. Interim appointments can be for up to three years.
“UW-River Falls is an excellent university with an unwavering dedication to student success. It is an honor and privilege to be trusted with the responsibility of serving as interim chancellor,” said Chenoweth. “To the Falcon community — students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends — I am excited to join UW-River Falls and look forward to collaborating as we move the university forward.”
Chenoweth has served as UW-Whitewater provost since July 1, 2021. He oversees five academic colleges across two campuses — Arts and Communication, Business and Economics, Education and Professional Studies, Integrated Studies, and Letters and Sciences — as well as the School of Graduate Studies, Continuing Education, and 25 other offices that are focused on providing high-quality learning experiences for students. Previously, he was dean of the UW-Whitewater College of Business and Economics, the largest AACSB-accredited business school in Wisconsin. A tenured faculty member in the Department of Information Technology and Supply Chain Management, Chenoweth arrived at UW-Whitewater in 2002. He earned his Ed.D. in educational leadership and policy analysis from East Tennessee State University, a master’s degree in computer science from the University of South Dakota, and a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Augustana University.
The Universities of Wisconsin serve approximately 164,400 students. Awarding nearly 36,000 degrees annually, these 13 public universities are Wisconsin’s talent pipeline, putting graduates in position to increase their earning power, contribute to their communities, and make Wisconsin a better place to live. Nearly 90 percent of in-state Universities of Wisconsin graduates stay in the state five years after earning a degree. The universities provide a 23:1 return on state investment. The Universities of Wisconsin also contribute to the richness of Wisconsin’s culture and economy with groundbreaking research, new companies and patents, and boundless creative intellectual energy. Learn more at wisconsin.edu.