MILWAUKEE — The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee named Thomas Gibson as its next chancellor on Monday, March 31. 

Gibson has served as the chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point since Jan. 2021, being the 15th person to serve in the role. 

“I’m honored and humbled to be appointed chancellor of UW-Milwaukee, and I look forward to working with students, faculty, and staff to collectively define a vision for the future,” Gibson said. “Students considering UW-Milwaukee should know that our faculty and staff are dedicated to your success, and I’ll be right there with them cheering you on.” 

Gibson will be the 10th chancellor at UW-Milwaukee. He will earn $575,000 in the role. 

The Universities of Wisconsin said his approval from the Board of Regents was unanimous. 

“Tom Gibson has made a tremendous impact at UW-Stevens Point, and he will be an extraordinary leader for UW-Milwaukee,” Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman said. “Balancing an enthusiasm for students with an ability to drive community and business partnerships, Tom is always moving forward. He will do the same at UW-Milwaukee and continue to build on its status as a top-tier research university.” 

Before joining UW-Stevens Point, Gibson was the vice president for student affairs and vice provost at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. He worked there from 2016 to 2020. Before that, he was the associate vice president of student affairs at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. He’s also worked at York College/City University of New York (CUNY), Queens College/CUNY and the University of Connecticut at Stamford.

Gibson has taught graduate courses in English and higher education and undergraduate interdisciplinary programs.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from Eastern Connecticut State University. He went on to earn a master’s in education from University of New Haven, Connecticut. He also holds a doctorate in educational leadership in higher education at Johnson & Wales University,

Gibson, who is originally from New Haven, Connecticut, is married to Brigette Gibson. The couple has a daughter, Kennedy.

Gibson was one of four finalists vying for the position. The other three finalists included Carol Kim, Allan Klotsche and Nicolle Parsons-Pollard. Kim is the provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at the State University of New York. Klotsche currently serves as the director of master’s programs at UW-Milwaukee’s Lubar College of Business and Parsons-Pollard is the provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at Georgia State University.

The chancellor search began last July, when UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Mark Mone announced his resignation, which takes effect on July 1, 2025. Mone has served as chancellor since 2014. He said he intends to continue working at the university as a business professor.

A decision on the interim chancellor for UW-Stevens Point has yet to be announced.