BY GABE NELSON
Daily Staff Reporter
Published January 23, 2006
It's official. University President Mary Sue Coleman has a right-hand woman.
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The University Board of Regents unanimously approved Teresa Sullivan, executive vice chancellor for academic affairs of the University of Texas system, as provost and executive vice president for academic affairs Friday, making her second in command to Coleman.
The regents' vote ended the nine-month search to replace former Provost Paul Courant, who left the post in August 2005 to return to research and teaching. Sullivan will take office June 1.
The Board of Regents expressed their satisfaction with Sullivan and with the search.
"They conducted a wide-ranging, rigorous search, and (Coleman) kept us well-posted during the search process," said Regent S. Martin Taylor (D--Grosse Pointe Farms).
As UT's vice chancellor, Sullivan manages nine academic institutions across the state.
Coleman praised Sullivan's interaction with Texas legislators, calling her a "wonderful citizen of Austin."
"I never felt so good about a Texan," Taylor said.
The appointment marks two firsts for the University. It is the first time women will hold the two most powerful positions, and it is the first time candidates from outside of the University will fill both of them.
"There was no stance on hiring internal or external candidates," Coleman told the Daily. "I asked (the committee) to go out and gather lots of people, regardless of where they were from."
Sullivan taught sociology at the University of Chicago and University of Texas from 1976 to 1981. Since 1981, she has worked as a dean, an academic department head and vice chancellor at the University of Texas.
"It was the depth and breadth of her experience that jumped out to the committee," Coleman said. "She exhibits the scholarly achievement and administrative excellence that have for so long defined Michigan provosts."
Interim provost Edward Gramlich will step down at the end of May to make way for Sullivan. Coleman said Gramlich will remain as her special advisor at the University until at least August. After that, he may continue to teach in the Ford School of Public Policy.
