MADISON — Students, staff and faculty told University of Wisconsin-Madison’s chancellor search committee Thursday that the university’s next leader should be visible on campus, engaged across Wisconsin and prepared to defend both free expression and diversity, equity and inclusion. About 20 people attended the public listening session at Union South, which was also streamed online. The event was part of a search led by UW System Regent Amy Bogost to replace Jennifer Mnookin, who left UW-Madison in May to become president of Columbia University. The committee expects to select and announce a successor this fall. Candidates were encouraged to apply by Thursday, while members of the public can submit comments through an online survey until Sunday. The next chancellor will oversee more than 51,000 students and 28,000 faculty and staff at Wisconsin’s flagship research university. UW-Madison has an annual budget of nearly $5 billion. Several participants said the new chancellor should spend time with the people whose work sustains the university, attend campus events and understand the varied backgrounds and experiences of students. Participants also urged the leader to explain UW-Madison’s value to Wisconsin and build relationships with residents throughout the state. “The chancellor needs to figure out how to champion not just free speech but also champion diversity, equity and inclusion. These are tough conversations we can’t avoid,” one online commenter said. Nita Ahuja, dean of the School of Medicine and Public Health, said the university faces financial complexity and an evolving federal policy environment. She said the next leader should be courageous, creative and curious, while giving the campus a sense of hope and preserving its pride in its work. Terry Fritter, a university staff member, questioned whether UW-Madison is attracting candidates who see the chancellorship as a short-term steppingstone. Fritter asked whether the university should consider an internal candidate, as it did when selecting its current provost. Bogost acknowledged that leading a university has become increasingly difficult. She said a chancellor who serves three to five years could still be successful if that leader makes a meaningful contribution and works hard. The American Council on Education reported that college presidents now serve an average of 5.9 years. Judith Wilde, an independent higher education researcher, said longer and successful tenures generally provide universities with more consistency. Wilde has also raised concerns with colleague James Finkelstein about whether search firms conduct sufficient due diligence when recruiting college leaders. UW System officials hired Isaacson, Miller to assist with the UW-Madison search under a contract expected to cost more than $266,000. That amount is roughly one-third of the chancellor’s annual pay. Mnookin’s base salary was $919,443 when she left, while interim Chancellor Eric Wilcots earns a base salary of $828,800. The job posting does not specify a salary range. The UW System is conducting a separate search for a system president after regents dismissed Jay Rothman in April. AGB Search is being paid $150,000 to help find that leader, who will oversee Wisconsin’s 13 public universities. Wilde said the simultaneous searches could lead some candidates to pursue both positions. She said colleges and universities have increasingly relied on search firms to recruit presidents and chancellors, even as those searches can be expensive and competition for experienced leaders grows. The listening session followed two virtual events in June. The committee’s decisions will determine who leads UW-Madison through a period of leadership turnover, financial pressure and debate over higher education’s public role.