The University of Washington Board of Regents at a special public meeting yesterday voted to appoint Phyllis M. Wise, UW Provost and Executive Vice President, to serve as interim president of the University of Washington while the Regents conduct a search for a new president to replace Mark Emmert.

As provost, Wise is the University’s chief academic and chief budget officer, and the second-highest university administrator. She will be the first woman and the first Asian-American to serve as UW president.