Dr. Manohar Singh, interim president of Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, Connecticut, has been named the next chancellor of the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh.
The Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents today unanimously approved Singh’s appointment and he will assume the leadership post July 1.
“The engagement of the UW-Oshkosh campus community in the search process was significant, and the enthusiasm for what comes next was palpable,” said Regent Ashok Rai, chair of the Search and Screen Committee. “We feel that Dr. Singh possesses the talent and skill to harness the energy on campus and lead it into a bright future.”
Singh has served as interim president of Western Connecticut State University since 2023. Prior to that he was dean of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, Connecticut. He has held leadership posts at Humboldt State University in Arcata, California; Penn State University Abington in Abington, Pennsylvania and Long Island University Post in Brookville, New York. He has also been a professor of finance at several universities.
“As a first-generation college graduate, Manohar Singh believes in the power of higher education to improve lives and is a collaborative leader who builds consensus,” said Jay Rothman, president of the Universities of Wisconsin. “His background in finance and administration will further benefit UW-Oshkosh.”
At Western Connecticut under Singh’s leadership, the university reached financial stability, reversed years of enrollment decline, expanded athletic programs and introduced new academic offerings.
Singh earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics from Punjab University-Chandigarh, India, as well as a master’s degree in economics from University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada. He earned a Ph.D. in finance from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois.
President Rothman and the Special Regent Committee for the UW-Oshkosh Chancellor Search recommended Singh to the full Board of Regents. The Committee includes Regents Rai, chair; Desmond Adongo; Haben Goitom; Jim Kreuser; Timothy Nixon; and Karen Walsh.
The Search and Screen Committee includes members of the Special Regent Committee and Andrew Smock, Associate Professor, Department of Radio TV Film, College of Letters & Science, vice chair; Holly Brenner, Board Chair, UW-Oshkosh Foundation; Seon Yoon Chung, Dean, College of Nursing; David Fuller, Professor, Department of Economics, College of Business; Allison Kunde, Administrative Assistant III, Provost’s Office; Chrissy Lambie, Assistant Director, Career & Professional Development; Aaron Sherer, Executive Director, Paine Art Center and Gardens; and Sandy Yanez Velasquez, Director of Staff, UW-Oshkosh Student Government.
Singh succeeds Andrew Leavitt, who plans to teach chemistry at UW-Oshkosh after a year away at another university.
