"It
is with mixed emotions that I report to you that the Chancellor
of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities announced this
morning, in St. Paul, that Dr. Sue Hammersmith will be recommended
to become the next President of Metropolitan State University.
We are delighted for our colleague Provost Hammersmith and for
the faculty, staff, students of and the communities served by
Metropolitan State. But, of course, we also recognize that their
good fortune affects us.
"Provost
and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Hammersmith has provided
us all with outstanding service. At such times, I think it important
not to think about what we are losing but, rather, to celebrate
what we have permanently gained under Sue's leadership. The
list is lengthy but prominent in my own thinking are: leadership
in any number of diversity initiatives, each with demonstrable
benefits for our university; establishment of modern, academically
focused, and strategic planning and budgeting processes; protection
of our capacity to achieve core mission commitments through
a long period of very serious budget reductions; formalization
of innumerable personnel, curricular, and other previously unclear
and inadequately defined policies and processes; and leadership
in a widely inclusive set of initiatives to build 'the Next
UWGB' through the Growth Agenda and the academic excellence
agenda.
"So,
as we wish Sue well, we also most sincerely say, 'thank you.'
To my good friend, Sue, and more personally, I add: 'You will
be missed.'
"It
is our current expectation that Provost Hammersmith will continue
to serve UWGB through the end of June. Between now and then
I will work directly with our campus governance groups and Provost
Hammersmith to assure a transition that does not impede our
current momentum.
"Although
times of transition can create anxiety, we are recognized nationally
as a fine University that is now on the move. Consequently,
together we will be able to attract and select a Provost who
will provide continuing strong, innovative, and collegial academic
leadership for our campus."
