news-record.com

GREENSBORO -- UNCG Chancellor Patricia Sullivan announced this afternoon she will retire from the university next summer.

Sullivan, who became the first woman chancellor at UNCG when hired in 1995, will step down July 31.

"It has been the greatest privilege and honor to lead this university," she said in a statement. "UNCG is teeming with great people working together to make things happen.

"As chancellor, I have been able to work closely with those who share a deep sense of purpose and dedication for seeing UNCG evolve to be a prestigious, top-tier university."

Sullivan, who had emergency surgery Nov. 1 for a perforated ulcer, plans to take a year off and then return to the university either in a faculty position or to handle special projects.

The school's Board of Trustees will create a search committee to find a successor. The UNC Board of Governors has final say in a new chancellor.

Sullivan is the ninth leader at UNCG. She took over Jan. 1, 1995, from William E. Moran after serving as vice president for academic affairs at Texas Women's University. She currently is the senior chancellor in the state university system.

Sullivan has overseen tremendous growth in both the university's physical presence and its student body. Enrollment has grown 36 percent, from 12,644 in 1995 to 17,157 this year. Research grants and contracts grew more than 180 percent, and the university created the Office of Research and Public/Private Sector Partnerships, the Office of Technology Transfer and the Office of Research Compliance.

Graduate programs grew significantly in fields such as geography, economic, information systems, special education and health.

The $3.1 billion construction bond referendum approved statewide in 2000 contributed more than $160 million toward new buildings on the UNCG campus, including a new School of Music, the Elliott University Center renovation, two parking decks and Spring Garden streetscape. Other new buildings during Sullivan's term include the Gatewood Studio Arts building, the Moore Humanities and Research Administration building, a new science building and the Spring Garden Apartments residence hall. Major renovations included work to the Petty Science Building, Brown Building, Forney Building and Aycock Auditorium.

The university's endowment also grew from $62 million to $183 million.

Sullivan also has been a successful fund raiser. Under her tenure, the Students First Campaign is expected to raise $100 million when it ends in 2009. Through Nov. 30, it had so far raised $87.5 million.

"Pat's tenure at UNCG will long be remembered as a period of growth, expansion and new visions," said Linda Arnold Carlisle, a trustee and co-chair of the Students First Campaign. "From day one, she has outworked and outpaced everyone with whom she works."