Faculty council president steps down after just 1 year

Lisa Pratt, president of the Bloomington Faculty Council, has announced she is stepping down from her position. She could not be reached for comment. \nPratt was elected to the position only one year ago. The previous BFC president, Ted Miller, served for two years prior to Pratt’s election. \nPratt announced her resignation at the BFC’s last meeting March 4, said James. In addition to serving as president, Wimbush said Pratt is working with NASA on an important project that he believes is related to finding out if there is life on Mars. \nWimbush said Pratt is a renowned geologist, so this opportunity for her at NASA is a great one. He also said her role at NASA caused her to be away from campus frequently, and Pratt found it too hard to be in two places at one time, so she decided to step down.\nKaren Hanson, an administrative member of the BFC and IU provost, said the president’s post is the leadership of faculty governance on campus.\nThe president is also head of the agenda committee and meetings with the provost to plan the agenda for the BFC, said Neil Theobald, vice president and chief financial officer. Theobald said Pratt’s main focus as president was scheduling classes and finding efficient uses of classroom space. In addition the president is also the head of the budgetary affairs committee.\nHowever, Hanson said Pratt will remain an inner faculty member. \nWimbush said Pratt faced a difficult decision, but he believes she made the right choice to stay with NASA. Wimbush had nothing but positive things to say about Pratt.\n“She has done a fantastic job, and I hate to see her leave,” he said. \nHanson agree and said Pratt is well respected on campus.\n“She is a wonderful teacher and researcher,” Hanson said.\nWimbush said Pratt’s work with NASA is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.\n“Working for NASA has been something Pratt has dreamed about since she was a little girl,” Hanson said.\nTheobald said he will miss Pratt tremendously, but he certainly understands her decision. \nWimbush said Pratt announced at the meeting that her successor would most likely be Herb Terry, an associate professor in the Department of Telecommunications. Theobald said he worked with Terry for 10 years. However, “It should be a seamless transition,” between Terry and Pratt, Theobald said. \n“He is a very bright guy and very committed,” he said.\nHanson said Terry is someone who would make a selfless president if elected. \n“He understands the missions of the University,” she said.