Kathy Krendl, Ohio University's executive vice president and provost, will leave Athens to be president of Otterbein College this fall.
Krendl, who will be Otterbein's first female president, said in a written statement she thinks this opportunity will allow her to further develop her knowledge and abilities.
Teaching a class on women in leadership a few quarters ago
I reminded my students on more than one occasion of the necessity of taking on new challenges when the opportunity arises Krendl wrote. The presidency of Otterbein is such an opportunity and it is one that my work at an exceptional institution filled with talented
generous people has equipped me to undertake.
Krendl officially will become president at Otterbein in July 2009. Thomas Morrison, chairman of the Otterbein College Board of Trustees and chairman of the search committee that narrowed the list of presidential finalists, said Krendl stood out from the other nominees.
Her experience as dean of the Scripps College of Communication and
subsequently
as OU's provost and executive vice president
together with her intelligence
personality and energy make her the right person to lead Otterbein at this time
Morrison said in a news release.
By the time the board members made their decision, the only other finalist was Elizabeth Stroble, senior vice president and provost at the University of Akron. Stroble and Krendl were also finalists in February for the presidency at Elmhurst College, but the private liberal arts school outside Chicago chose another candidate.
Otterbein is a small, private liberal arts college in Westerville, Ohio. It has about 3,100 students and about 260 faculty members.
Krendl has managed OU's day-to-day academic operations since May 2007. She oversees the deans, vice presidents and academic support offices. Krendl is the driving force behind Vision Ohio, a plan to improve national prominence for the university among other goals over five years. She is also leading OU's switch from quarters to semesters as well as efforts to improve retention and start a strategic enrollment program, working with a task force to improve the regional campuses, and helping lead contingency planning for the university budget.
Krendl has worked at the university since 1996, serving as dean of the College of Communication until she was named interim provost in 2004. Krendl earns a $245,116 salary at OU. She said in her statement that deciding to leave OU after 13 years necessitated much soul-searching.
Ann Fidler, interim associate provost for strategic initiatives, said Krendl is working on many of the top challenges facing OU, but that she will leave behind a very capable group to deal with them.
I think one of the great things about Kathy and one of the things I would point to about her leadership that is truly remarkable is that she has the ability to put together great teams of people
Fidler said. So while we're going to miss her leadership
there are many people she's delegated to work on these things.
Otterbein announced Krendl as one of three finalists for the president position in early November, and the provost visited the Otterbein campus a few weeks ago.
Rebecca Watts, chief of staff to OU President Roderick McDavis said the president wishes Krendl success and is grateful for the work she has done for OU.
McDavis is expected to select members for the search committee by Friday, Watts said. The committee will then begin a national search for Krendl's successor, and McDavis hopes to fill the position by July, Watts added. Despite the short time frame, McDavis does not anticipate having to appoint an interim replacement.
