University reactions: Administrators pleased with president pick

After receiving the news that IU Interim Provost Michael McRobbie will be the University’s 18th president, former IU President John Ryan extended him a warm welcome, and he said he hopes others will do the same.\n“I would be happy to tell him, advise him, that the University is filled with people – faculty, alumni, students – that want him to succeed and will help him to succeed, and he should be open to listen to them,” he said. “... I am delighted that we will have a pretty seamless transition.”\nIU law professor Fred Cate said, “Absolutely, absolutely,” when asked if he felt the trustees were correct in choosing McRobbie.\n“It was great news,” Cate said. “Not unexpected, but very welcome.”\nCate said he has worked with McRobbie on a number of matters, including technology initiatives.\nThis is the first time the trustees have selected a president from within the University since Ryan was selected in 1971.\n“McRobbie has been involved in all major actions and decisions, and one of the main advantages is that since he understands them, he can carry them forward,” Ryan said. “I am sure he will have his own ideas and visions and so he will implement them, but he will help carry forward in a very constructive way what has already been put in place.”\nIU Chancellor Ken Gros Louis, who has known McRobbie since McRobbie came to IU 10 years ago, said he has “an extraordinary list of achievements that he has accomplished.” Gros Louis added that he is impressed with what McRobbie has done in the last year as interim provost.\n“He is well-known in the state, and because of his international reputation in technology, the business leaders will be very responsive to him,” Gros Louis said.\nIU-Fort Wayne Chancellor Michael Wartell said he felt the trustees “chose the person they believe will advance IU to the greatest extent.” McRobbie will do a great job as president representing all eight campuses, he said.\nRobert B. Jones, associate vice president for life sciences at IU, said that although he doesn’t know McRobbie well, he still feels he is qualified to be president.\n“He has done some fantastic things with computer science, which is an interest to us because of the type of computer capabilities information science now has,” he said. “It is critical to the things we are trying to do in Life Sciences at the School of Medicine and IU, and McRobbie will provide great leadership.”\nIU chemistry professor Ted Widlanski said he is not surprised, as he said he thinks a lot of people thought McRobbie was the leading candidate. \n“I think they chose him because they knew him well – they worked with him,” Widlanski said. “McRobbie has excellent qualifications.” \nWidlanski said McRobbie’s intelligence and energy will benefit the presidency as he understands the campus and the needs well.\n“McRobbie knows what the problems are on this campus and the agenda that needs fixing – a huge job, because when things are ignored for a long time, fixing is not overnight,” Widlanski said. “We haven’t really had anyone that really understands the problems this campus has.”\nCate said McRobbie’s long successful track record is an admirable quality in his new presidential status. “Just look at our technology infrastructure,” Cate said.\nDr. Ora Pescovitz, CEO of Riley Hospital for Children, was the other presidential finalist. \n“There is no doubt, both would be excellent choices,” Cate said. “McRobbie is a little more seasoned. ... He has more experience in a university-wide job. There is no question that the trustees had a difficult time making a choice between the two candidates.”\nGros Louis speculates that McRobbie’s inside experience with the University made him a more hirable candidate, as he is “in the middle of things here” and knows all the campuses well because of the information and technology and University-wide research.\n“Ora is a very smart and marvelous person, but it would be a learning experience for her,” Gros Louis said, “where Michael is ready to step into the job as if it is tomorrow.”\nCate said he thinks the University will face big challenges in terms of funding and competition with other institutions, along with dealing with research and technology in a fast-paced world, but he thinks McRobbie will lead these challenges well.\n“He is bold, visionary,” Cate said. “I think, because he comes from such a information-technology background, there will be people waiting to see him demonstrate that he can address other areas.”\nCate noted that this evidence has already been seen, as the Life Science Initiative has been progressing well. \n“He is going to face challenges that every new president does,” Cate said. “He is just the man to move this institution forward.”