After more than three decades at MSU, Provost Lou Anna Simon will move into the university's top position on Jan 1, 2005.

The MSU Board of Trustees unanimously voted to name her President M. Peter McPherson's successor on Friday, without considering any other candidates.

Many people, including Simon, were shocked by the board's quick action, one that came a little more than five weeks after McPherson announced he would leave MSU.

Simon becomes MSU's 20th president and MSU's first female chief executive. She has been given a three-year contract for an undetermined salary.

"I'm really honored and confident, and also a bit humbled," Simon said. "I felt that I was a strong, nationally competitive candidate, but this outcome was never assured."

The trustees conducted an extensive interview with Simon on Thursday and heard her goals for the university, such as making sure students graduate on time and maintaining classes despite budget difficulties. Simon didn't outline any specific plans Friday for meeting her goals.

"Like a lot of people, I was envisioning a national search to fill this position," said Simon, adding she had been confident in her candidacy but didn't expect the decision until trustees called her late Thursday night.

"Michigan State does have a magical quality."

Trustee David Porteous said the board decided to end the presidential search because the ideal candidate already was in front of them.

"It was moving, this vision," Trustee David Porteous said. "She is, I believe, a perfect choice for Michigan State."

Since 1970, when she came to MSU to earn her doctoral degree, Simon has played many roles at the university, including faculty member, assistant director of the Office of Institutional Research - now the Office of Planning and Budgets - assistant provost, provost and interim president for five months when McPherson helped rebuild Iraq's economy.

"I tell you, there's some real advantages to knowing the institution," said McPherson, adding he was pleased with Simon's appointment.

Simon has served as provost under McPherson for 11 years. They are the longest-serving president-and-provost team in the Big Ten. Academics aside, Simon likes playing golf, is an avid reader and enjoys drinking Diet Coke.

McPherson said he recommended Simon to the board for the presidency because of her many capabilities and familiarity with the university's current situation.

Simon will be responsible for continuing a variety of projects, such as trying to obtain federal funding for the $1 billion Rare Isotope Accelerator project, moving the majority of the medical school to Grand Rapids, continuing the university's $1.2 billion fund-raising campaign and dealing with budget difficulties.

"We have a lot of things in play here," McPherson said. "We can't do anything except keep in step."

Simon's extensive experience working with McPherson and the many projects helped the trustees make their decision.

The board was able to "try and buy" with Simon when she served as interim president last year, Trustee Randall Pittman said.

"We know what her abilities are, we've seen them first-hand." he said. "There's a lot to do here. We need to maintain that momentum."

Porteous said the choice will create a "seamless transition" to the presidency.

"She has the ability to hit the ground running," he said. "She is absolutely a proven commodity."

This is not the first time Simon has tried for the top executive position at MSU. She was a finalist in the 1993 presidential search, but lost out to McPherson.

"Eleven years ago it was the right decision for Michigan State," said Simon, adding she is now confident she will be able to serve the university well as president.

At the board meeting, trustees said they took into account the many suggestions they had received from faculty, staff, students and community members.

In particular, they mentioned a letter sent by at-large faculty representatives with suggested qualities in a new president, such as administrative experience, teaching experience, a clear vision to engage the faculty and improve the university and legislative negotiation skills.

"I think it's probably the case that faculty had in mind someone other than Simon in writing that list," said Grover Hudson, a professor of linguistics and language and president of the MSU chapter of the American Association of University Professors.

Hudson said Simon hasn't always communicated well with faculty members.

In the past, some conflict occurred between faculty members and Simon over her proposed reorganization of the liberal arts program. Hudson said Simon now has the opportunity to improve the relationship with the appointment of her provost, who will work extensively with faculty.

"The main thing now is the provostship," he said. "If she goes for a good, thorough national search, that would really go a long way."

Simon said a national search will begin soon for her provost, but it won't exclude internal candidates.

While much was celebrated with Simon's presidential designation, some faculty members said the fast decision cut them out of the process.

"I think this is a sad day in the university, not because of Simon, but the way the entire search process was circumvented," said Sheila Teahan, associate professor of English. "There has been no search. You need a pool of candidates."

Teahan said the board should have consulted with faculty members.

"I think the Board of Trustees is extremely out of touch with the faculty," she said. "It's part of a larger pattern, certainly a pattern of secrecy."

When Simon officially becomes president, she will be one of four female presidents of public universities in Michigan and one of four in the Big Ten.

"It was long overdue," Trustee Dorothy Gonzales said. "She's just remarkable. She's very sensitive about issues of equality and inclusion."

As president, Simon will have more than 40,000 students watching her carefully to see how she will perform in her new role. Simon has a history of being interactive with students, whether it be a quick casual word on the streets of East Lansing or via an on-campus forum.

"She needs to make sure she doesn't forget the students," said Paul Harmon, association director of ASMSU, MSU's undergraduate student government. "I don't think she'll ever do that."

Harmon said Simon already has demonstrated her presidential capabilities when she was interim president and will do a good job taking over the post in January. There always are ways to improve, however.

Any president could become a greater leader by listening to student concerns on a daily basis, Harmon said.

Economics senior Jonathan McDonald said the board made a good pick.

"She's been here a long time, it seems like the logical step," McDonald said. "She will probably be a lot more interactive than McPherson."

And while May graduate Karlynn Boyer approves of the new president, she does not of the selection process.

"I think they should have at least opened up the search," Boyer said.

"Then if they still picked her from that we would know she was the best choice."

Staff writer Megan Gilshire contributed to this report.

Elizabeth Piet can be reached at pieteliz@msu.edu.