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Home > About NC State > Chancellor > Speeches and Writings > 2009 > Provost's ResignationChancellor's Statement on Provost's Resignation
Today, I regretfully accepted Provost Larry Nielsen’s resignation, effective May 22.
The provost cited among his reasons for resigning the professional and personal anguish caused by continuing newspaper reports implying that his hiring of Mary Easley was done under pressure and improperly influenced by political motives. I have known Larry for eight years. I know him to be a good and honest person who is incapable of willfully damaging the integrity of North Carolina State University.
During his four years in the job, the provost chaired the NC State University Strategy Team to develop a response to the UNC-Tomorrow Commission and the Board of Governors; managed new efforts in international education including initiatives in China, the United Kingdom, India, France and South America; led an expansion of the university’s diversity programs; created the Pack Promise student success plan for students with the greatest financial need; led the effort to consolidate the information technology components of the campus and co-chaired the search committee that hired NC State’s first chief information officer; created multi-year funding strategies through our compact planning process; led our ongoing budget reduction activities; and created the Guaranteed Textbook Buyback program and Textbook Adoption Incentive Program that produced significant savings for students among many other accomplishments. He encouraged a new spirit of cooperation among the deans, which in turn was helpful in developing our university strategic plan.
I wish Larry every success as he returns to the College of Natural Resources faculty and thank him for his loyalty and service to NC State during his tenure as provost.
Warwick Arden, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, has agreed to serve as interim provost. We will conduct a national search to fill the provost position.