Board names interim UVA president - NBC12.com - Richmond, VA News

A committee named University of Virginia's new interim president after a marathon meeting that lasted into the wee hours of the morning.

Carl Zeithaml, Dean of the McIntire School of Commerce, will begin his role as interim president starting August 15. Outgoing president Teresa Sullivan will serve one more month. She was the first woman to serve as the university's president.

It took about 11 hours for the board of visitors to vote 12 to 1 for Zeithaml to replace Sullivan.

According to Zeithaml's biography on the university's website, he specializes in strategic management with an emphasis on global and competitive strategy. He's been the McIntire dean for 15 years.

A crowd of about 2,000 people gathered at the Charlottesville campus yesterday to show their support. The faculty Senate and other groups wanted Sullivan to stay. Her supporters demanded transparency as to why she was forced out.

In a statement the board did offer an apology. It said they tried to keep the dignity of everyone involved in the decision making process, but their actions did not honor the traditions at UVA.

The faculty senate and other groups say they want the rector and vice rector to step down, but that has not happened. 

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