Gee resigns Brown presidency for Vanderbilt post

Chancellor and provost outline next steps, answer questions at special faculty meeting held hours after Gee announcement

Brown faces no crisis and, under the leadership of a strong group of senior administrators, will stay the course it has charted for itself.

That was the tone set by Provost Kathryn Spoehr and Chancellor Stephen Robert at a faculty meeting assembled Monday, Feb. 7, just hours after President Gee announced he was resigning the Brown presidency to become chancellor - the equivalent of president - of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., effective Aug. 1.

Spoehr and Robert outlined for the faculty the steps Brown will take. Robert will chair the Corporation's search committee, the membership of which will be announced at the Corporation's next meeting, Feb. 24-26. Although the Corporation has sole responsibility for selecting the University's presidents, it is assisted by a campus-based advisory committee of faculty, students and administrators. That campus advisory committee will also be constituted later this month.

Image at left is from Vanderbilt webcast news conference Feb. 7

In his news conference at Vanderbilt, Gee noted that the decision to leave Brown was "wrenching indeed," but that he had an increasing sense that the Brown presidency was "not exactly the right fit, and I felt that it would take more courage for me to say that and move than to simply stay and enjoy myself.... I have a lot of mea culpas to do."

At the faculty meeting, Robert confirmed that although the Corporation felt Gee was a good president doing a good job, Gee himself continued to wrestle with the issue of fit. When Gee informed Robert in early January that he was seriously considering the Vanderbilt job, the Corporation decided to avoid "a bidding war to keep a president who wasn't sure about the fit" and concluded that "this was a decision we should not try to influence."

(Earlier in the day, Robert expressed the Corporation's disappointment that President Gee had chosen to leave. "He was an energetic and exciting president and we are sorry his tenure has been brought to an end after two years," said Robert. "I am confident that the student body, faculty and administration will work together to keep Brown moving forward. Brown is an institution of great strength and extraordinary academic quality, ranking among the nation's and the world's foremost institutions of higher learning.")

Spoehr addressed faculty concerns about stability, noting that with the exception of Gee's announcement, the rate of turnover at the senior level was "entirely normal." "What has happened today doesn't faze me in the least," she said. "I am committed to the institution for the long haul." The comment drew vigorous applause and a standing ovation.

In response to a question about the need for an interim president, Spoehr noted that she can do two jobs, but not three. Having on board an interim president who has executive experience at the top level "will leave me free to lead Brown's academic priorities," she said.

But faculty concerns about the need for an interim president, and whether that person should be from Brown or outside the University, remained throughout the meeting. "This is our problem, and we will feel better about it if we solve it ourselves," said Newell Stultz, associate provost. Robert said the Corporation would take these concerns under advisement.

As for the search for the dean of the faculty, Spoehr said it will continue "full throttle." The search for dean of the College will continue, but could be suspended temporarily if the pool isn't strong, she said.