CU presidential transition: What’s next
Following Monday’s announcement by President Mark Kennedy that he had entered into discussions with the CU Board of Regents regarding an orderly transition of the presidency in the coming months, next steps are expected soon.
Board Chair Glen Gallegos said the regents will meet soon to discuss how to proceed. That meeting could happen as early as Wednesday, tentatively being held for a half-day event.
Still to be determined are the terms of the president’s separation from the university, his date of departure and the naming of an interim president. The board then will launch a national search for the next permanent president.
“The Board of Regents will move quickly to determine our next steps and will work closely with President Kennedy in the coming months to ensure an orderly transition of the presidency. He has led CU though the pandemic and has been making progress on key initiatives we agreed to, so the university is in good position,” said Gallegos and Vice Chair Lesley Smith. “We appreciate President Kennedy’s contributions and dedication.”
Kennedy, who was selected as CU’s president in May 2019, said the university community has made significant progress, including strategic planning; online education; diversity, equity and inclusion; fundraising; and technology transformation. He said the progress is notable given the challenges of the pandemic.
“I appreciate the many smart and dedicated people who work hard every day to help the university meet its mission to serve its students and the state,” Kennedy said. “CU is one of the country’s great public universities and I have every confidence it will continue to build on its strong reputation and upward trajectory.”
Click here for a joint statement from the four campus chancellors.