With one swift decision on Friday, the MSU Board of Trustees chose Provost Lou Anna Simon as MSU's 20th president - ending weeks of speculation as to who would be M. Peter McPherson's successor after about a half dozen candidate names surfaced.
"A lot of people were trying to think of appropriate names," Trustee Scott Romney said. "The media can speculate all they want."
Names circulating in the press included former Michigan governors John Engler and James Blanchard, along with Grand Valley State University President Mark Murray and Northern Kentucky University President James Votruba.
Votruba earned three degrees at MSU and served as a vice provost for university outreach. Additionally, he taught at MSU and grew up in East Lansing. Though he has had a long history with MSU, Votruba said he did a lot of thinking, and in early June, sent a letter to his campus community explaining he had no plans to leave Northern Kentucky.
"My wife and I are very happy here," he said, adding the MSU board made an excellent decision.
"Lou Anna Simon has devoted her entire adult life to MSU. Her selection will provide continuity of leadership and that can be good for the university in difficult times."
Votruba wouldn't comment on the swiftness of the board's decision.
"Everyone has to rely on the good judgment of the board," Votruba said. "I wouldn't second guess the board at all."
Votruba said he hopes faculty, staff and students unite behind Simon.
"Presidents can't succeed by themselves," he said.
Other candidates didn't think much about the presidency after their names came up in rumors.
"I was never a candidate," Blanchard said. "I said I'd be honored to be considered."
Blanchard said he entered the speculation because of his two degrees from MSU. He received a bachelor's degree in history and a master's degree in business administration from MSU. He now is an international lawyer in Washington D.C.
"I'm happy with what I do," Blanchard said, adding the board chose who most people expected.
"(Simon) was a proven leader during the interim when Peter McPherson was in Iraq. The Board of Trustees has made an excellent decision."
Trustee Donald Nugent said the board never got to the point of considering candidates besides Simon.
"Our first meeting was only on how do we do the search," he said, adding the board then narrowed the focus to Simon.
"She'll have a significant effect on moving the university forward."
