Chancellor to step down

IU-Bloomington Chancellor Sharon Brehm announced her resignation Thursday to accept the role of senior adviser to IU President Adam Herbert.\nBrehm, who is also the University vice president for academic affairs, gave Herbert her resignation letter Wednesday and e-mailed University deans about her decision.\nBrehm, who has held the position for two-and-a-half years, said her resignation is important for the new president to review the administrative structure and develop one that will best serve the University.\n"The president and I have been speaking about many issues throughout the beginning of the fall semester, and it became more and more clear how important it is for him to do the review of this position," Brehm said. "I wasn't sure how this process could go forward with me in this position."\nWhile Brehm and Herbert said they see the senior adviser position as an important job and piece of the IU administrative puzzle, a high-ranking IU official speaking on condition of anonymity called the position a "safe harbor" until Brehm can find a new job.\nBut Brehm said she has no plans to leave IU.\n"I love the Bloomington campus," Brehm said. "I certainly see myself here in the future."\nIn her position as senior adviser, Brehm plans to conduct research on women in higher education and will teach a course for the Wells Scholars Program. Brehm will also teach in the psychology department, where she is a tenured professor.\n"I have a lot of homework to do, and I'm looking forward to going back to the (psychology department)," Brehm said. "I have a lot of friends and colleagues there." \nIn her new role, Brehm will earn the same salary as before, which is more than $250,000 per year.\nIn terms of Herbert's restructuring plans, Brehm said it's easy for things to get personal and that this would be resolved with an interim chancellor temporarily taking over the position.\n"There's nothing personal about this whatsoever, but it wouldn't be possible for (Herbert) to do a thorough review if I stayed in the job," Brehm said. "I felt deeply that I needed to step up to the plate and resign from the position."\nBrehm said her relationship with Herbert will become even stronger in this new position, which will take effect Jan. 1.\n"Herbert has only been here for three months, so we were just starting to build a relationship," Brehm said. "I think we will have a much stronger relationship with me as his adviser because we can discuss general things about the University and not just specific issues."\nHerbert said he and Brehm have discussed the role of the chancellor in the past 13 weeks.\n"Both of us are concerned about what's in the best interest of the University," Herbert said. "I may be placing a greater emphasis than previous presidents on the responsibilities for the vice president of academic affairs, but she and I have talked about the need for eliminating ambiguity with regard to roles."\nHerbert informed the IU board of trustees Wednesday concerning Brehm's resignation. The trustees were in Richmond, Ind., Thursday and were unavailable for comment.\nAlthough the transition will be difficult for Brehm, she said it is in the best interest of the University.\n"After the review of the administrative structure and the president and board's decision, IU will be a stronger, better and more effective University," Brehm said. \nThe chancellor said her resignation is important because Herbert's assessment after reviewing the position might create a change in responsibility.\n"We don't know if the new position (Herbert) comes out with will be the same position I have now, so he has the absolute right to make changes in this job," Brehm said. "But this job may not be one that I am qualified for or interested in."\nWith the uncertainty of what the chancellor's role will entail, some staff members are concerned about what effect this will have on campus and its organizations.\n"It is interesting to see how these high-level administrative issues affect the people in the trenches, since our our office was essentially born in the midst of controversy," said Doug Bauder, director of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Student Support Services. "But this does make me nervous."\nOn a personal and professional level, Bauder said his relationship with Brehm has always been a positive one.\n"She's always been very quick to respond," he said. "I've met with her several times and she was kind enough to offer us a good hour of her time during the (Eric) Rasmusen Web log controversy and I appreciated that a great deal."\nIn regards to Brehm resigning as chancellor, Bauder recalls that during his meeting with her, he sensed it was a difficult time for her in general.\n"My sense has been that there was a conflict in views or personalities between the president and chancellor," Bauder said. "I think some people have been feeling tension, but aren't sure what to do about it."\nGloria Gibson, associate vice chancellor for multicultural affairs, said Brehm came to IU with promising ideas, but it is difficult for everyone to agree.\n"When she proposed the provost position, it generated a lot of discussion on campus, particularly with the faculty," Gibson said. "She came in with ideas about how to make the Bloomington campus a stronger campus, and whenever you have those ideas, some are going to be received well and some aren't."\nSince assuming the position of chancellor in August 2001, Brehm has been involved in issues such as the controversy over the Benton Mural, developing a strategic plan for a commitment to excellence and promoting diversity on campus.\nIn looking toward the future, IU Workers Union President Randy Pardue said Herbert's restructuring initiative is a chance for a new beginning.\n"Like any chancellor, the union is hopeful for a person who is open to all levels of staff and their concerns," Pardue said. "I think President Herbert is doing a fine job in running the University and I think he'll lead a successful search for our next chancellor."\n-- Contact senior writer Maura Halpern at mhalpern@indiana.edu.