While many people are praising the recommendation of David Rudd as the new president of the University of Memphis, at least one faculty member is distraught over the decision that he is resigning from his position on the faculty senate.
"I am profoundly disappointed that the search ended the way it did," said Cedar Nordbye, who resigned from the senate Sunday night. "I no longer have faith in the governance of this University."
Nordbye said some faculty members feared the search was a sham and the search process was set up knowing all along that Rudd would get the job. He said that at the very least Rudd was able to put himself in the position as the only viable candidate.
"I have been amazed at how Rudd has operated as if he were the president during the past nine months," he said. "He has orchestrated drastic restructuring of the University that I found completely inappropriate to an interim leadership."
Rudd, 53, came to the U of M after serving as Dean of the College of Social and Behavior Sciences at the University of Utah. Before then, he served as chair of the psychology department at Texas Tech University.
He started the position of University provost in March of 2013. Three months later, former president Shirley Raines announced her resignation. Brad Martin was then named interim president on July 1 of 2013, and both have worked together by handling the University's financial issues over the past few months.
While Nordbye is one person who is criticizing the decision, others are praising the recommendation.
"I've heard great things about him and think it's a good idea to choose someone who is already so familiar with the University," said fashion merchandising major Sam Dahmer. "He seemed the most knowledgeable compared to the other candidates at the seminars and really seemed like he cared about the students and the questions they had."
Rudd was unavailable to comment but received numerous positive comments, mostly by students.
"He's already well-integrated into the University, and I'm pretty sure he has gained the support of the majority of the faculty," said public relations major Eric Bourgeois. "I believe he will be more than a suitable replacement for Dr. Raines."
Rudd was recommended late Friday afternoon by John Morgan, the Chancellor of the Board of Regents. The Tennessee Board of Regents is going to meet May 1 to approve the chancellor's recommendation via telephone.
Like all of the board's meetings, the public is able to listen in to the phone call.
Martin's tenure as interim president ends June 1. If appointed, Rudd will be named the University's 12th president after Martin leaves.
