Stacy declares bid for UT president, Stanton bows out
KNOXVILLE (AP) — A University of Tennessee campus chancellor has declared his candidacy for system president while the president of East Tennessee State University has withdrawn.
Bill Stacy, chancellor of UT-Chattanooga since 1997, said he wanted to be considered for UT’s top post because “I believe I am the right person to lead the University of Tennessee into the next decade.”
Meanwhile, Paul Stanton, president of ETSU in Johnson City since 1996, said he was bowing out after “a lot of time, thought and prayer.”
“While the UT system is a great one with tremendous potential for ever higher levels of greatness, I am extremely happy with my current status at East Tennessee State University,” he said.
The jockeying comes less than two weeks before the university’s search advisory council meets in Nashville to announce its recommended candidates, winnowing a current list of 30 names to no more than 10 on April 5.
The 42,000-student university, with campuses in Knoxville, Chattanooga, Martin, Memphis and Tullahoma, is searching for its 23rd president. It is an unusually open search involving extensive background checks and a series of public interviews.
The process is in response to the past two presidencies: John Shumaker resigned in August after disclosures of lavish spending and J. Wade Gilley resigned in 2001 citing poor health amid allegations of an improper relationship with a female administrator.
Stacy is the only UT campus chancellor to confirm his interest in the presidency, though he says he hopes to stay at Chattanooga if he isn’t selected. UT-Martin Chancellor Nick Dunagan withdrew and UT-Knoxville Chancellor Loren Crabtree was nominated but has not declared.
“My ‘insider’ knowledge of our potential and, perhaps, our baggage will probably allow a quicker resumption of the pursuit of excellence that all of us want for the University of Tennessee,” Stacy said.
“The people of Tennessee need confidence that a servant leader is assisting in the fulfillment of the promise of the university,” he said.
The presidential search office and various search committees will close the door on applications next week. All confirmed candidates will be posted on the search’s Web site on April 3.
After three sets of interviews, the 24-member UT Board of Trustees will select the next president on April 21, with that person taking office on July 1.
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On the Net:
UT search: http://pr.tennessee.edu/presidentialsearch/