University of New Orleans Chancellor Tim Ryan said at a news conference Thurdsay that LSU System President John Lombardi fired him.
Ryan said Lombardi summoned him to Baton Rouge on Thursday to tell him he was let go but did not specify why. After what he called increased micromanaging of the university by the System, Ryan said he was forced to step down because “I would not let UNO be run as a branch campus of LSU-Baton Rouge.”
The LSU System will soon launch a national search to replace Ryan.
In the meantime, Lombardi will serve as interim chancellor, in the same way former System President William Jenkins also performed the dual duties of president and LSU Chancellor in 2004 when former Chancellor Mark Emmert stepped down, according to LSU System spokesman Charles Zewe.
“That leaves the university without any strong internal voice as the LSU System makes budget cuts,” Ryan said of UNO. “There could be no worse time to make this kind of change in leadership.”
Ryan served as UNO’s chancellor for seven years and will be given a six-month sabbatical with the option of returning to work at the UNO College of Business, where he previously served.
“The LSU System genuinely values Dr. Ryan’s many contributions throughout his academic career and especially while serving as chancellor in guiding UNO through tough and challenging times such as the current budget crisis and the university’s recovery from Hurricane Katrina,” Lombardi said in a news release.
Lombardi and four New Orleans-area Board of Supervisors members will help oversee UNO’s administration change.
According to the release, Lombardi will work on the transition process with a team of System and UNO officials, including LSU System Vice President for Student and Academic Support Services Michael Gargano and LSU System Chief of Staff and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Technology Transfer Carolyn Hargrave.
The four UNO officials on the team include Vice Chancellor and Provost Joe King, Vice Chancellor for Research and Dean of the Graduate School Scott Whittenburg, Vice Chancellor for Financial Services and Chief Financial Officer Linda Robison and Vice Chancellor for Campus Services Joel Chatelain.
Paul Frick, UNO Department of Psychology chair, said the UNO community is surprised because there had been no prior discussion of Ryan leaving.
“I don’t know of any faculty member or student that had any inkling of this coming,” Frick said.
Frick said it’s a tough time to be a chancellor during budget cuts, when many decisions are unpopular ones.
UNO geography senior Dylan Barr said no one at the University is happy Lombardi is becoming chancellor after firing Ryan.
“[Ryan] maybe got forced out for trying to stand up for UNO,” Barr said. “[Lombardi] has shown for the past few years he does not care about this university.”
Barr said the mood on campus after the announcement was sad, and a crowd applauded Ryan as he stepped outdoors from Thursday’s news conference.
Staff writer Catherine Threlkeld contributed to this report.
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