Jennifer Mnookin, the former chancellor of the University of Wisconsin, has just been named President-Designate of Columbia University. It's a move that makes a ton of sense for Mnookin, and it may end up being a big boost for Wisconsin athletics. There are a few major points to consider when analyzing how Wisconsin got to where it is and the path forward for the athletic department.
First, Jennifer Mnookin was unapologetically not a sports person. She would do the occasional social media post about the athletics, and she would show up for booster fundraising events, but she didn't really follow or care much about Wisconsin sports. She's known for her scholarship and her academic prowess. Which is why Columbia makes a ton of sense for her, it's not a sports school in the slightest, they major in academics and research. Right up Mnookin's alley.
The next chancellor has to care about sports or Wisconsin may continue coast in the athletic department
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For Wisconsin, having a chancellor who paid minimal attention to athletics did a significant disservice to the department. In an era when the NCAA and athletics are changing at a fever pitch, with money exchanging hands, rules constantly changing, and lawsuits aplenty, schools that seemed to excel the most had presidents or chancellors who were sports lovers.
Now that Mnookin is gone, the Wisconsin Board of Regents needs to find a new chancellor who at least sort of cares about sports, or the athletic department will continue to be an afterthought. That's not ideal and not even helpful for the overall profile of the university.
Not that beggars can be choosers, but ideally, it's a sports-first sort of chancellor. One that cares about elevating athletics. Not that the academics need to suffer, there are plenty of universities that do both well, but if you don't have a chancellor/president who cares about sports, it will be hard to do both well.
This next chancellor hire is vastly important for the future of Wisconsin athletics.