CORAL GABLES, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--University of Miami President Donna E. Shalala announced today that she is stepping down at the end of the 2014-2015 university year (summer 2015) after 14 years of distinguished service.
President Shalala has also served as a professor of political science, teaching one of the University’s largest and most popular courses focusing on the politics and economics of health care, featuring such special guest lecturers as former U.S. President Bill Clinton. She plans to return to the faculty as a professor of political science and health policy.
“President Shalala’s tenure as the University of Miami’s fifth president has been a fortuitous and celebrated circumstance of the right leader at the right place at the right time,” noted Stuart A. Miller, Chair of the University of Miami Board of Trustees, UM law school alumnus, and Chief Executive Officer of Lennar Corp. “As we look ahead to building on President Shalala’s significant accomplishments, we will be appointing a Presidential Search Committee to be chaired by Richard D. Fain, Vice Chair of the Board and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. This will be an inclusive process and will seek valuable input from the greater University of Miami community,” said Miller. (For full text of Chair’s statement, click here.)
UM’s current era was launched in June 2001 with the naming of Shalala as the fifth president in the history of the institution. Her presidency has been marked by accelerated progress in all key areas—teaching and learning, the discovery of new knowledge, the delivery of cutting-edge medical care, service to the region and beyond, and fundraising. Under her leadership, UM rapidly advanced into the top-tier of American higher education, joining the nation’s finest research universities.
Few individuals are as accomplished or as dedicated to public service as President Shalala, who commands more than 40 years of experience as a professor, scholar, and administrator. She has held the position of Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and President of Hunter College of the City University of New York.
One of the most honored academics of her generation, she has been elected to seven national academies. To read the full news release, visit http://www.miami.edu/index.php/news/releases/president_shalala_to_step_down/.
