Below is an announcement regarding Dr. Petersen, President of The
University of Tennessee, which was received earlier this afternoon.
As our alumni leaders, we wanted you to be informed of the upcoming
changes in leadership.
-----Original Mess
age-----
From: UT System News [mailto:utsystemnews@tennessee.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, February 18, 2009 2:40 PM
To: UT System Office of Communications
Subject: Leadership Change
February 18, 2009
To: UT Faculty and Staff
From: Board of Trustees Vice Chair Jim Murphy
Subject: Leadership Change
The news media will soon receive the press release below, publicly
announcing the resignation of Dr. John Petersen as president of the
University of Tennessee. I am sending it to you here because it is
important that employees receive this news first from the University.
Since Dr. Petersen took office on July 1, 2004, UT has experienced a
period of dynamic and positive change. Ensuring the University's
continued success has been the first priority as the Board of Trustees
have considered Dr. Petersen's resignation and arrangements for
transitional leadership.
We are fortunate that Dr. Jan Simek has agreed to serve as acting
president. Dr. Simek most recently served as interim chancellor for the
Knoxville campus, where he has been with the University since 1984 in
both academic and administrative roles.
Because transitions in leadership can be unsettling, I want to assure
you that the University will be in good hands with Dr. Simek in the
President's Office, the Board of Trustees is committed to ensuring the
next UT president brings the energy and caliber of leadership necessary
to sustain the momentum achieved by Dr. Petersen, and finally, that this
great University will continue to make the positive impact it does on
the lives of all Tennesseans. Thank you for your work and your
commitment to the University of Tennessee.
A Webcast of a media availability with Dr. Petersen, Dr. Simek and Mr.
Murphy will begin at 4:30 p.m. EST today and can be viewed at
http://mediabeast.ites.utk.edu/mediasite4/Viewer/?peid=60b29a474f554305a
26e0c945ac946bf
---
University of Tennessee System
Office of Communications
(865-974-1114)
FOR IMMEDIATE USE
Feb. 18, 2009
UT Announces Petersen Stepping Down, Simek Named Acting President
KNOXVILLE -- University of Tennessee President John Petersen and Trustee
Vice Chairman Jim Murphy jointly announced today that Petersen will
resign as president, effective June 30, 2009, and that 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.
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.
"As I approach the end of my fifth year, I have been giving serious
thought to my future plans and had determined I wanted to leave in
June," Petersen said. "In discussions with Vice Chair Murphy and other
board members, we agree that it serves the University's interest best to
make the change now so that the person responsible for implementing cuts
in next year's budget will be the person leading the difficult budget
decisions in the coming months."
"Jan Simek is the ideal choice for this role," Petersen said. "I was
pleased to choose him to fill the critical UT Knoxville interim position
and I know he will have full support and will do an excellent job in
this new capacity."
Murphy said, "Dr. Petersen and his team have been diligent in carrying
out a strategic and inclusive process to address the budget issues
facing the University. They have a solid plan that is ready to be
reviewed by the board at our February meeting. John feels, and I agree,
that if he intends to leave in June, it makes sense for new leadership
to finalize the plan and take it forward."
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 Feb. 1.
Murphy said Simek's appointment will be considered by the Board at its
Feb. 25-27 meeting and will be for up to two years with no set schedule
for conducting a search for Petersen's replacement.
"Jan Simek has proven his loyalty to the University and has demonstrated
his ability to facilitate change in the academic arena," Murphy said.
"We will use this time to carefully and thoroughly study the role of the
System administration while we work through the budget issues. Our goal
will be to set our budget models, clarify governance and streamline
system administration before we pursue hiring the next president."
Petersen took office on July 1, 2004. He said that in considering the
direction and vision he brought to the University, and progress toward
goals thus far, "Now is the right time to make this change."
"When I came here five years ago, we had a clear direction and a clear
set of needs," Petersen said. "I feel we have met those needs and
redefined the University's strategic direction for the future. As a
team, we have enjoyed some extraordinary, unprecedented successes in
research and economic development, we have made phenomenal progress in a
$1 billion capital campaign, and our campuses have made great strides in
the quality of students enrolled."
Murphy, noting achievements coinciding with Petersen serving as UT's
23rd president, said, "In slightly less than five years, Dr. Petersen
has had a transformational impact on the University of Tennessee and led
the statewide UT System in remarkable progress -- in growth in
enrollment, research and economic development, and in private giving."
"We are grateful to Dr. Petersen for his lasting and positive
contributions to this great university," Murphy said. "We will work to
ensure the continued successes enjoyed in recent years, and we will
attract excellent leadership to share our commitment to making UT one of
the top-tier universities in the country."
Petersen will receive one year of his base salary, which is $410,177,
and it will be split in two payments. The payment is in exchange for
releasing any rights that may have survived under his contract that
expired June 30, 2008.
Simek will be paid a base salary of $400,000, and his compensation
package does not include an expense allowance, use of a state vehicle
nor University housing. Upon returning to the faculty as Distinguished
Professor of Anthropology, Simek will be paid at the rate of 75 percent
of his base salary as interim president.
All compensation arrangements will be recommended to the Board of
Trustees at their meeting Feb. 27 and are subject to their approval.
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