Simpson to resign as IU vice president

IU Vice President Christopher Simpson, the University's voice during the controversy surrounding Bob Knight's firing, said Wednesday he will resign his post in July to pursue a new challenge -- his own marketing and public relations firm.\n"I've been in the public sector for 25 years," Simpson said. "I'm interested in going into the private sector and going into business for myself."\nSpecial Assistant to the President Bill Stephan will serve as interim vice president for public affairs and government relations, a position that reports directly to the president.\n"I feel very privileged to serve the University in this capacity," Stephan said. "My plans are to try to continue those qualities of IU that distinguish us from institutions around the world."\nStephan worked as chief of staff for former Indianapolis Mayor Stephen Goldsmith before coming to IU last year to head up economic development efforts. He said he will seek the permanent position.\nAt IU, Simpson is best known for his campaign to actively market the University and to refine its image, shifting away from a news-promotion strategy. Simpson credited his staff for the success of IU's Office of Communications and Marketing, which has become a national model.\nBut Simpson's methods have also been fodder for his critics -- including Distinguished Professor of Chemistry Vic Viola.\n"I'm pleased to see he's leaving. I considered it good news," Viola said. "I feel that his attempts to spin every piece of news out of the University to an excess has not been beneficial."\nViola said overemphasis on "image" is disheartening to the faculty.\nStephan said he doesn't envision any changes if he's appointed to the position permanently but said some refinement of responsibilities would be possible.\nSimpson said he and his wife have the infrastructure in place for Simpson Communications, LLC, a marketing and public relations firm that will be based in Bloomington and will open a Washington, D.C., office this summer. He said the company will focus on higher education marketing but will also offer services to government and private entities.\nSimpson said he plans to capitalize on the demand for marketing in higher education, a field "on the verge of exploding."\nTo go into business, Simpson gives up the $165,400 he made this year at IU.\nIn his new firm, Simpson plans to draw from his experience in the national media, as press secretary for U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-SC), as an expert in integrated marketing communication and as a crisis communicator -- experience he refined during the Knight controversy.\nSimpson discussed Knight's firing as keynote speaker at a meeting of the Hoosier Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America in January.\nHaving made the decision to leave in the fall, Simpson said he told IU President Myles Brand in December.\nBrand said Simpson has been an outstanding asset to IU.\n"Vice President Simpson has given the University extremely capable service in good times and difficult ones," Brand said in a statement.\nSimpson said he was considering the move before the Knight controversy erupted but put it on the back burner.\nHe said the Knight controversy was the most difficult part of his experience at IU.\n"I've been through public things more difficult," he said. "(But) at the lowest times during that controversy, I could have never gotten through it without a tremendously supportive wife and family."\nSimpson said he will continue to live in Bloomington and hopes to continue to be a member of the IU family. He said he wants his kids to go to IU.\nBoth Simpson and Brand came to IU from the University of Oregon in 1994.\nSince his new firm will be in its first year, Simpson said it would be too early to recruit from his IU staff but that he will consider it down the road.\n"I think I have the absolute best staff in the world, and if I ever get the chance to work with them in a different environment I would jump at it," Simpson said.\n"I came here with President Brand," he said. "Taking talent with you is something he taught me"