Chancellor Roger Brown thanked Dr. John Petersen for his years of support after Petersen and UT Trustee Vice Chairman Jim Murphy jointly announced Petersen’s resignation, effective June 30, 2009.
“UTC has done well under Dr. Petersen’s leadership. He has overseen record growth on the campuses, and in the case of UTC we are on target to grow the student body again in fall 2009. The UT System is well on its way to a successful $1 billion Campaign for Tennessee, launched under Dr. Petersen, and here in Chattanooga, we have raised more than $46 million toward our $65 million campaign goal,” Brown said.
Petersen will be on administrative leave with pay beginning March 1 through June 30. Simek will be acting president from March 1 through June 30 and will become interim on July 1. His appointment as interim is not to exceed two years.
Dr. Jan Simek, most recently the interim chancellor for UT Knoxville, will be recommended to the Board to fill the post for up to two years.
“UTC has achieved much under Dr. Petersen and I believe we will continue to do well with the appointment of Dr. Jan Simek as acting president. Dr. Simek proved to be an effective leader as interim chancellor of the Knoxville campus, and I am confident he will do well in this new position,” Brown said.
Simek, who has been with the University since 1984 in both academic and administrative roles, served as interim chancellor for the Knoxville campus for a year, during the search which brought Dr. Jimmy Cheek to UT Knoxville February 1.
Murphy said Simek’s appointment will be considered by the Board at its February 25-27 meeting and will be for up to two years with no set schedule for conducting a search for Petersen’s replacement.
Read more about Petersen’s resignation at http://www.tennessee.edu/media/releases/02182009_pres_steps_.html.
